yep i rode a triumpyh scambler 900 around eroupe did offroading. that more a street bike looks like it do offroading it still did it. i now have a honda transalp 600 1993. it more a dual sport then adventure bike. it prefect
You’re not, you’re pushing your advertisement story on your channel, like all the others do. And to your luck, nobody wants to listen to anything else other than what the advertisers tell. So just in case you want to call it out the next 20 years, too. You’re already in the hype zone of light heavy bikes with premium kits, even the cheap heavy bikes with just enough modern kit on them. All part of the waves of bubble advertisement by the industry you’re part of for over a decade.
Marketers monopolized the word "adventure" for huge, super heavy road touring motorcycles with slightly taller and stronger suspension... to the point that we need a video message to remind people what "adventure" actually means. And for its direct meaning, you don't need a 600 lbs $30k+ road bike masquerading as an off-road powerhouse. There is a place for them and they are great for many roads, but let's take the word "adventure" back from them. I downsized from massive bikes to a Yamaha XT250 and I've had the best adventures I ever had on any bike before! "Adventure bike" is just a genius marketing label for the whole bike category. You don't need an "adventure category" bike to have an adventure!
Precisely :) Which is why I sometimes use an older CRF250L for adventure riding. Once took 4 days crossing Oregon, and wow what a trip that was. Went in search of free camping and good back roads, had time to explore and detour and see things. Is why I keep that bike, even if it's next to useless on the highway in a headwind.
@@suzyamerica4679 that's what real adventure is all about! Go somewhere nice. Face unexpected challenges. Solve them. Gain amazing memories for a lifetime!
You ride the bike you have! It’s that simple. When I was young my brother rode a Kawasaki 250 triple 2 up from Massachusetts to California his second day of senior year. Somehow they made it back and graduated on time. I rode a zx9 and then a zx6r from Kansas to the White mountains in NH and the from Massachusetts to the gulf coast of Florida in August! You can come up with a million reasons not to go, just go, it will be memorable!
Adventure is just doing something, it does not matter if on a paved road, on a tricycle or CT90. Visiting new places, seeing new landscapes and being outdoors beats sitting on a couch every time!
Good message, Ben. One of the worst things about modern society is the gate-keeping jerks who try to keep the "uncool" people out of the woods. Dude, if I find it adventurous to just get on gravel period, that's an adventure to me. I don't need to know about snatch blocks and overlanding monster trucks. My little putt-putt bike will get me as far as I would ever want to go.
A bunch of it is industry marketing. If you can adventure any bike you don't need this $15k+ bike and all the dumb shit for it. You might not need to spend any money. They can't have that.
Agreed. A friend on an ancient Yamaha classic 600 v-twin cruiser introduced me to gravel travel and I've never looked back. I have 124,000 km on a 6 year old v-strom 650 now, about to start my 4th transcontinental. I regret often not having a much smaller bike to explore with, especially when I drop Suzie on a remote mountain pass, but I need to respect the high percentage of secondary highway travel I do. I'm 72, comfort counts..
Ben, you single handedly motivated me to get back out on a dual sport bike at age 57. I'm a dirt "newbie" who has no earthly business riding off-road but, I grew up as a kid as young as 6 riding minibikes and small displacement dirt bikes till old enough to drive a car. I had no training, no real skill, just trial and error. I have been riding street bikes now since my early 30's and the last 25 years have owned over 25 street bikes, mostly cruisers and Harleys. Then in 2021, I bought a BMW R1250GS. I kept it on the street and some gravel mountain fire roads and loved it. I switched to a Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally, but came to realize it's too heavy and too expensive to repair if crashed off-road so it is my street only machine. A few months back, I purchased a lightly used 22' Honda CRF450RL and made the necessary mods to it to make it enjoyable to ride (ECU, G2 Throttle tamer, Graves blockoff kit, Seat Concepts XL comfort seat, rear rack, Acerbis hand guards, tank bag etc.). Now, I just need to get up the courage to ride it a lot more off road. I live in FL where sand is the name of the game and I hate sand. But, watching your videos keeps me interested in trying. For that I say thank you.
I have adventures on my BMW RT and it never goes off pavement. My definition of an adventure bike is the bike that you own. Lucky for me I own several bikes and can have different types of adventures.
I've owned two CBR600 RRs, a Tenere 700, Husky 701, and one of my favorite adventure rides was a trip I took with my Dad last summer. He was on a Super Sherpa 250 and I was on my TW200. You don't need a big, fast bike to have fun, you just have to get out and ride!!!
Love the fact that Ben was inspired by Tyler "Everide". I was inspired by Ewan and Charley but kept getting frustrated with the big heavy Africa Twin (still an epic machine) till I took a schooling weekend at the Moto Mansion with Tyler. I realized it was dual sport I was looking for all along. I sold the Africa Twin and bought a dual sport and a used ST1300 for road touring with cash left over - two bikes for the price of one and more smiles per mile than I could have imagined. Tyler Everide has been a massive influence on my riding and will always be thankful for my time with him.
I got my first Versys-X 300 four years ago after watching the Fortnine video about it. It's been a fantastic bike to get back into motorcycling on! Enjoy your ride.
Everide may have started the modern filming of cheap adventure riding for us to enjoy. But I was started by 1970 on brothers mini-bike then my Sears lawn mower style engine. The Adventure was don't get caught by State Park Rangers on our uninsured, unregistered, unlicensed, mini-bikes. That was so long ago that my buddy 5HP engine seemed so much better than my 3.5 HP.
👍🏻 Great message! Completely agree with you on anything off-pavement is considered off-road. As you said, all that matters is getting out there and having fun 🤙🏻
@@DorkintheRoad I would much rather engage with people looking to improve their skills or are considering joining the motorcycling community than engage with riders who strive to be divisive with ranting about what they consider is/isn’t “appropriate” adventure riding 👍🏻
My partner and I both have have a klx 230 each as dual sport and we love it. Took it to couple single tracks, been laughed at by some ktm owners but here I am living and doing same thing as them. So reliable, never let down
True that, I started my riding career on a Honda trail 70 at age 14..... now at 56 years old i have 2 Harleys and a KLX 230 that i commute to and from work daily. I have no other vehicle, the bikes are it.... and i go everywhere with them on and off road, at anytime and in any weather conditions....forget the nay sayers and continuing evolving trends and equipment get what you like and can afford and go out and ride, that is the most important thing RIDE.....
