We were able to continue for some 5,200 miles, but then it quit and the starter wouldn't engage at all. The first indication of this problem was a sharp metallic scraping noise noticed when starting the bike. The second time, we stopped to replace a worn starter part. A ride from upstate New York to a "nearby" KTM dealership, 100 miles away in Vermont, solved the problem handily. Fuel consumption averaged 41mpg, a number that undoubtedly rises dramatically in less fun-oriented driving modes, and without the excessive luggage we forced the 950 to carry.ĭuring the test, we made two unplanned service stops: the first, right at the beginning of our trip, was caused by vacuum hose power loss (between 4,000 - 5,000rpm) that was probably overlooked during the bike's 600-mile service at KTM. Its functionality remains constant even under heavy usage, and the gearbox always worked smoothly, never missing a shift throughout 20,000 miles of grueling testing. When the terrain gets tricky, the Magura hydraulic clutch also makes life very easy. Drifting around corners becomes a fascinating game, and only rarely did I miss the sudden punch and the light weight a single-cylinder machine provides - for instance, when the need to lift the front in a wheelie over an obstacle arises. Every twist on the throttle is perfectly transformed into acceleration. According to the specifications, the 950ccs produce 98hp, plenty of juice for the highway but what about gravel? As it turns out, the power delivery is predictable and linear, making the bike very easy to handle off-road, much easier than 98hp would indicate. This most "bearable lightness of being" was immediately evident when I first pushed the big bike around the parking lot. This helps keep the total weight down to only 436 pounds. The 128-pound, 75-degree V-twin is the lightest engine of its kind on the market. Ready-to-race suspension, spoke wheels, durable plastics, and a light package are the main ingredients to satisfy a committed off-road pleasure seeker but for everyone else, the truly critical question to answer may be: Can I take it grocery shopping? In other words, is this bike suitable for everyday use, too? The stainless steel exhaust emits a pleasant sound. "Producing bikes without compromises" is KTM's simple mission statement, and it's no wonder that the 950 Adventure is one of the most capable, off-road, twin-cylinder bikes available. We then roamed from Canada down to the border of Mexico, via Washington, Oregon, and California, traveling half of the way off-road. Finally, as winter approached, we did follow one recommendation: that of the Canadian geese - to go south. Another abandoned railway line, this time in British Columbia, provided more off-pavement excitement. Windscreen and hand guards provide sufficient wind protection.Īfter the Trans-America trip, we headed into Canada again. In fact, Sam Correro, the man who mapped the trail, recommends that the route is "Only for use with light, off-road, single-cylinder bikes." And there we were with two cylinders, a bit on the heavy side, and carrying lots of luggage to boot - clearly not the setup originally envisaged! But, true to its name, this capable orange machine mastered the whole adventure very well, and the off-road riding was so much fun, we were always looking for the next stretch of gravel. That description hardly does it justice, though. Not just an off-road expert, the 950 also showed good form with its highway capabilities - comfort and high-speed stability - from the northeast corner of the continent all the way to Tennessee, where we put it through more trials on the Trans-America Trail, an extremely tough, off-road traverse of some 4,800 miles to the coast of Oregon. All of the ties had been ripped out, and the KTM took the loose gravel, deep sand, and river crossings in stride, almost as though we were riding in the park. Our route took us through New England and into Newfoundland, where the bike had to undergo its first rough challenge, crossing the entire island on an abandoned railway line. Some of the toughest test rides North America has to offer anyone who isn't a motocross champion were waiting for us. And that's how Ramona and I treated it, taking it anywhere - and everywhere. Its name and concept, directly derived from the 950 model KTM used for the Paris - Dakar Rally, suggests that the KTM Adventure can take you anywhere. No, this is a bike meant to be ridden hard and pushed to the limits, wherever and whatever they might be. I thought, this is definitely not the bike you would buy for a Sunday outing to the next café, although it would certainly draw plenty of attention. It was standing there, all dressed-up in day-glow orange, seeming to stare, as though daring me, through its double headlights.
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