Is the Terra exciting enough for someone leaning more towards a daily supermoto?

As my profile states i own an older KTM LC4 620. i have changed the pipe, stripped as much extra weight as i can, and lowered the rear sprocket 2 teeth. this thing is a stump puller and spends a lot of time on one wheel. i am looking at the terra as an option because i would like a more up to date bike to commute in and something similar to the LC4 but with better top end. would i be disappointed in the fun factor compared to what i have? i am also looking at a 06' xr650r but i think it might have the same top end issue and have the same short maintenance schedule as the KTM. any thoughts from current tr owners would be much appreciated.

oh, i guess i should mention that i am aware of the strada but think it looks fugly compared to the Terra. i also live in colorado and will occasionally hit light dirt roads.

As the owner of both a (lightly modified) DRZ400SM and a (more modified) Ducati Hyper 1100s I can pretty much guaranty you that the TR will be a snore. It's got a decent top-end rush but is in no hurry to make any torque off idle. I dropped 2 teeth on the countershaft sprocket and it feels much more responsive, but even my little DRZ would walk on it. It's not that the motor is bad in any way, quite the opposite- feels stout enough and runs smoother than any single I've had the pleasure of owning... but "exciting" Nope.

i guess im also looking for the do it all amazing bike but i guess performance always has its price. would the xr need to be serviced a lot if i used it as a daily commuter and to hit some fishing streams outside of denver?

thanks for the input kyle01

Hi - I went through a 99 640 (still trying to get it sold) and an 08 690 (blessedly gone) before getting my Terra last month. It will become my commuter and light touring bike, eventually replacing my 07 1200 GSA (great bike but nearly 700lbs). My 2000 DRZ400e is my dirt bike: I believe the Terra/Drz combo will be perfect for my needs. I am getting over my "need for speed" as I age so I cannot speak to that.

What I can say is that there is no comparison in the smoothness and refinement of the Terra to the 640 - I have not looked back!!

thanks for the reply Beemermcr! i know there is options out there for what i am looking for but i love the feel and sound of big singles. as i mentioned earlier i am also looking to have a light load to hit some fishing streams in so maybe the terra is what i need for commuting and light adventure stuff and i can buy a cheap hooligan bike. i heard the 640 is the best lc4 engine KTM made, did you like it?

640 is a strong engine - fits the "hooligan" description; I would probably have loved it if I got an adventure instead of the enduro. 690 was the first year: the fuel injection was screwed up and the local dealers were not much help; I think the newest ones are very dialed in ---

The Terra, to me, represents what the KLR/DR/XLs should have become over the last 20 years; instead, the Japanese are selling older technology that takes time and $$ to update. I feel like I can farkle the Terra instead of having to update it! And for less than 7k!! Yeah, I am very happy -----

This was posted by nycrider in the TR650 video thread and should answer your question quite clearly. Watch it to the end.


View: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZI9QKiQvV3o

That's my thought exactly- this is where the Japanese offerings should have been a few years back... Good platform to build from and I think it's gonna prove to be a reliable machine with minimal maintenance requirements.

thank you all for your input! i think the price point and reliability with minimal maintenance has me sold. i need something that can take me to the trails via high way and doesnt need wrenching every 1000 miles. im sure i will find the sweet spots on the throttle for fun and be able to do some minor hot rodding if necessary. anyone have a vid of the exhaust with the inserts and spark arrestors out?

I'm guessing the DRZ would walk on a V-strom too... with its luggage and windshield and whatnot No, really, I don't have anything more scientific than seat of the pants data... Nobody would argue that the DRZ is a "fast" bike and I should have probably elaborated that it's the way the TR makes it's power (on the bottom end) The fact that the DRZ is a lot lighter and is eager to rev and lift the front wheel probably makes the most difference to my butt-dyno. I love the TR's lump, it's just a little slow to join the party. As a supermoto i don't see it's characteristics being that exciting. I will say that for low speed poking around the way the power comes on is really really nice- smooth and predictable. In a stable of various bikes it's simply the softest on the bottom end that I own.

i still am sold on the fact of the low maintenance and top end speed but im thinking about saving for either the ktm 690 or 500exc. i still like advocating for the terra though, it seems like if they change some of the complaints (weight, finish) and make it 1k more msrp that would draw a bigger crowd and make people think twice before spending over 10k on something orange. if honda brought out a new xr650r with efi and inverted forks for under 10k, i dont think i would hesitate. just my young and inexperienced opinion.

i just got back from grand prix motorsports here in denver and they have sold 7 already and have the moss tool. if i choose the terra they will atleast be able to fully service it for quite some time. they also have a deal where if you pay the full $6999 you can receive 100% trade in value after a year if you put less than 4500 miles on it. this might be a way for me to enjoy it and not gamble buying something with non existent aftermarket parts and a one year wonder and if it is i can trade up with the full amount i paid.

hopefully this is a semi good deal and not the hopeful thinking of a 25 yr old that is bike crazy!

The advice of a 38 year old who is bike crazy: take the money you've got and buy the bike you want... They are all pretty good these days- honestly... If you've got 7 large to spend the bike world is your oyster. The only bikes I bought that I never really liked were bikes I bought because they "made sense". I buy tons of stuff now that makes little sense... But if it speaks to you in that magic way- buy it and you're not likely to regret a thing.