Forty-six Thumbs Up! Oh darn, I can't do that here. Having followed you for many months now, this is one of the most in-your-face, let's-do-Reality-here commentaries I've seen in quite a while. (Then again, I just now watched a video of a guy telling the YT world that "adventure bikes are a myth." pfffttt!) Three key refreshing and relevant takeaways from your comments (which *should* be obvious to most): 1. It's usually the Rider, not the bike. 2. Take Responsibility for yourself and your decisions. 3. Practice self Reflection - what do you want to do with the bike, is this bike suitable for it, and how good are your riding skills? Fortunately, you do not internalize the naysayers, nitpickers haters who simply wish to argue, regardless of the merit of their arguments, or their excuses. Good on ya; a thick skin here on the interwebs is about as important as quality riding gear to avoid injury. And while riding motorbikes IS a very personal thing, there are at the same time some realities that must be faced, such as the very basic reality that every motorbike will compromise in some areas, will suck in some areas, and will excel in some areas. Let's ride our rides, improve our skills and our attitudes, and let's be curious -- not judgmental. Thanks for the voice of reason, and well done.
Ride whatever the fk you want! The journey is the destination. Any bike can be an adventure bike if you put some creativity into it. Build your own fun as that is one of the best parts of it! Those sure as fk weren't adventure bikes in WWII but they got creative as hell! I grew up riding dirt bikes so my skill level is different than some of my friends who started riding as adults. My second nature is something they had to learn but that is half the fun. Just do it and you'll figure it out.
Well said. Egos are out of control, humility is lacking, and the internet allows useless opinions to be broadcasted far and wide. Like I tell my kids: learning to ignore the noise is one of the greatest skillsets of the 21st century.
Same guys who have all of the negative opinions, who are self proclaimed 'know it alls' - are the same type of guys who have a 3 year old bike for sale on marketplace with less than 3,000km. All sorts of opinions, with very little experience-let alone talent or skill
Excellent video. And even better is that you can apply this philosophy to EVERY discipline, hobby, bike, car, house, t-shirt, exercise, sport, school and profession on the internet. Bravo.
You forgot to say the magic words! Life is better when you’re riding. Your channel has benefited countless riders and improved the sport. Thank you for all you do!
@@swoosh_italia_328Then buy one. At least one. I bought an old GL1100 for $800 and rode it for 12 years. Now I'm up to a GL1200 and looking for a Tiger.
C90 adventures is one of my favorite channels, and if I’ve learned anything from it, ADV can be done on anything with enough grit; and friendly locals 🤠
I have a Harley and it makes me smile every time I ride. I have a 1250 GSA and it makes me smile every time I ride. I have a job and it does not make me smile. Haters gonna hate. Riders gonna ride. Thanks for your awesome videos and excellent riding tips. It’s good for all of us to remember that we are all unique individuals who are simply trying to make the most of this crazy adventure we call life. Be kind, have fun and embrace the smiles.
It's the 'Marie Kondo' test for Motorcycling: Does it make me smile? Also with you on "I have a job and it does not make me smile" ... seems the answer must be RIDE MORE!!!
@@KBInTheNowMarie Kondo! Yep !! Figure out what doesn’t work in your life and bin it. Figure out the things you like and the things that make you smile … 😊 It’s easy isn’t it ? Thanks for mentioning Marie.
I am a short person and i was afraid to ride big bikes offroad, so i bought myself a cheap dualsport a DRZ400s. After a year of practice with my "little" bike my confidence and my skill raised so much that my fears had disappeared. Bought a KTM 790 ADV R and rode it on the same trails where my DRZ, no problem what so ever. As a bonus because it is a lower bike I crashed way less times than on my DRZ :D
If you ride on such extreme places why the hell do you want a large motorcycle? You already have on that is clearly capable for your style. @@94SexyStang
Well said young man. I recently bought a Tuareg, it is more bike than I'll ever need as I'm a novice off roader but I will learn. I will take a course and practice and my bike will take me to the gravel roads of Scandinavia or down to Spain. I will have fun and other people can say what they like.
This whole video is a bit funny from my POV. I've only ridden small bikes, an xt225 and a DR350, and I'm use to seeing the conversations about adventure bikes push really far into the larger bikes with anything smaller than a 650 being too small to be an adventure worthy bike (some even proclaiming that the DR650 is too light, small and underpowered for adventure riding). I've attempting to point to the riding of Itchy Boots with her CRF300 Rally and had people still claim that the bike is too small to be used as an adventure bike. It also seems the industry has really leaned into the larger bikes with the Tenere 700, V-strom 800 and 1050 as well as the 1250 GS still being quite the common bike to see on the road and in the dirt / gravel. Suffice to say, I think your title holds true. Whatever you're riding right now, the internet will probably have plenty of folks who will happily tell you how wrong the bike is for you.
Same here, longtime XT225 fan. Even after riding a DR650 into the woods while exploring some land w/ a friend, I was missing that XT. I've since sold them and gotten a CR250L to enjoy the fuel injected life, but I still feel like we're all wanting a modern 400cc dual sport and a 450-550 "small" adventure bike from the Big 4 in Japan. It looks like the new CFMoto 450MT may address the latter. Still waiting on the former. After much hesitation, I may be stepping into the KTM and Husky waters to address this missing cc range.
While I love itchy boots and commend her dedication, not everyone has months and months to take as long as possible to get from point A to point B. She avoids motorways at every turn. Sometimes that’s just not feasible. Ride an XT250 on the motorway for hours a day and you’ll see how a larger displacement is useful.
you nailed it, I'm just surprised so many don't get it, buy the bike that best suits your style, ability, and where you want to ride. So simple, why are we even talking about this? Now if you don't like GS1200's, fine, don't buy one, but just shut-up about it, because not one single GS rider cares what you think, they are too busy covering huge miles in comfort.
I was hopeless on a dirt bike, always looking at others seemingly doing it all easily. I bought a trials bike and I was awful at first as you would be. Fast forward 5 years and I can pop a 701 over a fallen tree on its back wheel. Now everything is easier because I have so much more feel and time when doing anything tricky. It really pays to do trials if you ride off road.
I’ve been riding an “inappropriate” bike for ADV for years. On some obstacles a KTM890 or T7 will walk away from me, however I have become very accustomed to using a 2013 Triumph Scrambler 900 for the past 128,000miles. It’s the everyday bike that works for me, there’s also something to be said for becoming so familiar with any one bike that you know exactly what went wrong and how to repair it the moment it happens. So ride your ride often, get familiar with it, that’s probably the best advice I could give.
Well as you said the problem is not the bike but you and your skill level. And the skill level requirement drops when you're riding smaller and lighter bikes.
I and my mates, rented stock GS 700's with zero armor and road tires in Oaxaca, Mexico. We rode hundreds of miles of rough mountain roads for 10 days. After the first day of 130 tough miles, I realized something. The best adventure bike is the one you have.
Last year I had my adventure bike at work and my coworker with a Harley swapped bikes with me to go to lunch. It was actually amazing. You can't judge a bike without riding it.
Wow. Some impressive comments on free content, no one is forced to watch. I enjoy watching your channel and I appreciate your relevant prospective on the channel's subject. Unlike you, I have not finished (or even started) a Dakar race, my experience level is no where near yours, I lean much from your riding tips, and I have an idea as to how much work goes into providing the content you provide. A heart felt thank you and please keep up the good work, Llel!
It's straight forward, the reason the adv bikes (classic bigger machines) sell so well is they don't just sell a bike. They sell the idea of adventure. The need to go buy lightweight kit/gear, and buy this and buy that. You can buy BDR routes, GPX tracks and buy tours! Its a consumeristic thing over anything else. You can adventure on anything, even foot, in case some have forgotten haha.
That sounds extreme - on foot 😂 It's all about the emotion that is been sold with the bike. At least that's what Peter Pierer (KTM CEO) say. You wanna be adventurous and found your way - the only right way, because it feels so exciting that it must be true. Marketing works very well...
Light ADV bikes are just great all-around starter bikes. I bought a 2022 Royal Enfield Himalayan 411 last year and I've been using it as a commuter bike with locking side boxes, and an exploration bike on the narrow forest roads near my house. I've taken it on longer 3-4 hour rides on tarmac, and it pulls that off comfortably too. Is it a great off-road vehicle? No. But it gets the job done and it is super fun
Great vid.👍 I've put almost 11k miles on my DesertX in 10 months riding in north and west Texas. Over 1/3 of those miles off-road. In the 10 months advancing skills, I've become comfortable doing stuff I never thought I'd be willing to even attempt when I picked up the Ducati. I may be moving up to a DDX Rally later this year.🤔 Thanks for your channel. It helped push me to be a better rider.
Great video. I have been saying this to all my friends. ADV bikes can go off road, and are far more capable than most of our skills. And a lot of other TH-camrs spread similar misconceptions. Chaseontwowheels recently did a review of the Tiger 850, and introduced it as a bike that has NO off road capabilities. And of course he concluded that without ever taking that bike off road. I ride the Tiger 850 off road all the time and never once felt like its capabilities run out before my skill does. It may happen one day, but for 90% of ADV riders, it has more than enough capabilities. Glad you are talking about this in this video!
I feel the exact same way. I had a vstrom 650 that I treated like a dirt bike, I would ride it 2-3 hours before sunset everyday and it was hard at first but after 1-2 years I was taking it to some crazy offroard areas and was riding better than most dirt bikers I knew. I heard a lot of weird opinions about my bikes capabilities. It’s 80% the rider not the bike.
Great vid 👌. Just rode my 890R on a 4000km loop in Morocco. This bike is amazing...roads, gravel roads, sand, technical gnarly rocky stuff I was blown away she can do it all easily. Best fun I had since Iceland on my 690 ✌
My 1200 gs is a heavy beggar at 70 yrs!! As long as I go with a buddy, they help me pick it up. 🤣🤣 But the 350cc is starting to look like a good choice for back roads but not big trips. I live in forests with lots of roads and trails.. Rawhyde adventure bike school in Southern California is amazing Thanks for the perspective!👍🏽
Probably the most honest, true to life ADV video I have ever watched and why I roll my eyes at 95% of comments on social media... Mate you have nailed it. Off to sell my Super Tenere that I ridden where 'its not supposed to go' and buy and Vstrom 800DE ( have owned a Vstrom 1000, KTM 950adv S, Tiger 800, Multistrada 1200, DRz400, had long term hire DR650 and 800GS and lots of road bikes)
As an Africa Twin DCT adventure "occasional" rider, I couldn't agree more... If every time someone tell me "this bike is too big/heavy to go on trail" or "the DCT can't do offroad", I get 10€, maybe I would have a second Africa Twin by now... XD And most of the time, it end with "you're skilled to do that with this bike" but no, these adventure bikes are just amazing ! (and the DCT the ultimate cheat code)
Best adv bike advice ive seen in a while. Im a mid level rider, (10 years now riding dirt bikes, sport bikes, and adv bikes on the weekends), am always annoyed when people say a bike "can't" do something. Almost no bike will break if you ride it up an enduro trail - ive even done some silly enduro climbs on an r6. It is true though that smaller is easier offroad and bigger is comfier on road. If you have a ton of experience you can absolutely shred on a big adv tourer - dirt is still easier on a small bike though. It's all trade offs and no bike really sucks. Main advice i would give though is if you want to improve quickly, you need a bike that's cheap enough you arent afraid to drop it.
Very well said. My problem is going from dirt to street. Then going adventure bike with old skills still functioning well. Then shit hit the fan. Wrecked left eye. No depth perception, but still doing mostly off-road. Then, I blew out two disks in my lower back. No riding for two years. Then susuki Concourse 1000. Great sport touring. ThenVstromdl1000 and of the beginning of the adventure riding, too hard for off-road as picking it up was a No No. Three bikes later now a new CFMoto 800T. Great bike but so heavy. Good tires will make it better. At 70, it seems my skills have retired. Off road that used to be so easy are now difficult, but I did go dirt bike for that. A WR250R. The bike makes off-road fun, on the street it sucks. So you are right about picking the bike that works. Then practice skills like a newbie.
