The internet thinks you're on the wrong adventure bike...

Рет қаралды 118,306

Күн бұрын

For more on the V-Strom 800 DE | bikes.suzuki.co.uk/bikes/adve...
For more on our sponsor Leatt Clothing - leatt.com/gb/shop/moto
Tip Us To Say Thanks ☕️ | tpjr.us/brakemagazine
Exclusive Content on Patreon 💥 | www.patreon.com/brakemagazine
The Webshop 👕 | shop.brake-magazine.com
The Gear & Cameras I use 🏍 🎥 | kit.co/llelpavey
🏍 - Llel Pavey
🎥 - Llel Pavey
🎬 - Llel Pavey
---
Choosing the correct adventure bike is a minefield.The internet is full of 1000 different opinions that are 1000% correct. Both the ideology and the culture surrounding it are problematic, so let's address that a little bit.
Being honest and pragmatic about what you want to do and how capable you are will determine exactly what type of bike you should ride and that decision is perfectly good for you, in this moment.
Enjoy KZfaq!

Пікірлер: 1 000

@saddlsor Ай бұрын

Forty-six Thumbs Up! Oh darn, I can't do that here. Having followed you for many months now, this is one of the most in-your-face, let's-do-Reality-here commentaries I've seen in quite a while. (Then again, I just now watched a video of a guy telling the YT world that "adventure bikes are a myth." pfffttt!) Three key refreshing and relevant takeaways from your comments (which *should* be obvious to most): 1. It's usually the Rider, not the bike. 2. Take Responsibility for yourself and your decisions. 3. Practice self Reflection - what do you want to do with the bike, is this bike suitable for it, and how good are your riding skills? Fortunately, you do not internalize the naysayers, nitpickers haters who simply wish to argue, regardless of the merit of their arguments, or their excuses. Good on ya; a thick skin here on the interwebs is about as important as quality riding gear to avoid injury. And while riding motorbikes IS a very personal thing, there are at the same time some realities that must be faced, such as the very basic reality that every motorbike will compromise in some areas, will suck in some areas, and will excel in some areas. Let's ride our rides, improve our skills and our attitudes, and let's be curious -- not judgmental. Thanks for the voice of reason, and well done.

@BrakeMagazine Ай бұрын

Thanks for the kind words and I'm glad it makes sense! Really good summary. Sometimes my skin is nowhere near as thick as it needs to be 😂

@jammcguire1276 Ай бұрын

Ride whatever the fk you want! The journey is the destination. Any bike can be an adventure bike if you put some creativity into it. Build your own fun as that is one of the best parts of it! Those sure as fk weren't adventure bikes in WWII but they got creative as hell! I grew up riding dirt bikes so my skill level is different than some of my friends who started riding as adults. My second nature is something they had to learn but that is half the fun. Just do it and you'll figure it out.

@tbillyjoeroth Ай бұрын

sounds like you're all thumbs....

@peteandalie Ай бұрын

The "right" adventure bike is the one in your shed.

@krakosekrumpa Ай бұрын

Exactly

@swoosh_italia_328 Ай бұрын

If you don't have a bike in your shed?

@ridemfast7625 Ай бұрын

@@swoosh_italia_328 Find a friend that has bikes. Or, get a better job. A new friend is easier and cheaper. hahaha

@swoosh_italia_328 Ай бұрын

@@ridemfast7625 im asking for bike ideas i can get them i just have no idea or knowlege on what to get

@richardahola692 Ай бұрын

@@swoosh_italia_328Then buy one. At least one. I bought an old GL1100 for $800 and rode it for 12 years. Now I'm up to a GL1200 and looking for a Tiger.

@ultimatist Ай бұрын

Well said. Egos are out of control, humility is lacking, and the internet allows useless opinions to be broadcasted far and wide. Like I tell my kids: learning to ignore the noise is one of the greatest skillsets of the 21st century.

@BrakeMagazine Ай бұрын

It’s tough tbh. I find myself checking myself on a daily basis 😅

@whataboutjeff Ай бұрын

💯. We live in a world full of keyboard warriors…

@MountainMotoMojo Ай бұрын

Same guys who have all of the negative opinions, who are self proclaimed 'know it alls' - are the same type of guys who have a 3 year old bike for sale on marketplace with less than 3,000km. All sorts of opinions, with very little experience-let alone talent or skill

@ultimatist Ай бұрын

@@BrakeMagazine I've seen you qualify your recommendations. And you back up your arguments. That's why I value your opinion when I spend my coin 🙂

@ultimatist Ай бұрын

@@MountainMotoMojo these overconfident, obnoxious bombasts have always been around. Now they can reach the world from their mom's basement...

@FortyFourTeeth Ай бұрын

Excellent video. And even better is that you can apply this philosophy to EVERY discipline, hobby, bike, car, house, t-shirt, exercise, sport, school and profession on the internet. Bravo.

@ultimatist Ай бұрын

yea but... I heard 45 teeth is so much better than 44!

