Greetings lads. I've been watching this forum for a while after I spent some serious hours in the saddle of a Terra 650. I really like the bike but the take over by KTM seems all bad as far as I can tell. It sounds like the the Terra/Strada's are gone and there will be nothing to replace them except maybe a red KTM 690, and you can shove that! Its got a vibrator for and engine (with little or no more power), probably built in India?? and they want you to pay heaps more for it .....no way, not ever, why would you....?. So, do I buy the Terra while they are still around and hope it survives based on its BMW heritage and hope I can get parts etc, or not? Or do I wait and see what KTM or some else comes up with?
Depending on where you are, there are more Terras/Stradas on the way to US dealers and pricing is still damn good.
Only you can decide what's best for you but maybe we can help you reach a decision... OP & board members feel free to cut & paste & add your thoughts to this list... Buy Now & Not Wait PROS Don't have to postpone your plans you die a little each day, how old are ya & how long you gonna wait? The Terra is pretty good, perfection will never come just shades of improvements & sometimes backsteps. Price / feature ratio will be hard to match in future models. CONS Maybe something better suited will come along. Maybe something better supported will come along. Maybe something a different color will come along.
Exactly. Buy one. Great bike, well established motor, will be supported, still selling them under the new management, new management stated publicly they will be supporting them. I think there is little down side and for the money there is not a better bike for that segment of the market.
FWIW I waited on the sidelines with the TE630 when BMW came into the picture and killed it off. Even today I struggle to find a decent used one, and when I do its selling for close to what they did new. In the end I figure I have missed out on owning & more importantly, riding a great bike. I hemmed and hawed over the TR650 too. Mostly because of its BMW heritage. I have been down the MOSS road before with BMW dealers few and far between and independent mechanics stymied by the locked down system. This time I figured I would take the gamble. I may regret it. However, I am enjoying a bike now that in many ways is the bike I had been dreaming about for years. Capable, comfortable and smooth on the road (any road too), yet still capable of off-road use when needed. Oh and it’s far more affordable than I was thinking such a bike would be.
Must be something about their engines as two mates of mine have 625 SXC's and when they rev them on their stands, they wanna skate around on the concrete surface.
KTM used to be called Kelly-Moore (KM) when they were just in the paint business. They branched out into motorcycles and KTM is an offshoot.
This is why i bought now. Was really in the market for a new everyday car but have waited 10 years for as close to the terra as it gets. Talked my wife into low insurance and maintenance. I think she is catching on since I have to buy all the motorcycle gear. Wait until I buy tires 3 times a year lol
The old LC4's (625/640's) are true paint shakers. My 640 Adventure's would walk down the driveway if I left them on their stands at idle. There were some RPM's while riding that I could not see due to double vision from the vibes. The 690 is actualy a LOT smoother.
Thanks guys, it seems the Terra will survive by its reputation. But the more I hear about KTM, the less I am likely to ever buy any of their products. It seems they maybe relatively good at making motorcycles, but they are true masters of ignorance and arrogance. I understand there will be no more Husky imported into N.Z. due to irreconcilable differences with the incumbent distributor....how bad is that?? On the ground, our Husky dealers feel KTM just don't give a rats bum and want to stomp them out.....nice one KTM, you have instantly made an enemy, but hey, free of charge I am happy to spread my feelings......
I think so too. But in the long term it could take a bit of effort to keep it going decades from now. My plan is to wear my TR650 out as quickly as possible.
One thing to think about regarding the Terra. You won't have to worry about wanting to upgrade to the new and improved model in a year or two.Once they are gone, they are gone. An instant classic........ It is a bike that I personally plan on upgrading from now til forever. I got word from my dealer that all the bikes that are available are here so if you are going to get one, better do it quick.
