Adventure Riding/Touring

[2_SL0]

Slowly my interest in this particular portion of riding is growing. It may well be what I am looking for that will join all the points of motorcycling together for me.
As I am stuck at home with a bad cold, (Yes thats Man Flu to the women folk)
I have some time to do some research etc.

I have a few questions, I imagine they are the same questions most ask.
My main interest is most likely going to be trips overseas, this may start with a few local trips to begin with, then a few short trips overseas (AUS), see where it goes from there. I have a family so I wont be doing a 6 month sabatical any time soon. That may occur later in life with my wife.
I am not going to kid myself and try to believe Adventure bikes make good road bikes, I have the SD for the road and dont plan on parting with it.

First question: Are there good trips locally?
I do not wish to be another plonker riding an adventure bike around the suburbs of Auckland.

Is it worth purchasing a bike here?
Use it obviously for the local trips and then ship it overseas when I do an overseas trip?

Are there clubs? Group rides?
Riding thru an area of no mans land by myself is not something Im keen on.

Is a 600 sufficient?

(And Yes I have double posted, ooooo I will get even more infractions,ooooooooooo)

[Eddieb]

I am not going to kid myself and try to believe Adventure bikes make good road bikes, I have the SD for the road and dont plan on parting with it.

You might be surprised. While they aren't in the same category as a sports bike they are still good enough to enjoy 'spirited' riding, and in some cases more enjoyable because you can ride the bike at 100% of it's potential on NZ roads, not just 70-80% of it. I have a Ducati 888 in the garage and enjoy riding my rattly old BM more because I can use all of it.

First question: Are there good trips locally? I do not wish to be another plonker riding an adventure bike around the suburbs of Auckland.

Have a cruise thorugh the older pages of this section, there's plenty of rides on all over. The Coromandel & Waikato aren't that far away and out past Port Waikato are some great gravel roads and scenery.

Is it worth purchasing a bike here?
Use it obviously for the local trips and then ship it overseas when I do an overseas trip?

Depends on how much riding you are going to do. I would say yes. Apart from anything else you can set it to fit you rather than make do with whatever is available.

Are there clubs? Group rides?
Riding thru an area of no mans land by myself is not something Im keen on.

This section of KB is all the club you need, seriously.

Is a 600 sufficient?

More than enough and some might say too much. On the road, size, weight, and the comfort and torque that comes with it is your friend, off road the first 2 can be your enemy. It's a trade off where you find whats comfortable and works for you.

(And Yes I have double posted, ooooo I will get even more infractions,ooooooooooo)

Ohh you badass.

[junkmanjoe]

my self have only recently switched from seal to gravel, mud clay rocks, trees, and most off all fun, with great company, and freinds ive, meet and still are meeting on the thread of KB.

i have a 650.
is more than enough for the road for me anyway, and is more than enough for of road.

id say just start small, on the trips, may be an over nighter,
theres one coming up soon, pm marks for possable details.

ill be looking in to this ride, as well im hopeing to join the mmmmm ride up north soon as well.

well ive got no job so im going for a ride now, while the weather is fine.

happy trails biker bud.............
hope to meet you on a ride sumday.

JMJ

[3L4NS1R]

I'd say 600 is about right. My 250 is gutless after riding a 600, and the small bike only really comes into it's own when you start dropping it and picking it up 3 times an afternoon... That said, 250's are still great fun...

I did some research into sending a bike to the uk... not worth it IMHO, $2500 and 10 weeks later it will be in the docks over there, then there's the paperwar and costs of getting it registered for use on roads etc. Unless it's an incredibly tailored machine, easier to buy one over there and sell off afterwards.

Plenty of Auckland based adv riders that actually get off the tarmac join the auckland adv riders group for upcoming rides and just to be social.

[clint640]

Good points above, be aware that people's definitions of adventure riding vary widely; from Grandad on his V-Strom traversing 100m of smooth gravel driveway to some tourist spot through to the 300EXC mounted ex enduro champ on a hardman mudfest trail ride with a couple of road sections.

If you don't have any dirt experience, even if you are leaning towards the cruisy stuff, it's best to start on something lighter & a 600 ish thumper is probably a good pick. If you're thinking of doing some trail rides, go lighter.

For overseas trips it really depends on how long you want to go for, eg for our recent Oz expedition we sent our bikes over, as it was going to be cheaper than hiring something for 5 weeks (or even 3 weeks) plus it meant I got to ride my KTM instead of a Suzuki but if your holidays are all likely to be 2 week breaks, just plan to hire.

Cheers
Clint

[2_SL0]

Good points above, be aware that people's definitions of adventure riding vary widely; from Grandad on his V-Strom traversing 100m of smooth gravel driveway to some tourist spot through to the 300EXC mounted ex enduro champ on a hardman mudfest trail ride with a couple of road sections.

If you don't have any dirt experience, even if you are leaning towards the cruisy stuff, it's best to start on something lighter & a 600 ish thumper is probably a good pick. If you're thinking of doing some trail rides, go lighter.

For overseas trips it really depends on how long you want to go for, eg for our recent Oz expedition we sent our bikes over, as it was going to be cheaper than hiring something for 5 weeks (or even 3 weeks) plus it meant I got to ride my KTM instead of a Suzuki but if your holidays are all likely to be 2 week breaks, just plan to hire.



Cheers
Clint

Yeah im thinking its more on the 2 weeks or less, I currently own KTM SD and 200 EXC, so my version of ADV would prob be closer to the hardman mudfest. im thinking maybe keep both and just look at renting when I want to have ago.

[Taz]

Yeah im thinking its more on the 2 weeks or less, I currently own KTM SD and 200 EXC, so my version of ADV would prob be closer to the hardman mudfest. im thinking maybe keep both and just look at renting when I want to have ago.

Put the 200Exc wheels and forks on your Super Duke. Problem solved.

[2_SL0]

Put the 200Exc wheels and forks on your Super Duke. Problem solved.

LOL

[Jantar]

Good points above, be aware that people's definitions of adventure riding vary widely; from Grandad on his V-Strom traversing 100m of smooth gravel driveway to some tourist spot through to the 300EXC mounted ex enduro champ on a hardman mudfest trail ride with a couple of road sections.

Clint's point about the definition of adventure riding is right on the mark. I guess I am the grandad on the VStrom, and to me adventure riding is that area that goes beyond the roads that someone on a sports tourer would tackle, but not at the level of pure trail riding. Just because a road is gravel isn't sufficient to make it adventure riding. But if a bike requires full knobbies, and needs to be manhandled through swamp then that has gone into the realm of trail riding.

So you do need to consider just what you consider to be adventure riding. If its just a matter of wanting to ride gravel roads then your SD is fine.

Your statement "I am not going to kid myself and try to believe Adventure bikes make good road bikes" suggests that you actually want to go more dual purpose than adventure and get into some of the more off road areas. if that is the case then a 600/650 is about the right size rather than the VStrom or GS BMW.