I guess there is a tool for every job. Most people are not interested in Enduro riding. Not everyone is into technical climbs, rock gardens and drowning bikes in waist deep mud. Most riders can only afford one bike, so that bike needs to be versatile. Must be able to carry a passenger, commute to work, capable of touring and have the option to explore offroad. That’s why midsize ADV are hugely popular, they are the perfect tool to cover large distances, explore new forest paths, chew hundreds of Kms of corrugations, and go on remote camping adventures. It really depends where you live and the type of riding you do. Me fore instance, I love riding offroad, but I got rid of my enduro bikes and moved to mid-size ADVs. The closest trails are 60Km from my home, doing that stretch of highway on a dual sport is exhausting. Loading a bike on the trailer every Saturday is not my cup of tea, and I want to spend my scarce free time riding a bike rather than driving a car, adjusting straps on a trailer and also having to do frequent maintenance intervals. Having two bikes would be ideal, but not everyone can afford it

I’m 62. I’m getting to the point where even my trusty ol’ DR650 ‘ADV’ is getting too heavy. After I’ve dropped it four or five times in rough going, I start to lose interest. I wish, wish, wish somebody would build a sub-350 lb ‘ADV’ with decent off-road chops, decent highway manners and a little wind protection, making 40-50 HP and equivalent torque. That’s all I want or need, and I’d gladly pay a premium for it. Especially if it comes with cruise control and all the other modern farkles. Come on, manufacturers, I’m just sitting here waiting to throw money at you, and I’m never going to buy even one of your “middleweight” ADVs - even those are just too much for me off-road.

At 70 I’ve been riding long and hard for over fifty years. A few months ago I added an Africa Twin DCT to my garage. While I agree with most of what’s argued here, I’d add a few caveats. First, “off road” for me (and most?) means off tarmac; plenty of interesting off tarmac is available where I live. I paid about 50% off MSRP for a fully farkled low mileage “pre-loved” example - if it gets bruised, it gets bruised. I’ve got other bikes (sport/road and lighter off road) to ride; I wouldn’t want a big dual purpose for my only bike. Bottom line? It depends . . . and, I really enjoy the Africa Twin.

Just went on a 6 day logging road adventure with a handful of people. Some with big bikes (like me on my africa twin) and some with smaller bikes (like CRF300 and DR650s) and I can confirm this 100%. While I had to slow down for every corner, those on lighter bikes could ride much faster and had WAY more fun in the end.

Yep, 80 years old, bought a 2022 CB500X, 439 lbs added 45 lbs of engine/crash guard, tool box, skid plate, pannier and luggage racks, and I can pick it up.

My opinion: you have to chose the right bike for your needs! Heavy @bikes fit perfect for a long trip through the continent, but are totaly wrong for single track. Still, they are surprisingly capable, as long as the wheels turn.. The golden rules are: -Never go in gnarly Terrain all alone with big bikes, you will need some hands to get out of troubles. - Never go with mixed bikes, i mean light dual sport and big heavies together. It will always be a stress for the extreme opposits. -don't take too much stuff with you, even when big bikes offer the space for you. You will hate every kg you carry for nothing, including bling bling on your bike, when it's getting tough. But conquering a difficult trail on heavy bikes together with your mates, helping each other can also be a fantastic feeling, like:"yeah, we did it!"

I believe Ewan and Charlie certainly fueled the big bike adventure craze. I wonder how many people were disappointed to find out they didn’t come with chase trucks and a group of people working out the logistics for them

SO TRUE I went from a BMW GS1250 to a KTM 980 to a BMW G310GS.. I have 45 years of experience riding Street bikes and almost nothing off road. I love everything abouth these comfort mamouth 500lbs+ couches on wheels but, grew tired of having to pick them up. I wanted to enjoy riding not fight Mike Tyson each time I fell off or got stuck in the mud. With a large ADV one can't ride alone. It's just too stressful having to worry do I have to call someone for help if I couldn't get untuck from the mud. Now five years later and a 375Lbs G310GS I can ride all day with no worries. I have the TAT and Continental Divide under my belt I'm also planning a solo trip to South America (Patagonia) then onto Europe. Sure I had to do a some mods and upgrade to the suspension and wire wheels but now I can finally focus on enjoying my trips not fighting with it. Sure there are some drawbacks but it's worth it. A smaller ADV is the way to go if you truly want to travel 90% off road. Big ADV bikes are perfect if you want to look good and travel mostly on pavement.

I agree 100%. I've ridden a HD from Arkansas to Yukon, CA and a 1200cc Yamaha Super Tenere to Alaska and Artic Circle. The HD was much more comfortable, had cruise control and CB radio. Only rode the Tenere on dirt on the Dalton Highway so much better than an HD on that short 400 miles. Also rode a Dual Sport KTM 350 from east coast to west coast on the Trans America Trail (TAT). Saw lots of big adventure bikes on the TAT but dual sport is only way to go on that type of riding. Best dual sport is the Yamaha WR250R!!!! BTW I was in my late 60's and early 70's when I made those rides.

I recently sat on a Africa Twin at a dealership. I couldn't believe how BIG it was. There's no way I would want such a big and heavy bike. Now I'm much better suited with a Honda CB500X...also known as the half-frica twin.

I had a air cool R1200GS for 6 years. It really surprised me how good it was offroad. It was a bit big and heavy but just manageable for me at 5'6. It was easy to pick up as the cylinders stopped it from falling over all the way. I would recommend one of these if you do want to try off roading on a big bike. Just keep a bit of money spare for shaft drive repairs.

