Does the Unicorn Adventure Motorcycle Exist? Let's Find Out ...
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 12 ก.ย. 2021
- Does the Unicorn Adventure Motorcycle Exist? Let's Find Out ...
Riders of dual sport and adventure motorcycles face a dilemma. Do you buy a small lightweight bike and suffer on the highway, or buy a large comfortable bike and suffer on the trails? Let's take a closer look at 4 popular sizes of adventure bike and discuss the ups and downs of each, give them a score, and see which one is most versatile.
The Beta 500 RR-S is similar to a KTM 500EXC of Husqvarna FE501S. The R1250GS could be substituted for a Yamaha Super Tenere 1200, KTM 1290 Super Adventure, etc. The Tenere 700 could be subbed for a KTM 790 or 890 Adventure. And the Africa Twin could be changed out for a Tiger 900 or similar. And the scores would be similar.
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All these bikes suck because
"No 2 wheel drive"
"No diesel"
Even as options.
Winner: all electric yet again
Long $hog Harley Davidson Motorcycle
Strong buy
Did you mess up your editing - do a piece-to-camera of a bike then go to the board and score the one before it?
i think it would be interesting an updated chart including the KTM 690. everyone seem to forget it but it slots in perfectly between the beta 500 and the Tenere. even price wise
Where did you get the graphics for the T7? I like the design!!!
TES JOB ............ MOTOR MESIN ...........
Your scoring board, is exactly what I use to explain to my wife why I need more motorcycles.
hahaha
lol. And how well does that work out ?
@@azr2d1 if his wife is lumpy space princess, then probably not very well
:)
Yep! Need to score it for the TransAlp if it comes out!!!!
“Feel free to roast me in the comments, and I know you will.” No! I won’t. What I’m gonna do is thank you for putting such thought and effort into making a great video. I loved it. It simplified things for me. Thank you. More power to ya! 🙏🏽
Took the words out my mouth lol.
You forgot about the 2022 KLR650
Would have been your perfect unicorn for this Roundup
Anybody who knows is not going to roast you. You have some of the best bikes to compare.
@@andrewmangum8391 someone has to roast you ;-) KLR650 does not fit this list, with all due respect.
The Unicorn bikes to travel and do very good on off road, is : Honda XRE300, Honda CRF300 rally, Royal Enfield Hymalayan 452, CF Moto MT450, or Suzuki DR650 (but no abs, no windshield, etc).
ONLY, another bike, are too heavy or very underpower to travel on road.
Over my almost 50 years of riding motorcycles and 50 different motorcycles later I finally came to the conclusion that less motorcycle ( less weight, less displacement, less money)is more fun and easy to handle . Look at all these 500 to 600 lbs bikes most of them are all hwy queens .
Like you Axel, I'm 50 years on now with riding, I agree, Less weight is the way to go,
I've had a GS-1150 avd from new, 17 years old now, I love it, BUT !! I also had a KLR 250, & that used to bring a huge smile to my face EVERY time . Now... when I can sort out the finances, A 300cc Honda (Is it a CRF ?) That will be all I'll ever need,
Only 40 year experience, Nothing wrong with highway queens if you only have tarmac, no mountains and few twisty roads. :-) I owned a Honda XR600 but in the Netherlands there are almost no (legal) offroad possibilities and on-road it is not a real pleasure. I had more fun with my R100GS PD and MG Quota 1000. Went to Norway incl camping gear and my wife on the BMW. That is 1000 km before you can go offroad. On a XR600, that would be a real adventure if you hate yourself enough. But the BMW was an other timeframe. It had a whopping 60hp and that was enough. It was not to heavy and for most, pretty bomb-proof and easy to repair/service.
Today all-roads, now called adventure bikes, are beasts. I remember doing 180 relaxed on my ultimate highway queen, a GL1800 on the German autobahn. I see a headlight in my mirrors and a little bit later a BMW R1100GS with 2 persons and 3 alu cases on it, passes me, I think he was doing 200 km/h, stable as a rock. That would have been impossible on my R100GS-PD.
I agree, but it's hard to know how much of that is down to the passage of time. Having said that, I'm the oldest in my group, and seem to be the most adventurous and gung ho. Have regularly had to ride my younger mates bikes out of difficult spots, none of them have anything bigger than a 450, but they all still struggle with the weight, when the going gets tough.
I totally agree Axel. My perfect bike would be a KTM 590 Adventure. The 890 is an amazing bike but would love less weight. I have check out the 390 but it's just a little under powered for what I want. One right in the middle of the two would be amazing.
I guess that is why so many love KLR 650...Light enough, cheap enough, fast enough, and most of all, reliable and simple to work on.
When you have haters, you know you made it
What I care about in reviews is experience and competence in the chosen topic. Only insecure, sad, resentful or jealous people poke fun at hair styles, clothes and personal decisions. Ignore them. You're competent because you've owned so many bikes and you've used them... for intended purposes... on-road, off-road and in combination. Thats why I subscribed way back when you started and why I keep coming back. Your video's get better and better and you make interesting and valuable content. Competence and passion for what you do is why your subscriber numbers continue to grow. Congratulations... and thanks for the reviews. To answer your question.... I wouldn't part with my R1200GS but if I could have two bikes, I'd add the T700.
