Thread: Adventure Bikes

What late model advnture bike is anyone runnng? KTM 1190, CRF1000, VStrom etc have you enjoyed riding them on a daily basis? Anything in particular jump out about any of them?

I’ve a late model Harley at present and have been thinking about trading onto a Pan America when they get here, but I could be tempted by an Africa Twin or similar. I’m 6’5” so it needs to offer a friendly riding position for a long streak that can’t tolerate being bent up like on a sports bike.

Cheers, Ray.

I was parked next to a Bennelli TRK the other day and it looked like a nice piece of Kit. I did not even know they made one. I was actually looking at a Royal Enfield as I am in to that old school stuff....

Originally Posted by timattalon

I was parked next to a Bennelli TRK the other day and it looked like a nice piece of Kit. I did not even know they made one. I was actually looking at a Royal Enfield as I am in to that old school stuff....

Old school ? Nah mate, this is old school

Daily banger for nearly 40 years now, take it up rivers and across paddocks. I'm not saying it's good at it, I'm just used to it.

That looks very similar to the Enfields....They are just not quite so used....

@ishoot10s. If you are 6'5" the world is your oyster as far as adventure bikes go. The biggest, and perhaps only drawback of the modern adventure bike as an everyday bike is the seat height (usually 850mm+ with a wide seat). They have great road manners, plenty of grunt (the big 1290 KTMs or Ducati Multistrada will make your Harley feel like a it is only running on one cylinder) and all the mod cons you could wish to pay for. If you plan on going "real" off road on one the limiting factor will be your skill level, not the bike. Check out some of Chris Birch's Youtube videos. If you are not so much into hi tec then check out the Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled of maybe the new Triumph Scramblers.

Originally Posted by Shearer

@ishoot10s. If you are 6'5" the world is your oyster as far as adventure bikes go. The biggest, and perhaps only drawback of the modern adventure bike as an everyday bike is the seat height (usually 850mm+ with a wide seat). They have great road manners, plenty of grunt (the big 1290 KTMs or Ducati Multistrada will make your Harley feel like a it is only running on one cylinder) and all the mod cons you could wish to pay for. If you plan on going "real" off road on one the limiting factor will be your skill level, not the bike. Check out some of Chris Birch's Youtube videos. If you are not so much into hi tec then check out the Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled of maybe the new Triumph Scramblers.

A Ducati Desert Sled would find a home in my garage any day (if the cook wouldn’t spin out over it). One day.



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I think they're pretty darn good. It is a single after all so how could you go wrong I've a had a play with both the 350 and the 500, think the 500 is just that bit more relaxed, and they look good and of course sound right. Would love a swing arm and unit construction on my old banger, make it easier to ride and live with, but then it wouldent be an old banger

Originally Posted by timattalon

That looks very similar to the Enfields....They are just not quite so used....

Attachment 112883

My uncle runs tours around Northern India on Royal Enfields. They like them.

Originally Posted by kiwijames

A Ducati Desert Sled would find a home in my garage any day (if the cook wouldn’t spin out over it). One day.



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Yeah @kiwijames. Same here. They remind me of the old Yamaha TT 500"s of the 80's. Pretty cool bike. Not cheap for what they are though.

@Shearer, great info thanks, I’ve bumped into Birchy up at the Sand Pit a couple times and seen his vids, he makes the big girl do all sorts of tricks eh! I wouldn’t take it in the wild, I’m past it, it’s enough just to bimble around in the dirt on my CRF450, rarely get out of 2nd.

I like that there’s so much on offer on the Jap and EU bikes, I’m beginning to think that HD will be way behind the 8 ball when they eventually get the Pan America out here, allthough they did manage to take a huge leap forward when they released the VRod so they could surprise me. But I will definitely kick the tyres on some of these other options. It will be a daily short commute, and the odd weekend ride. My 2018 Fatbob 114 has been great to ride on the road, but not so much up my 400m gravel driveway...

Oh the TT500’s were epic bikes in the early 80’s!

Originally Posted by bing

Old school ? Nah mate, this is old school

Daily banger for nearly 40 years now, take it up rivers and across paddocks. I'm not saying it's good at it, I'm just used to it.
Attachment 112881

is that a c10 BSA ?

@kiwijames I was in India 2009 with work and saw a nice looking RE straight out of the 50’s and I said to my local colleague “some ones done a lovely job restoring that” and his head starts doing the sideways bobbing thing, “Oh no, that is brand new, we still make them in India” why change a good thing?

Originally Posted by bing

Old school ? Nah mate, this is old school

Daily banger for nearly 40 years now, take it up rivers and across paddocks. I'm not saying it's good at it, I'm just used to it.
Attachment 112881

Good on ya mate. You're a diminishing breed, alright.

Anyone using a UBCO?

I shall watch this tread with interest.
Just sold my Gen 2 Hayabusa and looking at Adventure bike / dual purpose as a replacement both to get out to remote spots and for hunting .

I am going to miss 197 hp , KLR ,DR ... nothing to heavy as I am getting onto farm tracks etc not just gravel roads.