My dealer tells me that most adventure bikes are bought by older riders and never taken off road. No rider over 60 is going to spend hour after hour on a sport bike. Compared with a cruiser, ABs have a much better riding position, resembling riding a horse, whereas a cruiser has your legs forward and all your weight on your tailbone. They are also a couple of hundred pounds lighter which makes them more fun to ride. In the last 20 years, I have had 3 ABs: a 2003 V-Strom 1000, a 2015 Multistrada (total POS, will never buy another Ducati) and a 2020 1290 SAS which I rate as a great ride. Yes, I was sad to sell my R1, but I could ride it for less than 30 minutes, particularly in town, before I was worn out. Again ABs are perfect bikes for older riders and I am delighted that manufacturers are embracing them.

Fully agree. Im going to swap my KLR650 for the Honda CRF300L. "LIGHT IS RIGHT"

Great to see someone tell it as it is! I rode a KLR650 from U.S. through South America. I met many on road with big bikes, they toured great on paved but off-road were nightmares while I had zero problems! One friend on a GS spent more just shipping his bike home from Peru after catastrophic failure then I spent on mine including buying cost and maintenance for 1 year 50000km!!!

As always, solid commentary on a complex topic with countless opinions. Big bikes can mean big fun and big challenges. I've been riding and teaching on a KTM 990 in the woods, mountains and deserts for 15 years, and as it was my 1st "dirtbike" one of your comments stood out to me as very accurate. If you don't have a deep desire to invest the time and effort to learn how to ride these bikes off-road (and I don't mean off-tarmac) ....don't waste your time and money. You will at best inconvenience and frustrate yourself and at worst endanger others. And while many trainings focus on picking up these beasts, I start from the other end of the spectrum. Before I accept an off-road student, I have them send me a video of their ability let that bike fall to the ground. If you cannot walk up to your brand new $20k motorcycle and nock it off its kickstand into the dirt, you are not going out into the woods with us. The only thing that keeps a 500lb bike upright is balance and momentum. When people are more focused on damaging their bike than keeping it moving in tough conditions, bad things WILL happen. There is nothing worse when maneuvering a big bike than creeping along because you are scared to drop it. My suggestion...get over that fear, wear those scratches and dents as a badge of honor. If you can't do that, maybe just stick to the roads with your big ADV bike. Thanks for all your great content!

Well big ADV bikes might not be the best bike for everyone, but I have found them to be perfect for me. I use my bike for all sorts of stuff, from after work fire road shenanigans, over longer weekend trips, to multi day holiday travel. I have tried many styles of bikes, all have left me longing for more variety. I had a ninja which was fun, but awefull on bad roads and uncomfortable on longer rides, switched to a virago which was much more comfortable, but left me standing in front of a lot of fireroads thinking "damn I wish I could blast along here". So I got a crf-250, to realize quickly that Offroading is fun, but getting there is miserable. So I sold both and got myself a F650GS Dakar. And this was the first bike that really made me feel free, because I could just go anywhere with it. It was decent on road, really good off road and was really comfortable, so I could easily make longer tours and see a ton of new things. So I knew this style of bike was perfect for me. After about 2 years I realized I still wanted a bit more on road focus, since most of my offroading was fireroads and forest paths and next to no hard offroading, and I wanted a bit more weight, so the bike was less influenced by wind when I'm riding on the highway for vacation or work. So I ended up selling it and got a R1200GS and I do not know how a bike could be more perfect for me and my riding profile. But thats just me. I don't want to go into the extremes on any front. Surely if you love dragging knees in corners, an adv bike isn't for you. If you want to do trails and fight through the actual wilderness, and adv bike isn't for you. If you enjoy stunting, an adv bike isn't for you. If you like to go to the extremes in anything, an adv bike probably isn't for you. But if you just want to relax, have some fun, enjoy the weather and the environment around you and just go where you please, an adv bike might just be the perfect thing for you.

good video and good advice too, we all ride and we all have different levels and experience , so get out there and ride , enjoy , for me i have been riding off road for years and now been looking for something with longer legs but still very capable off road so i have purchased a ktm 690 enduro R , just turned over 90 k , so yeap its new , very impressed so far , its good weight , well balanced , good power ,and fun bike to ride , ill keep you updated . cheers Steve/ Geraldton

Once again some Solid Advice! Now that I am getting older, my Tiger 900GT does have some weight and even though I just ride dirt roads, I am concerned with the bike wants a nap and I have to pick it up...I have done a few small things to reduce weight like installing a Lithium battery and removed some items that I hardly use... So thanks, you have raised some valid points! David...Adelaide...Tiger 900GT & Scrambler 900.....

Excellent advice! Thank you for the video

Excellent video. Very well thought out and expressed points to consider before buying a big adventure bike.

AGREED --- lite-is-right. 60 yrs of riding has taught me that one, even on the street that is true. Ditch the weight or weight in ditch😮 Gyro

Great video. I love my huge adventure touring bikes, because I don't take them off road. They are great touring bikes, yes you can get cheaper bikes to tour on, but nothing beats the all day comfort and low maintenance of a shaft drive upright seating bike.