@Braapncamp Ай бұрын

@@ultimatist But everyone knows ...the number 42 👀☝😁

@Braapncamp Ай бұрын

Spot on! 👍

@AbdurrahmanZedSaeed Ай бұрын

@@ultimatisti would take 46 for my 150cc

@alexpryce555 Ай бұрын

@FortyFourTeeth cheers nige

@boomcity4942 Ай бұрын

You forgot to say the magic words! Life is better when you’re riding. Your channel has benefited countless riders and improved the sport. Thank you for all you do!

@justsomedude445 Ай бұрын

☝👍👍fact

@sengapore Ай бұрын

Well said! Thanks for pointing out and thanks to Brake Magazine!

@cowmath77 Ай бұрын

C90 adventures is one of my favorite channels, and if I’ve learned anything from it, ADV can be done on anything with enough grit; and friendly locals 🤠

@BrakeMagazine Ай бұрын

Absolutely. It's also a very different experience 😂

@justsomedude445 Ай бұрын

its amazin how far that guy has ridden those things isnt it

@BrakeMagazine Ай бұрын

The level of perseverance is high.

@justsomedude445 Ай бұрын

love watching him do so , not interested in travelling that way myself though LoLoL @@BrakeMagazine

@BrakeMagazine Ай бұрын

Exactly my thoughts 😂

@55SabreDog Ай бұрын

I have a Harley and it makes me smile every time I ride. I have a 1250 GSA and it makes me smile every time I ride. I have a job and it does not make me smile. Haters gonna hate. Riders gonna ride. Thanks for your awesome videos and excellent riding tips. It’s good for all of us to remember that we are all unique individuals who are simply trying to make the most of this crazy adventure we call life. Be kind, have fun and embrace the smiles.

@jgrc73 Ай бұрын

Well put, glad I read this!

@zanechristiansen 25 күн бұрын

@jgrc73 me too, cool to read others comments who have a similar mindset

@BigStreams_ Ай бұрын

This whole video is a bit funny from my POV. I've only ridden small bikes, an xt225 and a DR350, and I'm use to seeing the conversations about adventure bikes push really far into the larger bikes with anything smaller than a 650 being too small to be an adventure worthy bike (some even proclaiming that the DR650 is too light, small and underpowered for adventure riding). I've attempting to point to the riding of Itchy Boots with her CRF300 Rally and had people still claim that the bike is too small to be used as an adventure bike. It also seems the industry has really leaned into the larger bikes with the Tenere 700, V-strom 800 and 1050 as well as the 1250 GS still being quite the common bike to see on the road and in the dirt / gravel. Suffice to say, I think your title holds true. Whatever you're riding right now, the internet will probably have plenty of folks who will happily tell you how wrong the bike is for you.

@BrakeMagazine Ай бұрын

The itchy boots things is the nail on the head. It works. She's doing it. Enough said :)

@2217Video Ай бұрын

I too have an XT225. Great off road. Whereas a friend has a Benelli "Adventure bike" is taller than me and vastly more experienced rider. Yet my little XT225 is totally superior to his bike in my hands as a novice rider.

@BrakeMagazine Ай бұрын

100% and that's the point right. Glad to here it's working for you!@@2217Video

@bjohnson8190 Ай бұрын

Great vid. Heres hoping humility catches on.

@lastsonofkrypton36 Ай бұрын

Same here, longtime XT225 fan. Even after riding a DR650 into the woods while exploring some land w/ a friend, I was missing that XT. I've since sold them and gotten a CR250L to enjoy the fuel injected life, but I still feel like we're all wanting a modern 400cc dual sport and a 450-550 "small" adventure bike from the Big 4 in Japan. It looks like the new CFMoto 450MT may address the latter. Still waiting on the former. After much hesitation, I may be stepping into the KTM and Husky waters to address this missing cc range.

@jimpartin1144 Ай бұрын

It’s what Dirty Harry said: “A man’s got to know his limitations.”

@kevlow2295 Ай бұрын

Well said young man. I recently bought a Tuareg, it is more bike than I'll ever need as I'm a novice off roader but I will learn. I will take a course and practice and my bike will take me to the gravel roads of Scandinavia or down to Spain. I will have fun and other people can say what they like.

@BrakeMagazine Ай бұрын

Enjoy that!

@Qbasz007 Ай бұрын

I am a short person and i was afraid to ride big bikes offroad, so i bought myself a cheap dualsport a DRZ400s. After a year of practice with my "little" bike my confidence and my skill raised so much that my fears had disappeared. Bought a KTM 790 ADV R and rode it on the same trails where my DRZ, no problem what so ever. As a bonus because it is a lower bike I crashed way less times than on my DRZ :D

@BrakeMagazine Ай бұрын

I mean, this is the perfect story for this video. The right bike, in the right moments for you! Thanks for the comment :D

@FirstName-qq6rq Ай бұрын

Short mean how many cm? 170 or 175cm?

@Qbasz007 Ай бұрын

@@FirstName-qq6rq 174cm, 74 inseam.

@94SexyStang Ай бұрын

you must ride some easy trails........the ones I ride, anything past 300lbs you're NOT making it, regardless of rider skills.

