The halcyon days of Adv riding - a rave

[Padmei]

It's an exciting time for adv riding. The number, popularity & quality of organised & social adv rides is steadily growing. As to has public awareness, courtesy in part to the likes of Ewen & Charlie (love them or hate them you know who they are & what they did)

Television coverage has brought the images of adv riding to the masses. The appeal of leaving the highway is turning baby boomers back onto bikes that are forgiving, reliable & importantly affordable.

The increase of new & returning riders creates bigger markets to cater for aftermarket must-haves. Commercial enterprises flourish on the internet sharing space in websites where communities of adv riders from around the globe can share their experiences & of course most importantly discuss the focus of their obsessions - the bikes

In the last few years there have been a number of changes in sizes for bikes - BMW bringing in some in between sizes with the F800gs & taking the company out of it's comfort zone whilst creating a wider younger fan base with the G series.
Old models such as the KLR & Yamaha's Tenere being reintroduced with fresh new looks ( amongst anguished cries of underperformance & overweight).
Honda seems to be stagnated with the Transalp following Triumphs reactionary taming of the Tiger into the role of relaxed sports tourer.

Suzuki choosing not to bother changing a good thing with the DR - The Vstrom snuggling into the same niche as the Tiger & Transalp

KTM I guess just do what they're good at - setting their bikes as a benchmark for other bikes to be measured against.



I believe these years will be remembered as the halcyon days similar to the eighties with the birth of the modern adv bike culture.

[JATZ]

It's an exciting time for adv riding. The number, popularity & quality of organised & social adv rides is steadily growing. As to has public awareness, courtesy in part to the likes of Ewen & Charlie (love them or hate them you know who they are & what they did)

Television coverage has brought the images of adv riding to the masses. The appeal of leaving the highway is turning baby boomers back onto bikes that are forgiving, reliable & importantly affordable.

The increase of new & returning riders creates bigger markets to cater for aftermarket must-haves. Commercial enterprises flourish on the internet sharing space in websites where communities of adv riders from around the globe can share their experiences & of course most importantly discuss the focus of their obsessions - the bikes

In the last few years there have been a number of changes in sizes for bikes - BMW bringing in some in between sizes with the F800gs & taking the company out of it's comfort zone whilst creating a wider younger fan base with the G series.
Old models such as the KLR & Yamaha's Tenere being reintroduced with fresh new looks ( amongst anguished cries of underperformance & overweight).
Honda seems to be stagnated with the Transalp following Triumphs reactionary taming of the Tiger into the role of relaxed sports tourer.

Suzuki choosing not to bother changing a good thing with the DR - The Vstrom snuggling into the same niche as the Tiger & Transalp

KTM I guess just do what they're good at - setting their bikes as a benchmark for other bikes to be measured against.



I believe these years will be remembered as the halcyon days similar to the eighties with the birth of the modern adv bike culture.

You been navel gazing again Padmei
but ya prolly rightish

[Paladin]

Damn wot you smokin tonite?

Actually all nicely put! I would add that the object of the obsession isn't just the bikes, it's also the being out seeing the country away from cars and main roads, the challenging yourself on different terrain and getting to share the whole buzz with likeminded people who you know are getting that same buzz from doing it!

It's a drug and we are all SO hooked already!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Woodman]

lets not forget the sustained loss of traction.

[Paladin]

lets not forget the sustained loss of traction.

and the ever present "clinching" moments!

We're all just addicted to the adrenalin & endorphin rush aren't we!

[marks]

you feeling at a loose end Padmei?

wots wrong - are Igors piles playing up again?

[marks]

sustained loss of traction.

adventure riding in a nut shell

[pete376403]

And stopping off at toppys for a coffee and a perve

[junkmanjoe]

ok im a x road bike rider, and on them, i just liked to get to the other end as quick as poss, with out a ticket. and just had to pass the next car no mater how far away it was......................

now, the ride on my yellow naked road bike, dr650, its about the road or lack of one, the views, the people, the less need to get there first, to find out where that road goes that you have passed everyday but never riden up.
to ride where i never thought of going, and to enjoy the bike.
hope thats not to gay..............
thats my thoughts...........................

[Aslan]

interesting reflective thread you've started here Padmei - as MarkS asked - 'you at a loose end?' - I regard Adventure Riding as one of life's 'vital' experiences where all of my senses are engaged - tis interesting to reflect on your youthful (relative term I know) assessment of the history of the genre - In my teens in the 60's - inspired by US 'rock stars' like Steve McQueen I used to take my Triumph Thunderbird and subsequently Saint off road whenever I could - then in late 60' early 70's the Honda XL250 and Yamaha DT1 revolutionised dual sport riding.


Rock on - life's for living to the max eh - cheers Aslan


PS - I guess Bert Monro inpsires a lot of old farts like me - connection with ADV tenuous I know - but riding machines on Oreti Beach resonnates with me as one who grew up in Otago with it's many back country roads

[Garry.W]

Blimey, I'm choking up

[NordieBoy]

Blimey, I'm choking up

Thought the HP2 was fuel injected?

[Quasievil]

Damn I miss my Adventure riding..........someone want to order a shit load of leather so I can buy a new bike??
Im thinking about what it will be already, prolly another over weight animal but hey I like the touring side of it as well as the dirt bits.

The best ride of my life to date was in Jan 2007 when I did the south island in a week, doing the high country stations and senic road routes on my KLR truly an awesome experience, in the last year of racing only (no road bike) I remember fuck all about any of the races I did, but I will never forget that awesome ride in the S.I.......makes me wonder why race really maybe I have the riding type all fucked up lol

[HenryDorsetCase]

the label "adventure riding" covers some pretty wide and disparate bikes and riding as well. (Which is all good): in much the same way that a "sports bike" is a Ducati 1198S or R, or an SR500 cafe racer (no prizes for guessing which I'd prefer....hint, not the Duke).

Me on my Triumph Scrambler pootling about on a shingle back country road is an adventrure, vs Charley and Ewan (I know someone whose name is in fact Ewan McGregor, which is quite funny: now known to all as Obi Wan) vs the guy on his barely street legal enduro bike ripping the snot out of some forest somewhere.

What I like is that idea of being AWAY From congested main roads, and away from cars and stuff, but in a certain style.....

[Tony W]

And stopping off at toppys for a coffee and a perve

Rode down to Wellington last month on the Beemer.

En route I turned off SH2 at Pahiatua and headed to Route 52 eventually emerging at Martinborough.

I decided to have a nice relaxing rest stop and headed for the nearest coffee shop.
Sat down with a nice cuppa and a pie watching the Wellington 7s as relaxation.

....then my jaw hit the floor....

...she must've been about 20, medium length dark hair, amazingly curved, long legs, generously proportioned in the upper region, and the face of a dark angel....

I can't remember the name of the place......do you think I was at "Toppy's" ?