What would one ride half way around the world?

[R.Markus]

While I really like my Adventure, I wouldn't take it for a RTW bike. There is way too much maintenance for that. The bike absolutely rips and is fun as hell to ride, but everytime I park it I find another worn hose or elecrical wire to replace. Everytime I leave on a trip I have to change the oil and do a valve inspection (and put on new tires), when I get back it is time for another valve inspection, oil change, a new set of tires (even though I changed them again half way through the trip), and a hard look at the hoses and wiring.

KTM builds awesome performing bikes, but they do suffer on the reliability end. This is not a problem if you keep a close eye on everything.

[Johnny Monsoon]

Good point. Perhaps that is why I rarely have problems? While I prefer a more performance oriented machine I rarely run it at it's maximum potential. In all my years/bikes I have never had an engine failure. I have had to replace many parts, but the wore out and I made the needed repairs before it left me stranded.

What have been the problems with the adventures? I haven't really paid attention.

Weak bottom end; catastrophic failure.  The limited oil capacity seems to me, to be the root of this (though they double filter it).  I think they just didn't plan well for extended riding duration cycles.  The bikes with larger oil capacities tend to live longer.

[XLR8]

So what about those Dakar KTMs though? Are they flying in new engines every other day during the race? They seem to do pretty well. I'm not trying to be a smart ass I am really wondering.

[black hills]

So what about those Dakar KTMs though? Are they flying in new engines every other day during the race? They seem to do pretty well. I'm not trying to be a smart ass I am really wondering.

That is what I was thinking too? They have dominated Dakar since their first year. So much so that most the competition just quit. I don't know the rules for the Dakar but if it is similar to ISDE, they aren't going to be putting out a fresh bike every morning. Questions, Questions, Questions......

[R.Markus]

That is what I was thinking too? They have dominated Dakar since their first year. So much so that most the competition just quit. I don't know the rules for the Dakar but if it is similar to ISDE, they aren't going to be putting out a fresh bike every morning. Questions, Questions, Questions......

They do have mechanics that specifically tear the bikes apart and work on them all night after the race every day. A guy finished the Dakar this year in a "mostly stock" 640 Adventure without any major mechanical issues.

I'm also not saying that the 640 is hugely unreliable. It's main issue is vibration. The large tank sits tightly over the frame (and hoses/wires) and rubs on everything. Periodic inspections and preventative maintenance (I just got done cutting up an old heavy duty tube and wrapping and taping it around some radiator hoses for added protection) will go a long way on these bikes.

The main reason I say it is not a RTW world bike is the maintenance schedule. Also, the bike has 2 oil filters to change every time, has 3 drain plugs, 2 places to put back a pre-measured amount of oil, and then you need to bleed the oil system when you're done. Valve inspection / adjustments are scheduled to be done every 3000 miles. A new or rebuilt water pump will be needed every 10 - 14K miles (although this is a preventative measure based on other people's experiences with it going bad around this time frame). This all adds up to a lot of extra maintenance time and a lot of extra parts to carry around on your trips. Hell, I struggle with these issues on my vacations that are ~6000 miles.

[bluesurf]

The main reason I say it is not a RTW world bike is the maintenance schedule.

A factor, certainly, but not one that stopped Uwe and Ramona.  They rode their 640's darn near everywhere rtw, primarily unsupported save what they carried on the bikes.

[Global Rider]

Thinking about embarking a long journey into buying/equipping a bike to travel an insane amount miles on?
Hints, suggestions, solutions, ideas, lets hear them.

Well North America and Europe are halfway around the world, so any reliable and comfortable street bike will do.

You didn't say where? Halfway "here" and halfway "there" can be two totally different things.