I think it sounds like the right bike in the right moment, and if you can still keep having fun that’s all that matters. Stoked to hear you’re still riding at 70 ✌️
I have three bikes that cover a spectrum of riding, an Indian Chieftan, Ducati Multistrada and a new Honda CRF300L Rally. They all make me smile and once I get enough experience on the Rally there may be a forth bike, like the Tuareg. Heaven on earth.
Well said. I came from a light weight adv bike but when I purchased my R1200GS my eyes opened to possibilities. I'll take my "heavy" GS any day - touring, track, off-road, etc.
Most different perspective I’ve heard so far, what stands true is most people just don’t have the time to ever develop the skill to ride such a huge bike everywhere, but manufacturers tempt them with misleading visions of true adventure, hence it’s still true that for most people a large ADV doesn’t work.
The carefully choreographed marketing ads tell me what ADV is. Scenic landscapes, desert terrains, rocky outcrops, but for me adventure is making it to the nearest coffee shop to show off the $35000 bike I bought over a $1.50 coffee ☕️
And if that makes these people happy, if it is fun for them to buy such bikes for that money to be able to do xyz but then only drive to drink a coffee… why does it bother you ?
I almost always go for a coffee. Sometimes I get cake as well. Sometimes its 5 minutes down the road. Or where the road ends. I had a coffee and some Jerky at the Arctic Ocean. Then I turned around and rode home.
Not many are willing to go out on the limb and be politely blunt as you have done, and i applaud you Sir. People need to understand that the adventure is in you, not the bike. I've been in this for decades starting in the 20th century with an '81 XL185 and an '89 XL600V Transalp. Back then there was no social media, no magazines dedicated to off-road travel, you strapped your garbage bag covered tent to your bike, hand wrote your navigation and went. I still have those two bikes along with a KTM 500 and 950 Adv. The only thing these 4 bikes do very well, is make me smile.
You'll probably bin this for not cheering your take but... your piece starts out ragging on "problematic" people who tell others how to behave, then you tell them how to behave and that the problem is them, not the bike. Much of your take seems non-nuanced as you complain about others making, and in general to say "adventure bikes can do it all". This from the person/channel that just two months earlier was saying the V-Strom 800 DE was a "perfect gravel road bike"... Lets be fair, most riders dont have the skill to do the things you showed, and while offroad school is valuable, it isn't keeping a heavy bike from sinking in the sand, or not making up a very steep tricky bit without some serioius risky speed to carry it, no matter how fancy the traction control is, nor how perfectly matched the tire is to the terrain. Your adventure bike is not going to do extreme enduro or trials unless your skill level is max. Your rant on "its just your skill" seems to be discounting the choice made by all those non-adventure bike riders you crossed paths with on the TET. Was that you who faced the mountain on that TET in northern spain and backed off becaues it was too steep for the heavy bike, or was that another pair of riders? A heavy bike on steep sketchy single track is just asking for trouble for most riders. Some people may be just armchair quarterbacking their comments, but others paid the price of being oversold what they could do by marketing, and ended up having expensive misery, not adventure. Another issue is that offroad for one means extreme enduro and for another it means any non-durable surface. Instead of being told the adventure bike can do it all and they just suck, a more balanced approach is just to be realistic about the type of riding a bike is suited for, set your expectations and plans, and be encouraged to skill up to better enjoy that riding.
If there is one think that won't ever happen on this channel, it's binning thought out comments that question the viewpoint in the video. I genuinely believe that discussion is a huge part of the learning process. Your point about me telling them how to behave is accurate. It's a paradox. I'm not sure I quite understand the point about me saying the DE is a 'perfect gravel road bike'. The review is to outline where a bike's skillset lies and what it's good at, bad at and an average ADV rider can do with it. I actually disagree with regards to the V-Strom vs Transalp video. Most of the terrain in that video is relatively simple. I have taken people who are just a couple of days of off-road skills training into their adventure bike journey on a lot of those routes. I agree that when the riding gets difficult, sand, tricky steep hills etc. the limit of the bike is a lot lower if it's an adventure style bike, no argument there. You can't argue with the physics or the engineering and if the bike isn't appropriate for the skill level or the terrain you want to ride, then choose a different bike. That's the whole point of the end of the video. I'm not meaning to discount their choices, that's probably just my bad scripting. I'm stoked they made a choice, are hopefully enjoying it and are out there riding and exploring. Zero judgement from me. The point of this video is to encourage support in the community and guide people looking to make a bike choice that's free from the 'You can only do it this way or you're not doing it right' dogma and that means if a 500 EXC or a Honda CT 110 is the right bike for you, it's the right bike. I did stop at the top of one hill because the trail was not a trail. It was made by a bulldozer and didn't go anywhere. My friends had places to be and I was fucking around. It wasn't on the TET, it was south of Leon. I agree that if your skills don't allow you to avoid mistakes on a bigger bike it might not always be the best bike, or you might have to limit what riding you choose to do. As for the 'what off-road' means. That probably just means we need better descriptions. It's why I started using the term gravel road bikes.
@JacobAnawalt An interesting take, but your last three sentences sum up exactly what was being said in the video. I thought it was a well measured take on the subject. I agree, that people get sold a promise on what a particular bike can do, but surely anyone would realise that it is there riding skill that is the biggest factor. People can't expect a bike to do all the work, I've seen riders on BMW GS's with little to no offroad experience and assume that the bike will get them through some difficult terrain. I personally ride and Africa Twin Adventure Sports, its big and heavy, but I love riding it and my 'off-road' aspirations are nothing more than gravel trails and fire breaks, so I'm fine with that.
100% - brake magazine seems to be all about having an opinion and telling others what to do, but not allowing others to also voice an opinion. Its tyrant-ish behavior. When you publish something, there will be a diversity of replies, some sarcastic, some critical - it just comes with the territory.
I don't think I've seen this bad a take in a long time. You should just watch the video again. If you can't manage a big bike, you have two options: get a smaller one, or bring your skill level up. It sounds like you watched a marketing video and thought you were going to get a KTM 890 and all the sudden ride like Chris Birch. That's not how it works, but it also doesn't make the marketing video a lie. I've done a lot of fun rides on adventure bikes, been wishing I was on a smaller bike on multiple occasions. I've also done big adventures on a 450 and wished I was on a bigger bike for 60% of the ride. The real secret is to take the biggest bike you can manage on the hardest part of the trail. Sometimes it's a 450, sometimes it's a 1250. Only you know where the line is, but if you don't practice on a big bike sometimes the line is the threshold of your garage.
I might have been a victim of marketing when I chose to buy a KTM 1290 SA for my first duel sport after only one weekend with Rawhyde, but I also knew my limitations and the bikes capabilities. I learned some hard lessons but also practiced a LOT, and did several schools. Lots of Purposeful practice! It got me through sections of two BDRs, including baby head hill in OR, but not without a few tumbles. The bike could still be intimidating at times, but I still loved the hell out of it and have zero regrets. Thank you for this video. My advice is to try to know yourself before buying the bike, but also be open to discovering yourself after you experience the bike.
Hi Lell, I'm a 53 year old guy and I've only been riding for about 4 years. I ride a 2020 Honda Africa Twin AS, a 530lbs adventure bike and I've rode it to the tops of mountains in British Columbia, Canada every year I've owned it. When I started riding ADV bikes 4 years ago I could barely ride on gravel roads and couldn't go any faster then about 30 km/hour. Now I'm ripping decommissioned forestry roads at speeds of up to 120km/hour. Sometimes we even ride some angle track trails to get a little higher up the mountain so we can get better pictures! So yes I ride my big heavy ADV bike to very off road places and I love it! If I can do it then anybody can do it you just have to want to. I did take a couple of off road riding classes and I would recommend that everyone who wants to ride off road do the same. With the skills you learn in these courses you will help you go so much further off road than you ever thought possible and will increase your fun factor so much, it will change your life!! I'm honestly shocked that in the 4 years we've been riding these back roads we've never met any other ADV bike people in our travels. We've come across quad riders who think we're a little crazy for taking our heavy ADV bike that far off road and we've come across a few mountain bike riders but not one big bike rider. People really don't know what they're missing!! Lell, I'd be happy to send you some of the pics we've taken high up in the Canadian Rockies if you're interested, just let me know. Thanks for posting, I love your channel!!
Excellent video! You’re saying the things that us as a motorcycling community need to hear. All of us are guilty of thinking that we’re on the wrong bike or need some magic farkles to make us a better rider, and the companies selling these things are all too happy to reinforce this.
Someone once said something along the lines of the right bike is the bike you have. In the 1950s people rode around the world on something like a Harley-Davidson WLA surely you'll be fine on a Suzuki V-Strom. I own a Tuareg 660 and I'm fairly inexperienced in terms of off-road. I live in a place where on almost every forest path or farm lane there is a sign explicitly prohibiting motorcycles from entry (alongside cars). Of course you can ignore it and ride in anyway but I like having my license and I don't like trouble or to cause trouble for other people. So yea my bike doesn't see much off-road and if then just a gravel road. But I can only own one bike and it needs to do everything I want to do and adventure bikes do that so yea I own one of these motorcycle-SUVs. I'm fine with cruising down my gravel road enjoying nature and solitude. Thanks.
Motorcycles are my reminder not to be so serious. Most motorcycles can do a lot more than whatever they’ve been marketed for, and even when they can’t, it’s still an adventure finding that out.
"The key, however, is not bike time. It's purposeful considered practice." I hear so many people in the trail riding community say that "seat time" is the best teacher, but that's the longest and one of the hardest routes if you're not being intentional with practice and using proper techniques. I'm not an ADV rider (although I do have a Vstrom 650 for the street), but thanks for sharing, L-Pavey!
I am a 12 year old who lives in the socal deserts. I live where there’s a community of riders who make home made tracks that I ride and are open to the public that have some jumps and whoops. My dad bought a cheap bike for me to learn to ride on and practice. But now what I’m more capable I need an actual bike and I’m pining 4th gear going 45 on whoops and my bike is breaking down. I like what this video because of why you made it. It tells people do what you want and buy a bike for it.
Thanks for this - it's *brilliant*. I am "an old guy" (60+) and started riding at 52 on a DR650. I moved to a V-Strom 650XT and love it. I was thinking about "moving up" to something like a Transalp or something, but then I watched your video and started thinking, "What do I want to do that this bike can't do? How often is this bike the limiting factor on where I want to go?" And I realized that this bike is still perfect (for me). So thanks for the clarity.
Just going from a Honda CRF300L to a KTM 500 meant that I could save so much weight that fully loaded with the camping and photo gear, my KTM is lighter still than the stock Honda with no cargo on it - this means so much for safety - handling ability. I need gobs of low end power so I can lug slowly up hills, safely, without running out of power half way up, or requiring momentum to carry me up on less powerful bikes. And, to be nimble enough to chose any line I want. I can lift my ktm easily half a dozen times a day if need be without taking the piss out of me. Maintenance is meh...totally worth the small amount of time to do it. It sucks on the highway, vibey, too light/wind, but plenty of power to overtake at 80 mph big trucks, quickly. I love the bike at 60 and below cruising rural streets, makes me feel like a kid again riding dirty bikes around, only now with my plated bike, I don't have look out for the cops 😆
I agree with everything you said. The bike that is right for me is the one I can pick up on my own. When I'm riding easy terrain, it's my 2019 CB500X. When I'm very likely riding through ankle deep mud, it's my 2009 KLX250.
I see people riding through the Cassino Beach in Brazil (227km of a single beach) with all kind of bikes, from prupose built dirt bikes to even some crazy people on hayabusas with car tires.
Love the message. Be inclusive and accepting of others who are not like you. I've been riding my 1200 GS off road for 10 years. I've always loved the challenge it brings me on day long rides with ever smaller bikes around me year after year. I put in about a 1000 hours of training off road riding skills the first year on my 1200GS when I got it, before I started doing longer ride outs on a regular basis. The training has made all the difference. I couldn't really ride it off road when I got it and would have probably replaced it for a smaller bike within a year if I hadn't put in the work that is needed :) Great channel mate!
Great comments. I am fairly new to adventure bike riding and the strange thing is that I have found the community (face to face, group activities, or just meeting people out and about) to be unbelievably relaxed, fun and supportive. Strange things happen to humans when they get behind a keyboard. Nowhere is this more apparent than any Africa Twin forum and the endless (and endlessly boring) DCT vs manual discussions. People make choices, those choices are different, and it is that diversity of thought and approach that makes adventure bike riding so much fun.