@Qbasz007 Ай бұрын

If you ride on such extreme places why the hell do you want a large motorcycle? You already have on that is clearly capable for your style. @@94SexyStang

@bartlaemmel8325 Ай бұрын

I and my mates, rented stock GS 700's with zero armor and road tires in Oaxaca, Mexico. We rode hundreds of miles of rough mountain roads for 10 days. After the first day of 130 tough miles, I realized something. The best adventure bike is the one you have.

@seanholland9576 Ай бұрын

I was hopeless on a dirt bike, always looking at others seemingly doing it all easily. I bought a trials bike and I was awful at first as you would be. Fast forward 5 years and I can pop a 701 over a fallen tree on its back wheel. Now everything is easier because I have so much more feel and time when doing anything tricky. It really pays to do trials if you ride off road.

@nickg2431 Ай бұрын

Its true!I saw your video ,good choice sean!

@Mdviousdt Ай бұрын

I’ve been riding an “inappropriate” bike for ADV for years. On some obstacles a KTM890 or T7 will walk away from me, however I have become very accustomed to using a 2013 Triumph Scrambler 900 for the past 128,000miles. It’s the everyday bike that works for me, there’s also something to be said for becoming so familiar with any one bike that you know exactly what went wrong and how to repair it the moment it happens. So ride your ride often, get familiar with it, that’s probably the best advice I could give.

@devilslawyer1646 Ай бұрын

you nailed it, I'm just surprised so many don't get it, buy the bike that best suits your style, ability, and where you want to ride. So simple, why are we even talking about this? Now if you don't like GS1200's, fine, don't buy one, but just shut-up about it, because not one single GS rider cares what you think, they are too busy covering huge miles in comfort.

@davidmatthews3093 Ай бұрын

Or waiting for their bike to come back from being repaired under warranty.

@user-hk7fp6qf8i Ай бұрын

or getting 3 mates to help pick the lumps up when they drop them...pathetic bikes@@davidmatthews3093

@alelectric2767 Ай бұрын

Or still trying to pull it out of the mud.

@I_am_Thursday Ай бұрын

Actually they really do care because most only buy one to conform and haven't an original thought in their egotistical brains.

@chrisbrewer1582 Ай бұрын

It's straight forward, the reason the adv bikes (classic bigger machines) sell so well is they don't just sell a bike. They sell the idea of adventure. The need to go buy lightweight kit/gear, and buy this and buy that. You can buy BDR routes, GPX tracks and buy tours! Its a consumeristic thing over anything else. You can adventure on anything, even foot, in case some have forgotten haha.

@Kai-ze2rb Ай бұрын

That sounds extreme - on foot 😂 It's all about the emotion that is been sold with the bike. At least that's what Peter Pierer (KTM CEO) say. You wanna be adventurous and found your way - the only right way, because it feels so exciting that it must be true. Marketing works very well...

@rfulop Ай бұрын

Light ADV bikes are just great all-around starter bikes. I bought a 2022 Royal Enfield Himalayan 411 last year and I've been using it as a commuter bike with locking side boxes, and an exploration bike on the narrow forest roads near my house. I've taken it on longer 3-4 hour rides on tarmac, and it pulls that off comfortably too. Is it a great off-road vehicle? No. But it gets the job done and it is super fun

@sreimert 8 күн бұрын

Thanks for this - it's *brilliant*. I am "an old guy" (60+) and started riding at 52 on a DR650. I moved to a V-Strom 650XT and love it. I was thinking about "moving up" to something like a Transalp or something, but then I watched your video and started thinking, "What do I want to do that this bike can't do? How often is this bike the limiting factor on where I want to go?" And I realized that this bike is still perfect (for me). So thanks for the clarity.

@damerowr Ай бұрын

Wow. Some impressive comments on free content, no one is forced to watch. I enjoy watching your channel and I appreciate your relevant prospective on the channel's subject. Unlike you, I have not finished (or even started) a Dakar race, my experience level is no where near yours, I lean much from your riding tips, and I have an idea as to how much work goes into providing the content you provide. A heart felt thank you and please keep up the good work, Llel!

@jamescampbell4334 Ай бұрын

Great vid.👍 I've put almost 11k miles on my DesertX in 10 months riding in north and west Texas. Over 1/3 of those miles off-road. In the 10 months advancing skills, I've become comfortable doing stuff I never thought I'd be willing to even attempt when I picked up the Ducati. I may be moving up to a DDX Rally later this year.🤔 Thanks for your channel. It helped push me to be a better rider.

@janeharris9879 Ай бұрын

Totally agree with you. I'm a senior lady going from an Enfield to a Transalp. I don't feel I'm a fraud.

@mototrailz Ай бұрын

Great vid 👌. Just rode my 890R on a 4000km loop in Morocco. This bike is amazing...roads, gravel roads, sand, technical gnarly rocky stuff I was blown away she can do it all easily. Best fun I had since Iceland on my 690 ✌

@Dogatemyhomework927 Ай бұрын

My 1200 gs is a heavy beggar at 70 yrs!! As long as I go with a buddy, they help me pick it up. 🤣🤣 But the 350cc is starting to look like a good choice for back roads but not big trips. I live in forests with lots of roads and trails.. Rawhyde adventure bike school in Southern California is amazing Thanks for the perspective!👍🏽

@BrakeMagazine Ай бұрын

Well said!

