Best adventure style bike?

[Rockburner]

the only use it will get is the very occasional sunny afternoon riding it for no other reason than I feel like it.

Is that not what the Rudge is for?

[asmethurst99]

There was a Rudge for sale at Kempton today - 1940 vintage - needed a lot of work - had a faired in engine .

[Horse]

I want one for no other reason than I want one, I'm

the benefit is from giving you a list?

buy the one they wanted

Isn't that what everyone does?
, I wondered if anyone would point out something that turns my head.

Exactly. So what one do you want?

[Scootabout]

FWIW there was a V85TT in CWM (Chichester) a couple of months ago that had blown the final-drive seal.

They actually had it parked up in the front window, stinking of hot gear oil.

Not sure I've heard of the final drive seal being a problem usually.

That was the subject of a recall:
https://www.check-vehicle-recalls.servi ... 19/recalls

[The Spin Doctor]

Isn't that what everyone does?

Nope.

With a couple of exceptions - the Gixxer was one and so was a Kawasaki AR80 (enormous fun on 10hp) - I've bought bikes to do the job.

[Noggin]

the benefit is from giving you a list?

buy the one they wanted

Isn't that what everyone does?
, I wondered if anyone would point out something that turns my head.

Exactly. So what one do you want?

Surely it a case of asking to find out what is out there, then looking at them all to see which one he wants ??

If I hadn't tried my mates MT07 I'd do similar because I'm so out of touch with bikes that I don't know what's what anymore. But having ridden hers and really liked it I now know I want one like that, but Bigger!! LOL

[asmethurst99]

There was a Rudge for sale at Kempton today - 1940 vintage - needed a lot of work - had a faired in engine .

They stopped making them in 1939 and I've never seen one with a faired in engine, some had covers over the gearbox, but they were all air-cooled so crank and top ends were open to the elements.

Yes I meant gearbox not engine - the person selling it had a V5 photocopy attached to the bars - I looked to see what it was and clocked the date -

[Horse]

Surely it a case of asking to find out what is out there, then looking at them all to see which one he wants ??

Earlier:

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

[Noggin]

Surely it a case of asking to find out what is out there, then looking at them all to see which one he wants ??

Earlier:

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

I figured it was the same as usually happens on here (or back there) - someones asks which bike. Everyone else recommends the one they have or the one they want. OP looks at all of them and gets more idea of what they want and then goes and buys one - quite possibly one that is not on the list

Not sure why this post is any different to 'normal'??

[Horse]

Surely it a case of asking to find out what is out there, then looking at them all to see which one he wants ??

Earlier:

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

I figured it was the same as usually happens on here (or back there) - someones asks which bike. Everyone else recommends the one they have or the one they want. OP looks at all of them and gets more idea of what they want and then goes and buys one - quite possibly one that is not on the list

Not sure why this post is any different to 'normal'??

Other than quoting much of the second half of the thread:
- someone asked Potter 'what riding will you do with it?' (Implications for off/on road bias?)
- Potter said 'hardly at all'
- I asked was the thread just for ideas rather than recommendations? And suggested (having seen others' ideas) the buy what you want thing.

[Horse]

And, FWIW, my 'wants' were:
- sit up riding position
- fairing
- luggage
- shaft drive
Rather than any particular bike.

Rather narrowed the list of options! Especially when I could get a hefty discount on parts, tyres, etc from a BMW dealership.

[Noggin]

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

Sorry, I misread it. I took it as a 'why should we bother' comment rather than the last part. Sorry

[Horse]

No worries. Appreciate you posting

[Whysub]

Benelli 502 TRK has the biggest selling bike in Italy for the last two years.

[A_morti]

Has he bought the Ducati yet?

[Screwdriver]

Adventure style...

Covers a multitude of sins. Is it the look of the thing? It's functionality? What is it's function? To allow you to have "an adventure"? Does that imply "off the beaten track"?

With all of the potential projects at my disposal currently, I am looking long and hard at the old XT500. A nice simple single cylinder thumper. You could potentially run the thing on anything that burns: petrol, lpg, diesel, kerosene, wood gas (!) WD40....

I'm not saying it will do that out of the box but adapting a large understressed big thumper to run on whatever you can get is a compelling idea for me. It is a bit "preppy" but being prepared is part and parcel of having an adventure. The ambition would be to have simple machine that could just sit there for years undisturbed but be up and running in no time.

Modern machinery is just too damned complicated. I'd want one that I could at least kick into life and happily run without a battery on slightly dodgy fuel. I'd want ultimate reliability so that the machine can deliver me to my adventure or partner with me so that we share the adventure.

I think that is my next bike and I have been uhmming and ahing about it for years now. Vascillating between a good looking bog stock XT or a lightly modified field bike, tweaked to be a "battlefield ready", hardened machine as most of them look these days but none of them are.

The only difficult part being I must resist painting it camo...

[asmethurst99]

Anyway - I vote for the Norden on looks alone

[G.P]

The Ducati Desert X is the adventure bike to have if looks and wow factor when you open the garage door is the top priority IMO. Yes, you'd want a 19" front if you do a lot of road miles but for a toy, its not going to make any difference.
The only alternative I'd look at would be a restomod Cagiva Elefant in Luck Strike colours - its got the old aircooled 900ss motor in it which is a peach of a road engine and sounds ace as well as being old School Dakar cool

[rodbargee]

with those bars its not been disgraced yet!

[Mr Moofo]

The Desert X is tempting ( never thought I would say that having a Triumph Scrambler)
I would love a Cagier Elefant - but at the price they do for you may as well buy the Ducati. An the Elephant seems to have a litany of build quality woes.