[Lee R]

Look cool, but I have 0 interest unless they come up with a reliable DCT type tranny that doesnt have gremlins

Same, I love the DCT in mine. It’s great off-road too. The only thing I’ve found it harder to do is pop wheelies and with that if you wanted to hop a significant log, maybe you might not get quite the wheel lift you wanted, but it’s so overpowered for off-road i doubt it. The fact that you can just forget the clutch, forget shifting and just focus on riding, seeing obstacles etc is fantastic for technical riding, and you can’t stall it.

I really don’t want any bikes without DCT now.

 

[Snags451]

Same, I love the DCT in mine. It’s great off-road too. The only thing I’ve found it harder to do is pop wheelies and with that if you wanted to hop a significant log, maybe you might not get quite the wheel lift you wanted, but it’s so overpowered for off-road i doubt it. The fact that you can just forget the clutch, forget shifting and just focus on riding, seeing obstacles etc is fantastic for technical riding, and you can’t stall it.

I really don’t want any bikes without DCT now.

Completely agree. I will say, I keep my AT almost exclusively on the road. I dont love the weight and lack of clutch control in the woods as much as I love the DCT on the road. I'd rather get the dirt bikes out if the goal is to get dirty. The difficulty lifting the front end can be problematic in the woods

 

[Dado]

Same, I love the DCT in mine. The only thing I’ve found it harder to do is pop wheelies

 

[Notthemama]

Same, I love the DCT in mine. It’s great off-road too. The only thing I’ve found it harder to do is pop wheelies and with that if you wanted to hop a significant log, maybe you might not get quite the wheel lift you wanted, but it’s so overpowered for off-road i doubt it. The fact that you can just forget the clutch, forget shifting and just focus on riding, seeing obstacles etc is fantastic for technical riding, and you can’t stall it.

I really don’t want any bikes without DCT now.

I totally agree, I'm sure other manufacturers are watching the sales of the DCT.
Remember when toyota brought out the prius lots of manufacturers stuck there nose up at it.
Now most of the manufacturers have a hybrid in their showrooms. People just had to try them to realise how good they were. I never thought I'd own a DCT motorcycle, now the thought of buying a bike without it seem like I'd be going backwards. I also remember the good old 2 stroke days.......aaaah scratch and sniff.

 

[Kiwikid]

All things pro’s v’s cons of a Husqy/KTM aside (and the headlight 😂), this Expedition version is some major competition to the AT? Price point and features (inc heated seat etc) make it strong imo.

https://www.husqvarna-motorcycles.com/en-gb/models/travel/norden-901-expedition2023.html

View attachment 80020

Reliability? That my first question. I know my 2016 AT is rock solid, it is especially now with a few upgrades and additions; mainly for protection. Can the 901 cruise at 80 mph for 10 to 12 hours a day for 3 straight days then hit mountain trails and single tracks without missing a beat? I do not know. I know my AT can, consistently.

 

[Mastercore]

So they give it a centre stand, a heated seat and some small looking bags (attached to frames) and all of a sudden it is an 'expedition'. You can pay another £1200 and get a heavy duty wheelset (why not fit a proper heavy duty wheelset as standard? Is the standard one not up to the task?) The only expedition these will go on (in the UK at any rate) is to the local Tesco or Starbucks, or perhaps a weekend away in the Lake District.

It does sometimes feel that way. I would rather get the stocker and pimp it for expedition myself.

 

[bombim]

The competition got stiffer? They must really, really, really be attracted to the AT.

 

[Svendus]

I totally agree, I'm sure other manufacturers are watching the sales of the DCT.
Remember when toyota brought out the prius lots of manufacturers stuck there nose up at it.
Now most of the manufacturers have a hybrid in their showrooms. People just had to try them to realise how good they were. I never thought I'd own a DCT motorcycle, now the thought of buying a bike without it seem like I'd be going backwards. I also remember the good old 2 stroke days.......aaaah scratch and sniff.

the quick shifter on Aprilla 660 Tourerec works well up and downshift.

 

[Dirtryder]

KTM Kepp Two Mechanics. But Two can’t even keep that KTM junk running. I don’t see how they sell it I bet there are two 890’s come up for sale on ADV every week with less than 500 miles on them. Don’t take them long to figure it’s junk i guess.

 

[irsh]

KTM Kepp Two Mechanics. But Two can’t even keep that KTM junk running. I don’t see how they sell it I bet there are two 890’s come up for sale on ADV every week with less than 500 miles on them. Don’t take them long to figure it’s junk i guess.