Been riding for 32 years. Only just bought my first adventure bike a year ago. Am in my learning phase but nothing is better than being able to go wherever I want whenever I want. Already took two off road riding technique classes to improve my skills. Am now more confident in what i am able to do with this bike. Big adventure bike meet and ride organized over the weekend and that’s where I’m going to be.
The sentiment in this video is refreshing and positive, which I really appreciate. Being open to others’ views, opinions, wants, and abilities is the way forward. I’m a new-to-me 1250GS owner about to attend ORS and looking to take it on easy unpaved roads to “put a toe in the water”. Yes it’s a big heavy bike. Yes I’ve been lectured by others that I probably “should” be on a smaller bike for lanes, but I can only afford one bike and this is the one that for many reasons my heart has led me to. I’m only considering easy stuff because I know it’s a heavy bike and I need to work on my skills. Over 95% of my riding will continue to be road, with some big European tours. Got an eye on ACT too. I’m now a new subscriber to your channel off to watch some of the back catalogue 👍🏻
So much common sense here - nailed it. I ride a 2005 V strom with upgraded suspension. Have had her for 15 years. Her off road capabilities match my off road capabilities. It takes me where I want to go every time. If I see a rutted hill that is out of the league of the big, heavy Strom, then that rutted hill is also outside my capabilities.
Bravo. Well said. It's so easy to get caught up in the comments sections, forming opinions on matters that really don't matter to you. Single model forums can be a great source of info for a potential bike purchase, but I get put off by owners slagging off everything other than the bike they choose to ride. If you're lucky enough to own multiple bikes and someone asks you what you ride, always start with the crappiest thing first. If the reaction is negative then don't waste your time telling them about your most prized possession, you'll be wasting your breath.
100% this is exactly what needs to be said and I couldn't agree more. I absolutely love riding adventure bikes and taking them on the trips and into places people seem to think can't be done without a dirtbike. I've had a KTM 500 exc setup for adventure riding and I sold it. The road sections getting to the good stuff were terrible on that bike and then the bike was so good offroad I caught myself unintentionally slacking off not using good technique and just letting the suspension make up for poor lazy rading. A few weekends ago some friends and I went on a two day trip that was roughly 400 miles. They were on 500 exc's and I was on a Versys X-300 with knobby tires. By the time we did the first 150 miles of easy gravel they were tired, sore and wanting to call it a day as we started getting into the fun hard stuff with lots of water crossings, slippery rocks, soft creek sand/rock, mud and tight single and two track through the woods. I had an absolute blast the whole time and ended up stopping and waiting for the guys on the 500's to catch up at every intersection. Adv bikes are far more capable and fun than a lot of people give them credit for. I was one of those people years ago before I learned to improve myself and now I have a new love for riding all over again. Thanks for the excellent video's and keep up the great work!
Thank you Soooo Much for speaking plainly on this issue. I'm a really old guy that has been riding a long time, but my son's friends tell me that "the internet says" or "TH-cam says". Great video. Cheers.
having just spent a week on a GS off-road (after riding to the tracks) followed immediately by getting on my 250 on the same tracks (but without the commute - lol), I can only say that while the ground, conditions, and bloke on top didn't change, the definition of getting it right clearly did. So, as you say, it all depends on what you're trying to achieve and using the correct bike for the job. Opinions online are frequently delivered without context and then battle with other opinions. As a content consumer, I can avoid the bait and make my own mind up. Good job Llel, that's my opinion 🤣🤣🤣
YES! What an excellent, well thought through and thoughtfully presented video. The adventure biking community is so much better when we just let people enjoy things! I love little bikes. Had a ton of fun on one last year, but I also love my Africa Twin and had The Most fun on a Tiger 1200 Rally Pro last year. I'm a distinctly average rider. I have an office job and I don't get out biking nearly often enough. But I've done a fair bit of training with various schools, on various bikes. This has given me the confidence and techniques to know I can get my bike through just about anything. It likely WILL NOT be pretty, but it'll work. 😅 Great video. 😎
Years back I had a XR600. I would ride forest single track, desert two track, play on the motocross course, dabble on rocky hill climbs and spend time seeing how slowly I could go without putting my foot down. I grew my skills a LOT! My bike was never the ideal bike for any of it but I was willing to learn about my relationship with my bike. I suspect most folks with adventure bikes likely don’t have the intention of growing that relationship between them and their machine. They just expect it to make them a better rider or ignore the option to try difficult things. So off to Starbucks they go.
couldn't agree more, over the years I've heard tons of buls$t by people buying super expensive bikes and kits just to ride them to starbucks or naysayers about almost anything. Guys ride the bike, have fun, according to the skills you have, enjoy the ride and get better. Also Nick, give the greek TET a try, you will be amazed!
Excelent point, it was exactly what made me change from a multistrada to a 390adv and now I am back to riding almost everywhere again. I fear even the 700-800 are still too heavy for me to feel confident when riding alone which is 95% of the time so yeah, I miss the power but at least now I have the courage to venture myself and get the skill I am lacking due to lack of practice.
Best video I have seen on this subject by a long way. I am a 55 year old Australian that has ridden since 18 and have had over 18 bikes including the very firsr R1 in 98 when in launched ,784, 999, GSXR1000, SP2. I ended up sub 2 minutes at Phillip Island. I was late into adventure and bought a Tenere that I rode 8000 miles in USA, Canada and Mexico including the asphalt down Baja all the way to La paz. Then I shipped a Desert X and rode Europe including Iceland and Croatia. Sadly it was stolen in Italy. Its an exeptional motorcycle. I then bought a CRF300L in Thailand and rode it every second day for 3 months . Dropped it a lot . But eventually I was able to do a 16 day offroad ride through Laos that was very difficult. 5 started and only 3 finished which luckily included myself. I mainly did it to challenge myself and I hope the skills transfer a bit to bigger adventure bikes as that is my main love now. Every bike has limits and no single bike is perfect . Ride what you love and remember you are always learning. I am in awe of the skill of Llewellyn and will never achieve his level of riding. But I will continue to seek improvement and find joy on 2 wheels....that's really all that's important. 🙏
I agree with the theme, the decisive factor for me is if I'm on my own can I get out of trouble , pick it up, turn it round. I have a 690R and do a biannual commute to the Alps where I spend the 8 months a year. The trip down is painful (relatively),but after Paris I find bits of gravel and take my time. So adventure bikes get you where you want to go quicker but you can find a slower equally rewarding route. A 690R on alpine hairpins also offers a huge buzz! Perhaps my age and I admit I downsized from a big adventure to a much smaller 690, but as you say ride what makes you feel confident, because that is what you enjoy.
This is my favorite motorcycle video of 2024 so far. Thank you. It's ridiculous how much influence social media and comments have, and they shouldn't. Just ride what you want and have fun.
Excellent video and excellent points. With regards to skill level - I am constantly amazed at the amount of money people will spend on their bike yet spend nothing at all on the training that would make riding that same bike so much more pleasurable!
Good to hear. I've seen T7s and 890Rs ridden really well by better than average riders. On the trails I could keep on my Crf300l rally. I'm not big or particularly fit but am a competent trail rider. I took my rally to Morocco with a group of adventure bikes through the Atlas mountains and down to Zagora and it did really well (Ktech F&r) I use my old DR350SE for tougher stuff (but still come off). I decided I wanted a big single for longer trips and I like old skool trail stuff. Initially I was looking for a decent DR650 but they are few and far between in the UK. So instead I've bought a rebuilt, modded TTR600 (now 620) with a 20L tank. It's got enough go for the road it's actually comfy and I can pick it up. If I could only have one bike I'd keep the rally/TTR or get a Toureg 660, T7 or DE800. IMO up skilling on smaller bikes will help you ride the bigger twins better...
I guess I'm one of those zealots who try and steer people onto a smaller bike if I feel they'd benefit from it, as yes, I think a lot of people are on the wrong adventure bike. We'll only have to stand and watch people wobble around the ABR off road course this summer for evidence of that. But yeah, I've guided people on all sorts of bikes - big and small, on road and off - I've never had anyone underbiked. I've only ever seen people over biked. And it effects their ability to travel/explore/adventure. The bike makes them nervous. They lose confidence. Worst case they get injured. Maybe more training is the answer but I'm not convinced. The average rider is in their 50s. If off road riding wasn't ingrained as a kid you're very unlikely to get that guy/girl good enough to take a Vstrom 800 off road in the UK. The problem for the likes of Suzuki is that they're missing the emerging move towards smaller bikes. Forcing them onto 800s isn't the answer. Building a modern day DRZ is. The market is providing the answer. The CF Moto 450 MT will probably sell four to one against the Vstrom. The new Himalayan will probably do the same. I like this as a discussion piece and I totally agree, we should be here to steer people onto the bikes that suit them; the bike that gives them the best chance of a successful and 'safe' adventure. And in my opinion, for a lot of people out there, that means downsizing rather than upskilling. But ultimately the choice is theirs.
Nate, I don't think are one of those zealots. You're not running around the internet saying the only way is my way. You're nuanced, educated and thoughtful about what you say and what you say is 100% accurate. I have zero issue with smaller bikes and work on exactly the same line of communication. It's about providing the full spectrum of information for the task at hand, and if the task at hand is riding off-road as total beginner in technical terrain, especially without expert guidance, the smaller, manageable bike is easier and carries less consequence. Downsizing is much quicker than up skilling, but my main issue with that, eventually you run into the same problems. In my time as instructor, I saw both sides of small bikes and even then, choosing the right small bikes is still really nuanced. It's quite hard to create yourself a problem on CRF 300 L. It's very easy to create yourself a problem on a 500 EXC or KTM 690 if you have poor technique in technical situations, in a similar vein to how it is on a big bike. The differences are nuanced, happen at different point but the consequences are both difficult. It was almost guaranteed that a new off-road rider on a 450/500 would loop it out during a two day course and that is a messy crash. A enduro bike is still fundamentally a race bike and this where the nuance of the discussion is so important. I agree that brands need to adjust to requirements in front of them, but that also means building bikes like the Himalayan and CRF Rally where peak performance is not the goal, ride ability and friendliness is. Take Lyndon's Basil for example. For a lot of people that thing is the ideal bike, but realistically it's a brute of a bike for most people, me included. One of my main points of contention with the KTM 690 over the years is that I don't think it's an easy bike to ride. it's aggressive, easy to make mistakes on and while peak performance is really high, accessing that well and safely requires good technique. For me, that information being articulated well allows consumers to make their own choices and that is a really positive thing and creates a positive environment and culture in the community.,
One of the best comments about "ADV-Bikes" I've ever seen. For some people ("adventurist") a Honda CRF250 can be a perfect ADV-Bike. Others prefer something bigger, such as a "GS". For me, my old "GS" is a great ADV-Bike, as I can go out on some gravel roads or even a little tougher. I know, that my skills and this bike are not made for moto-cross or trial, so I don't even try it. But the range of opportunities is much wider with a "GS", than with my old R1100RT or even a big chopper. I think, everybody has to decide all alone, which bike will be the right ride for an adventure. No advertisement as well as the internet can make this choice for you.
@brakemagazine thank you for this. I have started adv riding a few years ago right before Covid in the U.K. Green lanes were terrifying on my Himalayan. I did a class at sweet lamb and that helped but it IS all about confidence and practice. I see huge differences over the past five years but I only get to go off road a few times a year due to life and work. Meanwhile I have mates who have no experience getting KTM 890s and ripping the trails screaming YOLO, while I am still plodding on my G650GS Sertao through the Pennsylvania woods. This video gave me some hope normalizing that there is no minimum ability to be good or not suck.
