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Ducati vs Triumph vs adventure bike

lankydoug

lankydoug

Husqvarna
Pro Class
I've been taking a serious look at these bikes and I'm kinda torn between the Scramblers and an adventure bike.

Ducati vs Triumph

6 speed 5 speed
75 hp 58 hp
Brembo Nissin
400 lbs 500 lbs
$9k $11k

The Triumph has more of the 60s look but both are FI modern and I'm pretty sure could have the exhaust catalyst removed and tuned for a bit more power.

I haven't been on a street bike for more than a ride around the block on friends new bikes in 30 years. I'm thinking of a bike for a 50 mile 1 way 5-6 day per week commute to a job. (a fun way to save on fuel from my 14 mpg 4x4) The dirt biker in me keeps looking toward adventure bikes thinking I might get double use out of it.

If anybody has some experienced based suggestions, I like to hear them
 
LandofMotards said:
No experience but some awesome choices! What adv bike would you be looking at?
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The KTM 990 is along the lines of the other way to go.
http://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/ktm-990/ke1967.html

My commute will be 25 miles of interstate Hwy speed limit 70 mph so I'd probably be doing closer to 80mph then I exit and do 25 miles of windy 2 lane rural blacktop with no shoulder and very few access roads. Deer and farm driveways are the biggest potential hazards on the 2 lane.

I thinking to stay away from a 450 single for fear of taxing it too much on the interstate.
 
lankydoug said:
The KTM 990 is along the lines of the other way to go.
http://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/ktm-990/ke1967.html

My commute will be 25 miles of interstate Hwy speed limit 70 mph so I'd probably be doing closer to 80mph then I exit and do 25 miles of windy 2 lane rural blacktop with no shoulder and very few access roads. Deer and farm driveways are the biggest potential hazards on the 2 lane.

I thinking to stay away from a 450 single for fear of taxing it too much on the interstate.
Click to expand...
Love that 990 just wish theyd do a 690 version:) definitely one extreme to another on choices, good luck to you :)
 
LandofMotards said:
Love that 990 just wish theyd do a 690 version:) definitely one extreme to another on choices, good luck to you :)
Click to expand...
Ya, the thing is the adventure bike is an extra $5k and if I didn't use it in the dirt it would be a waste. I also need to consider the maintenance intervals. I can do all of my own work but still would rather not be rebuilding it every couple years.

I had a Yamaha 650 special back in 1981 and rode it like I rode my YZ125.. wide open everywhere lol. The newer bikes are better IMO and I'm not one to look back with fondness of the "good old days" .
 
Buell Ulysses can be had for 4-5K in great shape, are light, get great mileage and are cool to some. Just food for thought if you are adventurous.
 
Motosportz said:
Buell Ulysses can be had for 4-5K in great shape, are light, get great mileage and are cool to some. Just food for thought if you are adventurous.
Click to expand...
Thanks, I'll check them out. Pvduke had some Ducati bikes and was hoping for his input but he hasn't been around the Cafe lately.
 
I had a Duc Hypermotard I did everything with. Commute, weekend trips, and just plain screwing around which it did best. Great fun but not a cheap bike to maintain. A clutch and tires has you looking at $1K, then there are the valve adjustments and belts. If you don't do this yourself it adds up fast. If your going to ride it a lot maybe not the best choice if $$ is a concern. And this was the simple DS1100 air cooled motor. Kelly has a good point, the Ulysses are pretty cool in there own way. Actually work very well when setup. They vibe like hell at idle but smooth at speed. I may get one in the future myself. That new Yamaha triple is interesting too.
 
Also, new Vtwins don't run their best due to the lean mapping. Count on mods to be happy and that's not as easy as it used to be either. I had an open loop race ECU, LV exhaust, and stacks with filters to replace the tiny airbox and it was a different bike. Running temp dropped 30 dregs! You don't notice this as much with I4s and the Triples as they are naturally smoother.
 
