Best adventure style bike?

[Dodgy69]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/125502908184 ... media=COPY

[Bigyin]

I think if I can touch the floor on one then the Desert X is probably still the favourite, mainly so I can put a big Lucky Explorer sticker on it and pretend I'm back in the 80's.

If you want both feet down then i doubt it. I am 6 foot 1, 34" inside leg and i found it quite tall although the seat is narrower than a Multistrada which helps a bit but the longer suspension takes away that help. Lovely looking bike and proper retro styling but modern kit.

Quick google puts the Multi V2 at about 830mm at normal and 790mm with low seat option but the Desert X lowest is 875mm going up to 890 with the higher seat option

[Asian Boss]

Was the Elefant an 80s bike? I had a feeling it was 90s. I think my Brooke Bond Book of Motorcycling is in the loft so I can't check.

Fwiw I've thought about a GS, 700 Tenere and African Twin and see the appeal of them all. But for my needs my little KTM is better. I still think about getting an X Adv.

Iccy, wait a couple of weeks and you'll probably be over the idea. If not, then impulse buy something.

[Yorick]

My mate has V85TT and loves he. He is also a little bit vertically challenged.

[slowsider]

Has to be XT500 surely?

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Was the Elefant an 80s bike? I had a feeling it was 90s. I think my Brooke Bond Book of Motorcycling is in the loft so I can't check.

Fwiw I've thought about a GS, 700 Tenere and African Twin and see the appeal of them all. But for my needs my little KTM is better. I still think about getting an X Adv.

Iccy, wait a couple of weeks and you'll probably be over the idea. If not, then impulse buy something.

Elefants are 90s, replaced by the mental Cagiva Navigator in the late 90s.

[KungFooBob]

The Elefant was replaced by the Gran Canyon, which in turn was replaced by the Navigator. Just sayin'

[Couchy]

For me, it's a Yamaha 700 in the yellow/blue... Looks ace... but in honesty i doubt it's a bike you'd keep long... it's looks over substance.

The Ducati is the bike i think has legs there longer term.

the SMC-R.... well, i think for the money at £9000 new, you couldn't find a bike with more toys, better suspension and more appeal.

How is the T7 looks over substance when it’s one of the best adv bikes off road ?
But it’s also the cheapest built one and I couldn’t love with that on mine as too many nasty bits, the engine is a bit underpowered too. But yeah ok off road even in normal riders hands.

There’s so many adv bikes now it’s hard to say as each one better at different things, for me the base model 1100 Africa twin would be my choice.

[DefTrap]

I always wanted a motarded drBig. You don't see hardly any about these days, even though the fronchies loved them, so they must have been properly shite.

[KungFooBob]

I always wanted a motarded drBig. You don't see hardly any about these days, even though the fronchies loved them, so they must have been properly shite.

I think they all blew up. If you want a big single, then maybe a Panther

[Count Steer]

I always wanted a motarded drBig. You don't see hardly any about these days, even though the fronchies loved them, so they must have been properly shite.

I think they all blew up. If you want a big single, then maybe a Panther

That would be an adventure (rather than an ADV).

[Supermofo]

I think V85s look great, it wouldn't be objectively the best but probably nice and characterful to ride.

[weeksy]

For me, it's a Yamaha 700 in the yellow/blue... Looks ace... but in honesty i doubt it's a bike you'd keep long... it's looks over substance.

The Ducati is the bike i think has legs there longer term.

the SMC-R.... well, i think for the money at £9000 new, you couldn't find a bike with more toys, better suspension and more appeal.

How is the T7 looks over substance when it’s one of the best adv bikes off road ?
But it’s also the cheapest built one and I couldn’t love with that on mine as too many nasty bits, the engine is a bit underpowered too. But yeah ok off road even in normal riders hands.

There’s so many adv bikes now it’s hard to say as each one better at different things, for me the base model 1100 Africa twin would be my choice.

Because of the exact same reasons you state. Cheaper build, cheaper wheels, cheaper electronics, lower power, lower performance, lack of 'shiny bits'. I'm sure it's a competent machine.. but that doesn't necessarily mean people want it like the Ducati.

[mboy]

What do you actually want this bike for? How is it going to get ridden? How much road to of-road ratio…?

I’ve had my 21 KTM 1290 Super Adventure S for 5 weeks now, done 3000 miles on it already in that time! Aside from the stock seat (swiftly replaced after the ride home with the “comfort” seat), there’s very little I can think of to fault it. It’s FAR more fun and engaging than the R1200GS it replaced, very nearly as bonkers as my old Superduke GT (but more comfy, practical and economical), from a 9 day tour of Ireland to yesterday’s track day, it has done it all with aplomb…

FWIW I absolutely adore the look of the Ducati Desert X, possibly the best looking bike released in the last year or so. Great engine too… But I can’t think of anywhere I’d want a 21” front wheel, I can think of many occasions where I want electronically adjustable suspension and other gadgets and more grunt too. If I only ever rode solo, lived near some incredible gravel tracks and byways that allowed me to do a significant amount of off-road per ride etc. then I’d probably have one (over any KTM offering too!)… But as it is, I’m firmly in the “maybe the odd gravel path as and when I stumble across one” firm of Adventure riding, and my 1290 SAS ticks all those boxes so much better.

