The Battle That Crowned No Champion! - BMW HP2 VS KTM 950 Super Enduro

What happens when BMW feels like its falling behind, and has to try to reinvent itself in order not to lose the off road market? Well, a short but intense rivalry is born, where KTM and the Bavarians came up with some crazy machines in order to prove themselves!
The links below are affiliate links, we get a commission every time you make a purchase using them.
Check out the 2006 Erzberg Rodeo Movie!
DVD: amzn.to/45JgPG8
Prime: amzn.to/3VZHATs
What I use to make these videos:
MacBook - amzn.to/4aE8wwL
Fujifilm XH-2S (Main Camera) - amzn.to/3UiC6RJ
Fujifilm XT-3 (Secondary Camera) - amzn.to/4ax1dHi
GoPro - amzn.to/4ax1dHi
Best Helmet Mount - amzn.to/3vVqawT
Best Chest Mount - amzn.to/3UgAN6P
Fuji 18-55 Lens - amzn.to/49z4zbj
Ultrawide Lens - amzn.to/3PZUgGc
Wide Lens - amzn.to/4cZmgE6
Portrait Lens - amzn.to/3PYGuDS
My Gear:
Helmet - amzn.to/49AHMvY
Boots - amzn.to/4ax1oCs
Favourite gloves - amzn.to/3Uiln23
Where I get all the cool music...
share.epidemicsound.com/u2631l
Thanks to everyone for watching! If you liked it, please leave a like, subscribe to this channel for more and drop us a comment! Also, give us a follow on:
Instagram: / krank.it
TikTok: / krank_it
For business inquiries, please email us at [e-mail] .

[@ThrottleWorks86]

I don’t understand how this channel has not exploded in subscribers yet

[@KRANKiT]

Thank you sir!

[@Shereefe]

I was just about to say the same thing. You beat me to it

[@captaintahoe1]

My thoughts every time new content comes out

[@pe47115]

Agree!!!

[@quadsquadgarage]

It is! Every time I watch a new video there's like 4k more subscribers. I've been watching since 1000 and knew this was a good channel. I just love motorcycle history.

[@brettstone6885]

The Super Enduro video with Chris Birch riding through the Australian bush was previously owned by me. I had that bike for 3 years and regret selling it. My mate has a HP2 which I have ridden quite hard. They are both very desirable but also very different bikes to ride. My take is the HP2 is definitely more exotic but when push comes to shove the 950SE is a superior ride. It just feels like a bloated 500EXC, where to feel comfortable at speed on the HP2 required much more familiarity with the bike. The HP2 required serious suspension upgrades at both ends to compete with the relatively standard 950SE. I would also take the KTM on the reliability side. My mates HP2 has left him stranded numerous times. I would like to own both though.

[@pnwdirttalk]

I've ridden both and raced the 950. The HP2 cockpit and overall feel was just...weird. I think you nailed it: capable, but requiring some time to get used to. The 950 is just a fat dirtbike in the end.

[@pnwdirttalk]

What a fantastic video! As a 950SE owner/rider/racer, it is without a doubt the most insane and least practical bike I own. It's also the bike I'll never, ever sell because it's just so outrageous. More efficiently than any bike I've ever owned, it converts octane to horsepower, noise, erections lasting over 4 hours, and ear-to-ear grins. I'll die with that bike....and probably because of that bike. Also, I could never get it down to below 420lbs/190.9kg in race trim with a SSO exhaust, lithium battery, passenger pegs removed, airbox ripped out, headlight off, etc. I guess if I wanted to spend a fortune on titanium, I could shave another few lbs, but there isn't much more to remove at that point. In the end, you nailed it. The mad science project, engineers-gone-wild aspect is the coolest part of the story.

[@julianbell87]

I owned a KTM 950 Super Enduro for a few years and it truly was a bonkers bike. Rear tires lasted a few months. Typically had multiple gas stops a day. And thank god I'm 193cm or enduro riding would have been even more challenging than it already was with that weight and power. But almost 10 years later I keep going back to it as the most exciting bike I've ever owned.

