An attractive adventure bike?

[AllanB]

Is there such a thing?

In theory an adventure bike should have been on my list when looking - they are perfect for NZ roads and goat tracks. But I'm a visual person and the bike has to be physically appealing enough to sit in the shed and just look at it.

Anyway - this Guzzi popped up in my e-mails today. I like - no unnecessary bulk, it's kind of a Hypermotard Guzzi. Pretty? Pretty enough to be interesting.

http://www.eaglecross.it/#prettyPhoto

[nallac]

That is a pretty cool looking guzzi.. In a Hp2 beemer style way.

[Gremlin]

Looks like they've taken a big Guzzi donk and put a motorcross frame around it. Looks neither comfortable (that seat looks like a bench) or practical (nowhere for luggage).

However, it would be an adventure trying to take a Guzzi to out of the way places... :devil2:

Looks is eye of the beholder stuff. Prior to the liquid cooled BMW boxer, I found the GS to be ugly, but liked the GS Adventure...

[Motu]

I'm old fashioned, and am attracted to soft voluptuous curves, deep soft colours and sounds that make me lose control of my moral compass. Modern bikes just don't do that for me.

[frotz]

The KTMs are rather pretty. Those short service intervals make them less suited for long adventure travel, though.

Here's the 350 EXC-F.

http://pictures.topspeed.com/IMG/crop/201309/ktm-350-exc-f-9_800x0w.jpg

[TLDV8]

Is there such a thing?



One from 1957.

[Banditbandit]

L

Looks is eye of the beholder stuff. Prior to the liquid cooled BMW boxer, I found the GS to be ugly, but liked the GS Adventure...

yeah - I owned and rode one for 10 years (1990 BMW R100GS PD).. comfortable, good cruise .. capable of 130 klicks across the shingle (and I'm not an off-road rider) .. but not a pretty bike.


I'm old fashioned, and am attracted to soft voluptuous curves, deep soft colours and sounds that make me lose control of my moral compass. Modern bikes just don't do that for me.

Me too - but I do like the looks of the Guzzi off-roader (not that I'd have one - I prefer the road bikes).

[pritch]

However, it would be an adventure trying to take a Guzzi to out of the way places... :devil2:


That was my first thought too.

Second thought was that most "adventure" bikes are too big to be really fit for purpose. If I was going a seriously long way from a road I'd rather have a 600.

[Metastable]

I find the term "adventure" a bit strange too. With those gargantuan bikes, how can you get to places anywhere near adventurous? I'd hate to try and take one on some of the trails I take my KTM200XCW. The 4x4 trails you could do on an adventure bike.... but even that would be a pain. Realistically most of them are good for a dirt road... and that's about it..... unless you are a VERY accomplished enduro rider.

To answer the OP's question:
- KTM530EXC for more adventure less touring
- Triumph Tiger 800 xcx for more touring and less adventure

[Hitcher]

Aprilia Caponord.

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/photo-gallery/aprilia-caponord-1200/

[Gremlin]

Aprilia Caponord.

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/photo-gallery/aprilia-caponord-1200/
Good point... but you'd actually want the Caponord Rally: http://www.cycleworld.com/2015/02/23/2015-aprilia-caponord-1200-rally-adventure-motorcycle-review-first-ride-photos-specifications/

More suitable 19-17 wheel combo, plus spokes, etc.

[Hitcher]

Good point... but you'd actually want the Caponord Rally:
More suitable 19-17 wheel combo, plus spokes, etc.

"Plus spokes" is not on my list of must haves. Ever.

[nerrrd]

I always thought my CB500X was a good looking bike, but it's all in the eye of the beholder.

http://blog.motorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/031213-2013-honda-cb400x.jpg

Add one of the Rally Raid suspension/wheel upgrade kits plus sundry other bits and you can even turn it into a real middle-weight adventure bike...


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nBMqQq0BfWM

[BMWST?]

triumph or bmw 800 would qualify as good looking enough for me

[Swoop]

Pretty enough to be interesting.
There appears to be a large insect attempting to have sex with the rear wheel.
Quite bizarre.

[Gremlin]

"Plus spokes" is not on my list of must haves. Ever.
For an adventure bike, while spoked wheels are heavier, they are definitely stronger. Also easier to replace a broken spoke than straighten a cast wheel... and yes, I've dinged a cast wheel twice, but never dinged a spoked wheel, and I've put them through far worse stuff.


I always thought my CB500X was a good looking bike, but it's all in the eye of the beholder.
Late last week there was a customer's CB500X outside Botany Honda with knobblies fitted. Good job by someone :lol:

[Bass]

Late last week there was a customer's CB500X outside Botany Honda with knobblies fitted. Good job by someone :lol:

I believe there is a kit available for adventurising them now

As to looks, I'm a similar vintage to Motu and share his tastes. I think that adding liquid cooling to a bike immediately makes it look cluttered. However, looks are about 4th in my criteria when making a selection.

