When is an adventure bike just another road bike?

[idleidolidyll]

Trolling today and spotted this section.

I guess I should post in here if I want to burble on about my new Granpasso but is that really topical?

After all, I'll probably never take the thing off road. It does have a 19" front wheel and Metzler Tourance tyres but, like the Beemer GS, it really is not up to anything worse than a gravel or hard packed dirt road.

In fact I'd really rate most of these bikes as sport bikes for old farts or disabled riders. the upright riding possy suits me on road way more than any R1, GSXR, 1098 etc and frankly, I'm probably faster from A to B on one anyway.

So is this section for men of steel with balls the size of pumpkins who really do take Triumph Tigers, Beemer GS's and the like off road or is this the right place for us losers riding our Dakar lookalikes only on Tarmac and lightly travelled roads that are actually crap off road?

[ducatijim]

Boy, you sure poked the opener RIGHT into the worm can eh wot!!!

Make no mistake whatsoever, there are quite a few very talented pilots who do indeed take the behemoth bikes most everywhere, I'm talking Kt950/90,1200gs/a and maybe a few of the 'softer' bikes too(?).

Also be quite secure in the knowledge that there ain't no shame in feeling just a wee bit overwhelmed pointing such machinery down some steep, slippery and unknown single track!

Adventure, and by definition adventure bikes too, are all things to all people.....for me, every ride on my Kt is an adventure of some degree, and like you I choose to ride this genre of bike for many reasons other than it being 'classed' as an Adventure bike.

To me personally, my Kt is everything that Ducati lacked the balls( and still do) to produce when the conceived the 'multistrada' idea........

...........the end of the seal is not the end of the adventure............ahmen.

[Gremlin]

If you thought riding with GiJoe is interesting, ride with me. Every ride seems to turn into an adventure, unless I'm just tagging along. Truth be told, taking the big bikes like the GS off road is harder, but makes it more rewarding.

I've just swapped my KTM 990 SM for a BMW R1200GSA as its an even better do-all bike. 90% + of my riding is on road, and I doubt off road tyres will even be fitted much. However, I enjoy going down a road, any road, whenever I feel like it. That to me, is motorcycling.

One of the best ways to use up a day is heading out to cover around 1000km, take the GPS and set about correcting the map data. Unfortunately this means I need to ride every road in the country. There are a lot. Terrible huh?

[Waihou Thumper]

However, I enjoy going down a road, any road, whenever I feel like it. That to me, is motorcycling.

+1 there....

[bart]

I just like going interesting places....you know....the places you can't see from the main road.

[idleidolidyll]

Good answer Jim,
Yeah, I'm bored and deliberately provocative.
I've seen pics of big bikes on trails and tracks of course, we all have. Of all those adventure bikes out there though; how many do you think are really used as adventure bikes and are taken into wild places away from roads?

A small number would venture onto gravel, a smaller number onto dirt tracks and farm tracks and an even smaller number onto 4WD tracks.

With respect to REAL wild country; the number of these builds actually used must be tiny.

Maybe I should get myself invited on a ride to see what it's all about. The Granpasso has 27 liters and I could put knotholes on..........

Boy, you sure poked the opener RIGHT into the worm can eh wot!!!

Make no mistake whatsoever, there are quite a few very talented pilots who do indeed take the behemoth bikes most everywhere, I'm talking Kt950/90,1200gs/a and maybe a few of the 'softer' bikes too(?).

Also be quite secure in the knowledge that there ain't no shame in feeling just a wee bit overwhelmed pointing such machinery down some steep, slippery and unknown single track!

Adventure, and by definition adventure bikes too, are all things to all people.....for me, every ride on my Kt is an adventure of some degree, and like you I choose to ride this genre of bike for many reasons other than it being 'classed' as an Adventure bike.

To me personally, my Kt is everything that Ducati lacked the balls( and still do) to produce when the conceived the 'multistrada' idea........

...........the end of the seal is not the end of the adventure............ahmen.

[idleidolidyll]

Knotholes?

Friggin apple spellcheck sucks!

Knoblies!

[Jantar]

Adventure riding isn't just "off road" riding, that is for trail bikes and dedicated dual purpose bikes. Adventure riding is going places that you wouldn't normally take your sports bike, cruiser of touring bike. There are many roads that aren't sealed, many that aren't even gravelled, and some are no more than tracks on a bit of paper..

Long distances in a day, weekend or over a week, and not having to stop or turn back because there is a small stream to be forded. Going to new places or exploring out of the way areas, That is adventure riding.

[idleidolidyll]

Gremlin,

I understand. Mind you, I almost nev saw GIJoe on rides; he's a very ummm, careful rider.

And the red camo was too damn ugly to look at too!

Let's see;

I have a Moto Morini Granpasso 'Adventure bike'. It does have a 27 litre tank and a 19" front wheel and is at least 10kg lighter than a GS Beemer. To actually use it on a 4WD track I'd have to fit new adventure tyres (mine are nearly shagged already). I'd probably have to soften it up too but it does have about 200mm suspension travel (as much as a 40 year old trail bike?).