Really good video, drives me crazy the “I am right!” attitude on the internet. Well hang on, what’s the rider’s skill level and intended riding envelope?…… My T7 isn’t the best bike for gnarly difficult Welsh conditions, but my Beta trials, or GasGas Enduro bike would suck riding to the Italian Alps. So when I do TET Italy in the summer, the T7 is riding down there, I don’t want to take an adventure in the van, I want to ride down there with my son, I ride pretty well and if it gets too tough, then hopefully my experience will stop me getting a bigger bike in too far. I ride with a self recovery kit that weighs 600g. Though I have to be honest that a CRF Rally would be the better bike for the trip, the T7 is REALLY fun to ride, and the sound of that engine just puts a big smile on my face for more of my riding, and that’s the point, right 😊
I had an old 600 transalp. chucked that thing around like big dirtbike, even thou it was 200+kg. The biggest tip i have for a beginner off-road riders/gravel riders is to get something you don't mind going full send on and crack or scratch some panels. Most times where i fell or got stuck was when i hesitated and did not send it hard enough. Just get proper enduro boots and a back protector first and ride with a friend.
Absolutely loved this episode. I ride an 890R and am often concerned about the weight when offroad but to be honest I still haven’t done enough offroad riding! I know the bike is massively capable so you’re totally right, it’s me who needs to improve!
Fine words and a nice personality gets you further in live. Very nice video to watch, thanks. I like my ktm 990 adventure and ride with less heavy bikes. Its harder work but that no problem. Only when the bike is on the ground for te 5th time and i had to lift it after a day riding.... 💪
Nails, hitting and heads come to mind. I am fully aware of my limitations which are way below any bikes. I just go out and have fun - I’m probably slower than a slow thing on a slow bike, but I don’t care. Keep up the good work.
Here's my 2 cents. I went with a group here in Italy, we were supposed to go off-road for 2 days. I came with my trusty V-Strom 650 and let me tell you, i've been laughed at my ground clearance, my forks, my tires (25K km roadish Pirelli 🤫😂) for all the evening. It was my first off-road weekend ever, i had NEVER touched the dirt but i'm a quick learner and i know i can ride it anywhere, if not, it's NOT the bike's fault, it's mine. After a few hours the leader that was watching me told my that i was "a horse", later on we stopped for some break-time and a guy with a Tenere yells "WHERE'S THE V-STROM GUY???", he kneed at me if front of everyone, the the leader took me to his 790R and says "just, try it...please" Meanwhile, another guy with a freaking 890 was so embarrassing even i was laughing... It's ALWAYS the rider, take responsibility for your skill.
This video needs to be shown to everyone about to buy an ADV. Buy the bike that fits you and your needs best! Reviews are nice but you’re not the one riding and your mileage will vary. This is a great video and definitely subscribing after this!
I'm glad I subscribed to your channel. Even our little motorcycle world needs a little reality-check every so often. You did it really well....I hope some of the die-hards can relax and enjoy themsleves more.
I completely agree. Ride what makes you smile and can take you to the places you want to go. At almost 50 I still like to be playful and hoon a bit on my bike but I’m starting to rethink what is comfortable for hours on end. I love riding dual sport but not for entire days one after another anymore. My body demands more comfort. The TransAlp or a T7 is quickly moving up my list to my top spot for must have ride.
The internet has a habit of group think. This video is great. I've given up trying to set the record straight to all the "too big, too heavy, suspension sucks etc" crowd in the comments. I always comment, "you forgot to ad, "for me" at the end of your comment!" Its ability,confidence and the strength to pick it up when it goes down.
@@Weltbummler23 more likely peoples habitual parroting of ideas they read somewhere, from someone else's opinion, instead of remaining silent due to inexperience.
@@TRAVERSE_ADV thats a theory - but many have tried and are speaking from experience. These are the ones changing the narrative being told by the big money and corporations. Brake magazine is full of himself and has this convenient argument that all the people disagreeing with him are parrots and keyboard warriors.
@@TRAVERSE_ADV just the fact that theres so many people saying these bikes are too heavy “FOR ME” should make u think that actually there are people out there that dont ride the way that you do or brake magazine does and they want a lighter bike. Instead both u anf BM dismiss them as parrots… what kind of attitude is that. I sense a kind of superiority among adventure riders who think they are better than others and its disgusting.
@@Weltbummler23 the fact that so many people DON'T state "for me" at the end of a "too this and too that" statement is the parroting I'm referring to. Some people want light and some people can handle heavy. Im middle aged, grew up on dirt bikes, then took a 27 year break from bikes and got in the MTB. Im 6'2" and fit for my age. I keep active and strong. I can pick up my 250kg AT when I need to. Dont like doing so, so I did some training and practice enough to be able to do what I do. If I want to rode single trail, I will get something else. For the riding I do a big bike is perfect, because I can handle it most the time. A blanket statement saying that a bike too anything is bullshit. Everyone is different. Suspension is soft, slow down/upgrade, bike is heavy, go to the gym_learn to not drop it, short, get a shorter bike/seat/lower it. I think you misread my previous comments. The fact is the net is full of parrots who haven't tried but sing in unison, other peoples opinions.
I find it funny that people think the thoroughly-tested motorcycle can’t do the thing the manufacturer thoroughly tested the bike for. I think we’d all agree I could ride all dirt roads more easily on my WR250R than I could on a V-Strom 800 DE. But that doesn’t mean the V-Strom can’t hit dirt roads and would be more comfortable in many situations. You just need to be good enough or crazy enough to do it. Good video 👍
I rode off road bikes as a teenager, did vintage motocross and enduro in the 80's on a stripped and hotted up Yamaha DT400, 1974 model with dual shocks. I got a 2022 Pan Am in March 2023, fitted some 50/50 tires and took it in some off road mountain roads that I would struggle to walk up. It was possible but it was a bit heavy for that type of riding. I think you just ride within your limits and have fun. I got the Pan Am as an all roads sports tourer, not as an off road or trailbike. I'm more of a road rider, having grown up riding mountain roads and doing track racing, and the Pan Am has ridiculous power.
Loved what you said. Such refreshing viewpoint. I ride a V-Strom 1000 and forever feeling somewhat guilty that it's not that off-road capable. But I love that bike and I don't have the skill to ride anything much more than dirt roads anyway. And at 57, it's likely that I will never learn what it takes to tackle gnarly trails - I've only ever ridden on tarmac. Doesn't matter though because I love riding the way I do. Sure I wish I was better, but not really willing to risk health or bike to do so. Recovery from fractures takes too long now - guess how I know... Thanks again for encouraging me and so many others to just enjoy riding any way we like.
Many, many great points here! We vary so much as individuals and what we all desire different things. All we need is to be honest about our own skills and desires and go from there. I've decided I can't be "in charge" of a bike I can't easily pick up. That limits how heavy a bike I will own, and is the primary reason I'm selling my 2021 Africa Twin. It's a brilliant bike in many ways, but it has become too much for me, a source of anxiety I'd like to avoid. I'd rather a sore bum than a persistent, nagging feeling, I'm over my head. Exactly correct, we should be more understanding of people's choices! All the best.
As a former 890 Adventure R owner, yes, of course, you can ride large bikes off-road, and I took mine into some pretty gnarly places around New Zealand, where I live. But you can't escape the fact that they are bloody heavy and pretty dangerous if you're riding alone. The truth is if you're ridding predominantly off-road, you can't beat a smaller lighter bike
Llel, I think what you missed by going home early 😀, was that the Portugese ACT was 'overrun' with big bikes doing the long ride, and most of, those little ones were doing the Picos ( Spainish TET) for a long weekend. As the FDudefromAus, said, "Any bike you enjoy is the right bike."
The trouble with bikes is there's no one bike that does everything well so you need loads of bikes so you have one for every occasion😁 I'm just thinking about getting a third one and that still won't be enough
Man, I have seen one percenters out camping and riding their Harleys crazy all out off road! Racing even. Course I am sure alcohol at least was involved. But these guys were sending it.
Well, The point of riding adventure bikes is to be happy. I think that what other people think about me is truly none of my business. I choose to make my choices in life by getting educated. This is a great channel. I try to be remember to just be a good human being . thank you for you insites.
Well said. As Dakar Jenny said re: what bike to ride on the TAT in the US, “the bike does not drive itself, it’s about the pilot and the skills of the pilot”.
Perfect match for the topic! We always said: Whoever reaches the top (of the mountain) has the right motorcycle and we never met a know-it-all up there who told us that we couldn't possibly be up there (with the Big Ones).
Great video as yours always are. I have been riding my 2013 1190 standard version for 10 years just started my 11th yesterday. Single, 2 up twisties decomissioned logging roads, two track trails snd lots of fast'ish gravel loaded and not. Pretty sure I've heard that my 17 inch rear and 19 inch front are not very good offroad so many times I've lost count. I just cover her sensitive bits so she doesn't get offended, watch all of your videos and practice what I see. With 130,000kms on my Orange KTM (same as you road in a test when they first came out) Still at 62 practice learn and ride as much as I can thanks for your clear no ego explanations. Cheers from British Columbia.
I get it, I am constantly asked why I ride my 15’ R1200 GS Adventure off road “isn’t it too heavy?” It is heavy but very capable. I have only had one situation where I ran out of skill. Luckily a friend with more skill was with me and we managed our way through the obstacle. I live in South Eastern British Columbia, riding options are logging roads and trails that go over the Rockies. Really it comes down to improving your skill every time you ride and getting used to dancing with the one you brought with you.
This video makes total sense. I have only ever been on one off road course here in Scotland for a day and it was amazing. It's all about your skill level to give you that confidence to ride the trails you always wanted to. To be honest dropping my bike is probably what keeps me from heading on those far off trails, but having said that I don't have my bike setup to be able to cope with those trails anyway. I have a 2013 Honda CB500X that I have owned from new, don't know why I'm scared of dropping it as I have done it twice already and could get it RallyRaid prepared if I want to. But that is the question also, you have to want to ride those off road trails in the first place.
I agree with much of what is said here - especially the bit about matching your skill and the bike you ride to the terrain you're trying. However, one other thing to factor in is that most trails (in the UK at least) lie at the end of several hours on roads getting there. Suddenly, unless you own a van or bike trailer, you have to factor in the tarmac time getting to a location. For me, a Honda Africa Twin with my skill level limits me to tame green-lanes but makes getting there and back easy, quick and comfortable. (Plus, I can load it up with camping gear and make an overnight of the trip.)
![กี่หมื่นฟ้า | Your Sky Series EP.1 [1/4]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/vLGjxFL6U_I/mqdefault.jpg)
Forty-six Thumbs Up! Oh darn, I can't do that here.
Having followed you for many months now, this is one of the most in-your-face, let's-do-Reality-here commentaries I've seen in quite a while. (Then again, I just now watched a video of a guy telling the YT world that "adventure bikes are a myth." pfffttt!)
Three key refreshing and relevant takeaways from your comments (which *should* be obvious to most):
1. It's usually the Rider, not the bike.
2. Take Responsibility for yourself and your decisions.
3. Practice self Reflection - what do you want to do with the bike, is this bike suitable for it, and how good are your riding skills?
Fortunately, you do not internalize the naysayers, nitpickers haters who simply wish to argue, regardless of the merit of their arguments, or their excuses. Good on ya; a thick skin here on the interwebs is about as important as quality riding gear to avoid injury.
And while riding motorbikes IS a very personal thing, there are at the same time some realities that must be faced, such as the very basic reality that every motorbike will compromise in some areas, will suck in some areas, and will excel in some areas.
Let's ride our rides, improve our skills and our attitudes, and let's be curious -- not judgmental.
Thanks for the voice of reason, and well done.
Thanks for the kind words and I'm glad it makes sense! Really good summary. Sometimes my skin is nowhere near as thick as it needs to be 😂
Ride whatever the fk you want! The journey is the destination. Any bike can be an adventure bike if you put some creativity into it. Build your own fun as that is one of the best parts of it! Those sure as fk weren't adventure bikes in WWII but they got creative as hell! I grew up riding dirt bikes so my skill level is different than some of my friends who started riding as adults. My second nature is something they had to learn but that is half the fun. Just do it and you'll figure it out.
sounds like you're all thumbs....
Well said. Egos are out of control, humility is lacking, and the internet allows useless opinions to be broadcasted far and wide. Like I tell my kids: learning to ignore the noise is one of the greatest skillsets of the 21st century.
It’s tough tbh. I find myself checking myself on a daily basis 😅
💯. We live in a world full of keyboard warriors…
Same guys who have all of the negative opinions, who are self proclaimed 'know it alls' - are the same type of guys who have a 3 year old bike for sale on marketplace with less than 3,000km.
