For D/S riding, what would you choose;Husky 701 or Yamaha's WR450.

[Rough Rider]

Husky 701.

Is die 701 nie maar net n 690 met ander klere en ander naam aan nie?

Same motor, different suspension and they ironed out one or two small bugs. The ergonomics on the bike however feels very different to the 690... but without doubt the biggest improvement is that you don't have to deal with KTM CT but rather Eddie2Race  

No reason you can't  send your 690 to Eddie2Race. I will for my next service.

Not if it's still under warrantee you can't, the two brands are mutually exclusive. Ask me, I tried  

The warranty is not worth the paper it is written on, so I will forgo it knowing that my bike is in better hands.

The last service KTM CT did on my bike I redid everything to make sure and found two missing bolts. Neither were serious as they were for the plastics, but still   I worked f-ing hard for the money that paid for that bike; just to have some ignorant appy stuff  it up by being careless - fuck that.  

[Buddy]

Warranties are there to save dealers from themselves.

[Odd Dog]

Yamaha's WR450F is a competition bike, and thus the guidelines for service and maintanance intervals can be doubled, even tripled if used like I am going to.

Dan I had one 2007 I used as dual sport for 2 yrs without a problem except for the shitty indicator set I had on(battery operated). In those 2 yrs I put 29000 kms on her and only had to shim the v/v"s at 25,000 km. Also changed sprockets after a few months. Sold it to a mate that is still riding it and it has not needed a rebuild as yet although he rides it rarely these days as he works on a Rig.
Would love another one for bashing around, just the health doesn't allow it.

I am  also weary of the Euro single cylinder bikes, except for the BMW's.   

[Rough Rider]

I don't understand why you guys are all weary of KTM's, put it into perspective, since 2001 the 660/690 platform won the Dakar every single time it was entered (except when Meoni won on the 950 in 2002). If that is not proof of durability then nothing is. Since then KTM have won every Dakar entered on their 450.

[KarooKid]

The thing with the Dakar is - the factory teams have fulltime mechanics at hand. After each stage (except the Marathon stages) they basically rebuild the whole bike.

Same as in Mountainbike racing. The pros have the lightest bikes and parts, but they get replaced very often.

If you are thus reliant on after sales service ,KTM in CT might not be your best option. They are about as reliable as the bikes themselves.

But I agree. Eddy2Race is your go-to place. Great service.

To give my opinion to Dan's question - If it was my only bike - I would go 701.  The bike is just a little more versatile. You'll have a warranty so if anything serious happens it should within that period.

Go with your gut feeling!!

[boland]

What does a new WR450 cost nowadays?

[Dwerg]

What does a new WR450 cost nowadays?

115k last time I checked

[Fransw]

What about the new Tenere 700 twin, 180kg wet weight...looking good!

[2StrokeDan]

I don't understand why you guys are all weary of KTM's, put it into perspective, since 2001 the 660/690 platform won the Dakar every single time it was entered (except when Meoni won on the 950 in 2002). If that is not proof of durability then nothing is. Since then KTM have won every Dakar entered on their 450.

I don't want a bike to last me 3 weeks/10 000kms, and that is with engine changes and mechanics swarming all over it every evening.
Your post would be true if KTM raced the Dakar on standard 450/690's. Instead they use bikes costing many times over what a 690 would cost.

[Whethefakawe]

Dan - I think the reliabuility issue is tied to the level of gee-whiz built into it. I think you do similar riding to me, and I would NEVER CONSIDER taking any of the "adventure bikes" post 2006 or so, on a really isolated trip. Anything with ABS, traction control, bumwarmer seat, sidestand cutout switch etc.....all just stuff that WILL leave you stranded. I wouldn't touch a GS 1200 or KTM 1190 with a barge pole for any hardcore trips, but that's me. Lotsa people do, and some regret it.

I think a WR or CRFX 450 would serve you well but it would work very hard on the open road.....a 65/690 would be ideal. Too bad Honda stopped making the XR 650 hey 

Always go for the less complex, less electronic bike when there's a choice to be made.

[2StrokeDan]

Dan, I think the WR with a cush would suit you a lot better. Besides, you can then keep on dissing all the bigger rides.

You are right about the reliability - My 2010 WR race bike is still purring beautifully. Wondering if I need to take it in before the Amgeza.
You are right about the recommended service intervals are too short.
You are right about the price.
Comfort? Not needed where you will be riding.
Top speed? Not an issue. As grolls said a 14-48 can fix that anyway (with a new chain slider every few of 000`s km.)

The 700 is a great bike, but its a lot of weight to throw about IMO. Not worth it unless you want to do 180 on the dirt.

Happy birthday on Saturday!

