I don't know KTMs but I've long been saddened by the destruction of BMW build quality. When you consider that the old airheads and early K series bricks (Brickboy would say this) are pretty much constructed of granite, the decline in quality and reliability allied to electronics means I don't think I'd ever trust one for a foreign tour.

Perhaps it's a sign of age but I prefer something I can understand and at least have a sporting chance of bodging to get home. Ten years ago I bought a K75S for £600, took it to Spain and absolutely thrashed it the following week, came home, rode it for a year and sold it on. Even that old dog was unstoppable.

Having owned numerous oil heads I stopped at the R1150GS with the old ABS system. The newer one looked potentially lethal. That bike had a needless hydraulic clutch - handy for slave leaks onto the clutch plate, a reputation for stripping gearbox input splines and so on. But Ewan and Charlie rode them so they must be great. Tosh!