Ben! I have been watching you since you started Dork in the Road. Nice to see your hard work is paying off and people are recognizing you for the professional that you are. You're a phenomenal reviewer who continues to keep things down to earth for avg. person. Keep it up my friend!
An adventure bike is in fact a category of bike just like cruiser or dual sport. You can have an adventure on anything including riding a park bench but a duel sport or cruiser is no more an ADV bike per the category as a jeep wrangler is a race car just because you took in on a NASCAR track.
Ben, this is an awesome video. It was much more engaging to watch than many of the videos on your channel. I hope this bit of constructive criticism is taken in the spirit it's given to help to connect with your viewers better: In many of the videos on your channel, you are looking at the LCD view screen off to the side of the camera. It's distracting. It's like talking to someone in person and looking at something off to the side and behind them. In this video, you were looking at the lens of the camera, which is like looking at someone straight in the eyes when talking to them in person. It's more engaging.
45k km adving on a DR, and people still said I needed a proper adv bike! Why? *I'd* be slower on dirt on a bloatosaurus. I know, I had one for 130k km, and hated it on anything but tar and hardpacked dry dirt, where it could be very fast. I abandoned the idea of adventure and used it as a road bike. I'm a huge fan of chook chasers (dual sports). Truly go almost anywhere machines. I don't mind them on highways, it just means I can't speed as much as faster bikes can. In Australia limits are strictly enforced, and even my own XL250 could maintain the national open road limit (100 - 110km/h on some motorways and select divided roads, the NT has one road with 130) I also prefer a lack of wind protection - screens always buffet me terribly unless I'm in a race crouch. I much prefer sitting in unscreened, quiet, clean air. That's not to say I'm right. I might only be right for me. 😉
"What matters is that you're doing it." Thank you my man, we need more of this type of attitude in so many parts of life, but especially the outdoor pursuits. Just get out and do it. Enjoy yourself while you're breathing fresh air, exercising, and not at work. Blow some steam off, let the stress go. Who f*cking cares what adventure is to me, if it's exciting for you, then go for it and enjoy it. Thank you sir!
I bought a new Klx300 this year and started accessorizing it. It’s the perfect light weight ADV/Dual Sport bike for the PNW. I do ride true offroad areas and light highway use up to about 60mph. I agree, you do not need the fanciest bike on the market to have a true adventure. I have been riding for about 25-30 years or so and I can still pick this bike up myself when I drop it deep in the woods. That’s a huge benefit with this bike vs a larger 650cc machine
That is exactly true, most folks with big adventure bikes never even see 30-40 MPH off road and even less in technical areas... only thing they are good for is getting to the destinations in comfort... once offroad I much rather be on a nimble 250 or 300 ... and I speak from experience..owned GS 1200's and other DS bikes....
Another fabulous video...the "ADV Bike Gatekeepers" can keep their BS lifestyle and the "if you aren't riding hard and light you aren't an ADV rider". I have big and small "Adventures" every time I ride my bike. That can be 1 hour during lunch or 7 days on the TET. Adventure is what you make of it. Keep up the great work Dork.
Totally agree. I rode around Colombia on a 300cc dual sport and Vietnam on a 150cc dual sport. Great fun and more than enough bike. No highways just small back roads.
Dude… Such a GREAT message!!!! So much of the moto world becomes a pissing contest…..sometimes we just need to hear “It’s ok…..just get a bike and ride” My world is far more street oriented but it’s the same there… how many cc’s is that?……That’s a girls bike….Rather push my Harley than ride a Honda….GETS SO OLD! 😊 Like I’ve always said “The most Rebellious thing you can do is thinking for YOURSELF! 😂 Thanks Brother
A dude drove a ($3000 MSRP) Honda XR150L from Florida to Niagara Falls Canada. And he did it without ever stopping at a gas station (he carried the extra gas with him). It's not about having the biggest baddest bike.
And that 230 kawasaki and my XR650l or any single cylinder bike will go anywhere a big expensive bike will go and they will go MANY places a big expensive adventure bike cannot go . It's only about road comfort . To me waiting for people to help me pick up my bike and not being able to ride alone because your afraid to drop your bike because you can't pick it up by yourself that's stress and takes all the fun out . Gas anxiety is heavy enough . ""RIDE ON""
Shooooot I even call my 💯 on-pavement rides “adventures” because that’s exactly what I’m experiencing. It doesn’t matter what the keyboard warriors think.
Everide has taught me a lot and inspired me. So have you, Ben. I haven't bought anything yet, but I have been able to learn what safety gear I want and what motorcycles would be great to start with. I've met all but one of my goals to start my motorcycling life, and I will achieve that in a few months. Thank you, Everide and Ben!
You nailed it, man! I did majority of my 100+ thousand kilometers on a JAWA 350 (old school 350 cc, 2-stroke, 2-cylinder with 23 hp) a had tons of adventures! Later on a BMW F800GS it was adventure, yes, but at the same time the bike was way over my skill level. Now on a Honda CRF300L Rally I am having fun while not being worried constantly that I'll drop it
First and only model camping Adventure I went on was after I bought my scooter in 2018. Obviously no off-road trail riding but I did end up having to write down a very loose Gravel Road for a few miles. Left my scooter on the side of the road kickstand was digging in the gravel thankfully it was still there when I came back.. got home and found two bolts Sheard in my rear swing arm and by my manifold
I just picked up a 2022 KLX 230s. I’m a shorty. Yeah bike manufacturers need to address the tank capacity. 3 gallons minimum. Will be going on trips with spare tank. Love this bike. Really fun.
Fantastic. I can hit fmx ramps and clear triples. But what do I choose to ride all day. --- a tw200. 😂😂. It really doesn’t matter what ya ride. Just get out there. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🇨🇦
Noted .. I have a 800 xcx Tiger ,, it's a good all rounder but sometimes intimidating off tar and a nightmare to lift .. What's your take on the Hero X pulse 200 ? New $2500 , 2 yrs old with low mileage and extras $1500 in South Africa .. It'll be a second bike for me and something for the kids to learn on ..
