Long-Term Update

Long-Term Update

KTM 620 Adventure D-P done different

List price (1998) $7498

TO SAY WE ARE ENAMORED WITH KTM's Paris/Dakar replica would be an understatement. Since joining CW's long-term fleet, the two-wheeled sport-ute has played the role of commuter, off-road explorer and tourer. Safe to say, the "Adventure" moniker is well-deserved. So far, Associate Editor Paul Seredynski has taken the longest trip, rolling up 900-plus miles during a scant two-day period. He reports: "Oddest thing is getting used to the seating position, which feels about 8 feet off the pavement. You look down on most folks; even the SUV crowd is cowed by the Adventure's presence. On the street, engine vibration is the biggest irk. Off-road, the bike proved capable and rugged."

For better traction off the pavement, we opted for a set of meaty Metzeler MCE Karoo knobbies ($189). We also modified the stock windscreen (above), which was shortened by Zero Gravity to reduce buffeting ($25). Travelcade's gel seat treatment ($150) is not as visi bly apparent, but it's made longer rides somewhat more pleasurable. So far, the only derailment has been a broken sidestand. Happily, it's just the incentive we need to custom-fab a high-rise exhaust, prerequisite for a more service-friendly centerstand.

YAMAHA YZF-R1 Blue streak

List price (1998).. $10,199

YAMAHA'S COMPACT, LIGHTWEIGHT and powerful YZF-R1 rewrote the rules for sportbikes. Like other Ri owners, we've learned that restraint is required to avoid breaking more rules. But even if Johnny Law didn't temper our testosterone, the Ri `s potent power delivery and short wheelbase would still demand respectand skillful throttle control.

Bone stock, the Ri is a beast. So why would any sane person consider fitting an aftermarket pipe? Call us crazy, but we installed a Slovenian made Akrapovic system from Lockhart Phillips USA. Admittedly, the exhaust note is throatier, but our Ri now makes an eye-popping 140 rear-wheel horsepower, a healthy 9bhp increase. This, with no rejetting. As an added bonus, the stainless steel, 4-into-2-into-1 header and titanium muffler weigh 12 pounds less than stock. At the dragstrip, our Ri blitzed the quarter-mile in 10.14 seconds at 141 mph, a couple tenths quicker and a few mph faster than stock. Perhaps best of all, none of this has come at the expense of ridability. In fact, the only cost incurred is the pipe's $1325 price-not cheap, but nei ther are Akrapovic `5 top-grade crafts manship and use of quality materials.

BMW R1100S Sporty sport-tourer

List price: . $15,600

OUR LONG-TERM R1100S WILL soon know the roads of America by heart. After the bike was rid den from the East to the West coast, then back to the Midwest (with a twoweek detour through Colorado and New Mexico thrown in), Editor-AtLarge Peter Egan then rode it back to California on mostly two-lane roads through the Ozarks, Texas and the southern Rockies. Since our first report, the Beemer received new Dunlop D207s (excellent steering feel and grip) and had BMW hard bags (a $754 option) installed. The bike was serviced at 9000 miles by Mischler's Harley/BMW in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, and new fuel-line clamps were installed-a safety recall after a few bikes blew their lines off. The distances staffers have covered speak well for the riding comfort of this bike, though weather protection is minimal compared with the RS and RT models, and the smallish, 4.8-gallon gas tank has the reserve light coming on at 130 miles or less. Better range than a Harley Sportster, but not much.

In Arizona, on a flat mountain descent, the rear tire went flat (chain saw tooth embedded in tread). That aside, the bike has been trouble-free and bulletproof so far, despite being ridden hard and never put away, wet or dry.