I want it

"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch) 09/09/2020 at 22:47 • Filed to: None

5

22

I don’t need it, but I do want it.

KTM 390 adventure

small, light (ish) compact and affordable little runabout. I would use this as a tender for my Land Cruiser. Ride it up onto a rear tray, disappear into the wild in the Cruiser and use the KTM as a way to go places the cruiser can’t or go as quickly and comfortably then come home to basecamp. So many trails that a bike can do that you couldn’t or should do in a bigger vehicle.

I can’t justify getting one, but I would like to.

bob and john > HammerheadFistpunch 09/09/2020 at 22:59

0

they got SO close to good with this, and then fucked it by putting on cast wheels. 

HammerheadFistpunch > bob and john 09/09/2020 at 23:03

0

having not ever owned a bike, I can confidently say “THOSE BASTARDS!”

but what’ s the prefered alternative ? wire? forged?

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > HammerheadFistpunch 09/09/2020 at 23:08

2

I’ve been looking into the Honda CB500x. I think with some proper knobbies it could be the replacement for the Xt Someday. 

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > HammerheadFistpunch 09/09/2020 at 23:10

1

Wire spoke wheels. They handle sharp forces a lot better, and you can adjust the spoke’s tightness to “undo” what those forces do to the wheel. On a cast wheel, those same blows become stress cracks and the wheel tends to fail pretty catastrophically vs. spoked wheels just having a vibration or a slight wobble. Th e difference between getting home slowly and getting home at all.

DipodomysDeserti > HammerheadFistpunch 09/09/2020 at 23:10

2

You’d have to stay on fairly tame fire roads with that guy. Save $4-5k and grab a vintage dirtbike. I hear Yamaha made a pretty stout enduro masquerading as a dirtbike.

HammerheadFistpunch > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 09/09/2020 at 23:12

2

Thats kinda what I figured. I used to build bicycle wheels so I’d feel pretty comfortable with truing and repairing wire wheels, but I didn’t know if that was the current preference in bikes.

HammerheadFistpunch > DipodomysDeserti 09/09/2020 at 23:16

1

If I was to go that route I would get a something like a YZ250, lighter and even more nimble, but crap range.  The truth is I would never go much further than 30 miles from base camp, but it would be nice to have something street legal for extra versatility and the XT250 just doesn’t do it for me.  That being said, I could find one much cheaper and it would probably suit my riding ability better.

jminer > HammerheadFistpunch 09/09/2020 at 23:17

0

That is definitely a nice looking bike.

You might be better served by a 250 for your plans but I definitely can’t fault your desire, that sounds like a lot of fun.

HammerheadFistpunch > jminer 09/09/2020 at 23:20

0

yeah, a 250 does make a lot of sense, but I feel like you get a lot more bike for very little extra with something like this.  This is enough for solo adventures where I don’t need to break out the tank division, where a 250 would really only be usable in tote.

bob and john > HammerheadFistpunch 09/09/2020 at 23:25

0

the preference is what you are using it for.

road-racing? cast wheels all the way. Stiffer, better feed back, and lighter.

off-road? spokes allllll day. Take impacts better and can be fixed more easily .

HammerheadFistpunch > bob and john 09/09/2020 at 23:32

0

Truth, the reality is that per unit of weight a well made and true wire wheel is crazy strong. I remember when the solid carbon wheels made it into the bike (bicycle) scene in the 90's and it was all the hotness, they people realized they were stupid expensiv e, broke easily and didn’t have much real weight advantage. Everyone eventually went back to wire and it’ s still the standard. If you are super nerdy about building wheels, you can make them last and last. When I build them I tension them to a base tension based on a Kgf meter and a chart for spokes and cross and then I balance the tensions so they are all within 10% of each other while being true and round, and whenever I build a wheel this way I never true it again.

Goggles Pizzano > HammerheadFistpunch 09/09/2020 at 23:34

1

The stance; i t’s not like a N inja 250R. Nice.

Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 09/09/2020 at 23:38

1

That’s what my buddy did with his 500X. It’s a great all round bike. I found it quite light next to my 650 and very easy to ride.

I’ve mentioned many times that I could probably live with a small adv like this KTM the Versys-X or the 500X with storage  and a set of winters.

Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com > HammerheadFistpunch 09/09/2020 at 23:50

2

I really like that the small adv segment  is expanding. I’d rock one as a daily rider for commuting and small errands.

jminer > HammerheadFistpunch 09/10/2020 at 00:21

0

It would depend on how far you would want to go but yeah something like this is probably just barely light enough to put on your hitch while still being capable on its own.  

I’m partial to the cb500x as a middleweight all around bike (Disclaimer  I own one). There are a lot of interesting things happening in this segment too with our options growing almost every year.

DipodomysDeserti > HammerheadFistpunch 09/10/2020 at 00:44

1

I’ve had a couple of very clean YZ’s come up for sale near me, but they all came with “I know what I have” pricing. One of my neighbors restores old Suzuki GT’s, and it gives a hankering for a two stroke.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com 09/10/2020 at 01:33

1

I rode a friends KLR650 and it felt too heavy. And kinda slow. I mean way more power than my 200. But I think I have more fun on the 200 just because of its lightweight. I’d like to find a happy medium between the two. Hopefully with an engine that is a bit more exciting than the KLR’s tractor engine. It always had the power to accelerate, but it never felt like it wanted too. It wasn’t eager to be rev’ed. 

Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 09/10/2020 at 04:05

1

The Honda is roughly the same weight in actuality but it has more peaky power ~50 compared to 36bhp, it was a good scoot when I borrowed it. I’m used to 450lb and a wider 4- cylinder so it felt more svelte . The engine might be a tad more lively than the KLR but it’s typical modern Honda street mill; like the 300 and 650 it’s refined and linear to a fault.

I think the 300 Versys-X or the 390 Adventure might be better as the between. I never had an issue with the newer 300s on the road bar ring freeways + 80mph. They won’t rock your socks off but they go , anything under 60 they’re competent doodling around without a heavy wristing when solo .

AdverseMartyr > HammerheadFistpunch 09/10/2020 at 11:00

0

I...think you did a pretty good job justifying getting one. I mean did you read the paragraph you wrote prior to that last sentence?

HammerheadFistpunch > AdverseMartyr 09/10/2020 at 11:17

0

oh I know I can justify it to me.  It’s not me I need to convince.

onlytwowheels > bob and john 09/10/2020 at 11:30

0

I am certain spoke wheels will become available, either through accessories or as a separate model. I also envision a high mount off-road front fender accessory.

AdverseMartyr > HammerheadFistpunch 09/11/2020 at 01:31

0

Well, your dog would probably be a hard sell for any vehicle with a saddle.