Big ADV bikes are more roadbikes that dirt bikes, I think they are great for road touring and dirt roads, but not track riding. I've been riding 50 years, I did motocross and enduro in the 80's and 90's. I recently brought a 2022 Pan Am Special, more for the road than off road. I have taken it off road, it is capable, but you are right when you say the weight will wear you out. I'm only going to use it for dirt road riding, not bush bashing, I know what I brought and I really like it, only 5% of my riding time is on dirt roads. I hav dropped it a few times at low speed, mostly when I'm trying to lear new skills, I haven't hurt the bike, the crash bars on the Pan Am are very well placed. I do agree that if I wanted more dirt road fun, I would get a smaller 350 to 500cc dirt bike. When you put the Pan Am in sports mode, it is a very fun road bike, with hard suspension, and you can really turn up the throttle response and engine braking, to make it feel very raw and fun. I got the Pan Am more for the power and tech, with the ability to set up custom modes and so much adjustablity, it is like having multiple bikes in one. It really make a difference when you have 4 throttle response settings, 5 engine braking settings, 4 suspension settings, 3 levels of ABS and TCS, and 4 power level settings. The added height in traffic is fantastic for being able to see. The Pan Am is a Sports bike, Road bike, Cruising Tourer and Dirt road bike, all in one, that I think defines an Adventure Bike.

don’t let the size and weight discourage. i started completely new to off-roading and motorcycles in general on a 890AdvR and i’m glad i stuck with it, it’s was tuff but worth it. a little can do attitude, conditioning, and practice will get you there! parking lots, sand pits, the gym, stretching. dirt bike courses, and good friends who are patient and encouraging. the big bikes are exceptionally capable off-road, and they have rider helping technology that dual sports don’t have, you can shut it off to get a real taste and build skill but then turn it back on when your looking for some help, it has saved me a couple times when i got too frisky. many of the big bikes don’t lay as flat on the ground as the dual sports especially when they have panniers, so that should be factored in when you compare what it’s like to pick them up. a 350 pound bike laying at 5 degrees means you lift further from a lower position. and a gs with a boxer engine lays at 25 degrees soo your starting from a higher point and lifting less? ide like to compare that side by side. i bet the weight isn’t as bad as people make it out to be. big rock moto did that test i think? anyways just build up some core and leg strength and you can pick them up again and again just fine with proper form, don’t let that get in your head! the benefits of sticking with it? cruise at comfort, planted, with ease at speed to and from your offroad destination, regardless the distances. for best results ide say give the middle weight bikes a chance, ktm 890, T7, vstrom 650, tiger ect.

I am completely caught in the middle, on a 2022 CB500X, im just a little too big for the small stuff, like small single trail with my mates on dual sports, and a little too small for the big stuff with my mates on adv tourers and AT, GSA, etc… Nearly every week I want to sell the 500X and buy a CRF250L, but then I’ll unable for the big rides and no two up abilities, every other week I want to sell and buy an 901 but then I’ll unable for the single dirts trails!! I’m finding the 500X is working great, gets me places I shouldn’t really go, and around to the places I can easily enough, even though I think it it has zero street cred😂😂 Thanks for the videos, keep ‘em up!

Started riding at age 47 on 2016 F700GS. Got good training and rode with many levels of riders. Never was scared to drop the bike. I'm shorter at 67" so the lower ride height helped. That bike was dropped well over 100 times in a couple years. Now ride a 1250GS and pretty confident off rode. Woody's wheels and altrider crash bars. Rode with several much better long timers on T700's and they couldn't get over how I could keep up in the dirt. They now ride GS's and will not go back. They do a lot very well! Spend money on training. Don't be afraid to practice in dirt parking lots and don't be afraid to scratch the crash bars or skid plate! Most of all, don't be afraid to push forward a bit at a time!

At 63, I have four more reasons. A badly separated shoulder, a smashed and severely bruised hip and thigh, some cracked ribs and a badly broken foot that has wrecked my summer. These were all on different occasions with lengthy healing required for each. That being said 8 months of touring through all of Mexico on the bike was amazing and I wouldn't trade that for anything.

I was just thinking about this today while I was driving back to Angels Camp from Sonora in the California Gold Country (only about 14 miles, 25 minutes). I was in my pickup truck, having gone to Sonora to buy something at the big box hardware store there, and there must have been 20 bikes in that 14 miles, going the opposite way, in groups of 2 or three. All but one bike was a big adventure bike with the GS's outnumbering all others. I couldn't help thinking about how great those bikes must be on the small highways like the one they were on, and how horrendous they would be on the sorts of roads I like to ride on up here in the Mother Lode region. My off road adventure bike is a 2004 DR650 and my on road adventure bike is a 2016 KLR. I never go faster than 65 on the local highways so why pay for 110 hp when 40 will do the job quite nicely. The DR, at 100 lbs. lighter than the KLR, is WAY better in the dirt and pretty much all the bike I can handle. I am one of the "returning" riders and have been riding again for 4 years now after a 20 year hiatus. Even the KLR is more than I want to have to lift after falling, hence the DR. I can't imagine trying to pick up a GS.

Amen brother! Very good video that everyone needs to see 👍 I'm conflicted with my T7 as it is just like you said especially wiith luggage. Extremely top heavy bike and hard to lift even without luggage. Super fun though.

I agree with you. I'm bewildered at the weight of those big ADVs. I ride an old and light-ish DR650 which I don't wanna drop because raising it taxes my muscles to a breaking point. I don't do dirt, just unpaved country roads, where it's strong enough - and enjoyable.