This guy, new motorcyclist on an untested old CB500 went from Copenhagen to Cape Town - That's adventure in my book www.youtube.com/@CopenhagentoCapeTown-hop-hx1cz/videos
F*** the haters! You do you! Start small (local gravel) work up from there. If you have that big trip in your mind (I'm going to rid to the end of the world) and that's the only thing in your mind, you'll never get out of the house. Every ride is an adventure, no matter what you're on.
I very pleased to see Ben (Mr. DITR) on this channel. This positive content works for me. As a side note, I've seen enough Dork videos that I am ready for a CRL 300L Rally after a couple 1200 and 1250 GSs.
I sent this to our group (Men's support & community) You can get off the couch, and get back into adventure riding, go trail walking, make friends, talk about things. Ride 4 Therapy. Thanks More like this. (Should add the other half has the other half of the group Woman's support & community)
You scared me with the intro. I was saying no, no, no……. IMO, adventure is going on a journey where all details cannot be planned and where the outcome is not guaranteed. It usually includes overcoming some adversity to be successful.
I’ve loved every “adventure “ on my KLX250 since I bought it new 10 years ago. It’s been such a great mount I don’t see myself “upgrading “ to a “big “ ADV bike anytime soon. Cheers….
Watching Mototrek.. and there’s Ben Dork. Nice switch👍🏻. Great message too, I’ve had this conversation with friends, my view is that you can plan a trip but not an adventure but if you don’t plan a trip, you won’t have an adventure. Adventure is where you find it and anyone telling you that what you’re doing is not an adventure has an inflated sense of their own importance. Yeah, I think that’s it.😁
My definitions of where I ride... Road: Paved Off Road: Dirt surface, regardless of level of maintenance (could be county maintained and smooth as glass or a rugged fire/logging road) Trail: 50" or smaller trails that generally require OHV permits
totally agree!! after years of road motorcycles I got into Adventure riding with a KTM 950 and it was so fun. opened my eyes to a new riding world. after 2 years I down sized to a Honda CRF 300LS. what a amazing "down grade" I can pack just as much and explore places I wouldn't go on a heavy adventure bike.. Ya I need to do some mods to get the bike "adventure" ready. But its awesome now!
Was riding DRZ's and XR650L's long before Adv. Always had a smaller displaced dual sport. But nothing is more enjoyable for touring BDR's and such than a larger Adv for eating up hwy miles to, from and in between, not to mention hauling all gear. But agreed, all are good! Just get out there!!!
Everide may have started the modern filming of cheap adventure riding for us to enjoy. But I was started by 1970 on brothers mini-bike then my Sears lawn mower style engine. The Adventure was don't get caught by State Park Rangers on our uninsured, unregistered, unlicensed, mini-bikes. That was so long ago that my buddy 5HP engine seemed so much better than my 3.5 HP.
It's a bit 'click-baity'.... anything you ride is capable of adventure. I've toured on scooters, done dirt on a B-king... have a stable of ADV's and enduro's for the more serious stuff.... regardless, all fun, all adventures had
Wow! Ben! I was shocked to see you here. Awesome! Thank you! I too, have been telling people this. And you are 100% correct. When you are ready for a bigger bike, you will know
I get what you’re saying Ben but let’s be real. You live in Adv riding heaven. If you live in the rural south like East Texas or Louisiana you’re not going to enjoy riding in 105° summer 500 miles up to the Ozarks to find any sort of elevation and beauty. A KLX230 just isn’t enough bike for the vast majority of us outside the west coast
It annoys me to hear "a bike you won't outgrow." You're not Marc Marquez or Toby Price. And shit, Toby Price has been known to ride small displacement bikes over landing in SE Asia. You won't outgrow it. If it's the wrong bike for what you want to do, you can sell it and buy something else. It's easy to buy and sell motorcycles. Almost as easy as a bicycle.
I'm sorry, Ben, but I respectfully disagree with using the phrase “offroad”. Riding down a perfectly graded forest service road that a Buick Riviera can easily access is not "off-road". I’m not taking anything away from forest roads. I love them. But let’s be real here. More importantly, I think calling Forest Service Roads "trails" is a dangerous habit for the community. Ive seen far too many riders blowing blind curves, not Riding Right, and thinking these roads are their own personal trail. There are other users coming at you. Jeeps, horses, other motorcyclists, etc. Thinking about these legal roads as trails or as offroad is the wrong mindset and can cause some really serious issues. My point is that we al need to remember we are really on ROADS out there and not a close course trail system aka “offroad”. Additionally, the “offroad” guys that thinks they’re the only true “adventure riders” are completely daft. Trailering your bike to the trails ain’t it. The guys connecting interstate to gravel roads crunching miles and eating Moon Pies on a gas station curb talking to locals wondering where the hell you’re at are the true adv riders. Keep up the good work. Cheers.
I agree with all this, except maybe the "off road", there needs to be a word for the thing I do on my KTM200EXE where I'm following a compass with no formed track and sharing an unsealed road with completely normal cars, trucks, semitrailers or road trains while riding my CBR1000. I don't over much care what those words are, but we use language to transfer ideas from one head to another. When I say in the V-Strom forum "the Strom needs some sort of road or road like surface under it, even if it's just an animal trail" and the result is a storm of insults from someone who has ridden from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego off road the whole way, that's a failure to communicate. Because when they post a link, it turns out they have ridden numbered highway the entire trip that they shared with 2wd cars, semi trailer trucks and road bikes ridden by the locals. Obviously there's a grey area in the middle. My personal boundary is "would I ride the CBR1000 there?" and that certainly includes what you showed in the video. I've ridden the CBR and other "road bikes" over much less developed roads than that. I understand that like the boundary between red and orange, not everyone puts the boundary in the same place. Some people look at that road and call it off road. Ok. But the current situation is that they're calling grass "red". Main roads between cities or even between countries are called "off road"!
Yup doesn't matter what bike you ride as long as you have an adventure. Now depending on the country/place, logging roads can vary from a smooth unpaved surface (as shown in the video) to an enduro track, their state differs from season to season, weather and heavy logging trucks & equipment change the roads dramatically, in Romania, Eastern Europe where I live at least, they do alter the surface a lot. A moped called Dot (Sydney to London adventures) conveyed that message that any bike is an adventure bike, including an Australian Postal moped. Ride safe & have fun everyone!
