Adventure twins

[10bikekid]

Thread to post your adventure twin experiences

All twins welcome,

They are funny old beasts really, Exceptional road bikes, can be a real hoot on the gravel, and extremely challenging on soft stuff (sand particularly)
What are your experiences

[george formby]

My experiences are limited due to lack of crash bars & exceedingly expensive & hard to get fairing panels. That's my excuse anyway.

[BrendanZX9R]

agreed! great fun in the gravel which is where I do most of my riding. There haven't been many times where I would have preferred to be on a smaller bike but if I rode more sand and mud then I might be tempted with a 690 or similar.
The sad reality for most of us is that we can only have one bike, so we have to have the bike that puts the most ticks in the most boxes. For me and the type of riding I do that means that the 990 adv is the right fit.

[Motu]

I got the XLV750 for gravel only, but did end up off road a few times, and it was certainly the wrong bike for me in those conditions. My current twin is set up for gravel only, a low centre of gravity is best on gravel, and most ADV twins have it too high.

[umopom]

If it has to be a twin then...............................

[Woodman]

Oh cool another GS thread

[10bikekid]

My experiences are limited due to lack of crash bars & exceedingly expensive & hard to get fairing panels. That's my excuse anyway.

We will need pictures as proof (actually we just need pictures)

[10bikekid]

agreed! great fun in the gravel which is where I do most of my riding. There haven't been many times where I would have preferred to be on a smaller bike but if I rode more sand and mud then I might be tempted with a 690 or similar.
The sad reality for most of us is that we can only have one bike, so we have to have the bike that puts the most ticks in the most boxes. For me and the type of riding I do that means that the 990 adv is the right fit.

I will confess to having 3 (+ several without lights) so have a bit of idea of where they all fit

Variations 100+ HP - 10hp
210kg - 60kg
950 - 80cc
4 & 2 Stroke
Twin is by far the most fun on the metal and of course the most mental (2 strokes are close though), plus by far the best on a smooth beach


Please don't ask me to have just one though

For a nano second or two I have thought of cashing in on the capital of the KTM but the idea just dont fly
Just to good at travelling and then having a bit of fun in between

[Gremlin]

Adventures? Oh hell yes, I've had a few on my awesome Jessica (and no, my mates that want to call the GSA Helga are never going to succeed).

In 3.5 years and 89k ish it's even been over to the USA. Dropped in the region of the 127 Hours movie, struggled like hell to get it up solo and finally arrived at the accommodation at 2145, to find the rest of the group really worried, but no idea where to begin looking

Soft sand is almost guaranteed to result in a lie down, except one time my pant leg somehow lifted up, leg burnt on something very hot, 2nd degree burn I finally decided should be looked at 3 days later, and almost put me in hospital from infection, instead I got 2 weeks off my feet and 2 years out of the sun to allow skin to grow back.

Multiple adventure rides with multiple get offs in rivers, hills etc. I figure that if I'm not falling off at least once during them then it ain't challenging enough!

On the other hand, when you're standing on the pegs, giving it some gas climbing gravel, got it kicked slightly sideways spinning up the rear slightly... yep, not much else beats that feeling...

[george formby]

agreed! great fun in the gravel which is where I do most of my riding. There haven't been many times where I would have preferred to be on a smaller bike but if I rode more sand and mud then I might be tempted with a 690 or similar.
The sad reality for most of us is that we can only have one bike, so we have to have the bike that puts the most ticks in the most boxes. For me and the type of riding I do that means that the 990 adv is the right fit.

This sums it for me.

I guess there is still some XTZ dna in the TDM cos it just gets on with things. No bad habits. It gets basic maintenance & no doubt used beyond it's design parameters. The km's keep mounting up & so far I have a bulb on the speedo to replace, some 60 odd thousand k's. On both tar & gravel it feels lazy, planted & comfortable but covers the ground deceptively quickly. Just got to make sure if I'm sliding into or out of a gravel corner that I leave plenty of room for error. Once the weight comes into play with not enough traction or room to compensate it's k'in scary trying to get it back on track. Pointless sticking a foot out, it will just get broken so I have to stand, well forward, & get my weight way out of the turn. Teeth & sphincter clenched.

The bike will scrape it's foot pegs on tar seal if I fuck up, tours two up with luggage effortlessly & does about 300km on a tank if I chance it. Love the sound, too.

No idea what I would replace it with and it's worth sweet FA.

[Oscar]

This sums it for me.

I guess there is still some XTZ dna in the TDM cos it just gets on with things. No bad habits. It gets basic maintenance & no doubt used beyond it's design parameters. The km's keep mounting up & so far I have a bulb on the speedo to replace, some 60 odd thousand k's. On both tar & gravel it feels lazy, planted & comfortable but covers the ground deceptively quickly. Just got to make sure if I'm sliding into or out of a gravel corner that I leave plenty of room for error. Once the weight comes into play with not enough traction or room to compensate it's k'in scary trying to get it back on track. Pointless sticking a foot out, it will just get broken so I have to stand, well forward, & get my weight way out of the turn. Teeth & sphincter clenched.

The bike will scrape it's foot pegs on tar seal if I fuck up, tours two up with luggage effortlessly & does about 300km on a tank if I chance it. Love the sound, too.

No idea what I would replace it with and it's worth sweet FA.

TDM's go anywhere!

[george formby]

TDM's go anywhere!

Crikey! Another one and a MkI at that. Nice. Heartening to see those muddy road tires and a TDM in the wild.
Your post brings the total I know of to 5. Starting to feel a bit main stream.

How did it handle soft sand getting onto the beach? 90 mile has been calling for years but I'm to chicken thus far.

[10bikekid]

Adventures? Oh hell yes, I've had a few on my awesome Jessica (and no, my mates that want to call the GSA Helga are never going to succeed).

In 3.5 years and 89k ish it's even been over to the USA. Dropped in the region of the 127 Hours movie, struggled like hell to get it up solo and finally arrived at the accommodation at 2145, to find the rest of the group really worried, but no idea where to begin looking

Soft sand is almost guaranteed to result in a lie down, except one time my pant leg somehow lifted up, leg burnt on something very hot, 2nd degree burn I finally decided should be looked at 3 days later, and almost put me in hospital from infection, instead I got 2 weeks off my feet and 2 years out of the sun to allow skin to grow back.

Multiple adventure rides with multiple get offs in rivers, hills etc. I figure that if I'm not falling off at least once during them then it ain't challenging enough!

On the other hand, when you're standing on the pegs, giving it some gas climbing gravel, got it kicked slightly sideways spinning up the rear slightly... yep, not much else beats that feeling...

Sounds like fun, were have you documented your American ride

[10bikekid]

Crikey! Another one and a MkI at that. Nice. Heartening to see those muddy road tires and a TDM in the wild.
Your post brings the total I know of to 5. Starting to feel a bit main stream.

How did it handle soft sand getting onto the beach? 90 mile has been calling for years but I'm to chicken thus far.

You got to try it, better in the winter when the sand on the beach entrances arnt so powdery, through otherwise this can easily happen
I made the mistake of also thinking speed would help get out of the car tracks

Its all worth it once get out on the Beach though and I reckon the TDM would spin its wheels till at least 100kph (not something you get to do everyday)

[nzspokes]

Do twins struggle off road?