On a positive note.....liter+ ADV bikes are fantastic on road tourers and camping bikes. Broken asphalt, holes, dips, seams, ridges, hard packed dirt, cobblestone, cross winds, truck air wash, water crossings are no issue. Less fairings make on trip repairs and maintenance more manageable. In Australia or USA the liter+ power is necessary. FYI I can pickup my 650lbs loaded ADV with bars multiple times, if needed. I have the tool seen on YT. Do not ride off road.

Absolutely agree with you Solid - I had a 1000CRF and LOVED it, I really did. It was great on the tarmac, very comfy, the DCT was amazing, I miss it. But it was WAY too heavy for Cape York or sandy tracks. I haven't found a new bike yet but I know it won't be more than 500 CC :)

Great points . I’m 64 and have ridden for most of my life. I’ve been on GSAs since 2008 then an ATAS DCT ES for a few months last year and now a KTM 890 Adventure (non-R). Weight or rather top-heavy weight was the reason I changed. The Honda was narrower and lighter than the GSA but less stable at low speeds in traffic. I like the KTM a lot other than the seat. What’s missing is a light, comfortable single cylinder bike with decent power and weather protection. The nearest for me is the KTM/Husky/Gas Gas 690/701/700 family but all are compromised by being tall, rock hard seats (despite these being “Travel” bikes), and no weather protection unless you add rally towers. I don’t care about off-road capabilities but ADV bikes have a riding position I like.

Absolutely well said. I’ve made this mistake and couldn’t be happier having gone to my DR650. The heaviest I’ll go now is a T7 and that’s pushing the weight limit.

That's very true mate. We want to embark on an adventure trip for weeks and even months but without the struggle. I want to go in an adventure ride in a comfortable, maneuverability, and safety way. Enjoying the mountain passages and that old back road ahead. Zip a rich cup of coffee by a cozy fireplace.

Great video and I went from a NC700X to a Triumph Tiger XCA 1200 and the weight difference is massive I love this video and my next bike will be much smaller

i testride 800De on road and offroad , and my feelings was that i could ride it DAYS without any fatigue

Excellent points. As a returning rider 3 years ago (48 at that point) with no real off-road experience other than mountain bikes, I bought a Yamaha XT250 to get started. The bike is an absolute wonder for learning not only off-road skills but motorcycling skills in general. In a year of consistent riding (about 3,000 miles, mostly fairly technical off road) I felt I wanted to up my game and get an adventure bike. My choice was a Tenere 700. It was a revelation and not in a good way. At 5’10” with 32 inseam the bike felt super tall and incredibly heavy. I was shocked how different it felt off road than the XT250. I basically had to re-learn how to ride it off road. I got beat up a lot doing it but persisted and after a year and another 3,000 miles of mostly off road riding, I feel fairly competent in fairly technical terrain. But it is never enjoyable in such terrain as the XT250 is. I always feel stressed when taking it on technical trails because of it’s weight (485 lbs with bars and other necessities). Although I’m fit and can always lift it even in difficult terrain, it is a brutal effort. Tenere is top heavy and it loves to pull you down any chance it gets. In less technical terrain or on tarmac, it’s a blast because of the power. Overall I enjoy it very much but I’m judicious on what terrain I take it on. If I had to choose between XT250 and T7 for an around-the-world journey with any significant off roading, I’d take the XT250 every time. They are both awesome bikes, but as capable as T7 is off-road, you have to have mad off-road skills and superhuman strength to take it alone on rough single tracks. I think that for most people, middleweight and heavy ADV bikes are not a good choice for serious off-roading. It’s far more fun to ride a light dual sport off-road that can still do highway miles at 70-75 mph. You’ll just have to avoid high speed freeways.

You're absolutely right. I've been through this and totaly agree. If you're not Chris Birch don't do it. If a fully packed ADV Bike falls you make a split even if you can't - results in a torn muscle in my thigh in the middle of nowhere. For onroad touring they're great, comfy, good handling, powerfull engine and good protection - miss my VStrom.

Got a Beta 390 this summer ok on highway and what a blast on sand wash seasonal roads

Yes, I am a case in point. A returning rider, last bike I owned was in 1984. I wanted to get back into trail riding and bought a new Tenere 700, thought the power would somehow balance out the weight. Big mistake, the Tenere is a lot of things but it ain't no dirtbike. Sold it 4 months later and bought a KLX 250S. Two years on and the little Kawasaki is no worse for wear. My riding skills are where they need to be and I am back on the road with a 2022 XSR 700 Tribute. What a great bike, kind of feel like Steve McQueen...... Peace!

You are so right. I am now over 60 and although rarely ride off road, the effort required with a big adventure bike when I have done so is nowhere near offset by the extra comfort it affords me on the road. Filtering in traffic is also much harder than on something narrower. They have their place but not in my garage

totaly agree see lots of people on these type of bikes and first time the get on some gravel it hits them, coming from a big off road background this year done some traveling on my MT09sp and lvoed it but wanting somthing that can do more miles now and also can handle a good bit of the dirty stuff so going for the tiger 1200 rally pro next year just doesnt feel all that big of a bike once riding even slow moving was very impressed great video

I have a 2022 Africa Twin Adventure Sports and a 2021 CB500F. I use the 500 for my 10 min commute and it also has a glow kit I like to use when I ride at night. The AT is perfect for longer trips and going off road if you're comfortable with it. I have dropped it 3 times while doing off road riding and it was difficult to pick up but the crash bar system by Outback Motortek I got for it has worked great to prevent any damage to the bike. It's quite exhilarating to go off road with it although I will say it's spooky sometimes as it's massive lol. One thing I will say about it is that the power from the 1100CC engine is great. I live in a city so when I ride it I'm typically having to go through town and have a destination somewhere where I'll have to ride different terrains the whole way. Considering I use it to take to car/bike shows to show it off, take it camping, and I've also taken it on a 1300mi round trip around the state of AZ it's a perfect bike. The power that it gives me when touring is hands down worth the extra weight that makes it more difficult to off road. If your main purpose is for dirt then get something smaller but if you want a bike that truly as the capability of doing it all (skill not included lol) than the big ADV bikes are right for you. Oh also you gotta be about at least six feet tall with a big inseam if you wanna flat foot it too which can make off roading that much more difficult!

