MCN Adventure bike test

**Gremlin** · 7th July 2012, 15:07

Originally Posted by paturoa

I was surprised some time back with the super Tenere's weight. It is about 5kgs heavier than an Adv GS (which lets be honest is crazy heavy). So with a 19 inch front wheel and shaft drive as well it would have still be a close race for 2nd off the tarmac.

Bear in mind the GS Adv is carrying up to 50% more fuel in the wet weight figures and it's still lighter. What counts against the GSA for most is it's physical size and why the GS sells far better.

I'm not really surprised by the outcome and it's in line with my thoughts... however essentially trying to destroy bikes I see as stupid, as how can you review a bike based on "Oh, we think it would be good in blah blah". Seriously, they're not dirt / mx bikes. Try riding one of those for 1000km days! Horses for courses.

The KTM is the most dirt biased... well yeah. One look at tyre sizes show you where things are angled. While the rest run 19" fronts and 17" rears the KTM has a 21" front and 18" rear. Much better in the rough stuff but can penalise you on the road. Road tyre options also more restricted and KTM isn't particularly comfortable, nor fuel economical. Wind protection isn't great. But then it's an adventure test, not road test.

The Triumph road biased... yep, I'd put it with the Honda Crosstourer as all roads tourers, the emphasis being on roads. The Tenere and GSA are more off road capable, but still big heavy bikes. The Tenere is particularly heavy compared to the GSA bearing in mind the extra fuel. Given the very different budgets for those bikes I don't think there will be a lot of people putting them side by side...

**NordieBoy** · 7th July 2012, 17:43

Not an 1150 or 1200 but...

**Gremlin** · 8th July 2012, 01:57

Originally Posted by NordieBoy

Not an 1150 or 1200 but...

Not only do I feel very sorry for that poor F800, but perhaps not the best promo for showing how secure their luggage is? Or perhaps it's a complicated process?

I wonder if he was able to turn off traction control and abs?