Everide totally got me back onto a motorcycle after a 28 year break. Great to see Ben again. I quit watching Dork videos because of his constant use of alcohol and tobacco on that channel. Not my thing. Poor health choices somewhat promoted by an "influencer" is offputting to me. *One guy's opinion~
Yep any bike will do and any trail or unpaved road will do and you can call it an Adventure. Time, family and geography limit my "Adventure" rides to simple one, two or at most three day affairs. I can actually have more fun on my KLX300 than my KTM890, the choice of bike for the adventure is mostly determined by the paved roads, distance and time needed to get there.
I love this, I never went small, Magregor and Boorman hit the bell for me, to then purchase as all of us did back then to the big gs. first crack at motorcycling in general was at the amazing opportunity presented before me. My past was bicycling 3 countries, Australia, New Zealand, then across the US from Niagara falls to Washington and up into BC. When i got into Motorcycling i knew the potential of off road. I took the course, thanks Brett In Washington state( The original Motortrek ) and it was one of the most important life changing events, I have had a few adventures since then with me and me boy. BMW. 1200 gs, I am 67 now and know what when and where to do what. So i am a bit hesitant as a single rider to go gonzo in the great outdoors. But your vid says that you can still do it in a modified way. My body is not what it once was. But you are true to your views, Well done.
The cool thing is that your riding gear and luggage can transfer from bike to bike. I started on an xt250 and now my mosko stuff lives on my dr650. Just buy a bike and go!
Off Road, in the classical interpretation it means a path that the average driver cannot navigate with a standard 2 wheel drive car. These days it means no pavement and I guess that's ok, sort of. Just be careful when you accept an invitation to go "off road" if you use the new version. If I invite you to go off road, we goin' OFF road.
Once upon a time, there were no such ADV bikes, still some went riding accross the globe. For those who are still reading books, Jupiter's travel is a must. Ride safe
Adventure starts your door step. u make it the way u want it to be. i live in scotland im happy only see scotland even we dont have much in legal offroading. adventure is still adventure off or on road. adventure starts at your door step.
Adventures is a BS term. You go and ride and when a situation hits you - deal with it. That’s all it is. You’re not Indiana Jones, you’re Karen or Jason outside, get a bicycle so you can improve on your shape that looks more like a GS rider. Leave your camera gear at home, take your smartphone photos or videos.
Although I don’t consider fire roads as true off road riding as you said it’s semantics who cares it’s fun. At my age and declining riding ability Fire road are now my adventure. Good advice start small you’ll know when and if it’s time to move up, your video on the subject is probably one of the better ones I’ve watched.
I bought an indian brand Hero Xpulse 200cc rally months back, loving it offroad, hard part is finding time to take it to trails, i am able to spend about 4 hours on weekends, now i think what if i had spent it on an expensive bike, it would get the same time as well :)
The way things are going these days the only time you'll ever be able to do off-off-road riding is when you're crossing a desert where there is no road paved or unpaved and you'll be lucky even then if you aren't pinched for riding there in the first place. The days when you could go out and just ride anywhere in the bush have long gone, you need to stick to the marked tracks, trails & logging roads which isn't so bad. Watch out for the 4WD crowd, plan your fuel and water stops and you should have a blast all the same. 👍
Very well said! Great video! Years ago we just put on a back pack and strapped what we could to our bikes and went out and had adventures. No special gear or bike we just did it! Same way with overlanding I took a station wagon places most wouldn't tackle without 4 wheel drive. use what you have do what you can and make memories!
As Ben has replayed many,many times,,,Ride your Ride, Nobody can ride it for you tho they may sometimes ride it with you! You define your route. This is true for motorcycles also 🤔🤣
So sick of this cliche' word "Adventure bike"..These big heavy bikes are Street bikes with dirt tires..Get a real dirtbike..Adventure bike term is so overused.
Get your name in the end credits of upcoming videos!
JOIN now and become an Associate Producer.
www.youtube.com/@MOTOTREK/membership
Ben o the Mototrek channel?! My brain wasn’t processing this for a minute. Congrats, well deserved!
This is a great message, I've been telling people for years that an adventure motorcycle can be any motorcycle you have adventures on.
yep i rode a triumpyh scambler 900 around eroupe did offroading. that more a street bike looks like it do offroading it still did it. i now have a honda transalp 600 1993. it more a dual sport then adventure bike. it prefect
The more non-adventure your bike is the more "adventures" you have on offroad.
Well, no, it’s not. There are classifications, and you can technically have an adventure riding a broomstick.
You’re not, you’re pushing your advertisement story on your channel, like all the others do. And to your luck, nobody wants to listen to anything else other than what the advertisers tell. So just in case you want to call it out the next 20 years, too. You’re already in the hype zone of light heavy bikes with premium kits, even the cheap heavy bikes with just enough modern kit on them. All part of the waves of bubble advertisement by the industry you’re part of for over a decade.
Two of my favorite channels coming together, gotta love it!
Marketers monopolized the word "adventure" for huge, super heavy road touring motorcycles with slightly taller and stronger suspension... to the point that we need a video message to remind people what "adventure" actually means. And for its direct meaning, you don't need a 600 lbs $30k+ road bike masquerading as an off-road powerhouse.
There is a place for them and they are great for many roads, but let's take the word "adventure" back from them. I downsized from massive bikes to a Yamaha XT250 and I've had the best adventures I ever had on any bike before! "Adventure bike" is just a genius marketing label for the whole bike category. You don't need an "adventure category" bike to have an adventure!
Precisely :) Which is why I sometimes use an older CRF250L for adventure riding. Once took 4 days crossing Oregon, and wow what a trip that was. Went in search of free camping and good back roads, had time to explore and detour and see things. Is why I keep that bike, even if it's next to useless on the highway in a headwind.
@@suzyamerica4679 that's what real adventure is all about! Go somewhere nice. Face unexpected challenges. Solve them. Gain amazing memories for a lifetime!
You deserve a beer for that call to arms my friend. Couldn't agree more
You ride the bike you have! It’s that simple.