That said, I also have a KTM 690 smc with an extra fuel tank on front (Safari). Yes, it has a 17" front but a spare wheel can't be too expensive (less than one off using the Granpasso). So on the 135kg single I have 26 liters, almost 300mm of suspension, etc etc

Guess which one I'd take adventure riding.........

[idleidolidyll]

Adventure riding isn't just "off road" riding, that is for trail bikes and dedicated dual purpose bikes. Adventure riding is going places that you wouldn't normally take your sports bike, cruiser of touring bike. There are many roads that aren't sealed, many that aren't even gravelled, and some are no more than tracks on a bit of paper..

Long distances in a day, weekend or over a week, and not having to stop or turn back because there is a small stream to be forded. Going to new places or exploring out of the way areas, That is adventure riding.

Oh right, The Long Way Around
No thanks, that's crazy stuff. They should have used the KTM instead of the Beemers and carrying all that gear was idiocy.

Again, I'd be more likely to use the KTM or some other light weight one linger with a big tank.

[BMWST?]

Knotholes?

Friggin apple spellcheck sucks!

Knoblies!

I got an old r100gs,and i prolly will never take it off a formed road.But if i want to i can.And the other side of the coin is i have enough gas so that when i get to an intersection and already clocked up 350k i know i can go down the end of this road to see whats there.And its comfortable,and its big,and its lazy.Yet is surpringsly nimble has lots of ground clearance and it cost me 5000 to buy.How can i go wrong?I am not kidding myself these are not trail bikes imho.All power to those who think they are

[Crisis management]

I can only be honest, I just use the 640 to park on the footpath and get lattes', I had to sell the 990 as it was too heavy to get over the kerb and there was the one embarrassing moment in the middle of Mount Eden....

[Gremlin]

I understand. Mind you, I almost nev saw GIJoe on rides; he's a very ummm, careful rider.

I have a Moto Morini Granpasso 'Adventure bike'. It does have a 27 litre tank and a 19" front wheel and is at least 10kg lighter than a GS Beemer. To actually use it on a 4WD track I'd have to fit new adventure tyres (mine are nearly shagged already). I'd probably have to soften it up too but it does have about 200mm suspension travel (as much as a 40 year old trail bike?).

That said, I also have a KTM 690 smc with an extra fuel tank on front (Safari). Yes, it has a 17" front but a spare wheel can't be too expensive (less than one off using the Granpasso). So on the 135kg single I have 26 liters, almost 300mm of suspension, etc etc

Guess which one I'd take adventure riding.........

He's sped up a bit now...

On the KTM, I had an extra fuel tank on the back seat, all plumbed in, but was a pain in the arse, 2 tanks to mess around with etc. The BMW gives me 600km+ from a tank, 10,000km intervals etc. As I said previously, I'm realistic, it won't go on heavy off road all that much, but simply having a bike that can do it is most of the battle. Now I'll find a reason to find myself on the tracks

As you comment tho, some do buy the bikes more the status, they were in the movie etc, always going to be those. Me? uh... no. The bike comes heavily specc'd standard (including electronic suspension) but the shop has already spent 8 hours installing stuff I sent down, and I have 6 parts on the way from overseas and waiting for stock on another part.

I think half the fun is putting on all the stuff you "need" (shhhh, you really do) The bike will be used for 30k+ a year, all weather, night/day, any road (or track). Gotta move like a sportsbike, carry like a tourer and go off road like an adventure bike.

[george formby]

I'm slowly (glacially) trying to adventurise my TDM because I've ridden every inch of tarmac in my region. It's brilliant on the tight, twisty, haha, gotcha! surfaced roads up here & a hoot on gravel, shakes it's butt better than the dog. The ergonomics are spot on standing up & the suspension adequate if I keep the wheels on the deck.
It's too heavy & the plastics to fragile for anything more than beaches or 4wd trails though & the pipes to low & sticky out for water or bush.
Now that I have thought about this it crossed my mind to sell it & get a DT230, my partner could use it for her licence & it would take me every where I have not been yet + I have a hankering for another 2 stroke.
I think "All road" is more appropriate for the big adventure bikes & my mid weight wannabe.

[NotHisRealName]

This discussion makes me think of 4WD owners here in Aus. I'd wager that at least 75% will see nothing more than a pothole, as far as off road is concerned.

But, I do think owning a bike is more of a lifestyle choice, not one of convenience. If you've got a bike that 'does it all', you're more likely to try it all. I only own a road bike but have often found myself following roads that end in dirt, wishing I could comfortably keep going. I've contemplated an adventure (or Dual-Sport, as they're known here) bike as my next (eyes on the Super Tenere), but am also thinking about a sports bike next.
Were I a rich man, the only dilemma I'd be having is deciding if my adventure, enduro, sports bike, and scooter should all be similar colours.