My WR got a new stablemate

It's a 500 EXC.  I've been wanting something more capable for the desert, and this should fit the bill.  I've only ridden it 25 miles on the street (time for the first oil change), but I can already testify that the WR has way better road manners.  Oh, and it's going back to the dealer tomorrow to have its low fuel indicator light fixed.  Darn thing keeps flashing, and it's never supposed to flash.  

The KTM is a brute compared to the WR, and I'm looking forward to putting that power down in the dirt.  I'm still planning on keeping the WR at this point, as it's great for buzzing around town and cruising fire roads in the forest/mountains.  For a report on desert conditions with the 500, please stand by until it's no longer 110 degrees out there!

Lee

Nice, KTM is top notch. Yeah the So Cal dez is pretty much out until Oct.

That bike is a beast.

I predict you end up riding one or the other all the time and sell the loser.

Which will it be ......?

Gatorfan, I have a feeling you're right, but I'm still of the mindset that I can keep both and enjoy each one where it shines the most.  So far, I've only managed to get one hour of riding in on the KTM, all street.  It's time for its first oil change.  One drain plug plus gasket.  Two strainers.  One filter.  Six (!) o-rings (not counting the one on the filter).  Never mind the $18 a pint oil (takes 1.5 pints per oil change).  That's OK, I knew this would be expensive.  Riding the WR when I don't *need* KTM performance will stretch these maintenance intervals out over a longer period of time.  The WR is especially useful at the moment, as I won't even HAVE the KTM in my possession until late next week...

Day one:  I did a couple quick rides around the block.  This thing IS a beast, just like everyone says.  It was all I could do to keep the RPMs and the front wheel down during this critical break in time.  The bike vibrates a ton, is loud, and is a pig in traffic, but man is it going to be awesome in the desert!

Day two:  The low fuel indicator light keeps blinking at me.  Google says it's a known issue with the speedometer.  I did a fun 25 mile ride with lots of varying speeds for break in.  Blink, blink.  I made it to sixth gear once, but I had to be doing 65 MPH before I could even think about it.  Just like the WR when it was a baby.  Blink, blink.  Made it home with exactly 25 miles and one hour on the clock.  Did I really spend THAT much time at traffic lights?  I took the bike in on Tuesday, the dealer said the new speedo should come in late next week.  I could have taken it home in the meantime, but KTM is programming the correct mileage into the new unit, and I want it to be accurate.  So I wait.

I have a Big Bear trip coming up, and I'm heavily leaning towards taking the WR.  It's way mellow and has great road manners.  Our rides involve cruising down the twisty mountain roads after taking the dirt fire roads up to Big Bear Lake.  I think the WR is the weapon of choice for the job.  Come desert season, it's all about the orange.  

At least that's my current thinking.

Lee