When I was young my brother rode a Kawasaki 250 triple 2 up from Massachusetts to California his second day of senior year. Somehow they made it back and graduated on time.
I rode a zx9 and then a zx6r from Kansas to the White mountains in NH and the from Massachusetts to the gulf coast of Florida in August!
You can come up with a million reasons not to go, just go, it will be memorable!
Adventure is just doing something, it does not matter if on a paved road, on a tricycle or CT90. Visiting new places, seeing new landscapes and being outdoors beats sitting on a couch every time!
An adventure can be just taking inappropriate equipment to out of the places.
Ben, you're a true inspiration. Now get lost 😂
Fanfucking tastic message!
If you've ever thought "I wonder where THAT goes?", you already know where to start an adventure.
It dead-ends. But I found four more WDTG?-s to try right after.
Good message, Ben. One of the worst things about modern society is the gate-keeping jerks who try to keep the "uncool" people out of the woods. Dude, if I find it adventurous to just get on gravel period, that's an adventure to me. I don't need to know about snatch blocks and overlanding monster trucks. My little putt-putt bike will get me as far as I would ever want to go.
A bunch of it is industry marketing. If you can adventure any bike you don't need this $15k+ bike and all the dumb shit for it. You might not need to spend any money. They can't have that.
DORK!!! You made it to the big show! Your so genuine...I love it. Keep up the good work brother!
😁
Ben is ALWAYS welcome here!
@@MOTOTREK aw schucks. It was an honor!
What?!!!………….I was floored!
👋🏽 Hi! Ben. 👍
Agreed. A friend on an ancient Yamaha classic 600 v-twin cruiser introduced me to gravel travel and I've never looked back.
I have 124,000 km on a 6 year old v-strom 650 now, about to start my 4th transcontinental.
I regret often not having a much smaller bike to explore with, especially when I drop Suzie on a remote mountain pass, but I need to respect the high percentage of secondary highway travel I do.
I'm 72, comfort counts..
Who does more adventure? A fisherman on a Honda super sub 125cc going to his fishing spots or a guy riding highways on BMW 1250 gs?
Ben, you single handedly motivated me to get back out on a dual sport bike at age 57. I'm a dirt "newbie" who has no earthly business riding off-road but, I grew up as a kid as young as 6 riding minibikes and small displacement dirt bikes till old enough to drive a car. I had no training, no real skill, just trial and error. I have been riding street bikes now since my early 30's and the last 25 years have owned over 25 street bikes, mostly cruisers and Harleys. Then in 2021, I bought a BMW R1250GS. I kept it on the street and some gravel mountain fire roads and loved it. I switched to a Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally, but came to realize it's too heavy and too expensive to repair if crashed off-road so it is my street only machine. A few months back, I purchased a lightly used 22' Honda CRF450RL and made the necessary mods to it to make it enjoyable to ride (ECU, G2 Throttle tamer, Graves blockoff kit, Seat Concepts XL comfort seat, rear rack, Acerbis hand guards, tank bag etc.). Now, I just need to get up the courage to ride it a lot more off road. I live in FL where sand is the name of the game and I hate sand. But, watching your videos keeps me interested in trying. For that I say thank you.
I have adventures on my BMW RT and it never goes off pavement. My definition of an adventure bike is the bike that you own. Lucky for me I own several bikes and can have different types of adventures.
I've owned two CBR600 RRs, a Tenere 700, Husky 701, and one of my favorite adventure rides was a trip I took with my Dad last summer. He was on a Super Sherpa 250 and I was on my TW200. You don't need a big, fast bike to have fun, you just have to get out and ride!!!
Hi! Swanky! 👋🏽
Good job Mr. Dork. I like the format. Very professional.
Love the fact that Ben was inspired by Tyler "Everide". I was inspired by Ewan and Charley but kept getting frustrated with the big heavy Africa Twin (still an epic machine) till I took a schooling weekend at the Moto Mansion with Tyler. I realized it was dual sport I was looking for all along. I sold the Africa Twin and bought a dual sport and a used ST1300 for road touring with cash left over - two bikes for the price of one and more smiles per mile than I could have imagined. Tyler Everide has been a massive influence on my riding and will always be thankful for my time with him.
65 and still doing it on a 701. Former road racer and sport bike rider having ever more fun now.
Everywhere
78 and still having fun on my 390 Adv. yes and former road racer/sport biker. Yes, getting out even in the 'slower' years is truly great
I bought a versys-x 300 this year. It's been a great catalyst for wanting to get further into adventure riding. Wish I had started sooner
Never too late to start. Enjoy the ride, and keep the rubber side down :)
I got my first Versys-X 300 four years ago after watching the Fortnine video about it. It's been a fantastic bike to get back into motorcycling on! Enjoy your ride.
@@suzyamerica4679 I’ve been riding for almost 10 years, this was the first I’ve taken to more than a gravel parking lot. It’s been fun
Everide started the fire... I rode my KLR from my house to the Canadian border, then down to Starbase in south Texas. I even made it home!!
damn I love that guy!
@Everide
Everide may have started the modern filming of cheap adventure riding for us to enjoy. But I was started by 1970 on brothers mini-bike then my Sears lawn mower style engine. The Adventure was don't get caught by State Park Rangers on our uninsured, unregistered, unlicensed, mini-bikes. That was so long ago that my buddy 5HP engine seemed so much better than my 3.5 HP.
👍🏻 Great message! Completely agree with you on anything off-pavement is considered off-road.
As you said, all that matters is getting out there and having fun 🤙🏻
100%
@@DorkintheRoad I would much rather engage with people looking to improve their skills or are considering joining the motorcycling community than engage with riders who strive to be divisive with ranting about what they consider is/isn’t “appropriate” adventure riding 👍🏻
Right on!
Hey! Dork is doing Mototrek videos! YES
My partner and I both have have a klx 230 each as dual sport and we love it. Took it to couple single tracks, been laughed at by some ktm owners but here I am living and doing same thing as them. So reliable, never let down
True that, I started my riding career on a Honda trail 70 at age 14..... now at 56 years old i have 2 Harleys and a KLX 230 that i commute to and from work daily. I have no other vehicle, the bikes are it.... and i go everywhere with them on and off road, at anytime and in any weather conditions....forget the nay sayers and continuing evolving trends and equipment get what you like and can afford and go out and ride, that is the most important thing RIDE.....