@jonwoodworker Ай бұрын

One of the best Adventure bike videos ever. And the 800DE is a very capable weapon.

@vebez5993 Ай бұрын

I feel the exact same way. I had a vstrom 650 that I treated like a dirt bike, I would ride it 2-3 hours before sunset everyday and it was hard at first but after 1-2 years I was taking it to some crazy offroard areas and was riding better than most dirt bikers I knew. I heard a lot of weird opinions about my bikes capabilities. It’s 80% the rider not the bike.

@curnobullen Ай бұрын

Great video. Training is key for me. The smile on the face when you open the garage, brilliant 👌🏻

@andrewandlm Ай бұрын

Brilliant brilliant brilliant. Once again, very well put. Live your take on riding.

@b0bChoK Ай бұрын

As an Africa Twin DCT adventure "occasional" rider, I couldn't agree more... If every time someone tell me "this bike is too big/heavy to go on trail" or "the DCT can't do offroad", I get 10€, maybe I would have a second Africa Twin by now... XD And most of the time, it end with "you're skilled to do that with this bike" but no, these adventure bikes are just amazing ! (and the DCT the ultimate cheat code)

@spokewheel4085 Ай бұрын

This is the best video explaining all this so far. I am a new rider and trying to decide what the best option is for me. Well done! Thank you!

@jenHry-ng3pw 20 күн бұрын

I figured out adventure is coming from NOT having the appropriate tools for the job. Honda hunter 125 is perfect. It is about the struggle, discomfort, doing something nobody did before. Doing something people said cannot be done. That brings joy and admiration of people.

@RookieRider93 Ай бұрын

Great video. I have been saying this to all my friends. ADV bikes can go off road, and are far more capable than most of our skills. And a lot of other KZfaqrs spread similar misconceptions. Chaseontwowheels recently did a review of the Tiger 850, and introduced it as a bike that has NO off road capabilities. And of course he concluded that without ever taking that bike off road. I ride the Tiger 850 off road all the time and never once felt like its capabilities run out before my skill does. It may happen one day, but for 90% of ADV riders, it has more than enough capabilities. Glad you are talking about this in this video!

@MaartenvanHeek 28 күн бұрын

That's quite the opposite extreme, then, of RevZilla taking a BMW M1000R offroad: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/nJt4ncZ8naibio0.html

@MrRickrm Ай бұрын

Very well said. My problem is going from dirt to street. Then going adventure bike with old skills still functioning well. Then shit hit the fan. Wrecked left eye. No depth perception, but still doing mostly off-road. Then, I blew out two disks in my lower back. No riding for two years. Then susuki Concourse 1000. Great sport touring. ThenVstromdl1000 and of the beginning of the adventure riding, too hard for off-road as picking it up was a No No. Three bikes later now a new CFMoto 800T. Great bike but so heavy. Good tires will make it better. At 70, it seems my skills have retired. Off road that used to be so easy are now difficult, but I did go dirt bike for that. A WR250R. The bike makes off-road fun, on the street it sucks. So you are right about picking the bike that works. Then practice skills like a newbie.

@BrakeMagazine Ай бұрын

I think it sounds like the right bike in the right moment, and if you can still keep having fun that’s all that matters. Stoked to hear you’re still riding at 70 ✌️

@steveoliver177 Ай бұрын

Excellent video. Someone needs to talk about these subjects with this honesty and perspective. Well done!

@MotocrossHideout 24 күн бұрын

"The key, however, is not bike time. It's purposeful considered practice." I hear so many people in the trail riding community say that "seat time" is the best teacher, but that's the longest and one of the hardest routes if you're not being intentional with practice and using proper techniques. I'm not an ADV rider (although I do have a Vstrom 650 for the street), but thanks for sharing, L-Pavey!

@BrakeMagazine 21 күн бұрын

It’s a myth for sure 😂😂

@ChuckMahon Ай бұрын

Well said. I came from a light weight adv bike but when I purchased my R1200GS my eyes opened to possibilities. I'll take my "heavy" GS any day - touring, track, off-road, etc.

@Shacks Ай бұрын

The sentiment in this video is refreshing and positive, which I really appreciate. Being open to others’ views, opinions, wants, and abilities is the way forward. I’m a new-to-me 1250GS owner about to attend ORS and looking to take it on easy unpaved roads to “put a toe in the water”. Yes it’s a big heavy bike. Yes I’ve been lectured by others that I probably “should” be on a smaller bike for lanes, but I can only afford one bike and this is the one that for many reasons my heart has led me to. I’m only considering easy stuff because I know it’s a heavy bike and I need to work on my skills. Over 95% of my riding will continue to be road, with some big European tours. Got an eye on ACT too. I’m now a new subscriber to your channel off to watch some of the back catalogue 👍🏻

@RollModel724 Ай бұрын

@brakemagazine thank you for this. I have started adv riding a few years ago right before Covid in the U.K. Green lanes were terrifying on my Himalayan. I did a class at sweet lamb and that helped but it IS all about confidence and practice. I see huge differences over the past five years but I only get to go off road a few times a year due to life and work. Meanwhile I have mates who have no experience getting KTM 890s and ripping the trails screaming YOLO, while I am still plodding on my G650GS Sertao through the Pennsylvania woods. This video gave me some hope normalizing that there is no minimum ability to be good or not suck.