Thank you Neil!

[XT JOE]

Just enough jungle juice needed and we build a Banshee motor into a xt frame- freshen up the suspension and disc brakes front and rear and you can have a under 70 thou super dual sport. Fuel consumption might stuck but the smile factor off the chart.
Worst case scenario
2nd hand banshee R30000
2nd hand xt 600 R20000
Suspension & brakes superfox R10000 to R15000

Left over extra parts-between 7 and 10

Just the cost of engineering

On my bucket list

[2StrokeDan]

 

[IanTheTooth]

Just for interest I went and did my shopping trips in town on my newly legalized WR250f. It wasn't that comfortable, the 13/50 gearing runs out at 80km, the knobblies howled on the tar but even with knobs on the handling of such a light bike is pretty crisp and it certainly shoots off from the traffic lights so it was a bundle of fun even if I did have to put a padlock on it at every stop. However the thing that could really annoy you is when you are tootling along in traffic with the throttle just open:

JD website:
Yamaha WR250/WR450F Stutter Condition-
This is an ignition problem that Yamaha has designed into the bike to make the motor run cooler at light throttle and medium speeds. The stutter is VERY COMMON, and can sometimes be reduced by disconnecting the TPS electrical lead from your carburetor. The condition is most common on flat roads at light throttle positions, when producing under 10hp at the rear wheel. The stutter is harmless and will not affect the power under acceleration, if it is not too annoying, leave the bike as-is and just ride it. The problem is mostly noticed when riders want to do road riding with their bikes.

You never really notice it off road and even though your brain says ignore it I found it a pest.

[2StrokeDan]

Ian, yes, this is why a 250 would be too small for my purpose, and even a 450 could be borderline.

I know that I can gear the 450 to do 130 all day, but then, especially with the 5speed gearbox, the 1st gear ratio is too tall.

I have sort of settled on the Husky 701.

[dirt rat]

Been following this thread and I share the frustration. I do from time to time think of getting a light dualsport but I look at spec's and google issues
around this genre of bike and can honestly say that I cannot even get enthusiasm to drive to a dealer for a test ride.
The closest off the shelf bike that comes close is the 660z - big enough tank and somewhere to tie down kit but at a wet weight of 210 kg
I am too close to (don't laugh) my 1150 - de catted about 240kg. WTF.
As for the issue of reliability anyone rating a bike's reliability below riding at least more than 40000km on that same bike is really shooting blanks.
As for the 701 Clinton Pienaar mentioned that after his test ride that one of the rear indicators had melted off- no big deal but it makes you wonder
how much thought went in to the design of the rest of the bike.Also as with the 690 the tank size is a joke so factor the cost of sorting this out.
Point is that new a performance lightweight dualsport bike off the shelf is not really available today without throwing (a lot of?) money afterwards to
make it so.

 
 

[2StrokeDan]

Been following this thread and I share the frustration. I do from time to time think of getting a light dualsport but I look at spec's and google issues
around this genre of bike and can honestly say that I cannot even get enthusiasm to drive to a dealer for a test ride.
The closest off the shelf bike that comes close is the 660z - big enough tank and somewhere to tie down kit but at a wet weight of 210 kg
I am too close to (don't laugh) my 1150 - de catted about 240kg. WTF.
As for the issue of reliability anyone rating a bike's reliability below riding at least more than 40000km on that same bike is really shooting blanks.
As for the 701 Clinton Pienaar mentioned that after his test ride that one of the rear indicators had melted off- no big deal but it makes you wonder
how much thought went in to the design of the rest of the bike.Also as with the 690 the tank size is a joke so factor the cost of sorting this out.
Point is that new a performance lightweight dualsport bike off the shelf is not really available today without throwing (a lot of?) money afterwards to
make it so.

 
 

Good post, and a lot of sense spoken. On my first trip on my 690, 3 out of the 4 flickerlights came off. The left rear one dangling and damaging the Akrapovic carbon end can.
O dear.

[dirt rat]

Thanks Dan- maybe you should copy Jupiters trailer - buy a 1150 and tow a 450 till the gs can go no further ?

[DUSTRIDERS]

stopped making the XR 650 he

Spaar jouself baie geld en trane en koop n XR 650 R en bestel n happy button kit by Runner.
Gaan baie goedkoper wees as n 701/690 of 450. Die 450 gaan nie hou op die ooppad.

[lj111]

stopped making the XR 650 he

Spaar jouself baie geld en trane en koop n XR 650 R en bestel n happy button kit by Runner.
Gaan baie goedkoper wees as n 701/690 of 450. Die 450 gaan nie hou op die ooppad.

Weet jy van n 650R wat te koop is?