In my personal experience with the KTM I owned (1290), they make an exceptional motorcycle.

 

[Mastercore]

Do you feel the shift?

Chinese and Vietnamese motorcycles of the 2020s and beyond will be the Japanese bikes of the 1980s and on.

The former will just get better and better, and the latter will become worse and worse value for money.

We may be able to take this one step further and say the the Japanese bikes of the 1980s and on were the European and US bikes of the 1950s.
I know they still exist, but how many of them are made wholy made in these lands, and how much of their prices are just latent prestige?

 

[Dirtryder]

In my personal experience with the KTM I owned (1290), they make an exceptional motorcycle.

You’re riding a Honda now so that tells us what we need to know. You got rid of it before it broke.

 

[DoubleThumper]

You’re riding a Honda now so that tells us what we need to know. You got rid of it before it broke.

Some Hondas have their off days too.

Any personal KTM ownership experience tips @Dirtryder?

 

[Dirtryder]

I’ve had two a 525 and 500. Didn’t keep them
Long. I’ve rode and raced with a bunch. I’ve never rode with a 690 that didn’t break down on the ride. People buy those things thinking they are a little more dirt oriented and they are. But you still have to get there.

 

[swimmer]

I know it’s assembled in Japan. I‘m just speculating, a bit sarcastically (but unfortunately probably somewhat true) that most of the parts are made in china and shipped to japan for assembly. Honda is a big business and I’m sure they love profit margins like all of them. That’s one of the cheapest places to have those parts made. Honda only says made of domestic and globally sourced parts.

I’d be happy to know it was all made in Japan but I highly doubt it with global parts supply. Assembled yes.

I would love it if they cast every casing, welded every frame and produced all the electronics in Japan but I’d be shocked if that was actually the case with the global supply chain.

That said we pay for the Honda brand name and I have no doubt anything made there is being closely watched for quality control. China can produce the highest quality stuff when a brand wants that.

If you have to buy any replacement parts it says right on the package where they are made. In my experience you won't find many Chinese made parts on the AT. I bought an OEM filter from my dealer a couple of weeks ago and those are now made in China. Previously US made. I am sure the quality is fine but I won't be using OEM filters any more.

 

[irsh]

You’re riding a Honda now so that tells us what we need to know. You got rid of it before it broke.

Yes, the Honda dealer wanted my used KTM more than he wanted the new Honda taking up floor space.

Though I will admit, I'm a "Honda-guy" since my Q50 at 7 years old.

 

[akitatwin]

I did a test ride on an 890 Adventure today, they didn't want to let me ride their only 901 in stock. It's shocking how light it feels despite weighing only 20 kg less than the AT, it really feels like a dirt bike between your legs. But compared to my AT it felt and rattled like a plastic toy and its lightness was a disadvantage on the highway.

 

[Cuchulainn]

I did a test ride on an 890 Adventure today, they didn't want to let me ride their only 901 in stock. It's shocking how light it feels despite weighing only 20 kg less than the AT, it really feels like a dirt bike between your legs. But compared to my AT it felt and rattled like a plastic toy and its lightness was a disadvantage on the highway.

I have found the 890 every bit as stable as the 2019 ATAS I owned even at speeds in excess of 100. No rattles definitely didn't feel at all "like a plastic toy." On mountain passes and twisties, it felt far more planted than the ATAS. Impressions vary from rider to rider I suppose.

 

[akitatwin]

I have found the 890 every bit as stable as the 2019 ATAS I owned even at speeds in excess of 100. No rattles definitely didn't feel at all "like a plastic toy." On mountain passes and twisties, it felt far more planted than the ATAS. Impressions vary from rider to rider I suppose.

Never ridden a '19 ATAS, so I can't really compare, and there are no mountains within a day's travel for me. I'm sure the 890 does better in such corners. But I never had any problems with how my AT handles corners on the street. It's slow to turn, but feels very stable when leaned.

For commuting and highway, I just didn't see what I would gain by switching bikes. The 890 did not feel significantly smaller when filtering tight openings at traffic lights.

And I had forgotten how good DCT feels and why I had gotten in in the first place.

The test ride turned out to be a good thing for my appreciation of my Honda.

 

[Dudley]

lol - I wonder if the initial Transalps had similar issues like Ducati or some Moto Guzzis?

I have a 1989 Transalp that I've ridden solo on many remote rides. I would think hard about taking it around the world in place of my ATAS!