Content is outstanding!
Well said. 🌟🙏🌟
Agreed 👍
I totally agree with this comment, keep up the good work!
+1 keep going man! I love your videos.
Would be interesting to see the KLR or DR 650 compared as well. Awesome video
Great review and I am very pleased with the result. Why? If everything goes to plan, I should I should pick up my T7 in the next month or so😁. The only other category I would have added to your scoring system is cost, because it is a major factor for most of us when it comes to bike purchase. Keep up the good work.
I’m been on a BMW 1200GS for many years and miles. I’ve been 100% happy but over the years I’ve become pretty old, I’m 72 now. On the flat I can still pick the bike up but I love getting off pavement and I’m solo almost all the time. When I drop the bike it’s normally in mud, sand or in such a position that it’s nearly impossible to upright. I after much thought/consideration I ended with a Husqvarna 701. I just completed a 3,000 mile trial run through Nevada, much of that was in sand. It fared well and I think I made a good decision. Many Nevada roads are poster at 80mph so everyone is doing 90, I had no problem keeping up even with a loaded bike. When I got back home I weighed my luggage and it totaled 90 pounds. I have a Seat Concepts seat that was horrible so I just installed an Air Hawk cushion. I’ll do a full review after I get it all sorted.
.. 👍👍✌️🙏.. Nail it..
I hope I ride that much and that type of bikes at your age. Congratulations and keep riding
Im 72 too and riding an RT. I will be downsizing to a Tiger GT Pro Low in the next year or so.
This is interesting. I am in Nevada, late 60's, and looking to ride some desert roads and get back into riding after almost 40 years not riding. Was thinking a KLR 650 or KTM 390 ADV. The 701/690 bikes like yours just seemed too tall for me as they are very tall. I am 6'1" with 31" inseam. What are your thoughts? Desert roads, jeep trails, scenery.
i am 35 and barely can pick a 650 single cylinder up
Congratulations on putting together something the mainstream motorcycle media seem incapable of doing. Probably because no manufacturer would ever allow a non apples to apples comparison to occur. We all know a Beta is not a direct competitor to a GSA but it is very relevant to an adventure rider. The takeaway is it really depends on your personal requirements and riding preferences, and there is no one unicorn. I refuse to accept anything with a 21 inch front wheel as a ‘real’ roadbike but the next guy thinks a 19 inch front wheel off road is pretending. Luckily we are now spoiled for choice as adventure riders and content like this spurs on spirited conversation, making us all winners. Well done.
You nailed it. Plus, when you subtly called the GS1250 a Touring bike and not an Adv bike, truer words have never been spoken.
Nice, but... I think Husqvarna 701 would score pretty good as a dual sport motorcycle. Just the numbers 74 hp/321 lbs (146 kg) is excellent. You can put all adventure stuff on like windscreen, comfort seat and luggage racks. You can also buy another set of wheels and use it as a super motard on trackdays. 3 motorcycles in one is darn good value: Enduro, adventure touring and super motard.
I agree with you
How well does 701 cruise at 75-90mph?
What are the maintenance intervals like on that bike?
@@Motoexplorer300L Very high! Insanely high by comparison.
146 KG with 74HP it looks stupid to me
And Goodluck dealing with the winds of semi trucks and crosswinds on that thing on highways
Coming from a dual sport, I went with the Tenere700, I can comfortably ride the highway and still push the bike off road. In the right hands the Tenere700 is very capable off-road.
Cualquier moto en las manos correctas es un monstruo. Chris Birch. Por ejemplo. En tus manos tienes que hacer el comentario señor. Por ejemplo. Yo tengo un 2020 husqvarna 701 enduro con un kit Rade Garage y llantas Rallz. Y creo que un tenere 700 no le pondría 35 en off. Le pondría un 20/50. Por mi experiencia. El 701 un 30 o 35 /50. Vivo en Panamá Centro América. Comentó Con mucho respeto. Saludos.
in right hands, any bike is very capable!
@@506gougoune dr200 has entered the highway
@@506gougoune Harley? 😂
I have a Africa twin . On the trails here it will kill you. A big strong professional rider could do it but he will be very tired.
I have been dealing with this exact question for quite some time now. I had a T7, sold it and bought a DRZ. The T7 was too heavy for the offroad riding that I like, and the DRZ is too light and underpowered for the highway stretches. Luckily, there is a solution: two bikes. Its not hard to find two bikes you like, its the convincing of the one in charge of the economics that is hard (wife).
Good luck on that, I'm currently at one bike. Begging my way to the second as we speak.
Having owned both, if you could only have one, would you choose the DRZ or the T7? Or something else?
@@2.wheels.are.better.than.4 Oh that is a very good question Rob. For my use, the DRZ wins because its so much more capable offroad. But having said that, the DRZ lacks so much street performance that I have to buy a second bike for the street. I still like to travel longer distances. A used V Strom 650 for my cross-Europe trips and the DRZ for TET and local trail riding. Still, those two bikes combined is only 2/3 of the T7s price.
I really liked the T7 though, its a phenomenal bike!