[Couchy]

For me, it's a Yamaha 700 in the yellow/blue... Looks ace... but in honesty i doubt it's a bike you'd keep long... it's looks over substance.

The Ducati is the bike i think has legs there longer term.

the SMC-R.... well, i think for the money at £9000 new, you couldn't find a bike with more toys, better suspension and more appeal.

How is the T7 looks over substance when it’s one of the best adv bikes off road ?
But it’s also the cheapest built one and I couldn’t love with that on mine as too many nasty bits, the engine is a bit underpowered too. But yeah ok off road even in normal riders hands.

There’s so many adv bikes now it’s hard to say as each one better at different things, for me the base model 1100 Africa twin would be my choice.

Because of the exact same reasons you state. Cheaper build, cheaper wheels, cheaper electronics, lower power, lower performance, lack of 'shiny bits'. I'm sure it's a competent machine.. but that doesn't necessarily mean people want it like the Ducati.

Totally agree tbh

[weeksy]

What do you actually want this bike for? How is it going to get ridden? How much road to of-road ratio…?

I’ve had my 21 KTM 1290 Super Adventure S for 5 weeks now, done 3000 miles on it already in that time! Aside from the stock seat (swiftly replaced after the ride home with the “comfort” seat), there’s very little I can think of to fault it. It’s FAR more fun and engaging than the R1200GS it replaced, very nearly as bonkers as my old Superduke GT (but more comfy, practical and economical), from a 9 day tour of Ireland to yesterday’s track day, it has done it all with aplomb…

FWIW I absolutely adore the look of the Ducati Desert X, possibly the best looking bike released in the last year or so. Great engine too… But I can’t think of anywhere I’d want a 21” front wheel, I can think of many occasions where I want electronically adjustable suspension and other gadgets and more grunt too. If I only ever rode solo, lived near some incredible gravel tracks and byways that allowed me to do a significant amount of off-road per ride etc. then I’d probably have one (over any KTM offering too!)… But as it is, I’m firmly in the “maybe the odd gravel path as and when I stumble across one” firm of Adventure riding, and my 1290 SAS ticks all those boxes so much better.

We need trackday pics!

[The Spin Doctor]

How about hanging on for the new Transalp?

The specs of the new 755 Honda engine have been released - 270 degree crank and 92hp on tap at 9,500rpm and 75Nm at 7,250rpm.

[Dodgy69]

What do you actually want this bike for? How is it going to get ridden? How much road to of-road ratio…?

I’ve had my 21 KTM 1290 Super Adventure S for 5 weeks now, done 3000 miles on it already in that time! Aside from the stock seat (swiftly replaced after the ride home with the “comfort” seat), there’s very little I can think of to fault it. It’s FAR more fun and engaging than the R1200GS it replaced, very nearly as bonkers as my old Superduke GT (but more comfy, practical and economical), from a 9 day tour of Ireland to yesterday’s track day, it has done it all with aplomb…

FWIW I absolutely adore the look of the Ducati Desert X, possibly the best looking bike released in the last year or so. Great engine too… But I can’t think of anywhere I’d want a 21” front wheel, I can think of many occasions where I want electronically adjustable suspension and other gadgets and more grunt too. If I only ever rode solo, lived near some incredible gravel tracks and byways that allowed me to do a significant amount of off-road per ride etc. then I’d probably have one (over any KTM offering too!)… But as it is, I’m firmly in the “maybe the odd gravel path as and when I stumble across one” firm of Adventure riding, and my 1290 SAS ticks all those boxes so much better.

Have you owned the 1190 ? if so, how does it compare to the 1290 ? How much of an upgrade is the 1290 in reality.?

[Scootabout]

As is traditional, I'll recommend what I have - the V85TT. It's a great all-rounder, but I wouldn't want to take it off road, at 230 kg wet. It replaced my Tracer 700, which I also liked, and if I did want to do off-road stuff I might look at the Tenere 700.

[Horse]

What do you actually want this bike for? How is it going to get ridden? How much road to of-road ratio…?

I want one for no other reason than I want one, I'm not being flippant, it's just that I cannot justify buying one for any practical reason.

So, really, nothing anyone says here as a recommendation is any use, the benefit is from giving you a list?

I used to tell 'back to biking' trainees that they should list all of the potential bikes they were interested in. Write it down, with details such as cost to purchase, insure and maintain. Fuel consumption. Even to colour options. Every detail.

Then tear it up and buy the one they wanted

If they bought something else there would always be the 'if only ... ' thoughts. And if what they knew they wanted turned out to be wrong, well they'd learnt from it.