GMP said:
I had a Duc Hypermotard I did everything with. Commute, weekend trips, and just plain screwing around which it did best. Great fun but not a cheap bike to maintain. A clutch and tires has you looking at $1K, then there are the valve adjustments and belts. If you don't do this yourself it adds up fast. If your going to ride it a lot maybe not the best choice if $$ is a concern. And this was the simple DS1100 air cooled motor. Kelly has a good point, the Ulysses are pretty cool in there own way. Actually work very well when setup. They vibe like hell at idle but smooth at speed. I may get one in the future myself. That new Yamaha triple is interesting too.
Click to expand...


The buell has a lifetime drive belt, hydraulic no adjust valves and an air cooled motor. Very little maintenance. :thumbsup:
 
GMP said:
I had a Duc Hypermotard I did everything with. Commute, weekend trips, and just plain screwing around which it did best. Great fun but not a cheap bike to maintain. A clutch and tires has you looking at $1K, then there are the valve adjustments and belts. If you don't do this yourself it adds up fast. If your going to ride it a lot maybe not the best choice if $$ is a concern. And this was the simple DS1100 air cooled motor. Kelly has a good point, the Ulysses are pretty cool in there own way. Actually work very well when setup. They vibe like hell at idle but smooth at speed. I may get one in the future myself. That new Yamaha triple is interesting too.
Click to expand...
If you don't mind my asking what did the valve adjustment usually cost? The Ducati Scrambler data says maintenance intervals at 18k miles. I noticed the higher powered 4 valve engines were around 12k miles.

Which Yamaha triple model are you suggesting?

I guess if it was only about saving money there are a crapload of used Honda Shadow category bikes out there with low miles for around $2,500-$3,500

My biggest objection the cruiser street bikes these days is the foot pegs are clear up at the front not under the rider so that you can weight them to maneuver. The flat track, enduro or supermoto would suit my dirt bike brain.
 
I've got a Buell XB9 City Cross and a Duc 1100 Hypermotard. GMP raises good points about the cost of getting the Duc to run right and maintain. On top of that there is all the CF and billet bling to tart up the Duc. My Buell has it's share of unnecessary mods but it is just about the most reliable and low maintenance bike I've owned. Despite the lack of outright power it sounds like a Harley flattracker and will hold it's own on a twisty road. I think my Buell had more "soul" than my Duc!
 
lankydoug said:
Are you talking about the Buell Ulysses?
Click to expand...


Yes.

2008_Buell_Ulysses_XB12XT_4.jpg
 
lankydoug said:
I've been taking a serious look at these bikes and I'm kinda torn between the Scramblers and an adventure bike.

Ducati vs Triumph

6 speed 5 speed
75 hp 58 hp
Brembo Nissin
400 lbs 500 lbs
$9k $11k

The Triumph has more of the 60s look but both are FI modern and I'm pretty sure could have the exhaust catalyst removed and tuned for a bit more power.

I haven't been on a street bike for more than a ride around the block on friends new bikes in 30 years. I'm thinking of a bike for a 50 mile 1 way 5-6 day per week commute to a job. (a fun way to save on fuel from my 14 mpg 4x4) The dirt biker in me keeps looking toward adventure bikes thinking I might get double use out of it.

If anybody has some experienced based suggestions, I like to hear them
Click to expand...

Scrambler? Move to the front of the line please .. Scramblers have history ... ADV bikes have .... , .... (KTM?)...
--

I rode a 883 harley to work on occasions for the same reasons you mentioned above about work ... It worked out but really sucked due to the traffic in the PNW... Then I was at work all jacked-up from the ride and work was a little weird for a while ... After lunch, I just wanted to go back out and ride the bike home as soon as possible because, it was a biking riding day, not a work day it seemed ... I'm just not a street bike rider really :) .. Dirt bikes are better with 6speeds and good luck ...
 
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