All sorts of opinions, with very little experience-let alone talent or skill
@@BrakeMagazine I've seen you qualify your recommendations. And you back up your arguments. That's why I value your opinion when I spend my coin 🙂
@@PisgahGravelProject these overconfident, obnoxious bombasts have always been around. Now they can reach the world from their mom's basement...
Excellent video. And even better is that you can apply this philosophy to EVERY discipline, hobby, bike, car, house, t-shirt, exercise, sport, school and profession on the internet. Bravo.
yea but... I heard 45 teeth is so much better than 44!
@@ultimatist But everyone knows ...the number 42 👀☝😁
Spot on! 👍
@@ultimatisti would take 46 for my 150cc
@FortyFourTeeth cheers nige
You forgot to say the magic words! Life is better when you’re riding. Your channel has benefited countless riders and improved the sport. Thank you for all you do!
☝👍👍fact
Well said! Thanks for pointing out and thanks to Brake Magazine!
The "right" adventure bike is the one in your shed.
Exactly
If you don't have a bike in your shed?
@@swoosh_italia_328 Find a friend that has bikes. Or, get a better job. A new friend is easier and cheaper. hahaha
@@ridemfast7625 im asking for bike ideas i can get them i just have no idea or knowlege on what to get
@@swoosh_italia_328Then buy one. At least one. I bought an old GL1100 for $800 and rode it for 12 years. Now I'm up to a GL1200 and looking for a Tiger.
C90 adventures is one of my favorite channels, and if I’ve learned anything from it, ADV can be done on anything with enough grit; and friendly locals 🤠
Absolutely. It's also a very different experience 😂
its amazin how far that guy has ridden those things isnt it
The level of perseverance is high.
love watching him do so , not interested in travelling that way myself though LoLoL @@BrakeMagazine
Exactly my thoughts 😂
I have a Harley and it makes me smile every time I ride. I have a 1250 GSA and it makes me smile every time I ride. I have a job and it does not make me smile. Haters gonna hate. Riders gonna ride. Thanks for your awesome videos and excellent riding tips. It’s good for all of us to remember that we are all unique individuals who are simply trying to make the most of this crazy adventure we call life. Be kind, have fun and embrace the smiles.
Well put, glad I read this!
@jgrc73 me too, cool to read others comments who have a similar mindset
It's the 'Marie Kondo' test for Motorcycling: Does it make me smile?
Also with you on "I have a job and it does not make me smile" ... seems the answer must be RIDE MORE!!!
@@KBInTheNowMarie Kondo! Yep !! Figure out what doesn’t work in your life and bin it. Figure out the things you
like and the things that make you smile … 😊
It’s easy isn’t it ? Thanks for mentioning Marie.
"Haters gonna hate. Riders gonna ride." - thanks for that. So much wisdom in such a few words. Peace.
I am a short person and i was afraid to ride big bikes offroad, so i bought myself a cheap dualsport a DRZ400s. After a year of practice with my "little" bike my confidence and my skill raised so much that my fears had disappeared. Bought a KTM 790 ADV R and rode it on the same trails where my DRZ, no problem what so ever. As a bonus because it is a lower bike I crashed way less times than on my DRZ :D
I mean, this is the perfect story for this video. The right bike, in the right moments for you! Thanks for the comment :D
Short mean how many cm? 170 or 175cm?
@@FirstName-qq6rq 174cm, 74 inseam.
you must ride some easy trails........the ones I ride, anything past 300lbs you're NOT making it, regardless of rider skills.
If you ride on such extreme places why the hell do you want a large motorcycle? You already have on that is clearly capable for your style. @@94SexyStang
Well said young man. I recently bought a Tuareg, it is more bike than I'll ever need as I'm a novice off roader but I will learn. I will take a course and practice and my bike will take me to the gravel roads of Scandinavia or down to Spain. I will have fun and other people can say what they like.
Enjoy that!
This whole video is a bit funny from my POV. I've only ridden small bikes, an xt225 and a DR350, and I'm use to seeing the conversations about adventure bikes push really far into the larger bikes with anything smaller than a 650 being too small to be an adventure worthy bike (some even proclaiming that the DR650 is too light, small and underpowered for adventure riding).
I've attempting to point to the riding of Itchy Boots with her CRF300 Rally and had people still claim that the bike is too small to be used as an adventure bike. It also seems the industry has really leaned into the larger bikes with the Tenere 700, V-strom 800 and 1050 as well as the 1250 GS still being quite the common bike to see on the road and in the dirt / gravel.
Suffice to say, I think your title holds true. Whatever you're riding right now, the internet will probably have plenty of folks who will happily tell you how wrong the bike is for you.
The itchy boots things is the nail on the head. It works. She's doing it. Enough said :)
100% and that's the point right. Glad to here it's working for you!@@2217Video
Great vid. Heres hoping humility catches on.
Same here, longtime XT225 fan. Even after riding a DR650 into the woods while exploring some land w/ a friend, I was missing that XT. I've since sold them and gotten a CR250L to enjoy the fuel injected life, but I still feel like we're all wanting a modern 400cc dual sport and a 450-550 "small" adventure bike from the Big 4 in Japan.
It looks like the new CFMoto 450MT may address the latter. Still waiting on the former. After much hesitation, I may be stepping into the KTM and Husky waters to address this missing cc range.
While I love itchy boots and commend her dedication, not everyone has months and months to take as long as possible to get from point A to point B.
She avoids motorways at every turn. Sometimes that’s just not feasible. Ride an XT250 on the motorway for hours a day and you’ll see how a larger displacement is useful.
you nailed it, I'm just surprised so many don't get it, buy the bike that best suits your style, ability, and where you want to ride. So simple, why are we even talking about this? Now if you don't like GS1200's, fine, don't buy one, but just shut-up about it, because not one single GS rider cares what you think, they are too busy covering huge miles in comfort.
Or waiting for their bike to come back from being repaired under warranty.
or getting 3 mates to help pick the lumps up when they drop them...pathetic bikes@@davidmatthews3093
Or still trying to pull it out of the mud.
And the two responses you get are the trolls who don’t ride at all. The internet is shit
I was hopeless on a dirt bike, always looking at others seemingly doing it all easily. I bought a trials bike and I was awful at first as you would be. Fast forward 5 years and I can pop a 701 over a fallen tree on its back wheel. Now everything is easier because I have so much more feel and time when doing anything tricky. It really pays to do trials if you ride off road.
Its true!I saw your video ,good choice sean!
It’s what Dirty Harry said: “A man’s got to know his limitations.”
I’ve been riding an “inappropriate” bike for ADV for years. On some obstacles a KTM890 or T7 will walk away from me, however I have become very accustomed to using a 2013 Triumph Scrambler 900 for the past 128,000miles. It’s the everyday bike that works for me, there’s also something to be said for becoming so familiar with any one bike that you know exactly what went wrong and how to repair it the moment it happens.
So ride your ride often, get familiar with it, that’s probably the best advice I could give.
How funny, I rode a 2013 Scrambler 900 for thousands of miles in Baja. Was it perfect for that? No. But it was fun, and easy to work on.
Well as you said the problem is not the bike but you and your skill level. And the skill level requirement drops when you're riding smaller and lighter bikes.
I and my mates, rented stock GS 700's with zero armor and road tires in Oaxaca, Mexico. We rode hundreds of miles of rough mountain roads for 10 days. After the first day of 130 tough miles, I realized something. The best adventure bike is the one you have.
Last year I had my adventure bike at work and my coworker with a Harley swapped bikes with me to go to lunch. It was actually amazing. You can't judge a bike without riding it.
Wow. Some impressive comments on free content, no one is forced to watch. I enjoy watching your channel and I appreciate your relevant prospective on the channel's subject. Unlike you, I have not finished (or even started) a Dakar race, my experience level is no where near yours, I lean much from your riding tips, and I have an idea as to how much work goes into providing the content you provide. A heart felt thank you and please keep up the good work, Llel!
It's straight forward, the reason the adv bikes (classic bigger machines) sell so well is they don't just sell a bike. They sell the idea of adventure. The need to go buy lightweight kit/gear, and buy this and buy that. You can buy BDR routes, GPX tracks and buy tours! Its a consumeristic thing over anything else. You can adventure on anything, even foot, in case some have forgotten haha.
That sounds extreme - on foot 😂
It's all about the emotion that is been sold with the bike. At least that's what Peter Pierer (KTM CEO) say.
You wanna be adventurous and found your way - the only right way, because it feels so exciting that it must be true.
Marketing works very well...
Light ADV bikes are just great all-around starter bikes. I bought a 2022 Royal Enfield Himalayan 411 last year and I've been using it as a commuter bike with locking side boxes, and an exploration bike on the narrow forest roads near my house. I've taken it on longer 3-4 hour rides on tarmac, and it pulls that off comfortably too.
Is it a great off-road vehicle? No.
But it gets the job done and it is super fun
Great vid.👍
I've put almost 11k miles on my DesertX in 10 months riding in north and west Texas. Over 1/3 of those miles off-road.
In the 10 months advancing skills, I've become comfortable doing stuff I never thought I'd be willing to even attempt when I picked up the Ducati.
I may be moving up to a DDX Rally later this year.🤔
Thanks for your channel. It helped push me to be a better rider.
Great video. I have been saying this to all my friends. ADV bikes can go off road, and are far more capable than most of our skills. And a lot of other TH-camrs spread similar misconceptions.
Chaseontwowheels recently did a review of the Tiger 850, and introduced it as a bike that has NO off road capabilities. And of course he concluded that without ever taking that bike off road. I ride the Tiger 850 off road all the time and never once felt like its capabilities run out before my skill does. It may happen one day, but for 90% of ADV riders, it has more than enough capabilities.
Glad you are talking about this in this video!
That's quite the opposite extreme, then, of RevZilla taking a BMW M1000R offroad: th-cam.com/video/f5HjcK8B7ZY/w-d-xo.html
I feel the exact same way. I had a vstrom 650 that I treated like a dirt bike, I would ride it 2-3 hours before sunset everyday and it was hard at first but after 1-2 years I was taking it to some crazy offroard areas and was riding better than most dirt bikers I knew. I heard a lot of weird opinions about my bikes capabilities. It’s 80% the rider not the bike.
Great vid 👌. Just rode my 890R on a 4000km loop in Morocco. This bike is amazing...roads, gravel roads, sand, technical gnarly rocky stuff I was blown away she can do it all easily. Best fun I had since Iceland on my 690 ✌
My 1200 gs is a heavy beggar at 70 yrs!! As long as I go with a buddy, they help me pick it up. 🤣🤣
But the 350cc is starting to look like a good choice for back roads but not big trips. I live in forests with lots of roads and trails..
Rawhyde adventure bike school in Southern California is amazing
Thanks for the perspective!👍🏽
Well said!
One of the best Adventure bike videos ever. And the 800DE is a very capable weapon.
Probably the most honest, true to life ADV video I have ever watched and why I roll my eyes at 95% of comments on social media... Mate you have nailed it. Off to sell my Super Tenere that I ridden where 'its not supposed to go' and buy and Vstrom 800DE ( have owned a Vstrom 1000, KTM 950adv S, Tiger 800, Multistrada 1200, DRz400, had long term hire DR650 and 800GS and lots of road bikes)
As an Africa Twin DCT adventure "occasional" rider, I couldn't agree more...
If every time someone tell me "this bike is too big/heavy to go on trail" or "the DCT can't do offroad", I get 10€, maybe I would have a second Africa Twin by now... XD
And most of the time, it end with "you're skilled to do that with this bike" but no, these adventure bikes are just amazing ! (and the DCT the ultimate cheat code)
Best adv bike advice ive seen in a while. Im a mid level rider, (10 years now riding dirt bikes, sport bikes, and adv bikes on the weekends), am always annoyed when people say a bike "can't" do something. Almost no bike will break if you ride it up an enduro trail - ive even done some silly enduro climbs on an r6. It is true though that smaller is easier offroad and bigger is comfier on road. If you have a ton of experience you can absolutely shred on a big adv tourer - dirt is still easier on a small bike though. It's all trade offs and no bike really sucks. Main advice i would give though is if you want to improve quickly, you need a bike that's cheap enough you arent afraid to drop it.