22 KLR650
@@davidgrunklee8407 great bike, great price, but still 450 lbs
@@2.wheels.are.better.than.4 at least not top heavy like t7
Well done. I agree completely with your method and your results. Very well laid out video. Looking forward to more! I ended up with an Africa Twin, a DRZ400S, a kdx220 and a Vstrom 650
You rock brother. Thanks a lot for the time and effort put into videos. Godspeed!
The age old question, well answered. I agree, there is no such thing as a unicorn. In other words what you have to do is own multiple motorcycles, it’s the law.
Yup, learned that a long time ago.
After 3 Gs's I would take an Africa Twin Adventure sports (manual) Over anything in the video (I am 49 years old) - My favorite bike. I think the africa twin is easily 10 points more than the Tenere 700 on road even 20 so 55 points :-)
I switched from a KTM 690 Enduro R to a KTM 500 EXC with no regrets since I mostly like to ride dirt. However, in retrospect it is amazing to me how much stuff I could ride off-road with the 690 compared to the 500 and still have fun, pretty much everything except singletrack. The 690 was good enough to go group riding on the highway with my friends with street bikes, minus the aggressive knobbies. If my touring was say BDR focused, I could see the 690 being a pretty good choice. Great video!
Hi Ian. Love your videos. Realy apreciate your spot-on honesty. 👍
Your reviews spot on and very detailed. Considering a bike for the BDR, I was looking at Ridebdr and they seem to shy away from bigger bikes for the average ADV rider. "All of the BDR routes include intermediate to advanced terrain. If a person is on a large bike like an R1200GS Adventure or Yamaha Super Tenere, the routes can be very difficult. If a person’s skills are not advanced level, they may consider taking a smaller bike or choosing the easier options when possible." So, for me, my unicorn bike is the one that will allow a very average weekend ADV rider to complete sections of the BDR without the need for a rescue team - like a KLR650 or T7 or maybe if Honda delivers an 850 Transalp or a Triumph 660 ADV.
I really liked my tenere 700 but I changed it to the 890 adv r mainly because I’m a beginner off road rider and the low center of gravity that it has comparing to the T7 makes it easier for me to handle of road. I don’t have the space for 2 motorcycles so I think it’s the best off and on road bike.
Thanks for the video you helped answer a lot of questions in straight forward and clear way.
Man, I think you do an outstanding job reviewing bikes. Your channel has been extremely helpful in helping me choose wisely and move forward. Thanks!
Glad to help!
I've owned a 2017 beta 500rr-s I change the oil once a year, no engine rebuild, the valves have been checked, no change needed. It's a awesome bike, I wish I could have bought it sooner. It's absolutely one of my favorite bikes... Besides my ktm 1290 SAR :) BOTH, are unicorns to me and what I ride.
Thanks for your reviews! I am in my sixties and have been battling this my whole life. I started with a GL1200 Goldwing and a Gen 1 KLR650 and owned everything in between. Now I am back to a GL1800 and a Gen 2 KLR650, that's my combo that works for me in Georgia. I also race Enduro and Hare Scramble races with a WR250F so that helps with my dirt passion.
Similar for me at 59.. GL1800 for the road and KTM 500exc-f dor playing. But it works fine for riding to the off road areas I go to
Same: you need a quiver of bikes to cover it. Up to age 60 I had a K1200 GT for touring, a GSXR 600 for track days and 100 mile or less rides in the mountains, a KTM EXC 450 for dual sport rides, and last a 200 EXC 2t for racing. Sold them all when I moved to CA. Miss those days and more so my 4 car garage.
Hero!
Since getting my T7 last year, everything else in the garage (VFR, XR, XT) is collecting dust. 100% agree on your assessment of this fine motorcycle. Yamaha listened to us and produced a fantastic, mid-weight, relatively simple, and capable motorcycle.
The T7 plays in it's own "sandbox" and if you're happy playing within those constraints, it's terrific fun.
Two bikes is the answer. Everyone will have a different choice, depending on how technical they want to get in the dirt and how much comfort they want on the highway. My ideal pair would be a 300 two stroke for the dirt and 690 / 701 for Dual Sport / Travel / Road etc. Great video.
depends on where you live, but i think Ktm/Hus 690/701 and the AJP PR7 are closer to unicorn than the T7
If you dont care to ride alot of straight pavement, or if you live near Forest roads and single tracks, the list is very different. For my US West 3 vehicle list, it's one plated dirtbike and a sport tourer. Add an all wheel drive SUV or a motorhome to hold the same bikes on the back, now you've achieved nirvana.
As a T7 owner and enthusiast, I couldn't agree more. Very well thought out and put together video. Love your channel.
Hey Ian. Loved this video comparison and this scoring system! Really puts things into perspective, I think you nailed it. I’d highly recommend that you use the scoring system for every single bike that comes through the channel and gets reviewed and keep a record of the bikes scores for comparison. A la Top Gear stig track times. Case in point, now that you’ve reviewed the Tiger 900 Rally I’d really really love to know how it fares using your scoring system and how it compares to the other bikes you’ve reviewed and scored. Please make that happen! You da best.