@BrakeMagazine Ай бұрын

I'm really glad that came across.There really isn't. If you're having fun, doing what you wanna do then you're doing it right. :)

@Ironhawx Ай бұрын

The carefully choreographed marketing ads tell me what ADV is. Scenic landscapes, desert terrains, rocky outcrops, but for me adventure is making it to the nearest coffee shop to show off the $35000 bike I bought over a $1.50 coffee ☕️

@BrakeMagazine Ай бұрын

I feel sarcasm 😂😂

@whataboutjeff Ай бұрын

And if that makes these people happy, if it is fun for them to buy such bikes for that money to be able to do xyz but then only drive to drink a coffee… why does it bother you ?

@BrakeMagazine Ай бұрын

Exactly Jeff

@johnmacdonald1878 Ай бұрын

I almost always go for a coffee. Sometimes I get cake as well. Sometimes its 5 minutes down the road. Or where the road ends. I had a coffee and some Jerky at the Arctic Ocean. Then I turned around and rode home.

@250LM4me Ай бұрын

I go and buy coffee beans on my PanAmerica then come home and wash the dust off of it.

@JacobAnawalt Ай бұрын

You'll probably bin this for not cheering your take but... your piece starts out ragging on "problematic" people who tell others how to behave, then you tell them how to behave and that the problem is them, not the bike. Much of your take seems non-nuanced as you complain about others making, and in general to say "adventure bikes can do it all". This from the person/channel that just two months earlier was saying the V-Strom 800 DE was a "perfect gravel road bike"... Lets be fair, most riders dont have the skill to do the things you showed, and while offroad school is valuable, it isn't keeping a heavy bike from sinking in the sand, or not making up a very steep tricky bit without some serioius risky speed to carry it, no matter how fancy the traction control is, nor how perfectly matched the tire is to the terrain. Your adventure bike is not going to do extreme enduro or trials unless your skill level is max. Your rant on "its just your skill" seems to be discounting the choice made by all those non-adventure bike riders you crossed paths with on the TET. Was that you who faced the mountain on that TET in northern spain and backed off becaues it was too steep for the heavy bike, or was that another pair of riders? A heavy bike on steep sketchy single track is just asking for trouble for most riders. Some people may be just armchair quarterbacking their comments, but others paid the price of being oversold what they could do by marketing, and ended up having expensive misery, not adventure. Another issue is that offroad for one means extreme enduro and for another it means any non-durable surface. Instead of being told the adventure bike can do it all and they just suck, a more balanced approach is just to be realistic about the type of riding a bike is suited for, set your expectations and plans, and be encouraged to skill up to better enjoy that riding.

@BrakeMagazine Ай бұрын

If there is one think that won't ever happen on this channel, it's binning thought out comments that question the viewpoint in the video. I genuinely believe that discussion is a huge part of the learning process. Your point about me telling them how to behave is accurate. It's a paradox. I'm not sure I quite understand the point about me saying the DE is a 'perfect gravel road bike'. The review is to outline where a bike's skillset lies and what it's good at, bad at and an average ADV rider can do with it. I actually disagree with regards to the V-Strom vs Transalp video. Most of the terrain in that video is relatively simple. I have taken people who are just a couple of days of off-road skills training into their adventure bike journey on a lot of those routes. I agree that when the riding gets difficult, sand, tricky steep hills etc. the limit of the bike is a lot lower if it's an adventure style bike, no argument there. You can't argue with the physics or the engineering and if the bike isn't appropriate for the skill level or the terrain you want to ride, then choose a different bike. That's the whole point of the end of the video. I'm not meaning to discount their choices, that's probably just my bad scripting. I'm stoked they made a choice, are hopefully enjoying it and are out there riding and exploring. Zero judgement from me. The point of this video is to encourage support in the community and guide people looking to make a bike choice that's free from the 'You can only do it this way or you're not doing it right' dogma and that means if a 500 EXC or a Honda CT 110 is the right bike for you, it's the right bike. I did stop at the top of one hill because the trail was not a trail. It was made by a bulldozer and didn't go anywhere. My friends had places to be and I was fucking around. It wasn't on the TET, it was south of Leon. I agree that if your skills don't allow you to avoid mistakes on a bigger bike it might not always be the best bike, or you might have to limit what riding you choose to do. As for the 'what off-road' means. That probably just means we need better descriptions. It's why I started using the term gravel road bikes.

@flippy66 Ай бұрын

Can you quote where he tells people how to behave?