I agree 100% - but I still got the AT 1100L ;) If the smaller Transalp or the Vstrom were out at the time, I would have considered. I love my AT - it is a dream bike which I plan to keep 20+ years. I never considered taking her out on the dirt. It's mostly asphalt for me. Would dirt have come in my equation, I would have never bought it. When I first watched Ewan and Charlie on those bikes, I though "what a pair of novice riders - they chose pain..." It was a decision that added drama to the movies....

All you've said is true. Thanks for sharing this video.

Really nice video on a great topic. As I found almost no unpaved roads left open to the public where I live, I've progressed in the opposite direction and now ride a SuperTenere. Happily, it works for me and my needs. I started as a returning rider on a KLR650, couldn't find much open dirt in my area, and now do more exploring/touring. Start small, it's a great way to learn what works for you and allows you to build skills quickly (if you put in the time!) Cheers all~

Think of your big ADV as you would a 4WD van, compared to a 125 / 250 is dirt bike Jeep. They’re completely different animals. Me, I live in Las Vegas (middle of a desert) and I have at least a couple hours riding on the highway to get to a place with trees to camp. Freeway speed limits in the 70-80 MPH range. I’ve found that as big and heavy as my AT is, it can carry all my gear for boondocking (self contained camping) and has the weight / horsepower to keep up with traffic. Nice as it’d be to be on a 250 when I hit the dirt, I’m not sure a smaller bike would make it through the freeway part at all!

Love my KTM 1190 ADV. Likely the most fun bike (street) I've ever owned and I've had many, dirt and street. It carves up the twisty tarmac so beautifully and fills me with confidence like no other bike I've had. I like to do some gravel roads but that's about the extent of off road for me on this bike. Like the video demonstrates, they are too big and heavy, for most of us, to really get into trail riding. You must decide what kind of riding you want to do. ADV bikes are a great choice if you are mostly street riding but if you want to get on a dirt or gravel road, you can. A dual sport is much better if you are mostly off road. I wouldn't want to ride one on long distance pavement at high speeds and twisties though.

You've got my attention with your videos! Your travels are captivating. 🏍 How about revealing your fatigue-fighting techniques and fitness maintenance during long rides? Looking forward!

Good advice. I got rid of my Africa Twin for a klx300. Just ordered a few mods and some off road boots before I get back to my local trail. Plan on getting a more road focused bike later for touring.

You've summed up my experience and why I went for a DR650 perfectly. I've owned chookies, a variety of fast road bikes, and an R100GS. $$ Too heavy on dirt. I hired an R1200GS and rode around 3000 km including dirt. $$$ Brilliantly capable, heavy, long distance road bike. Waaaay too heavy on dirt. I hired a Triumph XC $$ and rode 6000km road and some easy dirt. IMO, another road bike. Too heavy on the limited dirt I rode. The DR? $ Light enough on dirt, could be lighter, fast enough on road if you travel near limits. Does most riding well enough. Not a big comfy road tourer. When I fall off stuff doesn't break, or is cheap to replace. No adv tax. 😂 🤷‍♂️ Life's a compromise. A DR suits me now. Next year? I'm not getting any taller or stronger, maybe not. One day it might be a postie bike 😂

People approach me and ask for advice on this subject, I tell them the truth, my 701 is my go to not worried about anything bike. I've done a ton of stuff on the 701, I had a 1090 adv r, it was a great bike but it had roughly the same range, oddly enough I think the seat on my 701 is better (seat concepts helped but being able to move all over on the seat is nice on long rides). The 1090, like a lot of other adv bikes, is really freaking hot when going slow through technical stuff. Drop it and then the heat after working hard it is annoying, BUT I would use one again if I could have confidence in the rims not leaking air. I agree with you, if this is something you really want to do, you should do it so you can go, did that, filled the square, next adventure please. I have my 701 pretty mod'd to what kind of riding I like to do. I use a throttle lock for cruise, small wind screen, mosko moto bags (I have options in 10L, 40L, 80L, though if you are thinking of buying, get the 40L, they seem to be in the Goldilocks of size). The bike is also very easy to work on compared to other big fairing things, though I don't really work on it, the shop bills are way less than the bigger bikes. Tires are tubed, which I prefer, so they're easy to fix and they're easy to get shops to work on the big KTM ones? Lol no.

The thing that kept me from 2 bikes and made to get Tenere 700 is that sometimes on a road ride I see a place that isnt road bike friendly, but i want to check out.