Ben! I have been watching you since you started Dork in the Road. Nice to see your hard work is paying off and people are recognizing you for the professional that you are. You're a phenomenal reviewer who continues to keep things down to earth for avg. person. Keep it up my friend!
Great message and nicely produced video!
An adventure bike is in fact a category of bike just like cruiser or dual sport. You can have an adventure on anything including riding a park bench but a duel sport or cruiser is no more an ADV bike per the category as a jeep wrangler is a race car just because you took in on a NASCAR track.
62 and bought a 2023 KLX230s. 55 years of riding and think the bike is perfect for what im doing!!
Ben, this is an awesome video. It was much more engaging to watch than many of the videos on your channel.
I hope this bit of constructive criticism is taken in the spirit it's given to help to connect with your viewers better:
In many of the videos on your channel, you are looking at the LCD view screen off to the side of the camera. It's distracting. It's like talking to someone in person and looking at something off to the side and behind them.
In this video, you were looking at the lens of the camera, which is like looking at someone straight in the eyes when talking to them in person. It's more engaging.
45k km adving on a DR, and people still said I needed a proper adv bike! Why? *I'd* be slower on dirt on a bloatosaurus. I know, I had one for 130k km, and hated it on anything but tar and hardpacked dry dirt, where it could be very fast. I abandoned the idea of adventure and used it as a road bike.
I'm a huge fan of chook chasers (dual sports). Truly go almost anywhere machines.
I don't mind them on highways, it just means I can't speed as much as faster bikes can. In Australia limits are strictly enforced, and even my own XL250 could maintain the national open road limit (100 - 110km/h on some motorways and select divided roads, the NT has one road with 130)
I also prefer a lack of wind protection - screens always buffet me terribly unless I'm in a race crouch. I much prefer sitting in unscreened, quiet, clean air.
That's not to say I'm right. I might only be right for me. 😉
Off Road = anywhere I can wheelie and not get a ticket. LOL Pretty simple. Hope your feeling better Ben.
"What matters is that you're doing it." Thank you my man, we need more of this type of attitude in so many parts of life, but especially the outdoor pursuits. Just get out and do it. Enjoy yourself while you're breathing fresh air, exercising, and not at work. Blow some steam off, let the stress go. Who f*cking cares what adventure is to me, if it's exciting for you, then go for it and enjoy it. Thank you sir!
I bought a new Klx300 this year and started accessorizing it. It’s the perfect light weight ADV/Dual Sport bike for the PNW. I do ride true offroad areas and light highway use up to about 60mph. I agree, you do not need the fanciest bike on the market to have a true adventure. I have been riding for about 25-30 years or so and I can still pick this bike up myself when I drop it deep in the woods. That’s a huge benefit with this bike vs a larger 650cc machine
That is exactly true, most folks with big adventure bikes never even see 30-40 MPH off road and even less in technical areas... only thing they are good for is getting to the destinations in comfort... once offroad I much rather be on a nimble 250 or 300 ... and I speak from experience..owned GS 1200's and other DS bikes....
Agreed, that Off-road moniker should be read as "Off (paved) road". 🧐
Yay Ben! Great vid, great content, great dude. Ride on!
Another fabulous video...the "ADV Bike Gatekeepers" can keep their BS lifestyle and the "if you aren't riding hard and light you aren't an ADV rider". I have big and small "Adventures" every time I ride my bike. That can be 1 hour during lunch or 7 days on the TET. Adventure is what you make of it. Keep up the great work Dork.
Totally agree. I rode around Colombia on a 300cc dual sport and Vietnam on a 150cc dual sport. Great fun and more than enough bike. No highways just small back roads.
Would like to see more dork in the road on mototrek 😀
If you wouldn't ride your sports bike there, then I consider it offroad :)
Yes!!!!
My first Adv moto was a '79 KZ 400 with 50/50 tires. It was epic and I still miss that bike even though I have a GS today.
Dude… Such a GREAT message!!!! So much of the moto world becomes a pissing contest…..sometimes we just need to hear “It’s ok…..just get a bike and ride” My world is far more street oriented but it’s the same there… how many cc’s is that?……That’s a girls bike….Rather push my Harley than ride a Honda….GETS SO OLD! 😊
Like I’ve always said “The most Rebellious thing you can do is thinking for YOURSELF! 😂 Thanks Brother
started on a DRZ400 and loved it. Now im onto a DR650 and honestly the DR could be my forever bike.
Everide got me in and you helped me get my brother in. Thanks dork!
A dude drove a ($3000 MSRP) Honda XR150L from Florida to Niagara Falls Canada. And he did it without ever stopping at a gas station (he carried the extra gas with him). It's not about having the biggest baddest bike.
And that 230 kawasaki and my XR650l or any single cylinder bike will go anywhere a big expensive bike will go and they will go MANY places a big expensive adventure bike cannot go . It's only about road comfort . To me waiting for people to help me pick up my bike and not being able to ride alone because your afraid to drop your bike because you can't pick it up by yourself that's stress and takes all the fun out . Gas anxiety is heavy enough . ""RIDE ON""
Nice job! Absolutely. What makes an adventure? Going out and doing. That's it. 💪🤘
Great video. It is positive and encouraging. Something that we need more of.
Shooooot I even call my 💯 on-pavement rides “adventures” because that’s exactly what I’m experiencing. It doesn’t matter what the keyboard warriors think.
Everide has taught me a lot and inspired me. So have you, Ben. I haven't bought anything yet, but I have been able to learn what safety gear I want and what motorcycles would be great to start with. I've met all but one of my goals to start my motorcycling life, and I will achieve that in a few months. Thank you, Everide and Ben!
Those are my stomping grounds. Great video btw
You nailed it, man!
I did majority of my 100+ thousand kilometers on a JAWA 350 (old school 350 cc, 2-stroke, 2-cylinder with 23 hp) a had tons of adventures!
Later on a BMW F800GS it was adventure, yes, but at the same time the bike was way over my skill level.
