Hey Gang,
I'm not seeing a lot of recent posts and so I thought I'd throw out some barnyard philosophy about the 690e, My Harley, and the up and coming 2015 KTM 1290 Super Adventure hoping to steer up some conversation. There's different strokes for different folks. Tragically, I require them all. Its just my lot in life. Let's start with the Harley.
1. The Harley - My 2012 Softail Deluxe is a truly great road bike. The counter-balanced 103 engine is truly a great advancement in man's quest for the ultimate two-wheel riding experience while looking cool. The screaming eagle stage one air system (with software fuel mapping update) along with the Cobra Long Shots makes this big beastie of a bike the sweetest long-distance cruiser I have ever ridden. I won't be running the Tail of the Dragon on it. But it has the stereo, the radar weather data enabled GPS, and the sound. 45mpg. Nuff said.
2. My 2014 KTM 690 Enduro R - I'm not going to blow smoke up your ass. This is the greatest motorcycle of all time. If they wuz to let me into heaven riding a motorcycle, then this would be the bike I'd take. Who knows what kind of terrain they got up there? Could be hilly, and I'm suspicious as to how much pavement they got up there. The 690 Enduro R is my go-to bike for all things unknown in this world, and so I figure it would be my go-to bike for everything unknown in the next. As the 690e is the swiss army knife of bikes, I'm currently running it in 'commuter mode' meaning I'm running K-60 scout tires and a 16-tooth front sprocket. Still got power wheelies in second and third. Blistering acceleration of course. Top speed estimated at 115mph although 105 is as far as I've taken it. (Haven't installed a steering damper yet) Time to reconfigure with a 15-tooth front sprocket and what's left of my original knobbies: 20 minutes with a spare wheel set. 60mpg and I'm not taking it easy either. Smooth as a baby's butt with the PHDS and green elastomers. Especially after I took her out on the open interstate and hammered the crap out of that engine well after I was certain it was thoroughly broken in, serviced, and running fresh oil. Just an hour of kicking that mule hard reduced vibration substantially. The greatest motorcycle of all time. I think I'll drop back to the 15-tooth sprocket and keep running the K-60 scout tires if its the heaven scenario. Hmmmmmmm.
3. The up and coming 2015 KTM 1290 Super Adventure - Yup, for those of you who haven't heard, KTM is putting that monster 150bhp engine from the super duke onto the adventure chassis and rolling it out with all the electronic bullo-crappo you could eeeeever dream of. They're giving it a serious gas tank, which is good considering it only will get about 37mpg, but it will be the supreme luxury touring bike of all time. I'll be getting mine in May of next year. But make no mistake. It will replace neither the Harley or the 690e. Each bike has its niche and each bike is great in its own way. But the engine from the super duke on an adventure bike chassis? Pant-pant-pant. Yum yum.
Be well, and remember: I'm out there.