Great video. So many people are making “ten reasons you have to get this bike” and “ten reasons this bike sucks” type videos. This was very informative. I think people appreciate the real world comparison without all the hype.
Do a comparison between the T7 and a 690/701....That would be interesting..keep up the great videos
Coming soon!
Great review, my opinion is totally different. IMO the bike you can afford to buy for cash, work less and ride more is the best bike. Me, I ride a V-Strom 650, don't work full time and can take off and travel the West Coast, Canada or Baja any time. It's a pig in the dirt but I really only ride on dirt into camp sites or lunch spots.
Did 85k miles in 2 years on a 06. Awesome bike we still have one in the garage not mine tho.
Sold my 2013 V-strom650 in July and replaced with a 2015 Super Tenere ES for more 2up rides over the mountains. I can't say I've missed the V-strom but it was a fantastic bike. I rode it 33,000 trouble free miles on backroads, highways, freeways and forest service roads. It was about perfect but the Yamaha is shaft drive, has cruise control, is better 2up and more stable at freeway speeds. That said, I might buy another V-strom someday, it was a great bike and lighter on gravel roads.
@@got_to_roll I have a XT1200 and love it but I also have a CRF1000 ktm 525 WR250F and looking at the XT700 to add to what I have. Life is always better on a bike
@@PA-Tammy You're giving me garage envy something fierce!😉
Indeed, time is the most precious asset. It’s the real luxury.
Great job. I’ve stumbled across a few of your videos and I’ve really enjoyed them. Keep up the good work. PS - I have a 500EXC-F and a 1250GSA. Perfect two bike stable. 👍
The 690/701 is my unicorn because of my leaning towards dirt. 95% of the trails are often passable on big bikes but when shit goes south...I'd much rather have the best knobby tires on the lightest bike possible. You can ride anything on the street and the worst case is that you're uncomfortable. Welp, I'd much rather suffer some discomfort than be stranded on a big comfortable 1200gs at the bottom of a muddy gorge.
This is my second season with my T7 and after having done a fair bit of off-road with it and my KLX300, but riding to places fairly far away to get to good trails, I can say that the T7 is too heavy for me personally for off-roading anything other than fire roads. Sand in particular, is the nemesis of me on a T7 (the sand where I am is so silty that when you stop the front wheel disappears up to the rotors!). If it was 350 lbs instead of 450 lbs, then it would be pretty close to the unicorn we're all looking for. THe KLX300 is "painful" after 30 minutes of road riding at highway speed! For off-road, there is no getting away from one simple fact: weight, or the lack thereof, is king.
Agree anything >400lbs is too heavy for serious offroad... unless you're a glutton for punishment.
And here I am on a klx230 thinking the 300 is too big off road lol
Being spoiled for choices is a great possition to be in.
P.S. I'll admit that I'd like a 300s' power but I wouldn't trade my rocker arm for shim under bucket to get it
Just bought a klx 300 as my first off road bike. Have to agree it's a fun bike. Actually handles off road better than my electric fat bike. I'd love to try other bikes out but it's my pick for now.
I've had my T7 for over a year and this summer I can to the realization that NO I will not take this motorcycle dirt biking. It is great on gravel roads / mining roads and even very steep climbs, but when it gets sandy or muddy or rocky I say NEIN! It is just to heavy. I love, love, love my T7 for "motorcycle camping" and light adv riding, but for next year I will be looking to get something like the KLX 300 (or lighter) for off-road exploring.
At the end of the day people seem to forget the T7 is still in the “adventure” class. No “adventure” bike is ever going to compete with the lighter bikes when it comes to offroad riding just as those lighter bikes don’t come remotely close to the highway performance of “adventure” bikes.
I take this review anytime over all the data and marketing reviews. Real world riding and getting an honest opinion from someone that rides all of them is appreciated. Thank you!
Top work loved the video. Great info and opinions (your opinions are more valuable then other because of your level of experience) keep them coming!
I'm coming of sports bike to start venture ridding and i have to say thank you, all the question i have asked every body who have venture bikes have all said the Yamaha 700 for beginning and most likely finishing your riding with, so a big thank you for this video and the review you did on the Yamaha 700
I have a KTM 790 adv R and totally love it . I have done the Transamerica trail, the continental divide ride and will soon do the GEAR from Florida to Canada on it. I only wish it was 50 pounds lighter and it would be my unicorn. Great job on putting these reviews together. You are a very creative and talented you tuber. Keep it up!
Mine is a T7, absolutely love it! Used to get around on a wr450 and that was fun but I just love the versatility of the T7. If I could have 2 it would be wr450 and a tracer gt, yeh bit of a yammie fan. I feel like the beta 500 should get points taken away for the maintenance, doesn’t seem fair it scores the same as the AT but Maby that’s just me.
I always consider the T7 to be my dream bike but at the moment I have a killa DRZ400E (street legal in Australia) fully tuned and adventurised (seat, tank, windscreen etc.) for long off road trips as I 'm a begginer and off road in the Australian outback is too hardcore for me to wrestle with anything more than 150 kilos (330 pounds) and I also have a Yamaha FZ1s for road trips with my girl on the back, or even track days and hill rides, but looking to swap it for a Tracer 900 or even a Triumph Tiger 1050 sport for even more comfort on multi-day trips. Hopefully one day I will have the skills and strength to ride with confidence a T7 where the DRZ rides but there will always be a 70 kilo (160 pounds) difference. Also owned a 2020 WR450, awesome bike!
