Contemtplating trading the rocket for a ktm 1290 adventure

[frank grivjack]

I love ADV riding and if I could only have one bike it would be an ADV of some sort. I have a Tiger 800XC and added a Rocket a couple months ago. If you just want to explore some fire roads, do some overnight campouts, etc, the KTM is overkill for your first ADV bike. You will drop it and beat it up, nature of the sport. Not to mention that the 1290 is a tall, heavy bike. I'd start with something smaller and much less expensive for your first ADV. Keep the Rocket and try a DR650 or KLR and see how much you enjoy the sport would be my advice. The price of either, used, won't break you. ADV bikes aren't like street bikes, there is a lot more differentiation between them, and too much weight or power, first time out especially, can get you in a lot of trouble.

I agree. Try and pick one up when it slides out from underneath you in the gravel. A lighter bike is a better first choice. Just my opinion (From experience)

 

[Robm422]

I've decided to keep the rocket, its just too bad-ass to let go!
I'll pay this off and then think about an adventure bike.

 

[Jag]

I've decided to keep the rocket, its just too bad-ass to let go!
I'll pay this off and then think about an adventure bike.

Good call 11 payments left and she's all mine. Maybe sooner!!

No replacement for displacement!

 

[Blackthou]

It's just a little bit satisfying and making that last payment and knowing you own her 100%. Doesn't really make a toot of differrence really but as I say, satisfying.

 

[TriumPhil]

I have all the adventure I could ever want with my 200 rwhp Rocket. If I had the need and the body to withstand offroad/dirtbiking I'd buy a bumber-mounted carrier or small trailer, a small (400cc or less) dedicated dirt bike, drive to where I want to give it a go and have at it.

My sense is that most of the 1,000+cc adventure bikes rarely see the type of trail riding that their owners imagined or intended both because of the cost of acquisition and the potential expense of likely repairs if used significantly offroad, not to mention the impracticality of having an immediately accessible second set of wheels/tires for the really fun stuff.

Maybe, I'm wrong, but I think that the recent proliferation of "do it all" bikes is a trend that won't have particularly long legs. Most of the current major motorcycle mags seem to disagree with my hunch, but then again they are essentially in the business of pushing what the manufacturers want to sell to their respective marks.

 

[gra53]

Big dirt bike. No thanks.

Exactly, I bought a GSA when they first come out, not a lot of fun on anything tight, the lighter the better.

 

[Chris Kelley]

I've decided to keep the rocket, its just too bad-ass to let go!
I'll pay this off and then think about an adventure bike.

Gonna get myself a nice and cheap DR 650 after tax season. See if I actually like the dirt and then decide where I want to go from there.

 

[Brenna1960]

Great advice, I really need to think this through some more.

When I grow up I wanna be a dirt bike....oh wait no I mean I wanna be a street bike. Oh I'm so confused and UGLY! just my opinion

 

[IdahoRenegade]

Gonna get myself a nice and cheap DR 650 after tax season. See if I actually like the dirt and then decide where I want to go from there.

If you can, try to score one where someone has already gone through the suspension and put in cartridge emulators in the forks and a Gold Valve in the shock. Makes a huge difference, the stock suspension is fairly lacking.

I'm toying with the idea of adding a KTM 690 Enduro or Husky 701 to the collection in a couple years.

 

[Chris Kelley]

If you can, try to score one where someone has already gone through the suspension and put in cartridge emulators in the forks and a Gold Valve in the shock. Makes a huge difference, the stock suspension is fairly lacking.

I'm toying with the idea of adding a KTM 690 Enduro or Husky 701 to the collection in a couple years.

I'll keep an eye out.