[@KRANKiT]

It's hard to beat the excitement factor of such monster for sure

[@jemgoose]

Another great video mate! I remember when both models were released and crazy hillclimb videos of the late Chris Pheiffer on the HP2.

[@KRANKiT]

Oh yeah, those Erzberg climbs must have been gnarly on the beemer

[@heinschwartz7941]

Great video. Thanks for taking the time to put this video together 🤗

[@Rosternumberone]

Any big twin dirt bike under 400 pounds is great in my book. I’ve always been tempted to buy a hp2 enduro when they come up for sale. Great power to weight ratio, not too heavy and low center of gravity make it attractive.

[@AbsentChronicles]

The subjects this channel covers are literally everything I'm always thinking and talking about 😄 What a treasure, finally someone covering this niche. Keep it up man, staying for the ride!!!

[@KRANKiT]

Glad you liked it!

[@maverick205205]

As a long time HP2 rider, I really enjoyed this video - thanks for taking the time! And yep, totally agree - we the riders won!

[@florian690]

Great video as always! Love watching your channel and content! Keep going! 👍🏻 Maybe you could do a video about the History of the Six Days Enduro in the future?

[@KRANKiT]

Nothing's off the books

[@jacksalyer9308]

I love this channel!! I've owned both 2 times each. I still have my second HP2 and will never sell this one. I will have another 950SE one of these days. The HP2 is like riding a crazy sofa. The 950SE is just crazy electric chair. Both have tons of character and are not for the faint of heart.

[@KRANKiT]

Sometimes in life you need both an electric chair and a sofa to rest afterwards :)

[@caseymckeeborrego]

Great video!! I've wanted an hp2 since the first pictures came out. Beautiful bikes.

[@AlexanderTitovYoLka]

I love your videos with the historical insights into the offroad motorcycle industry. Always great storytelling and sublime humour. Thanks a lot and keep going! See you at Dynaric!

[@KRANKiT]

Can't wait to get there!

[@angelobalto]

Glad you liked my mil-brown Super Enduro (still photo). Great job on the SE vs HP!!

[@KRANKiT]

Thanks! You sir own a pretty sweet looking machine :)

[@dznnf7]

Mythical Routes - I recognize it!

[@angelobalto]

@@dznnf7👍

[@oskarschneider2341]

Great video!! I have owned the Super Enduro in the past and currently own a HP2 Enduro. I really like them both!!

[@Lost_JSY]

Great video, I generally don't comment but just wanted to say well done and it kept my attention till the end.

[@botondliktor6775]

As always a fantastic story wrapped up in a very high quality video. I really hope that one day this channel will explode (in a good way) and have the millions of subscribers it VERY much deserves. Keep it up bro i love your content 🤝

[@KRANKiT]

Appreciate it :)

[@neilcollinson6540]

Great story telling, really well put together, keep them coming, brilliant ❤

[@Michael_Shay]

There's a guy in my local riding group who rides a 950 super enduro, he doesn't take it on every ride but it makes me smile every time I see it. Such a cool bike. The HP2 is cool too. I wonder how they'd sell now that doing ridiculous stuff on big bikes is more popular.

[@KRANKiT]

I wonder that too ... the landscape has changed a bit

[@feuerreiteroderso8655]

I am happy to finally see HPN mentioned. I ride a HPN Rallyesport myself and love the bike. If you ever need any info about them or need help with translations from German to English, just hit me up!

[@KRANKiT]

Thanks man, I’ll keep it in mind! Appreciate it!

[@kyocott]

I currently own an HP2 in Taiwan. It is really a great car. However, in the time and space of 2006, you had to own an R1200GS to buy HP2. Therefore, there are only 4 units left in Taiwan.

[@KRANKiT]

So it's proper rare in your country...

[@motoboy6666]

Epic dude! Thanks a lot!

[@pendragon6207]

Great stuff, as usual!