[Badgermat]

Get a Ducti Scrambler.

Looks pretty good, comes with dual-purpose tyres (kinda) and is actually light enough to be rideable on trails. It even has half reasonable power and torque too.

The only problem is dismal suspension (way over damped) and an underslung oil filter that's just asking to be knocked off on the first big rock. Both of those can be addressed relatively easily though.

Best of all, it isn't a LAMS Honda.

bm

[AllanB]

Yep the scrambler is selling very well in NZ.

Reckon they will bring out a big bore one ........:cool:

[nerrrd]

Best of all, it isn't a LAMS Honda.

Yeah, LAMS bikes are so lame.

"Inventive, youthful and free-spirited, the new Ducati Scrambler is much more than a bike, It’s a land of joy, freedom and self-expression." That's way cooler. And don't forget to accessorise!

http://shop.ducati.com/nz/scrambler.html?utm_source=scrambler&utm_medium=interna&utm_campaign=generic_button&_ga=1.25223614.2085630137.1444899738

[Badgermat]

Yeah, LAMS bikes are so lame.

Nothing wrong with LAMS bikes in general ;-)

bm

[TLDV8]

Not much from the modern era showing up.
How about a 1974 TR5T Trophy Trail.

<img src="http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/manurewa/1974%20Triumph%20TR5T%20Trophy%20Trail/IMG_0063a.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0063a.jpg"/>

[Black Knight]

Does this count?

[Trade_nancy]

After 3 faired sports and sport/tourers....I opted for the adventure option...with spokes (sorry Hitcher). The bike handles better - especially cornering than the sport/tourers I had from the same stable. Spokes?? Well....if I choose to go beach, stoney road or mud track..I'm sure the garden variety alloy wheels would have been OK...but the spoked model was on special...and the look to me was OK. Benefit comes when or if you go bumping over potholes as mentioned - the spoked wheels hold together...better. The wheels are still fitted with tubeless hoops.

[Gremlin]

BMWs are definitely good looking adventure bikes :woohoo:

[Bass]

BMWs are definitely good looking adventure bikes :woohoo:

Interesting, and bearing in mind the obvious irony in your choice of photo, I just got mine back from the shippers after its trip to the USA so it's outside my window ATM.
I like it a lot. It does pretty much all that I'm looking for in a 2 up machine for now, but damn it's ugly. It looks like one of those sculptures made from random bits and scrap metal that you see from time to time.
However, I think Trade Nancy's Explorer looks even worse but that TLDV8's trophy and Black Knight's Honda, while nowhere near as capable as the Beemer or the Explorer, are much more visually pleasing.
No accounting for old fart taste I guess.

[Trade_nancy]

Indeed Bass...have to shop on comfort levels and options for fitting wheelchairs in the future...:msn-wink:

[Metastable]

I believe there is a kit available for adventurising them now

As to looks, I'm a similar vintage to Motu and share his tastes. I think that adding liquid cooling to a bike immediately makes it look cluttered. However, looks are about 4th in my criteria when making a selection.

Here here:
http://www.cb500xadventure.com/

They even have a levitation kit. :D
http://static.wixstatic.com/media/e1f4dc_d0dbf8d6b0d1478798438e0ed812c71d.jpg_srb_p_ 1024_678_75_22_0.50_1.20_0.00_jpg_srb

[tri boy]

I like the look of the wee Honda.:yes:
And it's a para twin.:sunny:
Kanny is leaning towards a weestrom, but I want her to ride the Honda also.
Lighter,enough hp for both of us,commuting would be a blast, lower cog, and lower seat.
The weestrom has more grunt(and more weight/seat height), twin fr brakes, but is butt ugly, and isn't a para twin.
Me like:scooter:

[MarkH]

In theory an adventure bike should have been on my list when looking - they are perfect for NZ roads and goat tracks. But I'm a visual person and the bike has to be physically appealing enough to sit in the shed and just look at it.

Yes, for sitting in the garage it is a good thing for a bike to look pretty.
For riding on goat tracks, a bike that you don't care about scraping or dropping is better.
My DR650 is very generic looking, going through the 42nd traverse and through old Whangamomona road I dropped her a bunch of times, picked her back up and carried on. Sure, she got dirty and has a bunch of scrapes - that bike is for riding wherever & whenever, not for looking pretty in the garage.

If I had a bike that was too pretty I'd not want to take it anywhere that might lead to it getting dirty or receiving any cosmetic damage.
For me it was better to buy a 2nd hand DR650 and add luggage racks and then call it an adventure bike!

[Motu]

Not much from the modern era showing up.
How about a 1974 TR5T Trophy Trail.

