F650GS vs KTM 640 Adenture, need advice!

[jaz1259]

I thought i would pass comment on here, having recently just bought a 640 adv. The first time i took it out i was amazed how awsome it was, it is very vibey but nothing horrendous. The bike has so much presence and riding offroad it has the typical ktm inspiring feel. I absolutely love it my favourite bike by far. Get the 640 everyday, plus there are less and less about now so cant see you losing much money.

[snaf]

Clearly I haven't ridden a standard GS Dakar for a number of years now but are they really that bad to have a "Yawn factor". I'm curious as a mate of mine just bought and sold a Dakar in very short time because he said the same, although he did change down from a KTM990 and has now bought an Aprilia Tuono.

My Dakar is heavily modified with Marzochi/Ohlins front and back and has a slightly opened up motor but I don't recall the standard one lacking in performance although the suspension was low spec.
There's no way the 640 would be anywhere near my BMW in engine performance and ride ability on or off road.

Still for a ten mile commute and some trail riding I'd not have anything with such a big tank go for a 640 Enduro if you can find one.

[boboneleg]

Snaf,

don't get me wrong my Dakar was a great bike, brilliant mpg, good touring bike but let down by a very soft front end which you have obviously addressed.

But the KTM Adventure is an amazing bike in that it returns 65mpg even with the performance of the engine, my Dakar didn't have anywhere near the 'get up and go' of my KTM.

Having said all that I would still prefer the Dakar if I was doing a majority of road work but it didn't have the grin factor of the KTM.

[snaf]

I guess my Dakar is more opened up than I thought then as it leaves the 640 for dead on acceleration and top end and still returns +70mpg, the 640 doesn't get anywhere near that. Riding them together and we'd be lucky to see low 40mpg on the 640.

I think I need to take a closer look at our 640 as it I'd just assumed it was like that, maybe it's got a restrictor kit on it, I've never thought of checking. We have a 640 engined sidecar outfit and that does go a lot better but it's been modified.

[snaf]

Just checked the specs and our 640 is an early one with a lot less power than the later ones and 20% less torque than the BMW. That explains a lot but not the bad MPG as looking at Fuelly,com it should be a lot better.

Time for some fiddling

[Crossrutted]

Just checked the specs and our 640 is an early one with a lot less power than the later ones and 20% less torque than the BMW. That explains a lot but not the bad MPG as looking at Fuelly,com it should be a lot better.

Time for some fiddling

My 640 returns about 48mpg when riding hard. (Never checked for road/gentle mpg.)

[Gareth 1979]

Hi guys.
I was starting to lean towards the KTM, then, Just to confuse the issue further, I've been offered a Ccm 644 dual sport for a great price. This has me sorely tempted.

Any advice out there?

[Mike54]

Hi guys.
I was starting to lean towards the KTM, then, Just to confuse the issue further, I've been offered a Ccm 644 dual sport for a great price. This has me sorely tempted.

Any advice out there?

No. No. No. Nothing wrong with it as such, just not for what you want it for. And sorry KTM lovers (of which I am one), but the 640 is just not the bike for this purpose, the BMW would be far more suitable, if a little soulless

[bikenav]

never ridden or owned a little bmw did consider one at the time of purchase of a ktm 640A which I still own. When the 640 is where it likes to be most, out on relatively open trails it is a great laugh, it does like to be around spanners a bit too, But I Dont Like It On Anything Other Than Small Roads. Lucky enough to have another bike for that, my opinion counts for nothing really all our expectations are different.