Very well said. My problem is going from dirt to street. Then going adventure bike with old skills still functioning well. Then shit hit the fan. Wrecked left eye. No depth perception, but still doing mostly off-road. Then, I blew out two disks in my lower back. No riding for two years. Then susuki Concourse 1000. Great sport touring. ThenVstromdl1000 and of the beginning of the adventure riding, too hard for off-road as picking it up was a No No. Three bikes later now a new CFMoto 800T. Great bike but so heavy. Good tires will make it better. At 70, it seems my skills have retired. Off road that used to be so easy are now difficult, but I did go dirt bike for that. A WR250R. The bike makes off-road fun, on the street it sucks. So you are right about picking the bike that works. Then practice skills like a newbie.
I think it sounds like the right bike in the right moment, and if you can still keep having fun that’s all that matters. Stoked to hear you’re still riding at 70 ✌️
I have three bikes that cover a spectrum of riding, an Indian Chieftan, Ducati Multistrada and a new Honda CRF300L Rally. They all make me smile and once I get enough experience on the Rally there may be a forth bike, like the Tuareg. Heaven on earth.
Well said. I came from a light weight adv bike but when I purchased my R1200GS my eyes opened to possibilities. I'll take my "heavy" GS any day - touring, track, off-road, etc.
Most different perspective I’ve heard so far, what stands true is most people just don’t have the time to ever develop the skill to ride such a huge bike everywhere, but manufacturers tempt them with misleading visions of true adventure, hence it’s still true that for most people a large ADV doesn’t work.
I don't disagree with that sentiment.
Brilliant brilliant brilliant. Once again, very well put.
Live your take on riding.
I went for a ride yesterday on my Husky 901. I’m not a great rider. A lot of pavement and some gravel. It was amazing. That’s all that matters.
The carefully choreographed marketing ads tell me what ADV is. Scenic landscapes, desert terrains, rocky outcrops, but for me adventure is making it to the nearest coffee shop to show off the $35000 bike I bought over a $1.50 coffee ☕️
I feel sarcasm 😂😂
And if that makes these people happy, if it is fun for them to buy such bikes for that money to be able to do xyz but then only drive to drink a coffee… why does it bother you ?
Exactly Jeff
I almost always go for a coffee. Sometimes I get cake as well. Sometimes its 5 minutes down the road. Or where the road ends. I had a coffee and some Jerky at the Arctic Ocean. Then I turned around and rode home.
I go for coffee a lot too. Coffee is good. I also ride my adventure bike for Pizza sometimes .
Not many are willing to go out on the limb and be politely blunt as you have done, and i applaud you Sir. People need to understand that the adventure is in you, not the bike. I've been in this for decades starting in the 20th century with an '81 XL185 and an '89 XL600V Transalp. Back then there was no social media, no magazines dedicated to off-road travel, you strapped your garbage bag covered tent to your bike, hand wrote your navigation and went. I still have those two bikes along with a KTM 500 and 950 Adv. The only thing these 4 bikes do very well, is make me smile.
You'll probably bin this for not cheering your take but... your piece starts out ragging on "problematic" people who tell others how to behave, then you tell them how to behave and that the problem is them, not the bike. Much of your take seems non-nuanced as you complain about others making, and in general to say "adventure bikes can do it all". This from the person/channel that just two months earlier was saying the V-Strom 800 DE was a "perfect gravel road bike"...
Lets be fair, most riders dont have the skill to do the things you showed, and while offroad school is valuable, it isn't keeping a heavy bike from sinking in the sand, or not making up a very steep tricky bit without some serioius risky speed to carry it, no matter how fancy the traction control is, nor how perfectly matched the tire is to the terrain. Your adventure bike is not going to do extreme enduro or trials unless your skill level is max. Your rant on "its just your skill" seems to be discounting the choice made by all those non-adventure bike riders you crossed paths with on the TET. Was that you who faced the mountain on that TET in northern spain and backed off becaues it was too steep for the heavy bike, or was that another pair of riders? A heavy bike on steep sketchy single track is just asking for trouble for most riders.
Some people may be just armchair quarterbacking their comments, but others paid the price of being oversold what they could do by marketing, and ended up having expensive misery, not adventure. Another issue is that offroad for one means extreme enduro and for another it means any non-durable surface. Instead of being told the adventure bike can do it all and they just suck, a more balanced approach is just to be realistic about the type of riding a bike is suited for, set your expectations and plans, and be encouraged to skill up to better enjoy that riding.
If there is one think that won't ever happen on this channel, it's binning thought out comments that question the viewpoint in the video. I genuinely believe that discussion is a huge part of the learning process.
Your point about me telling them how to behave is accurate. It's a paradox. I'm not sure I quite understand the point about me saying the DE is a 'perfect gravel road bike'. The review is to outline where a bike's skillset lies and what it's good at, bad at and an average ADV rider can do with it.
I actually disagree with regards to the V-Strom vs Transalp video. Most of the terrain in that video is relatively simple. I have taken people who are just a couple of days of off-road skills training into their adventure bike journey on a lot of those routes.
I agree that when the riding gets difficult, sand, tricky steep hills etc. the limit of the bike is a lot lower if it's an adventure style bike, no argument there. You can't argue with the physics or the engineering and if the bike isn't appropriate for the skill level or the terrain you want to ride, then choose a different bike. That's the whole point of the end of the video.
I'm not meaning to discount their choices, that's probably just my bad scripting. I'm stoked they made a choice, are hopefully enjoying it and are out there riding and exploring. Zero judgement from me. The point of this video is to encourage support in the community and guide people looking to make a bike choice that's free from the 'You can only do it this way or you're not doing it right' dogma and that means if a 500 EXC or a Honda CT 110 is the right bike for you, it's the right bike.
I did stop at the top of one hill because the trail was not a trail. It was made by a bulldozer and didn't go anywhere. My friends had places to be and I was fucking around. It wasn't on the TET, it was south of Leon. I agree that if your skills don't allow you to avoid mistakes on a bigger bike it might not always be the best bike, or you might have to limit what riding you choose to do.
As for the 'what off-road' means. That probably just means we need better descriptions. It's why I started using the term gravel road bikes.
@JacobAnawalt An interesting take, but your last three sentences sum up exactly what was being said in the video. I thought it was a well measured take on the subject. I agree, that people get sold a promise on what a particular bike can do, but surely anyone would realise that it is there riding skill that is the biggest factor. People can't expect a bike to do all the work, I've seen riders on BMW GS's with little to no offroad experience and assume that the bike will get them through some difficult terrain. I personally ride and Africa Twin Adventure Sports, its big and heavy, but I love riding it and my 'off-road' aspirations are nothing more than gravel trails and fire breaks, so I'm fine with that.
triggered
100% - brake magazine seems to be all about having an opinion and telling others what to do, but not allowing others to also voice an opinion. Its tyrant-ish behavior. When you publish something, there will be a diversity of replies, some sarcastic, some critical - it just comes with the territory.
I don't think I've seen this bad a take in a long time. You should just watch the video again. If you can't manage a big bike, you have two options: get a smaller one, or bring your skill level up.
It sounds like you watched a marketing video and thought you were going to get a KTM 890 and all the sudden ride like Chris Birch. That's not how it works, but it also doesn't make the marketing video a lie. I've done a lot of fun rides on adventure bikes, been wishing I was on a smaller bike on multiple occasions. I've also done big adventures on a 450 and wished I was on a bigger bike for 60% of the ride. The real secret is to take the biggest bike you can manage on the hardest part of the trail. Sometimes it's a 450, sometimes it's a 1250. Only you know where the line is, but if you don't practice on a big bike sometimes the line is the threshold of your garage.
I might have been a victim of marketing when I chose to buy a KTM 1290 SA for my first duel sport after only one weekend with Rawhyde, but I also knew my limitations and the bikes capabilities. I learned some hard lessons but also practiced a LOT, and did several schools. Lots of Purposeful practice! It got me through sections of two BDRs, including baby head hill in OR, but not without a few tumbles. The bike could still be intimidating at times, but I still loved the hell out of it and have zero regrets.
Thank you for this video. My advice is to try to know yourself before buying the bike, but also be open to discovering yourself after you experience the bike.
Hi Lell, I'm a 53 year old guy and I've only been riding for about 4 years. I ride a 2020 Honda Africa Twin AS, a 530lbs adventure bike and I've rode it to the tops of mountains in British Columbia, Canada every year I've owned it. When I started riding ADV bikes 4 years ago I could barely ride on gravel roads and couldn't go any faster then about 30 km/hour. Now I'm ripping decommissioned forestry roads at speeds of up to 120km/hour. Sometimes we even ride some angle track trails to get a little higher up the mountain so we can get better pictures! So yes I ride my big heavy ADV bike to very off road places and I love it! If I can do it then anybody can do it you just have to want to. I did take a couple of off road riding classes and I would recommend that everyone who wants to ride off road do the same. With the skills you learn in these courses you will help you go so much further off road than you ever thought possible and will increase your fun factor so much, it will change your life!!
I'm honestly shocked that in the 4 years we've been riding these back roads we've never met any other ADV bike people in our travels. We've come across quad riders who think we're a little crazy for taking our heavy ADV bike that far off road and we've come across a few mountain bike riders but not one big bike rider. People really don't know what they're missing!!
Lell, I'd be happy to send you some of the pics we've taken high up in the Canadian Rockies if you're interested, just let me know.
Thanks for posting, I love your channel!!
Excellent video! You’re saying the things that us as a motorcycling community need to hear. All of us are guilty of thinking that we’re on the wrong bike or need some magic farkles to make us a better rider, and the companies selling these things are all too happy to reinforce this.
Someone once said something along the lines of the right bike is the bike you have.
In the 1950s people rode around the world on something like a Harley-Davidson WLA surely you'll be fine on a Suzuki V-Strom.
I own a Tuareg 660 and I'm fairly inexperienced in terms of off-road. I live in a place where on almost every forest path or farm lane there is a sign explicitly prohibiting motorcycles from entry (alongside cars). Of course you can ignore it and ride in anyway but I like having my license and I don't like trouble or to cause trouble for other people.
So yea my bike doesn't see much off-road and if then just a gravel road. But I can only own one bike and it needs to do everything I want to do and adventure bikes do that so yea I own one of these motorcycle-SUVs. I'm fine with cruising down my gravel road enjoying nature and solitude. Thanks.
Motorcycles are my reminder not to be so serious. Most motorcycles can do a lot more than whatever they’ve been marketed for, and even when they can’t, it’s still an adventure finding that out.
"The key, however, is not bike time. It's purposeful considered practice."
I hear so many people in the trail riding community say that "seat time" is the best teacher, but that's the longest and one of the hardest routes if you're not being intentional with practice and using proper techniques.
I'm not an ADV rider (although I do have a Vstrom 650 for the street), but thanks for sharing, L-Pavey!
It’s a myth for sure 😂😂
I am a 12 year old who lives in the socal deserts. I live where there’s a community of riders who make home made tracks that I ride and are open to the public that have some jumps and whoops. My dad bought a cheap bike for me to learn to ride on and practice. But now what I’m more capable I need an actual bike and I’m pining 4th gear going 45 on whoops and my bike is breaking down. I like what this video because of why you made it. It tells people do what you want and buy a bike for it.
Sounds like an awesome place to live! Thanks for the kind words :)
Thanks for this - it's *brilliant*. I am "an old guy" (60+) and started riding at 52 on a DR650. I moved to a V-Strom 650XT and love it. I was thinking about "moving up" to something like a Transalp or something, but then I watched your video and started thinking, "What do I want to do that this bike can't do? How often is this bike the limiting factor on where I want to go?" And I realized that this bike is still perfect (for me). So thanks for the clarity.
Just going from a Honda CRF300L to a KTM 500 meant that I could save so much weight that fully loaded with the camping and photo gear, my KTM is lighter still than the stock Honda with no cargo on it - this means so much for safety - handling ability. I need gobs of low end power so I can lug slowly up hills, safely, without running out of power half way up, or requiring momentum to carry me up on less powerful bikes. And, to be nimble enough to chose any line I want. I can lift my ktm easily half a dozen times a day if need be without taking the piss out of me. Maintenance is meh...totally worth the small amount of time to do it. It sucks on the highway, vibey, too light/wind, but plenty of power to overtake at 80 mph big trucks, quickly. I love the bike at 60 and below cruising rural streets, makes me feel like a kid again riding dirty bikes around, only now with my plated bike, I don't have look out for the cops 😆
I agree with everything you said. The bike that is right for me is the one I can pick up on my own. When I'm riding easy terrain, it's my 2019 CB500X. When I'm very likely riding through ankle deep mud, it's my 2009 KLX250.