[@kristopherczubik9951]

Eeeeepic video man! 🎉🎉 keep it up!!

[@gertversfeld1464]

Please keep it up man, you’re doing great!! The subs will come, this amount you have appreciate you more than you know!! You’re awesome

[@KRANKiT]

Appreciate it man!

[@meder07]

This bike has a lot of nostalgia for all of us either riding it or desiring it or both. Sold mine a few years ago after purchasing it, riding it across BC, getting it stuck somewhere near Squamish (had to get a towtruck to pull me out with a couple hundred feet of cable), riding it in single track where I shouldn't have, breaking my leg and ankle in foot deep mud doing stupid stuff, transporting and registering down in the US, futzing with the carbs, finally getting it put together and on the maiden tuned voyage promptly getting a speeding ticket. Just because. Finally sold mine to a local dude that took it to Yellowstone to rally. The smooth fueling is sublime, way better than any FI bike I've ridden. The fuel consumption is amazingly hungry, putting a safari tank on it turns it into a trailer, so you don't and just deal with short distance bursts of glory. The sound, god, that beautiful sound; earplugs are a travesty to this beast. Aerating massive amounts of dirt with the flick of a wrist, this moto could create wheat furrows to feed a small town. Good memories to me to be a small part of moto history.

[@KRANKiT]

Sounds like you have quite some stories. I’m wondering, are you talking about the BMW or the KTM?

[@meder07]

@@KRANKiT Yes, completely blew past that important point. KTM 950 SE Erzberg. "The cure for common sense" - OWD HP2 also pretty epic... MrBattletwins - Intended Use is definitely a rewatch. Also got me into NTO (Worakls Remix) - Trauma. Had that KTM dual carb on my kitchen counter for a year before I could get time to figure it out. Didn't hurt that I had a 990A and 500 to ride at the time. Now exploring what the Kove 450 Rally can do. Thanks for the content you make, very enjoyable.

[@dirk7593]

The HP is my dream bike. I came so close to buying one. Fantastic Video. Thank you.

[@adamusher]

I've had both bikes, each for about a year. The HP2E is not even comparable in my opinion. 2 different bikes built for 2 different things. The HP2E worked best on fast soft ground. Sand, or something approximating sand (what we call sand is actually mostly bauxite or similar in a lot of cases). The 950 worked best on fast twin track and twisting dirt roads. The HP2E air shock was brilliant. I got hold of a brand new one and replaced the 80,000kms old one. I couldn't understand why in the world you'd want a conventional shock, right up until I hit my first square edge. Damn...that actually really really hurt. On the HP2E I could hold off a equally competent friend on his 1190 ADV R, at around 140ish KPH on dirt. But he wasn't that far behind. To give some clarity, on my VFR1200X, both of us with electronics turned off (I pulled the ABS pump fuse) and running the same brand and type of tyres (in slightly different sizes) I was pulling 140kph power slides and vanished into the distance. He said he couldn't even see my dust after about 5 mins. On the 950, I was doing the same at 160 or more. I felt much more comfortable on the 950. A couple of points of order...I weighed the HP2E. It had the Touratech tank, and a little rear rack. It was 225kg with fuel. So...even if I removed the tank completely, it still weighed just on 200kg. So the weight numbers I call bullshit on. The KTM was similar, with the standard tanks it was in the mid 220kg mark full of fuel. It didn't have crashbars or pannier racks. With the Safari twin tanks that hold 40 ish litres, it was pretty heavy. Felt much worse than my F800GS, which had an auxiliary Touratech tank (20 litres, which gave me about 36 total - or 950km range...which is just silly). The F800 with extra fuel and a full fuel load with tank bag holding the toolkit etc was 255kg. The HP2E felt far more top heavy than my Honda VFR. The VFR weighs in at 265kg. The HP2E engine centre line was about camshaft height on the VFR. Horsepower wise, the "seat of my pants dyno" on bush tracks says the KTM wins hands down. I honestly thought the BMW was about 95hp tops. I figured the KTM was about 100 even. My Honda makes 112 at the rear wheel. My old F800 made 85. I base my "seat of the pants dyno" results on acceleration against known quantities. The BMW forks, while WP, are cheap 43mm from memory, versus like 49mm on the KTM. They were no where near the same when I stripped them. Different animals. I did several days of riding against 1190 Adv R, just playing. If the terrain is open and flowing, the BMW is my pick. If it's forest and gnarly, I would go the KTM every time. The missing counter shaft in the BMW doesn't so much introduce vibration as it does torque steer. Having grown up with torque steer, and then lived without it for a long while, it took me about 800m and 2 roundabouts to get back in the groove. On and off the throttle to flick through tight roundabouts. Off, On, Off, driving on the left. You don't actually steer at all, just throttle inputs. It counter steers really well. But I have a couple of bikes with desert racer rake and trail. So I'm kind of used to it. Not at all like, say, the F800 which used to push the front wheel everywhere on me. The HP2E was built to win desert races. It does that one thing really well. Anywhere else it was a bit "Meh". The KTM was a hooligan bike. I mean...if I rode it for 8 hours I worked on it for 16...but it flew like shit off a shovel.