@mancavemoto Ай бұрын

@JacobAnawalt An interesting take, but your last three sentences sum up exactly what was being said in the video. I thought it was a well measured take on the subject. I agree, that people get sold a promise on what a particular bike can do, but surely anyone would realise that it is there riding skill that is the biggest factor. People can't expect a bike to do all the work, I've seen riders on BMW GS's with little to no offroad experience and assume that the bike will get them through some difficult terrain. I personally ride and Africa Twin Adventure Sports, its big and heavy, but I love riding it and my 'off-road' aspirations are nothing more than gravel trails and fire breaks, so I'm fine with that.

@hershmergersh6733 Ай бұрын

triggered

@Weltbummler23 Ай бұрын

100% - brake magazine seems to be all about having an opinion and telling others what to do, but not allowing others to also voice an opinion. Its tyrant-ish behavior. When you publish something, there will be a diversity of replies, some sarcastic, some critical - it just comes with the territory.

@fuelerr Ай бұрын

Great advice, bud. Appreciate your work. Best wishes from 🇨🇦

@irishrover63 Ай бұрын

This video makes total sense. I have only ever been on one off road course here in Scotland for a day and it was amazing. It's all about your skill level to give you that confidence to ride the trails you always wanted to. To be honest dropping my bike is probably what keeps me from heading on those far off trails, but having said that I don't have my bike setup to be able to cope with those trails anyway. I have a 2013 Honda CB500X that I have owned from new, don't know why I'm scared of dropping it as I have done it twice already and could get it RallyRaid prepared if I want to. But that is the question also, you have to want to ride those off road trails in the first place.

@foehammerE419 Ай бұрын

Last year I had my adventure bike at work and my coworker with a Harley swapped bikes with me to go to lunch. It was actually amazing. You can't judge a bike without riding it.

@michaelgorman164 Ай бұрын

Not many are willing to go out on the limb and be politely blunt as you have done, and i applaud you Sir. People need to understand that the adventure is in you, not the bike. I've been in this for decades starting in the 20th century with an '81 XL185 and an '89 XL600V Transalp. Back then there was no social media, no magazines dedicated to off-road travel, you strapped your garbage bag covered tent to your bike, hand wrote your navigation and went. I still have those two bikes along with a KTM 500 and 950 Adv. The only thing these 4 bikes do very well, is make me smile.

@Izmash Ай бұрын

as a guy who rides harleys and a yamaha super tenere a bike the internet would say it too big and too heavy for any dirt trails this video speaks to my heart. people have a hard time getting past the spec sheet let alone off the pavement.

@DmitriyAdv Ай бұрын

Excellent video! You’re saying the things that us as a motorcycling community need to hear. All of us are guilty of thinking that we’re on the wrong bike or need some magic farkles to make us a better rider, and the companies selling these things are all too happy to reinforce this.

@rdownmakeITbetter Ай бұрын

I agree with much of what is said here - especially the bit about matching your skill and the bike you ride to the terrain you're trying. However, one other thing to factor in is that most trails (in the UK at least) lie at the end of several hours on roads getting there. Suddenly, unless you own a van or bike trailer, you have to factor in the tarmac time getting to a location. For me, a Honda Africa Twin with my skill level limits me to tame green-lanes but makes getting there and back easy, quick and comfortable. (Plus, I can load it up with camping gear and make an overnight of the trip.)

@PCS_93 15 күн бұрын

Love this! I've did more gravel road miles on my Triumph Daytona than my dad has on his GS1250. Ride the bike you have and beat it until it beats you!!

@RedRupert64 Ай бұрын

You're spot on. I love 21" front wheels and quality suspension, so use a KTM 890AR for sportsbike-fast road riding in France, also on gravel tracks in Latvia, Lithuania and Spain. After riding it, I'm buzzing.

@gabriellopesmonteiro Ай бұрын

Thank you for the video 😊 I am someone still doing the class before my license, but the plan is to get a bike that gets me anywhere (plus a R3). My initial thoughts go around a dual sport, to get the hang of off road, with no trail in the forest kind of thing, but enough to learn to hide to where I want when I want to. So my thoughts so far were CRF250L, DR400S or perhaps go straight to a small adv like the Himalayan, Versys 300 X or even a V Strom 250. Though , I do not want it to be too weak, I know it would he best to be 300-400. However, it was great to have your point of view in here, to help me clarify a little bit more. Thanks again. 😁

@AwesomePlayers Ай бұрын

I went for a ride yesterday on my Husky 901. I’m not a great rider. A lot of pavement and some gravel. It was amazing. That’s all that matters.

@jepomer Ай бұрын

At 72 and with short legs, my Africa Twin is fantastic when riding on the highway. But I struggle maneuvering it when riding slow on trails. My dreams of a long cross-country adventure trip have faded. I have been longing for the fun I had in the '70s riding my XL250. I needed a bit more than the XL250 to do any significant highway riding. I compromised and got a CB500X. It is definitely lighter and more maneuverable for me in tight parking lots and unimproved roads. The CB500X does what I want my motorcycle to do.