I was up in the air for a ADV and a dual sport. The weight of the ADV I was looking at was a little under 600 lbs. Next to it was a Honda XR650L. I thought to myself do I really need to go 130 mph? Will I have problems on a single trail with mud and dirt on a ADV? Will I have ground clearance off road? Last what will my time off and on road will be. Test road both and the ADV was heavy. It handled great on the road. But could see this bike will be a problem off road. Time for the XR650L. Immediately I could feel the weight difference. At 345 lbs wet it is the lightest in its class of big single thumpers. Got on the road. 30-50 mph handles well and can go threw the twistiest with ease. 50-75 mph ran pretty good. Seems the sweet spot is around 70 mph with enough twist to get you out of trouble. Got it to 90 mph and backed off. I bought the XR650L. We took a 70 mile one way trip to some trails. 4 of us. 2 on ADV and me and another on dual sports DRZ. We all hit wide open trails with ease. Then came to single trails. The XR and DRZ shined on the singles. We spent more time getting the ADV’s out of a pickle then we enjoyed the fun lol. Ground clearance was the main issue. After the trip I felt good about my purchase. I saved thousands and would of been disappointed if I would of bought the ADV. It wouldn’t of fulfilled my desires on what I wanted to do. The legendary Honda XR650L did just that.

Jepp, I got a Honda CRF300 for offroad use and a Harley-Davidson 883 for the road. This summer, I road for 14 days over 3400 km on my Harley-Davidson. I went from the south of Norway to the north of Norway.

At least a couple manufacturers have moved in the right direction with the T7 and Aprilia 660 wet weights being halfway between a 690 and a GSA 850. Notice that neither have light dual sports to compete against either 😉

Great job Solid, I think something in the 650 to 850 range would do just fine. Transalp ot the T-7 is what I'm looking at. Should be a great time building either one of them

Very good video i love the looks of these big ADV bikes but I'm a new rider and i dont plan to do off road stuff a lot if any and I'm debating between ADV bike or maybe Honda Rebel 500 as a beginer rider to cover some decent road distances and more and more I'm seeing that Honda Rebel 500 would probably cover everything i need at this moment. Thanks for the info.

Some great points raised re the physical challenges but lets acknowledge the very real risks that this scenario invites. That doesn't always require an accident as such...at 55 with a dodgy lumbar disc I found my DR-Z400E became impractical and too tall for Enduro/hard off road as I aged and lost upper body strength. This came to a head when I had to lift it alone and re-injured myself. I sold it and went to a 250 Rally...I know, same weight on paper but worlds apart in ride experience. I have zero regrets and love the little Honda...I'm enjoying it again. Lower, lighter, easier, low key. Granted, it's no enduro weapon, but neither am I. I adjusted my riding to fit within the bikes capacities.

Agree with the multiple bikes for the price of new big adv approach. Got tired a long time ago of trying to do it all with one style of bike, especially after learning it wasn’t worth it to me to take big ADVs off-pavement. Currently have a maxiscooter for urban, a Himalayan for off-pavement, and the fantastic Versys 1000 for the high-speed road trips.

They are pretty awesome for travel and cruising around, but aren’t ideal for off road for most people like you said. The more technical the terrain becomes the worse the idea of taking a big bike on it is. These things strength is long distance travel and riding around on pavement and gravel roads and they can be absolutely great at that. I am convinced that owning a street oriented bike of your liking and your favorite dirt bike/enduro bike is the perfect combo as well if you can pull it off. No dual sport or adventure bike can beat that combo in my opinion.

I usually ride alone and picking up the Africa Twin is definitely a challenge and doing it multiple times is tiring. When I'm touring, I worry a lot about dropping it with luggage, so I am very cautious about where I go and how I ride there. I found I enjoy the on-tarmac riding much more than on-gravel. In British Columbia, gravel can mean taking 50-100 km routes through mountain passes that may not be maintained. It's a thrill to go where few travel but I'm not sure it's for me. I recently bought an R1200RS for touring, so I will see if that suits me and is able to get to the campsites I want to use. I'm thinking of picking up a used CRF250 next fall for my off-road riding. Watching the pros on an Africa Twin or any other big bike is like watching professionals in any endeavour: they make it look easy (after years of practice and training!). The reality is that at my age, I'm not fit enough or skilled enough to ride like that and I never will be. That ship has sailed. But I can enjoy riding for many years to come with the right bikes.

Of all of the videos I've seen with nearly this exact title, this is the only one I can truly respect as you mentioned the crazy folks like myself who like to throw the big bikes around in stuff people think you shouldn't. I have a 2017 Africa Twin and have followed 450s with the same fun they were having, but for others I definitely agree they might not want to commit to building the skills. Granted, gonna give a small shameless plug to the Africa Twin: picking it up is deceptively easy compared to others. Anyways, fantastic vid!

Spot on, Solid. For some it's an image, for some it's the ergos, but at the end of the day, the bike you take with you on the adventure is the best adventure bike! In the right hands, these bikes you mentioned are weapons, but realistically, most of us aren't that good. I got a T7, am no Pol Tares, and recognize that its big boned for some tracks. Riding within your limits and the bikes make for the best trips.

I decided several years to downsize to 700-800cc on my next bike from my 1200 cc cruiser BMW. You covered all the right points, Heavyweight, & too tall less you're over 5-11". Big prices to buy a new big bike and high maintenance costs for just routine work. The big gas tank brings more weight up top even before Ioad another 15-25 kilos of kit on the back. Yes, if you are solo like I always travel, if dropped you hope it's near other people for help to lift the bike.

Exactly. One thing the big adventure bikes do have over most (if not all) other bikes is they are spacious and ergonomic and can take all the luggage even with the kitchen sink. My F750GS of last year (though many would not consider it as a big adventure bike, for me it was big and heavy enough) was VERY comfortable and I could take all the stuff I "needed" for a road trip easily. But the weight was too much of a chore to handle at low speeds and parking, and yes - picking it up was a major challenge for me. So now I have a CB300R and love the handling, though the bike is kind of cramped. Something for something...