And that’s perfect 👌
I see people riding through the Cassino Beach in Brazil (227km of a single beach) with all kind of bikes, from prupose built dirt bikes to even some crazy people on hayabusas with car tires.
Love the message. Be inclusive and accepting of others who are not like you. I've been riding my 1200 GS off road for 10 years. I've always loved the challenge it brings me on day long rides with ever smaller bikes around me year after year. I put in about a 1000 hours of training off road riding skills the first year on my 1200GS when I got it, before I started doing longer ride outs on a regular basis. The training has made all the difference. I couldn't really ride it off road when I got it and would have probably replaced it for a smaller bike within a year if I hadn't put in the work that is needed :) Great channel mate!
Great comments. I am fairly new to adventure bike riding and the strange thing is that I have found the community (face to face, group activities, or just meeting people out and about) to be unbelievably relaxed, fun and supportive. Strange things happen to humans when they get behind a keyboard. Nowhere is this more apparent than any Africa Twin forum and the endless (and endlessly boring) DCT vs manual discussions. People make choices, those choices are different, and it is that diversity of thought and approach that makes adventure bike riding so much fun.
Been riding for 32 years. Only just bought my first adventure bike a year ago. Am in my learning phase but nothing is better than being able to go wherever I want whenever I want. Already took two off road riding technique classes to improve my skills. Am now more confident in what i am able to do with this bike. Big adventure bike meet and ride organized over the weekend and that’s where I’m going to be.
The sentiment in this video is refreshing and positive, which I really appreciate. Being open to others’ views, opinions, wants, and abilities is the way forward.
I’m a new-to-me 1250GS owner about to attend ORS and looking to take it on easy unpaved roads to “put a toe in the water”. Yes it’s a big heavy bike. Yes I’ve been lectured by others that I probably “should” be on a smaller bike for lanes, but I can only afford one bike and this is the one that for many reasons my heart has led me to. I’m only considering easy stuff because I know it’s a heavy bike and I need to work on my skills. Over 95% of my riding will continue to be road, with some big European tours. Got an eye on ACT too.
I’m now a new subscriber to your channel off to watch some of the back catalogue 👍🏻
Great message! It's kinda what I mostly hear with my scrambler 1200, is currently the only one that makes me smile when I see it
So much common sense here - nailed it. I ride a 2005 V strom with upgraded suspension. Have had her for 15 years. Her off road capabilities match my off road capabilities. It takes me where I want to go every time. If I see a rutted hill that is out of the league of the big, heavy Strom, then that rutted hill is also outside my capabilities.
Excellent video. Someone needs to talk about these subjects with this honesty and perspective. Well done!
Bravo. Well said. It's so easy to get caught up in the comments sections, forming opinions on matters that really don't matter to you. Single model forums can be a great source of info for a potential bike purchase, but I get put off by owners slagging off everything other than the bike they choose to ride.
If you're lucky enough to own multiple bikes and someone asks you what you ride, always start with the crappiest thing first. If the reaction is negative then don't waste your time telling them about your most prized possession, you'll be wasting your breath.
100% this is exactly what needs to be said and I couldn't agree more. I absolutely love riding adventure bikes and taking them on the trips and into places people seem to think can't be done without a dirtbike. I've had a KTM 500 exc setup for adventure riding and I sold it. The road sections getting to the good stuff were terrible on that bike and then the bike was so good offroad I caught myself unintentionally slacking off not using good technique and just letting the suspension make up for poor lazy rading.
A few weekends ago some friends and I went on a two day trip that was roughly 400 miles. They were on 500 exc's and I was on a Versys X-300 with knobby tires. By the time we did the first 150 miles of easy gravel they were tired, sore and wanting to call it a day as we started getting into the fun hard stuff with lots of water crossings, slippery rocks, soft creek sand/rock, mud and tight single and two track through the woods. I had an absolute blast the whole time and ended up stopping and waiting for the guys on the 500's to catch up at every intersection. Adv bikes are far more capable and fun than a lot of people give them credit for. I was one of those people years ago before I learned to improve myself and now I have a new love for riding all over again.
Thanks for the excellent video's and keep up the great work!
Thank you Soooo Much for speaking plainly on this issue. I'm a really old guy that has been riding a long time, but my son's friends tell me that "the internet says" or "TH-cam says". Great video. Cheers.
having just spent a week on a GS off-road (after riding to the tracks) followed immediately by getting on my 250 on the same tracks (but without the commute - lol), I can only say that while the ground, conditions, and bloke on top didn't change, the definition of getting it right clearly did. So, as you say, it all depends on what you're trying to achieve and using the correct bike for the job. Opinions online are frequently delivered without context and then battle with other opinions. As a content consumer, I can avoid the bait and make my own mind up. Good job Llel, that's my opinion 🤣🤣🤣
YES! What an excellent, well thought through and thoughtfully presented video. The adventure biking community is so much better when we just let people enjoy things! I love little bikes. Had a ton of fun on one last year, but I also love my Africa Twin and had The Most fun on a Tiger 1200 Rally Pro last year.
I'm a distinctly average rider. I have an office job and I don't get out biking nearly often enough. But I've done a fair bit of training with various schools, on various bikes. This has given me the confidence and techniques to know I can get my bike through just about anything. It likely WILL NOT be pretty, but it'll work. 😅
Great video. 😎
Years back I had a XR600. I would ride forest single track, desert two track, play on the motocross course, dabble on rocky hill climbs and spend time seeing how slowly I could go without putting my foot down. I grew my skills a LOT! My bike was never the ideal bike for any of it but I was willing to learn about my relationship with my bike. I suspect most folks with adventure bikes likely don’t have the intention of growing that relationship between them and their machine. They just expect it to make them a better rider or ignore the option to try difficult things. So off to Starbucks they go.
couldn't agree more, over the years I've heard tons of buls$t by people buying super expensive bikes and kits just to ride them to starbucks or naysayers about almost anything. Guys ride the bike, have fun, according to the skills you have, enjoy the ride and get better. Also Nick, give the greek TET a try, you will be amazed!
Yes! And plus one on Greece. One of the best countries to ride a bike in. So beautiful.
Excelent point, it was exactly what made me change from a multistrada to a 390adv and now I am back to riding almost everywhere again. I fear even the 700-800 are still too heavy for me to feel confident when riding alone which is 95% of the time so yeah, I miss the power but at least now I have the courage to venture myself and get the skill I am lacking due to lack of practice.
Thank you Thank you Thank you!! finally someone brave enough with a big audience to say how it is!!!!
Best video I have seen on this subject by a long way. I am a 55 year old Australian that has ridden since 18 and have had over 18 bikes including the very firsr R1 in 98 when in launched ,784, 999, GSXR1000, SP2. I ended up sub 2 minutes at Phillip Island. I was late into adventure and bought a Tenere that I rode 8000 miles in USA, Canada and Mexico including the asphalt down Baja all the way to La paz. Then I shipped a Desert X and rode Europe including Iceland and Croatia. Sadly it was stolen in Italy. Its an exeptional motorcycle. I then bought a CRF300L in Thailand and rode it every second day for 3 months . Dropped it a lot . But eventually I was able to do a 16 day offroad ride through Laos that was very difficult. 5 started and only 3 finished which luckily included myself. I mainly did it to challenge myself and I hope the skills transfer a bit to bigger adventure bikes as that is my main love now. Every bike has limits and no single bike is perfect . Ride what you love and remember you are always learning. I am in awe of the skill of Llewellyn and will never achieve his level of riding. But I will continue to seek improvement and find joy on 2 wheels....that's really all that's important. 🙏
I agree with the theme, the decisive factor for me is if I'm on my own can I get out of trouble , pick it up, turn it round. I have a 690R and do a biannual commute to the Alps where I spend the 8 months a year. The trip down is painful (relatively),but after Paris I find bits of gravel and take my time. So adventure bikes get you where you want to go quicker but you can find a slower equally rewarding route. A 690R on alpine hairpins also offers a huge buzz! Perhaps my age and I admit I downsized from a big adventure to a much smaller 690, but as you say ride what makes you feel confident, because that is what you enjoy.
This is my favorite motorcycle video of 2024 so far. Thank you. It's ridiculous how much influence social media and comments have, and they shouldn't. Just ride what you want and have fun.
This is the best video explaining all this so far. I am a new rider and trying to decide what the best option is for me. Well done! Thank you!
Excellent video and excellent points. With regards to skill level - I am constantly amazed at the amount of money people will spend on their bike yet spend nothing at all on the training that would make riding that same bike so much more pleasurable!
Good to hear.
I've seen T7s and 890Rs ridden really well by better than average riders. On the trails I could keep on my Crf300l rally. I'm not big or particularly fit but am a competent trail rider.
I took my rally to Morocco with a group of adventure bikes through the Atlas mountains and down to Zagora and it did really well (Ktech F&r)
I use my old DR350SE for tougher stuff (but still come off).
I decided I wanted a big single for longer trips and I like old skool trail stuff.
Initially I was looking for a decent DR650 but they are few and far between in the UK.
So instead I've bought a rebuilt, modded TTR600 (now 620) with a 20L tank.
It's got enough go for the road it's actually comfy and I can pick it up.
If I could only have one bike I'd keep the rally/TTR or get a Toureg 660, T7 or DE800.
IMO up skilling on smaller bikes will help you ride the bigger twins better...
I guess I'm one of those zealots who try and steer people onto a smaller bike if I feel they'd benefit from it, as yes, I think a lot of people are on the wrong adventure bike. We'll only have to stand and watch people wobble around the ABR off road course this summer for evidence of that. But yeah, I've guided people on all sorts of bikes - big and small, on road and off - I've never had anyone underbiked. I've only ever seen people over biked. And it effects their ability to travel/explore/adventure. The bike makes them nervous. They lose confidence. Worst case they get injured. Maybe more training is the answer but I'm not convinced. The average rider is in their 50s. If off road riding wasn't ingrained as a kid you're very unlikely to get that guy/girl good enough to take a Vstrom 800 off road in the UK. The problem for the likes of Suzuki is that they're missing the emerging move towards smaller bikes. Forcing them onto 800s isn't the answer. Building a modern day DRZ is. The market is providing the answer. The CF Moto 450 MT will probably sell four to one against the Vstrom. The new Himalayan will probably do the same. I like this as a discussion piece and I totally agree, we should be here to steer people onto the bikes that suit them; the bike that gives them the best chance of a successful and 'safe' adventure. And in my opinion, for a lot of people out there, that means downsizing rather than upskilling. But ultimately the choice is theirs.
Nate, I don't think are one of those zealots. You're not running around the internet saying the only way is my way. You're nuanced, educated and thoughtful about what you say and what you say is 100% accurate.
I have zero issue with smaller bikes and work on exactly the same line of communication. It's about providing the full spectrum of information for the task at hand, and if the task at hand is riding off-road as total beginner in technical terrain, especially without expert guidance, the smaller, manageable bike is easier and carries less consequence.
Downsizing is much quicker than up skilling, but my main issue with that, eventually you run into the same problems. In my time as instructor, I saw both sides of small bikes and even then, choosing the right small bikes is still really nuanced. It's quite hard to create yourself a problem on CRF 300 L. It's very easy to create yourself a problem on a 500 EXC or KTM 690 if you have poor technique in technical situations, in a similar vein to how it is on a big bike. The differences are nuanced, happen at different point but the consequences are both difficult.
It was almost guaranteed that a new off-road rider on a 450/500 would loop it out during a two day course and that is a messy crash. A enduro bike is still fundamentally a race bike and this where the nuance of the discussion is so important.
I agree that brands need to adjust to requirements in front of them, but that also means building bikes like the Himalayan and CRF Rally where peak performance is not the goal, ride ability and friendliness is.