@BobsBikingAdventures Ай бұрын

YES! What an excellent, well thought through and thoughtfully presented video. The adventure biking community is so much better when we just let people enjoy things! I love little bikes. Had a ton of fun on one last year, but I also love my Africa Twin and had The Most fun on a Tiger 1200 Rally Pro last year. I'm a distinctly average rider. I have an office job and I don't get out biking nearly often enough. But I've done a fair bit of training with various schools, on various bikes. This has given me the confidence and techniques to know I can get my bike through just about anything. It likely WILL NOT be pretty, but it'll work. 😅 Great video. 😎

@hdjnfirnfnhdhdjjdkdk9349 Ай бұрын

There will allways be some who will search and preach about the easyest way to do anything. They don't leave the couch to often or to long. But what it counts it's your ability to make the most of what you have

@rjsalameh Ай бұрын

I always feel like I've learned something from these videos! TY!!!

@cortor558 Ай бұрын

I am a 12 year old who lives in the socal deserts. I live where there’s a community of riders who make home made tracks that I ride and are open to the public that have some jumps and whoops. My dad bought a cheap bike for me to learn to ride on and practice. But now what I’m more capable I need an actual bike and I’m pining 4th gear going 45 on whoops and my bike is breaking down. I like what this video because of why you made it. It tells people do what you want and buy a bike for it.

@BrakeMagazine Ай бұрын

Sounds like an awesome place to live! Thanks for the kind words :)

@MarkLewisfitness Ай бұрын

This just makes me want to go back to ORS and finally do my level 3 😁

@migael92 Ай бұрын

I did offroad course with my mate on xr250r's. We were so kinda convinced that we were gonna have it easy compared to any one who would show up on a big heavy adv bike. To our suprise a guy on bmw 1300gs on old 50/50 was able to do course just as well and made it pass every obstacle we did. Maybe not as fast or easy but he still managed. And he had less experience than we did . That said I still like small light bikes, they are great to quickly learn to ride offroad, test and develop your skill without getting you in to trouble ....

@powertrip1050 Ай бұрын

I'm glad I subscribed to your channel. Even our little motorcycle world needs a little reality-check every so often. You did it really well....I hope some of the die-hards can relax and enjoy themsleves more.

@Praxics0815 23 күн бұрын

Someone once said something along the lines of the right bike is the bike you have. In the 1950s people rode around the world on something like a Harley-Davidson WLA surely you'll be fine on a Suzuki V-Strom. I own a Tuareg 660 and I'm fairly inexperienced in terms of off-road. I live in a place where on almost every forest path or farm lane there is a sign explicitly prohibiting motorcycles from entry (alongside cars). Of course you can ignore it and ride in anyway but I like having my license and I don't like trouble or to cause trouble for other people. So yea my bike doesn't see much off-road and if then just a gravel road. But I can only own one bike and it needs to do everything I want to do and adventure bikes do that so yea I own one of these motorcycle-SUVs. I'm fine with cruising down my gravel road enjoying nature and solitude. Thanks.

@javi_scram Ай бұрын

Great message! It's kinda what I mostly hear with my scrambler 1200, is currently the only one that makes me smile when I see it

@MichaelShaw206 Ай бұрын

I started as a teenager on dirt bikes - motorcross and trail riding, and doing really stupid things. I then moved to street bikes, cruisers and fast tourers, continuing to do really stupid things. When I hit 50 years of age, I looked at BMW GS bikes, thinking they were the perfect "adventure" bike, but they were pretty expensive and seemed more like a 70's Honda Golden wing - a couch on wheels. Being middle-aged, I didn't want to have a bike that screamed that fact to everybody, but this adventure stuff seemed cool, and I really needed to feel "adventurous" as I neared the last quarter of my life during the pandemic. Then I read several "light is right" stories and watched too many videos and bought a WR250R and did the Washington BDR. I overloaded it, and it really struggled on the pavement portions, but I learned you don't need that much hp on the dirt roads that make up most BDR's, and a light bike made technical terrain more enjoyable. It was exhausting, however, on long jaunts. I moved on to a Tuareg 660 (great bike for the money, but 450 lbs and I worried about riding alone and picking it up), then to a Honda CRF 450L (light, powerful, but too uncomfortable on the street), then to a Kove 450 (better on the street and very capable off-road), and then purchased, due to a serendipitous interaction waiting for my Kove to be inspected, a used 2019 Triumph Scrambler 1200 xe, with all the shiny parts taken off and a new tune with a low pipe from a gentleman who tracked the bike.. I'll sell the Kove soon because I find that I just love the Triumph and it will go anywhere I want to go now that I'm 60 and recently had open heart surgery (can't ride yet). Most would argue that it's not a good "adventure" bike because it's heavy, and a naked bike, but it makes my newly repaired heart sing every time I walk by it and I would rather ride it than all the other bikes I have owned. My only advice to someone interested in riding, adventure or otherwise, is find a bike that you can love because this is a hobby and not an act of a reasonable person. If we had any sense, we'd all drive econo-box cars (or CRF 300Ls) and live long boring lives.

@PumpkinOnWheels Ай бұрын

Excelent point, it was exactly what made me change from a multistrada to a 390adv and now I am back to riding almost everywhere again. I fear even the 700-800 are still too heavy for me to feel confident when riding alone which is 95% of the time so yeah, I miss the power but at least now I have the courage to venture myself and get the skill I am lacking due to lack of practice.