[@davca117]

I had chance to ride 950 SE few times and it is blast 😁Thank You for another epic video 💪

[@KRANKiT]

My pleasure!

[@RedRupert64]

Great vid. Thanks. The HP2 is the only BMW I've ever wanted. At the time, it was too expensive for me. Now and again, I'm tempted to find one, but the KTM 890AR is, in reality, better in every respect. I still have two lovely KTM 950 Adventures and an 890AR, so am happy.

[@paulbester9516]

The air shock was only used in the Xchallenge, not in the Xcountry as shown in the video.

[@markhills3922]

Brilliant video presentation of an insane era of off-road motorcycles...just like the era of Group C rally cars; built for the most fearless and extremely talented among us to put on a show of brilliant engineering without corporate handbrakes. Bravo! i have subscribed to watch more of your excellent presentations.

[@KRANKiT]

I hope the next ones will be just as good!

[@ogasi1798]

legends are often misunderstood as is the case here, history shows us this on repeat - wonderful video as always krankit

[@1969Escobar]

GREAT!!!! thanks

[@arkus9905]

What a beautiful video that tells the a truly amazing story I remember from my days as a kid

[@TonyD_za]

I really like the way you present your videos! I met a young owner of an HP2 around 2015 and he really loved the bike, I have not seen him since. I have a client that told me he has one, but I have yet to see it. I never realised how rare they are, and likely even more so in my country.

[@KRANKiT]

Yeah, they're rare everywhere. And they ain't gonna get cheaper if you ask me.

[@reghardtwiehman2346]

We have a few HP2’s in SA. Guys just keep them to themselves as collectors items now these days.

[@KRANKiT]

@@reghardtwiehman2346 I can see why... A bit of a shame that a lot of these won't be used for their intended purpose, but I can see how their high values discourage people from taking them out.

[@NSUGS]

​@@KRANKiT RnineT UGS...? The OE suspension sucks but I've heard nothing but hood things with +40mm and +70mm suspension mods

[@reghardtwiehman2346]

@@KRANKiTyeah. But with the dry clutch and rarity, it really is not a thing you want to abuse. Loads of newer, better bikes to abuse.

[@BRUNO5979]

Great video of two bikes that i really admire.

[@tellicoadventuretrail]

Always interesting how bikes/cars that don't sell well when new, are then the rare and desirable. Also a current 950 SE-R owner.

[@lorenzomasia9024]

they are two monster of bikes. The BMW daring more than the KTM.....the KTM had the 990adv which leveled up the brand....

[@KRANKiT]

Yeah, having the ADV definitely helped KTM respond quickly

[@lorenzomasia9024]

@@KRANKiT but the BMW was by far the coolest.....I am talking as an owner of a 990adv,,,,,yet that HP2 is super. Great videos thx!