Running for T7, ended with WR450F 2021..T7 is on my mind again.., WR for exploring offroad, and find if the T7 can go..T7 for after explore..& highways..
He was a bit harsh on the AT but the way he scored them an oil change every ride is worth it if it's on a super Italian dirt bike with turn signals.
Not rode my 450 enduro once since I got a T7 a year ago.
Also the T7 is better on the road then even the Tracer 700 I had.
Your self-roasting at the end was hilarious. Great video. You and other creators have absolutely convinced me to buy the Yamaha. Thanks.
I’m with you 100%.. 1 bike, T7..2 bikes, FE350, T7.. 3, add FJ1300.
Great Vids! Keep up the good and thoughtful work. 🤙🏽
Thank you for such an in depth video. Your videos just shout quality content.
The simple answer, big guy big bike smaller guy smaller bike for me 5‘8“ 155 pounds my KTM 390 adventure is my unicorn I’ve ridden it on the continental divide from end to end and then home back to Texas it was perfect flawless. Also I own a CRF450L and KTM 390 Adventure. No FAT GIRLS for me. These two bikes cover all the bases in my world. Different tool for a different job, first you must ask yourself what kind of riding you do, then pick the bike for that ride.
I’ve been seriously considering the KTM 390 Adventure but have been concerned with the off-road worthiness. The ground clearance is pretty limiting, but the weight makes it very attractive to me over a T7. Do you find the 390 Adventure to be limited off-road?
@@HardBoiledGregADV
The KTM 390 adventure is a lightweight adventure bike, the T7 is a heavy dual sport I sold my BMW F800 GS and bought the KTM, never looked back. I’m 5 foot eight, 155 pounds if I was over 6 feet 250 pounds the T7 would be much more manageable for me but that’s not the case. The T7 is a large bike I’m not a large guy.
@@michaelh6002 Excellent. I’m 5’9” and 150 lbs, so I’m in the same boat.
@@HardBoiledGregADV the 390 is great for adv riding, but it’s not an off road machine like the T7 bc the gc and suspension travel is below 7”. Almost the perfect bike for 2 lane curvey roads but not great at 80 on the slab or big bumps even on forest service roads. I love mine and can do feet’s up sliders on smooth gravel roads that feels like magic.
I should consider the KTM 390. I’m 5’6” 170 lbs, muscle not fat so i thought the T7 would be alright with the smaller seat option that drops it 1.5 inches. I want to be able to take it on long rides on the freeway. Can the KTM390 go across country? I’m also in Texas 😁
Tell it like it is. I respect your reviews. Very honest and that’s refreshing. Thanks.
I appreciate that
Love your reviews, thanks again!
Great video! This speaks to my soul and my riding group! We constantly churn over this topic as we try to find a balance of a fun bike for the trail that doesn’t murder you on the way to the trail. Typically our rides take 2 hours of highway to get to anything beyond gravel roads. I’m going to have to synch up with you when I travel west. Thanks for the video!
My unicorn is the 2021 701 Enduro. Looking to add a rally front fairing and a more comfortable seat.
701 LR
@@DavidDualSport even better of you can find one
Between the 701 and 690 is would take the 690 for the little bit longer range and the built in USB charger but the 701 LR over the 690 for sure.
Your reviews are awesome. I enjoy your imperfections, and thank you for this review. Now considering the T7 for the first time.
Very nice video, thanks. I think you are really at the point where you are a proper YTber so trust in yourself, stay humble, keep on going!
It would be great to see a comparison between the T7 and the 701/690 enduro.
He can’t used to had the one he sold it and he knows it’s the 690 2019 up is the best
Yeap, personally for me KTM 690 is the unicorn :-)
I was ready to buy a T7 this spring but couldn't find one for love or money... so I bought a 701 Enduro instead. We spent a week in Colorado doing the passes around Telluride a couple weeks ago and I'm DAMNED glad I didn't get the T7. The 701 was a bit heavy for those trails but more along the lines of "the 500exc my buddy was riding was perfect and the 701 was just very good" rather than any major issues. IMO anything over 400lbs like the T7 would suffer on those routes... just too heavy. Now I've no doubt the T7 tours better than the 701... but I think with a rally tower (wind protection) and better seat the 701 will do well for touring (with a dirt bias) and STILL be able to have serious fun on the more demanding segments of TAT or BDR's as opposed to having to work to get a heavyweight bike through the same trails. (and I consider anything over 400lbs to be heavy for moderate to hard dirt trails - and anything over 300lbs is heavy for single track/serious dirt). Anything over 500lbs IMO is purely for road touring (dirt roads maybe... but roads not trails)... that's not to say you can't take them on routes like Imogene... but you'll be doing it for bragging rights rather than fun because it's going to be hard work (and potentially expensive).