Now on a Honda CRF300L Rally I am having fun while not being worried constantly that I'll drop it
First and only model camping Adventure I went on was after I bought my scooter in 2018. Obviously no off-road trail riding but I did end up having to write down a very loose Gravel Road for a few miles. Left my scooter on the side of the road kickstand was digging in the gravel thankfully it was still there when I came back.. got home and found two bolts Sheard in my rear swing arm and by my manifold
I just picked up a 2022 KLX 230s. I’m a shorty. Yeah bike manufacturers need to address the tank capacity. 3 gallons minimum. Will be going on trips with spare tank. Love this bike. Really fun.
Fantastic. I can hit fmx ramps and clear triples. But what do I choose to ride all day. --- a tw200. 😂😂. It really doesn’t matter what ya ride. Just get out there. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🇨🇦
Noted ..
I have a 800 xcx Tiger ,, it's a good all rounder but sometimes intimidating off tar and a nightmare to lift ..
What's your take on the Hero X pulse 200 ?
New $2500 , 2 yrs old with low mileage and extras $1500 in South Africa ..
It'll be a second bike for me and something for the kids to learn on ..
This guy, new motorcyclist on an untested old CB500 went from Copenhagen to Cape Town - That's adventure in my book
www.youtube.com/@CopenhagentoCapeTown-hop-hx1cz/videos
F*** the haters! You do you!
Start small (local gravel) work up from there. If you have that big trip in your mind (I'm going to rid to the end of the world) and that's the only thing in your mind, you'll never get out of the house.
Every ride is an adventure, no matter what you're on.
I very pleased to see Ben (Mr. DITR) on this channel. This positive content works for me. As a side note, I've seen enough Dork videos that I am ready for a CRL 300L Rally after a couple 1200 and 1250 GSs.
I sent this to our group (Men's support & community) You can get off the couch, and get back into adventure riding, go trail walking, make friends, talk about things. Ride 4 Therapy. Thanks More like this. (Should add the other half has the other half of the group Woman's support & community)
You scared me with the intro. I was saying no, no, no……. IMO, adventure is going on a journey where all details cannot be planned and where the outcome is not guaranteed. It usually includes overcoming some adversity to be successful.
I’ve loved every “adventure “ on my KLX250 since I bought it new 10 years ago. It’s been such a great mount I don’t see myself “upgrading “ to a “big “ ADV bike anytime soon. Cheers….
Watching Mototrek.. and there’s Ben Dork. Nice switch👍🏻. Great message too, I’ve had this conversation with friends, my view is that you can plan a trip but not an adventure but if you don’t plan a trip, you won’t have an adventure. Adventure is where you find it and anyone telling you that what you’re doing is not an adventure has an inflated sense of their own importance. Yeah, I think that’s it.😁
My definitions of where I ride...
Road: Paved
Off Road: Dirt surface, regardless of level of maintenance (could be county maintained and smooth as glass or a rugged fire/logging road)
Trail: 50" or smaller trails that generally require OHV permits
totally agree!! after years of road motorcycles I got into Adventure riding with a KTM 950 and it was so fun. opened my eyes to a new riding world. after 2 years I down sized to a Honda CRF 300LS. what a amazing "down grade" I can pack just as much and explore places I wouldn't go on a heavy adventure bike.. Ya I need to do some mods to get the bike "adventure" ready. But its awesome now!
Was riding DRZ's and XR650L's long before Adv. Always had a smaller displaced dual sport. But nothing is more enjoyable for touring BDR's and such than a larger Adv for eating up hwy miles to, from and in between, not to mention hauling all gear. But agreed, all are good! Just get out there!!!
"And on my next video, I will tell you why this $12k, 550 lb adventure bike sucks, unless you spend another $2k fixing the suspension...."
A Honda C90 will do more than any "Adventure" bike: www.youtube.com/@c90adventures
A woman named Steph Jeavons circumnavigated all continents on a CRF250L. At the end of the day, the bike doesn’t matter.
Everide may have started the modern filming of cheap adventure riding for us to enjoy. But I was started by 1970 on brothers mini-bike then my Sears lawn mower style engine. The Adventure was don't get caught by State Park Rangers on our uninsured, unregistered, unlicensed, mini-bikes. That was so long ago that my buddy 5HP engine seemed so much better than my 3.5 HP.
It's a bit 'click-baity'.... anything you ride is capable of adventure. I've toured on scooters, done dirt on a B-king... have a stable of ADV's and enduro's for the more serious stuff.... regardless, all fun, all adventures had
Thamk u for tha explenation Ben!! i'm conected to every words u say. riding on DRZ400S , as adventure ride for 4/5 years and its great.
Wow! Ben! I was shocked to see you here. Awesome! Thank you! I too, have been telling people this. And you are 100% correct. When you are ready for a bigger bike, you will know
I get what you’re saying Ben but let’s be real. You live in Adv riding heaven. If you live in the rural south like East Texas or Louisiana you’re not going to enjoy riding in 105° summer 500 miles up to the Ozarks to find any sort of elevation and beauty. A KLX230 just isn’t enough bike for the vast majority of us outside the west coast
It annoys me to hear "a bike you won't outgrow." You're not Marc Marquez or Toby Price. And shit, Toby Price has been known to ride small displacement bikes over landing in SE Asia. You won't outgrow it. If it's the wrong bike for what you want to do, you can sell it and buy something else. It's easy to buy and sell motorcycles. Almost as easy as a bicycle.
100% true. Adventure by definition is anything out of ordinary/routine/comfort zone. Btw I am surprised to see the Dork on Mototrek, what’s cooking?
I'm sorry, Ben, but I respectfully disagree with using the phrase “offroad”. Riding down a perfectly graded forest service road that a Buick Riviera can easily access is not "off-road". I’m not taking anything away from forest roads. I love them. But let’s be real here.
More importantly, I think calling Forest Service Roads "trails" is a dangerous habit for the community. Ive seen far too many riders blowing blind curves, not Riding Right, and thinking these roads are their own personal trail. There are other users coming at you.
Jeeps, horses, other motorcyclists, etc. Thinking about these legal roads as trails or as offroad is the wrong mindset and can cause some really serious issues.
My point is that we al need to remember we are really on ROADS out there and not a close course trail system aka “offroad”.