[@charlieadl7610]

Why not a video about Moto Morini and how they won the Iron Road prologue on a standard Scrambler 1200 back in 2009.👌

[@scottloftin1730]

I will keep my xr650R. It rips! Very cool vid. You have a cool style.

[@Davidkxf]

I miss my SE big time, big mistake selling it.

[@walterbarlow8173]

I agree that the winners were us! I put 45,000 miles on my SE. It was a great adventure bike for the time. Time (age in my case lol) moves on and I went to a 990 Adv, then an 1190 Adv, and I'm now on an 890 Adve. But I cherish my SE ownership. But I must have had a defective one: because try as I might, it never could do the things Birchy could do on his LOL

[@KRANKiT]

You probably didn’t buy the Birtchy pack

[@sergiorg222]

In spain market, the 950se is very cheap, is the 950 adventure the expensive one.

[@johnroseborough54]

bought my 06 690 adventure for 3500 canadian. needed some work, bigger rear sprocket smaller front. barkbusters and skidplate. with over 75000 km on it. 28 liter fuel i believe. i ride it hard enduro with my buddies on their 250 2 strokes. toughest street bike bar none. it is a street bike with knobbies.

[@michaelmesservy1511]

i have owned 2 of each - very different - SE is scary, HP2 more mellow, needs differing suspension,

[@K_Nasty]

Me waiting for the James Bond music ...😂

[@ronanrogers4127]

KTM won the war, but as an owner of several LC8 bikes and a 690 Enduro R, I’d love to find a good HP2 Enduro

[@craigmackay4909]

I’d straight swap my 1200gs for a HP2 in a heartbeat. lol 😂

[@nick4506]

ktm also sold it as a 950 super moto witch sold like hot cakes as a hooligan city bike, there's a bunch of them for cheap here in the us. super enduro didn't make sense because ktm also sold the 990 r a more offroad focused adventure.

[@kantutana13]

got new hair? congratulations!

[@stug77]

I'm really really hoping the 2025 BMW R12gs will be a spiritual successor to the HP2. Unlike the rninet gs, which is a piece of cafe aesthetic garbage.

[@feuerreiteroderso8655]

The R12 GS will also just be the same most likely. BMW would never make themselve compete against the R1300 GS line and risk taking away from it. The R12 GS will most likely just be a visually different bike with no real offroad improvements.

[@pinarrioqwer2933]

This is what a real brand makes

[@Zt3v3]

The KTM 950 SuperEnduro is an epic machine. Tall though. According to the KTM fiche it had a 14 liter tank.

[@KRANKiT]

Definitely not built for altitude challenged people (myself included)

[@walterhorn5567]

950se for the win

[@CowKillaPOV]

story of lambretta scooter

[@khakimzhanmiras]

the mammoth dies raising his tusks towards the stars and great constellations smile down upon him, knowing that once even the floods feared his march

[@hugobaert7737]

Not sure what this means but yes, what he said. Great video about two very cool bikes Cheers

[@RajeshZmoke]

where is this quote from ?

[@BobcatSig]

I'm sure I'll ruffle a few Beemer feather by saying this; it's laughable that the K-bikes were to compete with the Hayabusa. The K-bikes were called flying bricks for a reason. And when the K-11 and K-12 came out; they were sport-tourers. Great bikes on their own, but certainly nowhere near the Hayabusa.

[@michaflak1370]

K1300s was not far off, way more power than you needed anyway + comfort of a shaft drive. Uses way less fuel too

[@BobcatSig]

@@michaflak1370 That still doesn't get it anywhere close the hyperbike that was the Hayabusa

[@sbsb4995]

BMW has a strong marketing arm. Their bikes however.......think about it, how silly it is to take the boxer engine off the road? It is catastrophic 😢.

[@feuerreiteroderso8655]

They won Paris-Dakar 4 times lol

[@Szlejer]

The bike without two laughable, outdated tumors on the side won an offroad race... How surprising. Dumbest project ever by BMW. :D