I think it comes down to the fact there’s no unicorn bike. I am fortunate to have both a GSA and a DRZ400s. When I’m off pavement on the GSA I often wish I was on the DRZ, and when I’m on pavement on the DRZ I often wish I was on the GSA. Recently I planned a 2-night Moto-camp that involved a 75+ trip to get to the campsite. I intended to take the DRZ (state highways) because I wanted to use the middle day to try out some OHV trails near the campground. Well, I got rained out the first day, which turned it into a one-day trip. That made the OHV side-trip difficult (just not enough time), and I didn’t really love the idea of riding the DRZ 75 miles all packed up with stuff for just an overnight, so I took the GSA. Easy, because I could just dump stuff into the hard cases, and be off, rather than fiddling with the soft bags on the DRZ. Anyway, the ride was super easy on the GSA, of course. I started setting up camp, but before long I noticed the campsite was acrawl with ticks. Freaking ticks everywhere, and I mean EVERYWHERE. I decamped after a couple hours, and rode right back home, dusk into night, 80-90mph on the freeway with my heated grips turned on. That would have been impossible on the DRZ. Instead, I would have been creeping along the state highway with feeble lighting guiding my way, freezing my ass off due to no wind protection. That said, I still LOVE my DRZ and rode it up to some gravel/dirt roads the very next weekend and had a blast. After all the above, I still strongly wonder whether I could replace both bikes with a KTM/Husky 690/701 and have the worst of both worlds ;-)

I totally agree, adventure bikes I would go for a middle size like Yamaha Tenere 700, however for road bike I would go for either touring bike like Suzuki gsx 1000 GT or a good classic like Kawasaki z900sx, by the way I do not like at all adventure bikes but there are necessary for some terrains, that is all. I love road bikes with 4 cylinders engines , total love them!!!!

Really to the point. I knew it already heavy is not fun. Is a CB500X count as heavy bike ?

I would recommend to any beginner. Start off road with a 125 cc. You would enjoy every km.

You’re not an idiot, you’re awesome!! Brilliant topics and food for thought as usual 😉😎🔥

All very good info.. if mainly hwy riding.. get a reg bike …. if off roading w/o much hwy=get a lightweight dual purpose.

I just bought a V-Star 950a for "adventure" touring in style on a budget. Cruise in comfort all day and watch "Itchy Boots" in the evening around the campfire.

Yeah, unfortunately you are right. Just to put things in perspective: Getting a Big Adventure Bike and going Off-Road is like getting yourself a Chevrolet Suburban or any other comparable SUV and take that huge heavy land yacht out for a Off-Road adventure...yeah not gonna happen ! In fact those Big Adventure Bikes really are the Big Heavy SUV Motorcycles on this planet. Ask yourself this question every time you are challenged to take an Off-Road trip: Would you take a Chevrolet Suburban here..? When the answer is No! then don't take your Big SUV or your Big Adventure Bike there. This will prevent a lot of damage, pain, and tears. A Big Adventure Bike really is a tarmac travelers Bike to go discover a continent from a paved road perspective. You will have the maximum of fun! Just stay away from unpaved roads ! Just like you would with your Chevy Suburban or equivalent.

Thank you!!

Good reasons, that's why I love my Honda xre-300. It gives me all I need. I think I will take a long time to start needing a bigger engine

All very valid points. And things I constantly think about. I’ve actually thought about everything you have said before watching this video. And still I want a big shiny new adventure bike. And I know I could buy 2 different bikes for the same price. And I still have my big touring bike in the garage. Dammit I really should listen to the voice of reason. 😅😢

totally agree solid, (why solid by the way) I have a 2015 GS1200 and a 300 Rally , love em both but for different reasons, at 67, power and prestige are starting to be trumped by cost, maintenance and weight. I smile every time I jump on the Honda, if I'm going off road, riding tar 100 kays sometimes to get there I'll take the Honda every time now. I'm gearing it up with Andy Strapz everything (also use Andie's gear on the GS) . The GS still has it's place, but unless it's easy off road the Honda wins every time, because of weight, %100. The GS has been to Cameron Corner, but now I just don't want to wrestle with the big girl any more in the hard stuff. I really love going on rides now on the 300 while watching people even on 650'S or more struggling, the 300 is stealthy, very capable but well under every one's radar. A GS1200 and CRF300 are the perfect shed mates. Great work solid.

4 easy rules if you have proper off-road/off-pavement adventure in mind: 1. Bike wet weight with luggage should never exceed your double body weight, all while keeping the center of mass as low as possible. 2. Ergonomics and nimbleness is key - because it almost automatically leads to a joyful, confident and much safer ride, no matter your skill level. 3. 700 ccm and 50-60 horsepower is more than enough for adventure touring - if you want to constantly push speed limits on pavement, get a decent street bike. 4. Invest most money into proper gear, followed by professional training. In contrast: The bike purchase and maintenance cost should represent your least expenditure over the first 3-5 years.

