Finally, I think I may have a suitable bike lined up. Just been offered (by a very reliable source - a French colleague who is departing) - KTM 450 Exec - 1 year old - about 1000 miles on it.
So…if I put road tyres on it - would I be able to ride it home (About 3000 miles) in 2 years time? I can figures out the luggage bit - I appreciate I will have to change the oil every 1000 miles - but any reason why not?
Am presuming as a KTM it is uber reliable? Anything else to worry about?
I will be using it as a toy at weekends - and 1 day a week for commuting to work :w00t: on the world’s most dangerous roads.
The closer you force the bike to its limits the more maintenanceit will require to prevent it blowing up. But what a lovely looking off road thumper…thrash it - abuse it - make it scream for mercy and then ceremonially dispatch it tothe afterlife, collect on the insurance, take the train home, and buy a new citybike in a couple of years?
Bloody ell, comfort aside they have a service every 10 hours. My nephew has one and didn’t do it on time and he’s now looking for a new lump, good on you if you can pull it off but borrow a trailer if possible may be the better option.
All the best John
Used to use my 525 for big rides, would easily cover 300 miles and have no problems… 3,000 isnt a problem aslong as you can service it along the way and take about 10 days travelling :w00t:
It will do it no problem mate. Just sign up to ADVrider the yanks have videos on how to service it and what you need to maintain. oh oh excited for ya!
I have the “comfortable” get seal on my EXC, and I can’t sit on it longer than an hour at once before things start acking.
As said before, you’ll have to service it about 10 times during your ride (oil changes and filters every 3rd change). Are you easily going to find oil and filters on your route? You’ll probably need to do valve clearances a couple of times. And what if you find metal bits in one of the oil changes? Mine needs a rebuild after less than 1000 miles since its last. Maybe it’s bad luck, but with those engines you don’t know. If you are a very competent mechanic and happy to “improvise”, then maybe, but personally, I wouldn’t do it. On a 640 adventure or something, definitely, but not on an EXC.
Maybe I ride it to the dealer in Togo and p-x it on something more suitable? Or get very good at the maintenance before I go…loads of time to learn.
Loving the idea of wheels again though and being independent at weekends and not dependent on a useless twat of a driver who needs dash just to f*cking turn up…
I’m sure it’ll be loads of fun while your out there, so it may be a good plan to then px it to more of a touring bike (640 adventure, or a yamaha XT or something like that).
If you get it, definitely keep on top of oil changes, and get the engine checked out as soon as you suspect something. If it brakes, you may have to DHL the engine to Adz for a rebuild
Anyway - got a couple of years to prepare.