Take Lyndon's Basil for example. For a lot of people that thing is the ideal bike, but realistically it's a brute of a bike for most people, me included. One of my main points of contention with the KTM 690 over the years is that I don't think it's an easy bike to ride. it's aggressive, easy to make mistakes on and while peak performance is really high, accessing that well and safely requires good technique. For me, that information being articulated well allows consumers to make their own choices and that is a really positive thing and creates a positive environment and culture in the community.,
One of the best comments about "ADV-Bikes" I've ever seen. For some people ("adventurist") a Honda CRF250 can be a perfect ADV-Bike. Others prefer something bigger, such as a "GS". For me, my old "GS" is a great ADV-Bike, as I can go out on some gravel roads or even a little tougher. I know, that my skills and this bike are not made for moto-cross or trial, so I don't even try it. But the range of opportunities is much wider with a "GS", than with my old R1100RT or even a big chopper. I think, everybody has to decide all alone, which bike will be the right ride for an adventure. No advertisement as well as the internet can make this choice for you.
@brakemagazine thank you for this. I have started adv riding a few years ago right before Covid in the U.K. Green lanes were terrifying on my Himalayan. I did a class at sweet lamb and that helped but it IS all about confidence and practice. I see huge differences over the past five years but I only get to go off road a few times a year due to life and work.
Meanwhile I have mates who have no experience getting KTM 890s and ripping the trails screaming YOLO, while I am still plodding on my G650GS Sertao through the Pennsylvania woods.
This video gave me some hope normalizing that there is no minimum ability to be good or not suck.
I'm really glad that came across.There really isn't. If you're having fun, doing what you wanna do then you're doing it right. :)
Really good video, drives me crazy the “I am right!” attitude on the internet.
Well hang on, what’s the rider’s skill level and intended riding envelope?……
My T7 isn’t the best bike for gnarly difficult Welsh conditions, but my Beta trials, or GasGas Enduro bike would suck riding to the Italian Alps. So when I do TET Italy in the summer, the T7 is riding down there, I don’t want to take an adventure in the van, I want to ride down there with my son, I ride pretty well and if it gets too tough, then hopefully my experience will stop me getting a bigger bike in too far. I ride with a self recovery kit that weighs 600g.
Though I have to be honest that a CRF Rally would be the better bike for the trip, the T7 is REALLY fun to ride, and the sound of that engine just puts a big smile on my face for more of my riding, and that’s the point, right 😊
I had an old 600 transalp. chucked that thing around like big dirtbike, even thou it was 200+kg.
The biggest tip i have for a beginner off-road riders/gravel riders is to get something you don't mind going full send on and crack or scratch some panels. Most times where i fell or got stuck was when i hesitated and did not send it hard enough. Just get proper enduro boots and a back protector first and ride with a friend.
Absolutely loved this episode. I ride an 890R and am often concerned about the weight when offroad but to be honest I still haven’t done enough offroad riding! I know the bike is massively capable so you’re totally right, it’s me who needs to improve!
Totally agree with you. I'm a senior lady going from an Enfield to a Transalp. I don't feel I'm a fraud.
Fine words and a nice personality gets you further in live. Very nice video to watch, thanks.
I like my ktm 990 adventure and ride with less heavy bikes. Its harder work but that no problem. Only when the bike is on the ground for te 5th time and i had to lift it after a day riding.... 💪
Nails, hitting and heads come to mind. I am fully aware of my limitations which are way below any bikes. I just go out and have fun - I’m probably slower than a slow thing on a slow bike, but I don’t care. Keep up the good work.
Here's my 2 cents.
I went with a group here in Italy, we were supposed to go off-road for 2 days. I came with my trusty V-Strom 650 and let me tell you, i've been laughed at my ground clearance, my forks, my tires (25K km roadish Pirelli 🤫😂) for all the evening.
It was my first off-road weekend ever, i had NEVER touched the dirt but i'm a quick learner and i know i can ride it anywhere, if not, it's NOT the bike's fault, it's mine.
After a few hours the leader that was watching me told my that i was "a horse", later on we stopped for some break-time and a guy with a Tenere yells "WHERE'S THE V-STROM GUY???", he kneed at me if front of everyone, the the leader took me to his 790R and says "just, try it...please"
Meanwhile, another guy with a freaking 890 was so embarrassing even i was laughing...
It's ALWAYS the rider, take responsibility for your skill.
This video needs to be shown to everyone about to buy an ADV. Buy the bike that fits you and your needs best! Reviews are nice but you’re not the one riding and your mileage will vary.
This is a great video and definitely subscribing after this!
I'm glad I subscribed to your channel. Even our little motorcycle world needs a little reality-check every so often. You did it really well....I hope some of the die-hards can relax and enjoy themsleves more.
I completely agree. Ride what makes you smile and can take you to the places you want to go. At almost 50 I still like to be playful and hoon a bit on my bike but I’m starting to rethink what is comfortable for hours on end. I love riding dual sport but not for entire days one after another anymore. My body demands more comfort. The TransAlp or a T7 is quickly moving up my list to my top spot for must have ride.
The internet has a habit of group think. This video is great.
I've given up trying to set the record straight to all the "too big, too heavy, suspension sucks etc" crowd in the comments. I always comment, "you forgot to ad, "for me" at the end of your comment!"
Its ability,confidence and the strength to pick it up when it goes down.
Group think is set by manufacturers, corportations and people like brake magazine
@@Weltbummler23 more likely peoples habitual parroting of ideas they read somewhere, from someone else's opinion, instead of remaining silent due to inexperience.
@@TRAVERSE_ADV thats a theory - but many have tried and are speaking from experience. These are the ones changing the narrative being told by the big money and corporations. Brake magazine is full of himself and has this convenient argument that all the people disagreeing with him are parrots and keyboard warriors.
@@TRAVERSE_ADV just the fact that theres so many people saying these bikes are too heavy “FOR ME” should make u think that actually there are people out there that dont ride the way that you do or brake magazine does and they want a lighter bike. Instead both u anf BM dismiss them as parrots… what kind of attitude is that. I sense a kind of superiority among adventure riders who think they are better than others and its disgusting.
@@Weltbummler23 the fact that so many people DON'T state "for me" at the end of a "too this and too that" statement is the parroting I'm referring to.
Some people want light and some people can handle heavy.
Im middle aged, grew up on dirt bikes, then took a 27 year break from bikes and got in the MTB. Im 6'2" and fit for my age. I keep active and strong. I can pick up my 250kg AT when I need to. Dont like doing so, so I did some training and practice enough to be able to do what I do. If I want to rode single trail, I will get something else. For the riding I do a big bike is perfect, because I can handle it most the time.
A blanket statement saying that a bike too anything is bullshit. Everyone is different. Suspension is soft, slow down/upgrade, bike is heavy, go to the gym_learn to not drop it, short, get a shorter bike/seat/lower it.
I think you misread my previous comments. The fact is the net is full of parrots who haven't tried but sing in unison, other peoples opinions.
Great video. Training is key for me. The smile on the face when you open the garage, brilliant 👌🏻
I find it funny that people think the thoroughly-tested motorcycle can’t do the thing the manufacturer thoroughly tested the bike for. I think we’d all agree I could ride all dirt roads more easily on my WR250R than I could on a V-Strom 800 DE. But that doesn’t mean the V-Strom can’t hit dirt roads and would be more comfortable in many situations. You just need to be good enough or crazy enough to do it. Good video 👍
Well said, I’m now thinking about bruce smart on a gsrx1000 around the world and across deserts what a legend
I rode off road bikes as a teenager, did vintage motocross and enduro in the 80's on a stripped and hotted up Yamaha DT400, 1974 model with dual shocks. I got a 2022 Pan Am in March 2023, fitted some 50/50 tires and took it in some off road mountain roads that I would struggle to walk up. It was possible but it was a bit heavy for that type of riding. I think you just ride within your limits and have fun. I got the Pan Am as an all roads sports tourer, not as an off road or trailbike. I'm more of a road rider, having grown up riding mountain roads and doing track racing, and the Pan Am has ridiculous power.
Loved what you said. Such refreshing viewpoint. I ride a V-Strom 1000 and forever feeling somewhat guilty that it's not that off-road capable. But I love that bike and I don't have the skill to ride anything much more than dirt roads anyway. And at 57, it's likely that I will never learn what it takes to tackle gnarly trails - I've only ever ridden on tarmac. Doesn't matter though because I love riding the way I do. Sure I wish I was better, but not really willing to risk health or bike to do so. Recovery from fractures takes too long now - guess how I know... Thanks again for encouraging me and so many others to just enjoy riding any way we like.
Many, many great points here! We vary so much as individuals and what we all desire different things. All we need is to be honest about our own skills and desires and go from there. I've decided I can't be "in charge" of a bike I can't easily pick up. That limits how heavy a bike I will own, and is the primary reason I'm selling my 2021 Africa Twin. It's a brilliant bike in many ways, but it has become too much for me, a source of anxiety I'd like to avoid. I'd rather a sore bum than a persistent, nagging feeling, I'm over my head. Exactly correct, we should be more understanding of people's choices! All the best.
As a former 890 Adventure R owner, yes, of course, you can ride large bikes off-road, and I took mine into some pretty gnarly places around New Zealand, where I live. But you can't escape the fact that they are bloody heavy and pretty dangerous if you're riding alone. The truth is if you're ridding predominantly off-road, you can't beat a smaller lighter bike
Llel, I think what you missed by going home early 😀, was that the Portugese ACT was 'overrun' with big bikes doing the long ride, and most of, those little ones were doing the Picos ( Spainish TET) for a long weekend. As the FDudefromAus, said, "Any bike you enjoy is the right bike."
The trouble with bikes is there's no one bike that does everything well so you need loads of bikes so you have one for every occasion😁 I'm just thinking about getting a third one and that still won't be enough
Man, I have seen one percenters out camping and riding their Harleys crazy all out off road! Racing even. Course I am sure alcohol at least was involved. But these guys were sending it.
Well, The point of riding adventure bikes is to be happy. I think that what other people think about me is truly none of my business. I choose to make my choices in life by getting educated. This is a great channel. I try to be remember to just be a good human being . thank you for you insites.
Well said. As Dakar Jenny said re: what bike to ride on the TAT in the US, “the bike does not drive itself, it’s about the pilot and the skills of the pilot”.
Perfect match for the topic! We always said: Whoever reaches the top (of the mountain) has the right motorcycle and we never met a know-it-all up there who told us that we couldn't possibly be up there (with the Big Ones).
Great video as yours always are. I have been riding my 2013 1190 standard version for 10 years just started my 11th yesterday. Single, 2 up twisties decomissioned logging roads, two track trails snd lots of fast'ish gravel loaded and not. Pretty sure I've heard that my 17 inch rear and 19 inch front are not very good offroad so many times I've lost count. I just cover her sensitive bits so she doesn't get offended, watch all of your videos and practice what I see. With 130,000kms on my Orange KTM (same as you road in a test when they first came out) Still at 62 practice learn and ride as much as I can thanks for your clear no ego explanations. Cheers from British Columbia.
I get it, I am constantly asked why I ride my 15’ R1200 GS Adventure off road “isn’t it too heavy?” It is heavy but very capable. I have only had one situation where I ran out of skill. Luckily a friend with more skill was with me and we managed our way through the obstacle. I live in South Eastern British Columbia, riding options are logging roads and trails that go over the Rockies. Really it comes down to improving your skill every time you ride and getting used to dancing with the one you brought with you.
This video makes total sense. I have only ever been on one off road course here in Scotland for a day and it was amazing. It's all about your skill level to give you that confidence to ride the trails you always wanted to. To be honest dropping my bike is probably what keeps me from heading on those far off trails, but having said that I don't have my bike setup to be able to cope with those trails anyway. I have a 2013 Honda CB500X that I have owned from new, don't know why I'm scared of dropping it as I have done it twice already and could get it RallyRaid prepared if I want to. But that is the question also, you have to want to ride those off road trails in the first place.
I agree with much of what is said here - especially the bit about matching your skill and the bike you ride to the terrain you're trying. However, one other thing to factor in is that most trails (in the UK at least) lie at the end of several hours on roads getting there. Suddenly, unless you own a van or bike trailer, you have to factor in the tarmac time getting to a location. For me, a Honda Africa Twin with my skill level limits me to tame green-lanes but makes getting there and back easy, quick and comfortable. (Plus, I can load it up with camping gear and make an overnight of the trip.)