Additionally, the “offroad” guys that thinks they’re the only true “adventure riders” are completely daft. Trailering your bike to the trails ain’t it. The guys connecting interstate to gravel roads crunching miles and eating Moon Pies on a gas station curb talking to locals wondering where the hell you’re at are the true adv riders.
Keep up the good work. Cheers.
I agree with all this, except maybe the "off road", there needs to be a word for the thing I do on my KTM200EXE where I'm following a compass with no formed track and sharing an unsealed road with completely normal cars, trucks, semitrailers or road trains while riding my CBR1000.
I don't over much care what those words are, but we use language to transfer ideas from one head to another. When I say in the V-Strom forum "the Strom needs some sort of road or road like surface under it, even if it's just an animal trail" and the result is a storm of insults from someone who has ridden from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego off road the whole way, that's a failure to communicate. Because when they post a link, it turns out they have ridden numbered highway the entire trip that they shared with 2wd cars, semi trailer trucks and road bikes ridden by the locals.
Obviously there's a grey area in the middle. My personal boundary is "would I ride the CBR1000 there?" and that certainly includes what you showed in the video. I've ridden the CBR and other "road bikes" over much less developed roads than that. I understand that like the boundary between red and orange, not everyone puts the boundary in the same place. Some people look at that road and call it off road. Ok. But the current situation is that they're calling grass "red". Main roads between cities or even between countries are called "off road"!
WOW 100% on the money, get out and ride!!!! TRAINING, this also help meet like minded people
Yup doesn't matter what bike you ride as long as you have an adventure. Now depending on the country/place, logging roads can vary from a smooth unpaved surface (as shown in the video) to an enduro track, their state differs from season to season, weather and heavy logging trucks & equipment change the roads dramatically, in Romania, Eastern Europe where I live at least, they do alter the surface a lot. A moped called Dot (Sydney to London adventures) conveyed that message that any bike is an adventure bike, including an Australian Postal moped. Ride safe & have fun everyone!
Everide totally got me back onto a motorcycle after a 28 year break. Great to see Ben again. I quit watching Dork videos because of his constant use of alcohol and tobacco on that channel. Not my thing. Poor health choices somewhat promoted by an "influencer" is offputting to me.
*One guy's opinion~
Great message, love this!
Yep any bike will do and any trail or unpaved road will do and you can call it an Adventure. Time, family and geography limit my "Adventure" rides to simple one, two or at most three day affairs. I can actually have more fun on my KLX300 than my KTM890, the choice of bike for the adventure is mostly determined by the paved roads, distance and time needed to get there.
I love this, I never went small, Magregor and Boorman hit the bell for me, to then purchase as all of us did back then to the big gs. first crack at motorcycling in general was at the amazing opportunity presented before me. My past was bicycling 3 countries, Australia, New Zealand, then across the US from Niagara falls to Washington and up into BC. When i got into Motorcycling i knew the potential of off road. I took the course, thanks Brett In Washington state( The original Motortrek ) and it was one of the most important life changing events, I have had a few adventures since then with me and me boy. BMW. 1200 gs, I am 67 now and know what when and where to do what. So i am a bit hesitant as a single rider to go gonzo in the great outdoors. But your vid says that you can still do it in a modified way. My body is not what it once was. But you are true to your views, Well done.
Awesome Ben. GREAT video I will be sharing with many "starting" friends here in Ecuador (a bit south of the border)
The cool thing is that your riding gear and luggage can transfer from bike to bike. I started on an xt250 and now my mosko stuff lives on my dr650. Just buy a bike and go!
Oh look it's Ben the corporate shill..... just kidding Dorkster, it's awesome to see you making it big
No 690 trip for me this year. Im taking my TW 200 on an adventure!😁
Off Road, in the classical interpretation it means a path that the average driver cannot navigate with a standard 2 wheel drive car. These days it means no pavement and I guess that's ok, sort of. Just be careful when you accept an invitation to go "off road" if you use the new version. If I invite you to go off road, we goin' OFF road.
Once upon a time, there were no such ADV bikes, still some went riding accross the globe. For those who are still reading books, Jupiter's travel is a must. Ride safe
Adventure starts your door step. u make it the way u want it to be. i live in scotland im happy only see scotland even we dont have much in legal offroading. adventure is still adventure off or on road. adventure starts at your door step.
Adventures is a BS term. You go and ride and when a situation hits you - deal with it. That’s all it is. You’re not Indiana Jones, you’re Karen or Jason outside, get a bicycle so you can improve on your shape that looks more like a GS rider. Leave your camera gear at home, take your smartphone photos or videos.
Adventures get pretty painful when your +500lb bike with gear and you on it fall over on some single track in the bush, alone…😅
Although I don’t consider fire roads as true off road riding as you said it’s semantics who cares it’s fun. At my age and declining riding ability Fire road are now my adventure. Good advice start small you’ll know when and if it’s time to move up, your video on the subject is probably one of the better ones I’ve watched.
I bought an indian brand Hero Xpulse 200cc rally months back, loving it offroad, hard part is finding time to take it to trails, i am able to spend about 4 hours on weekends, now i think what if i had spent it on an expensive bike, it would get the same time as well :)
The way things are going these days the only time you'll ever be able to do off-off-road riding is when you're crossing a desert where there is no road paved or unpaved and you'll be lucky even then if you aren't pinched for riding there in the first place. The days when you could go out and just ride anywhere in the bush have long gone, you need to stick to the marked tracks, trails & logging roads which isn't so bad. Watch out for the 4WD crowd, plan your fuel and water stops and you should have a blast all the same. 👍
Very well said! Great video! Years ago we just put on a back pack and strapped what we could to our bikes and went out and had adventures. No special gear or bike we just did it! Same way with overlanding I took a station wagon places most wouldn't tackle without 4 wheel drive. use what you have do what you can and make memories!
As Ben has replayed many,many times,,,Ride your Ride, Nobody can ride it for you tho they may sometimes ride it with you! You define your route. This is true for motorcycles also 🤔🤣
So sick of this cliche' word "Adventure bike"..These big heavy bikes are Street bikes with dirt tires..Get a real dirtbike..Adventure bike term is so overused.