Touring the country on a KTM Duke 690?

[Cafe Racer]

What do you folks think?

I need something to take me "way over there" and then back to California.  Have considered the big KTMs but I also need the bike to be a light, quick, City bikewhen I get back to San Francisco.

I dont want a KLR or Honda or Suzuki... great bikes but not for me.  

Miguel

[Rogue]

Heck!  Tour on whatever you have!  

Your only limit will be speed and luggage choices.

[Frankienuckles]

I don't know about the 690 Duke, but I own a 640 Duke and while it is an awsome backroad bike there is no way I'd want to tour on it. Very small gas tank, 3500 mile valve ajd. intervals and it shakes like a paint mixer. A lot of fun on a twisty back road though.

[OrangeSVS]

No, you can't sport tour on a Duke 690.

They're all going to laugh at you.

[Orson]

I rented a Honda dual sport bike in Sri Lanka for a few days.

Holy kwap that seat wuz hard  



I can't imagine riding across the U.S. on that bench. I think I'd quit riding altogether if that wuz my only bike option.

[MisterSmooth]

Only if you can get a buddy to join you on a Ducati Hypermotard.     Barking.  


I can't speak to touring, although I've toured on an R1 and a Mille R with no problems.  You can tour on anything if you're not overly fussy about comfort.

But...in San Francisco?  690 Duke would be AWESOME!  Bring it on!  

[servicerifle]

The big KTM is light and quick.

I'm not a KTM owner (yet) but I think that 690 is going to kill you on maintenance.  

[garry]

I would be looking at a KTM 990 SMT for a longer trip like that. Still light and sporty (not as light as a 690 though), but the 990 will be much nicer on long days.

[919]

If it makes you happy and you really want it, no one on here should be able to talk you out of it.

Seat is uncomfortable? that's ok because the tank is small, there will be plenty of stops.  Wear padded bicycle shorts under your pants, or get a better seat / cover.  Plan a little extra time so that the fuel stops don't blow up your timetable.

luggage options?  Strap a bag to the tank and the tail and go.

buzziness? can you deal with it?

I guess the best thing to do is to get yourself a test ride and see if you can live with all reasons it wouldn't make a good "sport-tourer".  It sounds like you're in the same boat as me, can't afford or not enough room for multiple bikes, you want something to have fun on short stuff around home but when the travel bug bites you want to go without too much fuss.  You are the only one who can make that decision.

The KTM Duke 690 makes me drool too BTW.    

[birdrunner]

I'd opt for a 690 Enduro  (dual sport)  and either get a back up set of rims with street tires,  or settle for a street orienated dual sport tire.   Getting a Corbin or other comfortable saddle for it is a must.

If I wasn't touring with my wife, I'd seriously consider this myself.   700 CC is  plenty of power.

Several professional bike mag. writers have actually used their own money to buy one of these.  

[DogBoy]

The big KTM is light and quick.

I'm not a KTM owner (yet) but I think that 690 is going to kill you on maintenance.  

The 690 models have pretty long maintenance intervals for high performance single. Similar to a low performance bike like a DR650.

[cyclopathic]

do you have one or planning to buy one for the trip?

do you plan to stay on pave or will take long routes on dirt roads?

either way range will be concern as soon as you get out of densely populated areas. Even with 150mi per tank range there are some places where you wouldn't be risking to pass on gas station at 70mi mark.

if it were me I'd pick Versys or 650 Vstrom.

[zigzag]

I rode my Yammie XT600 from L.A. to Belize. And back. 8000+ miles. Of course I was 24 at the time. A 690 Duke would have been a luxury.  

[Fourstring]

I toured on a Burgman 400 with a 3 gallon tank. Duke 690? Homina homina...

[Justin]

Yes you can - but can you comfortably? That is the subjective part. Me, I could not now, maybe back when I was young and skinny though.

[Spanky]

Only after installing an electric windscreen, hard bags, and a shaft drive. Oh, and you will need a County-approved weight certificate after the modifications are complete. If you are stopped while touring the country without any of the above by a certified STN representative, you will be dealt with harshly and chastised over the internet for at least 3 pages. If you can deal with these criteria, then I say go ahead and spend your hard earned money on whatever makes you happy!  

[Castaway]

if it were me I'd pick Versys or 650 Vstrom.

Even though you've already counted out Suzukis and Kawis, but these two bikes make more sense, IMO. They'll be more comfortable, provide greater range, have more dealer support out in the middle of nowhere in an emergency, and still be good city bikes. I'd also throw in the SV650.

[MisterSmooth]

Even though you've already counted out Suzukis and Kawis, but these two bikes make more sense, IMO. They'll be more comfortable, provide greater range, have more dealer support out in the middle of nowhere in an emergency, and still be good city bikes. I'd also throw in the SV650.

Well, yeah.  But the 690 Duke is sex on a stick.  

You're not gonna head out to the garage for midnight eyeball tryst with your VStrom.    The Strom is meant to be a great tool (and it is) but it's not really a looker.

[SoCalFJR]

You must be younger than 25 to even ponder this...... there are things that CAN be done......and then there are missions where you wonder if they SHOULD be done.  I've tried to do 30 miles of freeway on a brand new 1983 XL600 with one of those 2x4 seats, and after 30 minutes I was in so much pain I couldn't take it. Add to that a peanut tank with a refill every 100 miles and your misery index will be off the chart in less than a day. But hey that's just me........if you wanna do it go for it.  From years of hard experience I can tell you things that seem fine while you're watching the flat panel with a brew, tend to be a lot less fun when your shiny light KTM is trailing smoke out in Kansas 400 miles from the nearest dealer.  On those days reality sucks....... .....  

[Orson]

to be honest, 90%* of the people egging you on to ride a dirt bike across the country are doing so to sate their sadistic side.

* Not intended to be a factual statement.