67 replies to this topic

[TimH]

KTM & reliability ? They don't match each other

I would love to own this bike but when I red KTM forums I regress myself and I bite my tongue

For example : Wich bike has to check valves clereance out just after the first thousand kilometers ?
Answer : KTM.

Even though I'm mecanich it is not understandable to build some engines so difficult to manage.

I keep reading on the ADVrider forums about how "easy" it is to make the KTM reliable - you just have to replace this, and that, and modify that, and carry a spare seal kit for this, and adjust such and such every 2000k.... I met a couple of KTM 950/990 riders on the road one day, and asked how they got on with their KTM's - they responded "same issues as all KTM's but otherwise great bikes"

you are paying top dollar new, so I would expect them to be rock solid out of the box. The fact that you need to spend time and money to make them reliable bothers me. For my riding I'd possibly be better served by a KTM990 or BMW 800GS, but I don't want to throw in the extra cash to trade "up" to one of them only to find I need to keep pouring money into it to keep it going - so I'm sticking with the 900 for a while longer...

But I wish Yamaha would make a 95hp, sub 220kg Super Tenere....

Please please Mr Yamaha can we have a new Super Tenere with a a softly tuned 1000cc TDM engine

like that...

[whisky]

Hi Stormy, In answer to to your question, I have to agree with "dickie" and "tdmtoranago", I have just posted "european adventure". I was riding a Yamaha TDM900, wow what a machine, and only a fraction o0f the price of a Beemer, its also quicker and nimbler and far more economical. Whilst I agree that a 1000cc version (twin) would be nice, if you look at the new tennere, except for the engine its pretty much another ,much ugraded TDM. If I had the money I would have the yam, try one.

Hope this helps
Whisky

[TonyDevil]

Hi Stormy, In answer to to your question, I have to agree with "dickie" and "tdmtoranago", I have just posted "european adventure". I was riding a Yamaha TDM900, wow what a machine, and only a fraction o0f the price of a Beemer, its also quicker and nimbler and far more economical. Whilst I agree that a 1000cc version (twin) would be nice, if you look at the new tennere, except for the engine its pretty much another ,much ugraded TDM. If I had the money I would have the yam, try one.

Hope this helps
Whisky

i'm afraid stormy is no longer with us. http://www.carpe-tdm...showtopic=14583

[TDMick]

Always with us......................Just not around any more

[AL-58]

I've now had 4 GS's (in order, R100GS, R1100GS, R80G/S (very modded), F800GS) so I guess I qualify to have a point of view, I'm also a member of a BMW Club (long term). Do I think GSs are great bikes? I'll never buy another late Boxer again, everyone of them I've had has had clutch/gearbox problems as well as leaky final drives. BMW wont get me as a guinea pig anymore. My R100GS would have been a keeper if anyone had known the fixes at the time, but gearbox failure, rear shock failure and driveshaft failure in a space of 4 months on a 15 month old bike drove me to buy a TDM and I never looked back. The 1200 is too big and porky for my needs anyway even if they made it as reliable as a TDM. I got the F800GS as BMW no longer make the running gear, hopefully the risk of mechanical failure should be less. Its a nice package. Still keeping the 900 as well though. Also on my 6th K100 BMW, just can't kill them.

The best boxer I had was the R80G/S, but with a twinplugged R100RS unleaded motor, 32 litre tank, Husqvarna USD forks, White Power rear suspension, lengthened swingarm and carefully braced frame it was a pretty special piece of gear. Should never have let it escape my clutches.

No I don't make the R-GS people in my club happy either.

Al

That a 900 towing that GS?

Well, I think the new GS bikes are a mixed bag for sure. My most hardened adv rider buds here prefer to buy the old airheads (R100GS), do all the standard 'patches', strengthen the frame a bit, and run those. They say they like em better because:
1. They're lower to the ground (easier to manage off road).
2. Basically bullet proof once you do all the known required fixes.
3. You can work on the bike with a minimal set of tools on the road, if needed.

That said, the newer bikes are no doubt smoother, faster, more comfy touring. I dunno; guess I'd like to own about 10 bikes if I could afford em and had a big enough garage.

[TDMTAM]

The best boxer I had was the R80G/S,

Strangely enough I have a liking for those to.
TAM

[sidestand]

I love riding my R80 GS



18 years old & still going like a train. Quality of finish is excellent as well
Only 53 horses, but it's plenty fast enough for the back lanes & gets you planning your overtakes a lot more !
Even taking a few 'off road' shortcuts these days

[Toraneko]

Nice rant! I knew you had it in you.

I can only speak for myself. I don't take any motorcycle company ad campaign seriously. It's all pretty much rubbish as far as I'm concerned. I think I spoke with my bank account when I bought a 1992 TDM in USA where they weren't heard of, never advertised (I never saw one), and even the dealer wasn't sure about the bike. It was (is) a damn cool bike, so I got one. Still ride it, in lieu of my K1200S often (and that is saying something, as that K is one badass street bike).

But, just as I don't give a crap what BMW or Yamaha say in their ad campaigns, and much less what some poser w/ a shiny new BMW GS says, I (like you) will draw my own conclusions about what bike to ride next. I usually ride alone, or w/ my GF, and I don't ride or own motorcycles to impress anyone, unless you count myself. I ride, like probably all of us, because it's just crazy fun and about the best way possible to see the world. If I wanted to be a poser, I'd buy a HD not a beemer. Those guys are off the chart bought off on some image if you ask me. They ride these huge, clunky piece of crap bikes and swear they wouldn't even consider riding anything else. And, in case you're wondering, I have ridden HDs to test out. I tried a 2009 Ultra Classic Electra Glide (their top of the line tourer). Now that's a tractor. It did have incredibly comfy seats, and my GF was about to buy it on the spot until I talked her out of it.

Bottom line, I hope you (Geordie) realize I don't take any of this seriously, just poking fun. I will probably buy a GSA next year, but not because it gets me into the club. But because, I actually do want a tractor that also does pretty well on 5k+ mile tours 2up. I will not trade in my TDM when I do. The TDM goes to the grave w/ me, unless I total it first.

cheers!
Robert

At last, a Yank who truly has the good sense to see HD's for what they are. ( Yes I've ridden one too & once was enough )
There's alot of Aussie's who buy into that HD poser BS as well. Summed it up perfectly, ignore the hype & go for what fits your needs.
I take me hat off to ya mate.