We have both a TR650 Strada ( mine) and KTM 690 duke( Sally's). Our OPINIONS If you wait a bit the "TR" will probably have the Duke motor in it. If you want a raw agressive bike that handles like it is on rails, stops brilliantly and feels superbly light get the duke. If you want to ride to the other end of the Earth and back , including some dirt roads, in almost vibrationless comfort useing almost no fuel on a stable easy handling bike get the Strada ( and I also wish it had a 17" front wheel"). The ABS on the TR is very good. It's a BMW softwared one. TR has an awkward seat. Get a Seat Concepts foam and cover. The KTM seat is ...er...well Sally's keeps saying over the intercom " Did I tell you how much I like this seat"...REPEATEDLY. She has been riding/racing for over 40 years as well. If you actually want to see anything in the mirrors get the TR. We are about to fit a rearview camera to the KTM so Sally can see behind ( no this ISN'T a joke). The low speed fuel fuelling on the TR sucks. Get a booster plug. The Duke 690 fuelling sucks everywhere. Get Kevs "O2" Controller AND fuelling mapper OR get the dealer to remap much richer. The TR rear shock is shocking . Does not handle square bumps well at all. Still havent found a aftermarket replacement. The KTM suspension is ridiculously good for a std suspension. Like few bikes I have ridden ( in over 40years of riding). Good aftermarket exhausts available for both bikes and make a big weight difference. Fit one. For the Husky get a SINGLE can one ( my preference). There is a Safari tank set avail for the terra that fit naturally on the Strada. I have one but fitted an electric fuel pump as well. Looks a bit wierd and you have to beef up the front springs if unless you are a lightweight but holds 32litres total. No decent sized hard panniers available for the Duke. The TR has several. For me the Strada is the best overall riding bike I have EVER owned. It does not play fast and kneedown very well, but everything else, I would rather ride this on the road than anything else I have owned in 40 years...with my mods of course. It is a crime it is discontinued. I wonder if Pierer can be tried for crimes against Humanity (motorcyclists).
Nice bike If you want the 150k kms you will need to do the air filter mod. But yeah, plenty of parts available and a great platform.
personally If I was going to do nothing but road and highway I would buy The Ducati Hyperstrada. I plan on in december keeping my tr650 for enduro runs and the Ducati for everyday riding. The tr650 has enough power for off road and dirt roads for miles on end. I guess the bikes are like guns here in the south. One never fits the right tool for the right job. Sounds like 3 bikes a husky 300 2 stroke for knarly dirt, tr650 for dirt or road, and a Ducati hyperstrada with sp suspension for dedicated road work. The way i look at it I am selling my 2010 bmw 528i because I no longer drive it and I can have 3 bikes for the right tool for the right job.
I found the Ducati Hyperstrada and the ST's incredably hot to ride. Huge amounts of hot air all over the riders legs and body. Probably ok in a cold climate but in Queensland way too hot.