Bingo. I bought an 890 Adv R for WY BDR. AWESOME when you're doing 80 on street or gravel sections, but at 440lbs, it is a monster to pick up when you dump it. It also can't get anywhere near smaller bike handling on dirt and gravel. Sold that, bought a 690 Enduro R and added a Rade Garage kit, and took off a bunch of weight with Ti exhaust, a lightweight battery an a couple others. Not as sweet on the road without cruise control and the 890's low vibration, but I can ride that thing almost anywhere I can ride my 500, AND I can pick it up if I'm solo and I dump it. Also - We do the hotel thing so we don't bring camping gear, and that means we're packing 25 lbs ish. But that does mean we go out and challenge ourselves with the hard stuff.

True. Well explained 👍🏻

I am a Jeep Tour Guide in Colorado. I spend a lot of time helping guys pick their "big bikes" up after dumping them. The tires just spin out if you try to start off heading uphill on the loose terrain in this area..

I started on an Africa Twin. After almost getring stuck in New Mexico quicksand and barely able to get it out in the middle of nowhere, i decided it was too much for me. I now have a WR250R and loving it.

I bought one, a KTM 790 s. Got stuck where I needed help to get it turned around and off my leg. If I was alone who knows if I'd be here now. I need to get an InReach unit. I guess they are good for easy dirt roads. My KTM 300exc is a great dirt for trials. Anyway I parked the 790 and just picked up a KTM500exc-f 2023 model. Bar risers, Zumo XT, new springs and a Seat Concept seat. Will do just fine with Giant Loop Mojave saddle bags if you are hotelling it and not camping.

Well said and logical information

I'm 36, 6"1' and race in hard enduro. I rode a 1200gs around Europe, a BMW 650 Rallye around the world, a Suzuki DRZ400 around Australia and now have a Honda CT90 for New Zealand that I'm riding back to the UK on.

Totally agree. You will save so many people time, money and angst with this video

Yep, I’ve history getting sucked into bigger is better. 66 hrs old, riding since I was 17. Now my two bikes are NZ LAMs approved, lighter, cheaper and way more cheerful. One for the seal and one for the gravel. Did I hear “ Reasons to be cheerful. Part 3.” Good content vid. Cheers.

I'm a beginner that wants to learn proper off road techniques. And this advice is echoed by basically every single YT channel that does offroad bike content. And it makes sense, if I want to learn how to parallel park a car, it will be a lot easier and quicker to learn that in a small car compared to a big truck. And when I want to learn how to powerslide through an entire turn on gravel, that will be so much easier to learn on a 150kg bike than a 250kg bike.

Loved the short footage of the bloke washing out his front end in slippery mud… tyre choice is important 😮

I totally agree with Cronicles. I believe I have come close to the holy grail (for me and my needs). I took my carburetor 450 EXC, installed MX cams, larger carburetor and punched the cylinder out to 540cc. Larger radiators with fans, an oil cooler, trick suspension, luggage rack subframe, 22 litre fuel tank, two aluminum 1,5 litre fuel bottles, Kriega luggage system, a wind deflector, a Garmin, anti vibration mounts for the handlebar, Stegpegz, Rekluse autoclutch, taller final gearing, Conti TKC 80 - and Bobzyerauntie 👌🏁. Again, this works as an ADV bike (for me). A bigger ADV is pointless for me, as I like to venture out on trails and mainly coz I am not a pro Dakar rider.

Great video, you nailed it on all counts. Weight is huge, doesn’t really matter where it is. Power is only relevant to function, and big numbers are largely pointless in this application. Money is reality, the cost of luxury is out of hand, one of the worlds richest guys sells handbags…at least it tells us marketing works… Instead of burning the nest egg on the big, powerful heavy bike perhaps a lighter reasonably powered affordable bike will provide the opportunity to establish the confidence in using all its abilities, the reliability to continually explore them and the finances to actually take an adventure. Like a DR. Cost after extensive farkles is still considerably less than the cheapest of the big adv’s. Weight is considerably less fully loaded than the big adv’s dry weight. Power is enough to get into, and out of trouble. Reliability is on par with gravity…it doesn’t fail. I’m bias but it works for me.

However, if you want a bike that can haul long distances and still have fun on forest roads or Two track. Big ADV bikes are a ton of fun. I have 2 wheel sets for my 1290 SAR that I can swap for focused road riding or knobs for the dirt. Very happy with the set up

Drz400e, two sets of rims: dually tyres with 41 tooth fitted, knobbys with 47 tooth fitted, two chains, minimal amount of gear hung off it. In 10 minutes, you can turn it from a backroad tourer to a single trail, knarly offroader. All for 1/2 the price of a big, heavy chook chaser. Good call solid.

Great video and you are absolutely RIGHT ON!!!. Big, expensive overweight, cumbersome, good for roads and most civilized dirt roads. I'll keep my 2022 Honda CRF 300L here in the desert SoUthwest USA thank you very much. :)

Very true. I made that mistake and bought a R1200GSA - it was the most expensive, least fun bike I had owned. And when I dropped it - luckily on my driveway, my neighbor had to help me to lift it. Now when I shop for a bike weight matters to me more than power or bling.

had a Tenere 700 I sold it and got me a drz 400 E for 1/3 of the price , so much fun im enjoying every minute in it any terrain any time whit friends or just solo ride

I do most of my offroad riding solo, so that automatically means no big bike. Even my 190kg midsize is a challenge to pickup on steep hills or bog, and I've exhausted myself completely doing that. I have a midsize adv bike and a road bike for hooning. I think true adventuring is different from just offroading. Adventuring is exactly that; going well offtrack packing all your gear with you, breaking down, fixing, generally having an....adventure!. My brother is proof you can do that on a 2 stroke 185 ag bike running all around outback Queensland.

💯 well said! Great vid