So... my Tiger and Multistrada are dirt road and road tourers respectively (and both are fun... the Multi is absurd amounts of fun), and the 701 is my TAT/BDR/moderate offroad machine. Knowing a few friends with 500exc's I'm thinking that will be my hard offroad/trailered to location machine (next year if a supernaked doesn't lure me in the other direction).
I came here to recommend this as well. It seems like the 701/690 option is the only real competitor for the T7. For me it comes down to maintenance/reliability vs. weight.
@@kuhndj67 I’ve always said that! KTM needs the 690 enduro R with the fairings, nice TFT display like the 790/890, and be around 350 lbs
I have two bikes that I do every thing with. 1250 GS & 450 Husqvarna. I truck the smaller to the campsite or sometimes ride it to the local trail that isn't so local. 🤷
You videos make me laugh!
Also……I sincerely enjoy your reviewing style.
It’s helpful!!
New subscriber that has now listened to a dozen of your videos so far. Fantastic stuff. Love your logic and practicality. Ignore the negative comments. You provide such excellent information and advice. Thank you very much.
I do appreciate your channel, I think it is detailed, and real world, logic reviews, I think your channel is excellent!
Great comparison! As a noob the T7 is a bit intimidating so I’m leaning towards the KLR for my one bike quiver. Lower price point, proven reliability, and a thumper that won’t get me into too much trouble. Keep up the great content!
i was a noob, my first bike was the T7 and I haven't looked back - its a bike that can grow with you with upgrades - seriously beautiful and forgiving bike
You shouldn't be scared of the T7, it's a very pleasant and forgiving bike. It won't try to kill you like some sports bikes, just take it easy and you'll be fine. The KLR650 isn't any easier to ride than the T7.
But if the T7 is still too powerful for you then I'd suggest a Honda CRF300L or 300 Rally. A truly amazing dual sport perfect for your first bike.
@@yarpenzigrin1893 thanks. I’ve probably spent an unhealthy amount of time thinking about this, but am stuck recovering from a nasty leg break so I am both a bit (too) risk averse and unable to actually test ride either bike. Maybe in a few months!
I always advocate starting to ride in the dirt with a light trail bike and when you are confident in the dirt, add to your collection 🤙🏽
if money are enough get the T7, with practice intimidation will disappear. you can thank me later
With my very limited riding experience (but my head full of TH-cam wisdom), riding a middleweight cruiser (but keeping an eye on the adv/dual sport part of the riding world), I've came up with the same choices, you have as conclusion. Congrats for the video. SUBSCRIBED!
Nice video, not too short, not too long, concise and straight forward. Keep up the good work. A video comparing a few big enduro bikes would be nice.
Thank you, so awesome to see such a review :) greetings from switzerland
I’ve got a 21 Tenere 700 and 17 FZ10!! I choose to use the T7 all the time it’s the perfect all around bike!! The FZ doesn’t get used often after I got my T7 I’d personally would change out the FZ for a supersport style bike! I feel that the Tenere can just about do everything my FZ can do when it comes to enjoyment of riding on the streets! It gets double the fuel mileage than the FZ10 as well! Really happy with its power and handling and the ability to pretty much go and ride anywhere I want is amazing!
Just found your channel a few days ago, and you are my favorite presenter when it comes to adventure bikes. Thanks!
Wow, thanks!
Such a great comparison! Just barely discovered your channel today and you do a fantastic job with your videos!
Thanks
Excellent review thank you! I have a 2018 GSA and love it, but the weight does bother me. It took a while to feel confident. I’ve also adjusted my expectations on the level of difficulty or technical riding I intend to do off pavement. But that’s probably not a bad thing for me, I’m still going to go on some great rides and adventures in great places! Thanks again for your work.
Great video...I bought a T7 earlier this summer and its great. I did a BDR and it was perfect for that type of riding, as well as the long highway stretches to get to the start of the trip. Only drawback with the T7 is the 4.1 or 4.2 gallon fuel tank which only provides about 200 miles of range.
Hahahhaha excellent video as always. Love the self-trolling part about hair cut, clothes etc 😀
I'm surprised I have not found this channel earlier - great video, I like the structure and overall style, subscribed! I had the feeling in the beginning that the mighty AT may be left behind given the selection of bikes, and I was not wrong. Currently riding Transalp 600, thinking about the T7 for newer tech and similar simplicity.
My unicorn would be my actual bike, Ténéré 660 2013. Easy, simple, no eletrônic, and cheap to maintain and bullet proof engine. If the T7 would come to Brazil, i would consider, but have to say that the T660 is a great bike
I can still remember a picture I saw in a m'cycle magazine from maybe twenty or twenty five years ago of a man and his wife (huge smiles on their faces) on a fully loaded XT600 on their tour of South America. We have become *wildly* spoiled with the bikes available today. There's no reason your XT shouldn't still be running in twenty years from now.
@@keyboarddancers7751 I used an XT 600 to travel all over Australia. Never missed a beat.
Thanks again for a great video. 👍
I agree totally with your scores and reasoning.
I think you did a good job breaking it down and appreciate you giving me all this information
I'm lovin your work Ian and I like your hair cut. Honestly, your best yet👍
Great review. My first ADV motorcycle was a CRF 250 Rally. My second was a 2020 Africa Twin “standard” DCT. I still have the Rally for more technical off road. It’s amazing how handling the AT has improved my off road confidence and ability on the 250.
