So after three years with the Africa Twin I bought the ultimate dual purpose bike: the KTM 640 Adventure. It is a great bike in terms of reliability, power to weight ratio, and looks. You can’t buy closer to a (former-)Dakar bike than this one. It did well both on the vacation trips and local enduro trips, what do you want more. I bought it brabd new in Germany form a KTM dealer with a serious discount. After one year I brought it to KTM Sommer to install a Keihin carburetor and man what a difference that made. With the Keihin it had instant acceleration and brutal power from turning the trottle.
It perfectly bridges the gap between the wild 600 LC4 and the heavy Africa Twin. If the 600 LC4 was an untamed dirt bike and the Africa Twin a smooth highway cruiser, then the KTM 640 Adventure is the ultimate mechanical paradox. It is a factory-built rally replica designed to conquer the Dakar, but living with it on a daily basis is a pure test of commitment.
When you look at it, you fall in love instantly. That massive 28-liter fuel tank, the iconic twin-headlight fairing, and the high-end WP suspension scream pure global exploration. It looks like it could crash through a brick wall and keep going. And the best part? It actually has an electric starter button and a kick starter! Coming from the old 600 LC4, this feels like pure luxury.
But the moment that 625cc LC4 engine thumps to life, reality hits you. Hard. If you thought the old 600 vibrated, the 640 takes it to another level. They call it the “Paint Mixer” for a reason. At highway speeds, the vibrations are so intense that the mirrors become completely useless blurs, your feet go numb on the pegs, and you seriously start wondering if your teeth are going to rattle loose. It turns every long liaison stage into a physical endurance test.
And then there is the seat height. Sitting on the 640 Adventure feels like balancing on top of a barstool. If you are anything under six feet tall, stopping at a traffic light involves a tactical lean to get one toe on the tarmac.
Yet, despite the vibes and the quirks, it is a magnificent beast. Weighing around 158 kg dry, it is nearly 80 kilos lighter than the Africa Twin. When the pavement ends and the terrain gets genuinely ugly, the 640 Adventure turns into an absolute weapon. It tackles deep sand, rocks, and ruts with an aggressive confidence that makes you forget all about your tingling hands. It’s hard work, it’s loud, and it’s exhausting—but it makes you feel like a true rally racer every single time you twist the throttle. If it wasn’t for the vibration I would kept this bike.
