I haven't been updating much here lately.
I did not want to jinx it before the money was in my account. And it is still not but thought there could be some good inputs from the guys following here.
But first background:
On the last trip I had a few harder than normal falls, and broke the frame.
So, I have literally broken everything on this bike except for the frame, and I have told my wife before that the frame is the last weak link of the 2013 bike I am glad I haven't had to deal with. They were strengthened in 2014.
Well, I had that now. And I said screw that, insurance claim. Bike is totaled.
This afternoon I will be taking out the rotveiler intake and some more stuff before they fetch it. Its been a very tough decision, But its time to move on
I have been a chameleon on a smartiebox on what to do. Buy back, fix and sell or fix and abuse or fix and make it a road bike.
But I am a little tired of working on it, plus there is a mechanical lifter or something I can hear in the engine when its cold, and I do not want to work in the engine.
Anyhow, I sold the Harley as well so now I almost have an open budget on what to get next.
Did I mention smartiebox deurmekaar….
so where I have been going wrong with the bike is the once yearly trips to Lesotho. Its simply to big and gets abused to much. but that's once a year. I am perfectly willing to do the same with a 1290 or LC with Sport suspension as well. But I will then have to continue buying spares and fixing them up. Lets call that option 1
2 - 790R. This is my first option and probably what I will be doing. The problem is that I refuse to pay 200k for a 790 cc bike when I can get perfectly good 1290 2017 models as well as LC rally with sport suspencion 2017 for R170k class money. This is the issue, they need to become secondhand.
3 - get a 990 and ride it for a year or two and then get a 790. But call me hard headed, I am not paying 1190 class money for a 990. In my mind its the inferior bike, you wont convince me otherwise. But there is options out there to explore and to do this.
4 - I really like the triumph 900. They have more low down grunt now. Its slightly less technical than 790 but more touring ready, which fits my kind of riding better. It will require suspension work though and they are R215k new. reviews are great and I do like gadgets and something exceptional.
remember 1290/LC getting running repairs due to abuse will still be cheaper than the depreciation on a new bike.
oh and the frame break, just google ktm 1190 adventure frame break or crack, it should be one of the first pictures. I will put up more detail when the money is in my account