I got some money out of the bank for a deposit on one of those in 1973 ($650 deposit, $1800 cash price)....but I blew the money on another bike I could ride home that day. A Triumph engine in a BSA off road frame, I thought it was the best of both worlds, the most desirable new bike on the showroom floor for me back then. In 1975 I had a Rickman Metisse with the same engine, a better bike all round, and it was old so I could treat it like shit....I hate to think what I would've done to a new bike back then.

[tamarillo]

Why no mention? If looks are important lower the pipe. It's tall, agile, makes superb sound, but has proper road tyres and brakes etc, no pretence at off road games, all designed for on road games.
But then I'm biased.

[TLDV8]

I got some money out of the bank for a deposit on one of those in 1973 ($650 deposit, $1800 cash price)....but I blew the money on another bike I could ride home that day. A Triumph engine in a BSA off road frame, I thought it was the best of both worlds, the most desirable new bike on the showroom floor for me back then. In 1975 I had a Rickman Metisse with the same engine, a better bike all round, and it was old so I could treat it like shit....I hate to think what I would've done to a new bike back then.

The TR5T seems to have gained some popularity over the last couple of years, I guess they are a like or not kind of bike.
A Metisse these days is probably not getting bashed around the paddock so much.


Speaking of Triumph road bikes with a few mods, I think I saw one of these new on the floor at 'Shafts in the early 1980's, just a pipe dream now even if you could find one.

1982 Triumph TR7T.

<img src="http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/manurewa/Misc/1982-triumph-tr7t-poster-small.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 1982-triumph-tr7t-poster-small.jpg"/>

The new Honda CRF1000 is OK looking but then a CX500 with dirt bars and trials block tyres could probably do the same thing, if you closed one eye and squinted with the other it might be considered not bad looking too.

[nerrrd]

I always thought my CB500X was a good looking bike, but it's all in the eye of the beholder.

And now even more attractive (???) for 2016:

http://www.motoroids.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/New-2016-Honda-CB500X-Tokyo-motor-show-1.jpg

[AllanB]

OK so what's with the adventure bike 'beaks'? It has become a fashion statement on them all regardless of the front mudguard.

I was seriously looking at a hypermotard Ducati recently - beak was going to be attacked if I purchased it .......

[TLDV8]

8 years old now, the beak seems normal after a few years.
The longer suspension travel on the 1100S might have been OK for an adventure bike until you hit reserve after 10 litres. :blink:

<img src="http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/manurewa/Hypermotard/IMG_0014.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0014.jpg"/>

[Tazz]

Attractive adventure bike....?

Hmmm


https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/5b/bb/74/5bbb746bc08b1196e2c4fbcb92b8b2b8.jpg

[Bass]

Attractive adventure bike....?

Hmmm



You win, no contest.

[AllanB]

You win, no contest.

Hmmmm.

Picture 1 - maybe the Beeners seat is a bit firm?

Picture 2 what the F is that chest thing the girl is wearing - boob protection?

[Scubbo]

Attractive adventure bike....?

Hmmm


https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/5b/bb/74/5bbb746bc08b1196e2c4fbcb92b8b2b8.jpg


DR200 is a pretty sweet bike yeah!

[cynna]

you cant beat a tenere for attractiveness......

[Tazz]

Knew I could count on you guys :cool:


http://www.aliciasornosa.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/alicia-sornosa-viajera.jpg

http://www.fincalatorreta.com/webcms/usuario/Image/alicia_sornosa_carreteras_miticas.jpg

[AllanB]

No boobs sorry. But I do like the look of this modified Yammy.

Link here to the full story http://www.ellaspede.com/portfolio/2014-yamaha-xt660r/

[Bass]

No boobs sorry. But I do like the look of this modified Yammy.



No hand guards and I find that a bit odd. It's had a lot of work put into it for some serious adventuring and I figured that protecting the hands and levers would be one of the very first mod's

[Waihou Thumper]

No hand guards and I find that a bit odd.

Not everyone falls off like us here.....:)
Me, definitely, hand guards but they aint saved much.....Still costs a lot to fix, just reducing the chance I suppose.
Brush guards = bush bashing, now I do agree with that definition..

[Bass]

[I]Not everyone falls off like us here.....:)


But..... but.....but....rule one says that if you don't fall off occasionally, then you're not trying hard enough:laugh:

[TLDV8]

Bit of a repeat, but good looking thinks I.
High pipes and 19 in front wheel with a brake that actually works.

<img src="http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/manurewa/Misc/triumph%20tr5t.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo triumph tr5t.jpg"/>

One thing seems to have remained a constant with 'modern bikes in general starting in the late 1990's perhaps and that was near all designers were watchers of 'Red Dwarf.
Am I the only one to see most motorcycle body panels were based on Krytons head ?

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=kryten+red+dwarf&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjKg9XlsbrJAhXGMqYKHe6oDqoQ_AUIBygB&biw=1366&bih=653

I wonder what is install in the next generation of designs.

[Tazz]

Love the look of those pipes but they must be a bit of a pain when you go to put luggage or a pillion on yeah?