Like wearing ankle weights and taking them off. I prefer dirt bikes and motocross bikes for that reason…also no cars to hit you.
Great video and agree with most you say. My garage right now is a KTM 500 EXC-F and 890 AR. (Plus a Indian Vintage LOL) . If i had to get rid of one it would be the 500 EXC-f . I took the 500 on the COBDR and UTBDR, it was so nice having a relatively light off road capable bike, but packing was for sure challenging and we had to divert a lot (fires and passes closed), so ended up doing a lot of road. While the 500 could do it it was not fun. When I got home I sold my 2020 1250 GSA and purchased the 890. I did the NMBDR on the 1250 and it was not fun, I have a bad back and so lifting it fully loaded was impossible. To tell you the truth i didn’t even care that much for 1250 on the road either, it’s top heavy and has a small balance point, to me it’s a pig. The 890 to me is a great compromise, I am worried about the reliability, so fingers crossed. I upgraded the seat and window and feel I could ride my 890 near as comfortable long distances on the road as the 1250. But when I do any western BDR’s in the future I really have to think hard which one to take (trailering the 500 to the start of course), the 500 is just so fun and stress free to ride.
BTW I really enjoy your videos, your reasons, and your hair is ok in my book ;-)
Hi yes good videofrom someone with heaps of experience!
Funny one of my bikes is also vintage 1926 Indian.. But i have got a R1250GS.... and i love it. Plus a KTM690R and KLX250... I'm selling the KTM after 5years as i just wasn't riding it enough. BTW I am in Bangkok Thailand, so way different roads than you guys! Seems we all need more than one bike!
I love watching your videos. They're very informative and well made. I own a F850GS Adventure and a CRF300L but I'm considering reverting back to a one bike solution and my head is spinning trying to determine what is the optimum bike is for Adventure touring and the occasional sand / dirt / rocky trail. Thank you for helping me to accept the reality, weigh up all the options and trade offs and for confirming that Unicorns don't exist.
Correct.
OK, hear me out: CRF300L Rally. ESPECIALLY if you care about initial cost. My (personal) scoring based on your chart makes it about 114 points. Light weight, big tank, easy and infrequent servicing, "OK" off road, surprisingly good on the highway (for a 300). And *CHEAP* to buy and maintain. *IF* you can detune your ego, it's a great travel/adventure bike.
Well reasoned and thought provoking. Thanks!
Thank you for a very thoughtful review, although I do not possess the ride skills of many on this platform (off road), I find myself leaning (no pun intended) toward the GSA because of the front end feedback, fuel capacity and of course comfort.
I just found your channel a week ago and been watching all your videos. Great videos.
I love how down to earth and normal you are, great youtuber and great video cheers 😁
Great video idea, comparison and evaluation! We’ll done and thank you so much!
As you’re enjoying a successful experienced interactive community, the comment section is so helpful for sorting through an amazing variety of possibilities . . .
Private Motorcycle Owner:
“I think I see a Unicorn!”
Motorcycle Dealership Owner:
“Hold my beer please . . . “
. . . and please pay no attention to the “haters” Ian, they’re just trolls trolling.
As another famous TH-camr once said “Haters gonna Hate”
Whether it’s navigating tight technical single track trails, digging up steep rocky fire roads, enjoying gentle twisties, blasting across county highways, or putt putting around town, I’m thankful for my modestly powered, extremely reliable, low maintenance midweight 2018 Honda 250 L ABS as the current definition of motorcycle adventure in my life right now. What a hoot!
Keep up the great work and fun riding Ian, we are buying products and motorcycles based on you and your community’s evaluations and opinions, so we really appreciate it!
Very Gratefully, Dennis
Excellent review. I had a feeling what the final score would be before watching the video.
BR from Sweden
After a year of riding adventure, I understand what you’re meaning with this video. Last weekend I decided to learn what dirt bike riding is all about so I ride better off road. I love my 750GS but….it need to be lighter. No I don’t want the 300 either. So, I’m seriously considering a KTM or Honda CRF rally. My honey, he loves his 1250GSA! Thanks for creating this video.
I recently subscribed to your channel.
And I appreciate you sharing your experience.
I found this very informative and I will continue to subscribe and learn from someone with more experience than I have and who owns the machine(s) I want. Again...thank you... for sharing your knowledge.
It's appreciated.
As usual very good content and well, thought out video. Really like your videos and to each his own for negative comments.
I'm doing a budget version of your 3 picks. Drz400 for off road ,single track, v strom 650 for all around riding touring , lite off road, and a fjr1300 for fast, road trips with more miles and more luggage, passenger rides. got about 12 grand total in all 3 and your picks are better for sure. But for those on a budget ,y 3 are hard to beat.
the only bike on your list i haven't owned is the drz (have test drove drz and felt under powered on road and mild off road) ..... i think ya nailed the average mans dream team for bikes tho, if i had big $ that may change 701, t7 and h2 sx ..... btw loved my fjr thing was a blast !!!
