Bike Selection
For the adventure we are taking the following bikes;
Tony is riding a 2010 KTM690R Enduro
Hein is riding a 2007 Suzuki DR650SE
Morgan is riding a 2010 Suzuki DR650SE
Rudi is riding a 2010 KTM450EXC
Andy is riding a 2009 KTM400EXC
The three larger bikes (KTM690R & two Suzuki DR650SE) riding the entire distance are Big Bore single cylinders bikes. They have been chosen for its weight advantages over larger twin cylinders due to the terrain the bikes will have to tackle. As Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman found in Mongolia (“The Long Way Round”), its not fun trying to ride a fully laden 300+ kilo bike in sand, let alone trying to pick it up after they have been dropped (unladen BMW R1150 is 276.5 kilos with fuel & equipment before camping equipment, tools, clothing etc).
There is an amusing blog/article (http://blog.ridermagazine.com/tag/690-enduro-r/) in the Riders Magazine by Arden Kysely entitled “Dueling Dual-sports” which compares a KTM 690r single cylinder to a BMW F800GS twin cylinder (a much smaller brother to what Ewan & Charlie rode) and it describes the differences eloquently;
“KTM 690: The lightness of a single cylinder with minimalist features
F800GS: The weight of a twin and all the amenities
KTM 690: Off pavement (off-road) its like swimming in a speedo, running in track shoes
F800GS: Off pavement (off-road) Swimming in board shorts, running in cross-trainers
KTM 690: I think I’ll pull a wheelie…NOW!
F800GS: You say the front end comes up?
KTM 690: Drop it, pick it up
F800GS: Drop it, look for help
KTM 690: This bivvy sack sucks
F800GS: No worries, I brought the BIG tent
KTM 690: This ground is hard
F800GS: This Kermit chair is comfy
KTM 690: Where’s the gas station?
F800GS: Who cares? I can go another 80 miles
KTM 690: Ticket wick
F800GS: Let that hooligan on the 690 get the tickets
KTM 690: Trail runner
F800GS: Cross-country runner
F800GS: I could ride this to Alaska!
KTM 690: I suppose I could ride this to Alaska
F800GS: Where do I put the kitchen sink?
KTM 690: Where do I put my sleeping bag?
F800GS: Get your motor running, get out on the highway
KTM 690: Get your motor running, stay off of the highway
F800GS: I’m 35 again!
KTM 690: I’m 18 again!
F800GS: Upstanding member of society
KTM 690: Evil twin
F800GS: Single malt whisky
KTM 690: Tequila shooters
F800GS: You’d marry this one
KTM 690: But you’d date this one first”