Congratulations! This is one of the most informative, practical, and useful comparison videos I have seen. This is exactly the kind of question most of us have to answer when we are considering buying the one bike we can afford. What type of riding do I actually do?, and Which bike will be the best for the range of riding experiences I do? I think the categories for comparison you chose are totally relevant. The fact you have significant experience riding all these types of bikes gives your opinion credibility. So, thank you. In answer to your question, what one bike would I have, my answer is a used V-strom 1000. I thoroughly enjoy riding it on the back roads of Kentucky and it is very good for two-up touring. I have not yet ridden it off-road, though I do want to give it a try on "easy" terrain. Reliability and cost of ownership are also significant factors in my choice. My second bike (which I actually owned first) is from the vintage category. It is a 1975 Kawasaki 900 (Z1). I have it for nostalgic reasons. It was my Dad's bike and it was the King of bikes in the mid-70's. So the cool factor is off the charts. Every time I ride it someone asks me about it and has their own story from the past. If I could have a third bike, it would be something like a DRZ 400S to be able to do some real off-road rides. Thanks again for an informative and interesting video on a very useful topic.
I had a Z1 900 back in the late 70s I loved it. It was the King back then.👍
Great unbiased review! This is the reason I watch this channel … honest opinions. Thanks Ian. Keep ‘em coming.
More to come!
Great job. Agree mostly. Have a 1250 GSA, 790 Adv, and Roadmaster for the misses. The GSA still doesn't quite match the Roadmaster or Ulta for 2 up long trips I think. I do worry about getting stranded on the KTM and have considered switching to the Yamaha. Keep up the good work!
Really interesting video & good approach to evaluating bikes (good final choices also). I have 3 bike garage - 1. 2011 Husaberg FE390 enduro (270 lbs wet), 2. 2018 Kawasaki Versys X300 (386 wet) and 3. 2017 Suzuki Vstrom 650XT (476 wet). After a few years of riding all 3 regularly, I find the X300 to be a viable travel bike for multi-use (only one interstate trip so far, but it did well up to 75 mph for 5 days). Off road, I've done several hundred miles on the X300 with a fair amount on fairly rough/rocky Jeep trails and one Colorado to Utah trip on the TAT. The little X300 IS underpowered, especially for passing at over 65 mph. HOWEVER, it ticks most of the boxes: a. under 400 lbs, b. rally windshield (my own DIY) c. long maintenance intervals, d. good comfort (with extra padding on the seat and 2 in bar risers - I'm 6'3" and 210 lbs). Advice to all readers: do NOT ride a dirt bike nearly on a nearly 1,000 mile dirt/highway trip from Nevada to Oregon (TAT and Hwy!!! At 72 years old, I did it, but never again!!!) Thanks again for your vids. -Ray in the un-paved hills of SW Colorado.
Great video - thanks. I'm interested in the Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro. It would do better than the Africa Twin for weight and off road, and likely keep the same road and maintenance figures. So according to your methodology, it might even compete with the T700. Nice to have your system to take a crack at evaluating these wonderful machines!
Great job on this, thanks!
I only have 1 afternoon worth of experience with the T7, but I agree with the assessment of it being the perfect allrounder.
That being said, my only bike is a R1250GSA which is for me the perfect bike.
Here in Western Europe there’s not much technical off-road, so for the off-road that I do end up doing, the GSA is perfectly capable.
Comfort is important to me, so the GSA is an easy pick.
As an Italian and honestly noob about off-roading, I was wondering how many dirt roads are actually rideable without getting in trouble with the police.
@@JCBigCat That highly depends on where you live: legislation can get very complicated. I live in Belgium, and here pretty much every town can decide for themselves what they allow and what not, so if you want to ride longer bits of off-road, it’s best to consult a local ranger.
That being said, there’s plenty of shorter off-road bits around, and as long as there’s no sign specifically saying motorcycles are not allowed, you should be fine.
Personally, I also ride through broken-up roads etc: as long as you do it on weekends or in the evenings, there’s no construction workers around that can be bothered by your presence.
Just use common sense 🙂
The perfect bike, is 3 bikes 😎
Great video, I enjoyed you analysis. Had my eye on the Tenere 700 for a while.
Nicely done...thanks for sharing!!
How would a Honda CRF300L Rally do in this scoring system?
18 weight
35 off road
20 on road
40 maintenance
113 points
@@stevelamby7658 Yep, that sounds about right. We found the unicorn, guys!
Exactly the question I thought of seeing this excellent video. If I was a lot younger this is the bike I would have, but as I'm over 70 I'll stick with my GS1200
So happy to have come across this review! I currently have a Husky 501 and a T700 on the way. I am thinking that is going to be the best two bike combo. 501 for legit single track and off road riding and the T7 for covering tarmac just enough to find more off road to explore and to adventure further. If I wasn’t 6’3 205lbs I would say maybe a 350 paired with the T7 might be the best combo. Side note: I also have a TW200 because it might be the the most fun to bike to ride of them all😂 Keep up the great reviews!
Did you get your t7? If so did you make any changes considering your height? I'm considering one, same height as you
I loved this breakdown! Made perfect sense and it didn't seem like you were biased like some (all) paid motojournalists. Keep up the awesome work! And remember bud...they hate ya cause they ain't ya