@QuackLoud Ай бұрын

Thank you Soooo Much for speaking plainly on this issue. I'm a really old guy that has been riding a long time, but my son's friends tell me that "the internet says" or "KZfaq says". Great video. Cheers.

@ThunderBird80085 Ай бұрын

Another thing to consider is that people over 6' exist. ADVs have by far the best ergos for me at 6'5. I also get to go on some low to moderate level skill trails to go see some neat things around the states.

@user-qz5vb3ip2b Ай бұрын

This! I really needed to hear this. Thank you!

@erikbarkefors2441 Ай бұрын

I have been an armchair adventurer since I sold my last motorcycle thirty years ago. Now I'm thinking about buying a motorcycle again and have watched many tests and adventures here on Yuotube. If I buy a motorcycle, there are two important things in the choice: Where will I drive most of the time and can I and the intended motorcycle handle it? Your video addresses exactly that reasoning. Thanks!

@Skiamakhos Ай бұрын

I started out on a dual sport 125 & while they're really an endurance test on the motorway in the wet, they're still loads of fun around town, commuting in London or bezzing around the countryside.

@BrakeMagazine Ай бұрын

Amen! Getting it done 👍

@OrangeManStan Ай бұрын

Great video as always. Its for sure skill level thats required. Only thing id say is when you pick that lane to go down unless you've walked it first you're never quite sure how difficult its going to get. If your level of skill suits the bike you are riding then its not generally an issue. I suppose thats part of the adventure

@tonyw4863 Ай бұрын

I did the Simon Pavey off road skills level 2 course in pouring rain and some slippery mud on an R1200GSA. It terrified me that they put me into level 2 bypassing level 1 but it was good for me. I discovered that if you are careful there are places you can ride a 1200 that I would have only previously attempted on my 250 enduro bike. I learnt a lot including significantly improving my skills and giving me the confidence to ride in places I would never have considered before. Sure it isn't an enduro bike but if you are careful its limits are quite high. I would encourage anyone who thinks big bikes aren't appropriate on rough trails to give rider training a go. BTW Shameless plug - Many thanks to Chris Northover for being a great teacher and pushing me way beyond my previous limits.

@BrakeMagazine Ай бұрын

Awesome! That's my dad!

@take5th Ай бұрын

Private videos speak to the vision in the speakers head seeking confirmation, ‘commercial’ videos speak to a hypothetical head in search of sales. I scoff at crash plates, bark busters, case savers, less than knarly knobbies, but i ride flat land, covered in sand, with no rocks. For short distances. Perspective matters and KZfaq videos are random perspective generators. If but we could all try various bikes on various terrain at various times, but that is rare. Ride what you got, make it work for you, save some money to leave to your kids.

@mrpknight482 Ай бұрын

Llel, I think what you missed by going home early 😀, was that the Portugese ACT was 'overrun' with big bikes doing the long ride, and most of, those little ones were doing the Picos ( Spainish TET) for a long weekend. As the FDudefromAus, said, "Any bike you enjoy is the right bike."

@mikehardy2525 Ай бұрын

Thanks for the videos mate. Keep ‘em coming. 👍👍

@dracer35 Ай бұрын

100% this is exactly what needs to be said and I couldn't agree more. I absolutely love riding adventure bikes and taking them on the trips and into places people seem to think can't be done without a dirtbike. I've had a KTM 500 exc setup for adventure riding and I sold it. The road sections getting to the good stuff were terrible on that bike and then the bike was so good offroad I caught myself unintentionally slacking off not using good technique and just letting the suspension make up for poor lazy rading. A few weekends ago some friends and I went on a two day trip that was roughly 400 miles. They were on 500 exc's and I was on a Versys X-300 with knobby tires. By the time we did the first 150 miles of easy gravel they were tired, sore and wanting to call it a day as we started getting into the fun hard stuff with lots of water crossings, slippery rocks, soft creek sand/rock, mud and tight single and two track through the woods. I had an absolute blast the whole time and ended up stopping and waiting for the guys on the 500's to catch up at every intersection. Adv bikes are far more capable and fun than a lot of people give them credit for. I was one of those people years ago before I learned to improve myself and now I have a new love for riding all over again. Thanks for the excellent video's and keep up the great work!

@larryvaughn7243 Ай бұрын

Great points. I always enjoy your reviews. And BTW, I love adventure bikes. I have a GS 1250, a 890 and a T7. Which one do I ride? The one I want to. Keep up the good work.

@4Fixerdave Ай бұрын

It's all fun, especially when you ride to the event on a bike with a fixed fairing, watch them unload their trailer queens, and then whup them... with your lunch still strapped on the back carrier :)

@dalediese Ай бұрын

Well said. I went from a Versys x-300 which I loved taking anywhere but due to taking progressively more difficult offroad I convinced myself to get an Africa Twin. The Africa Twin was great on the road but I didn't even have close to the level of confidence I did on the versys mostly due to the weight difference. I sold the Africa Twin after 2 years and went back to basics with many small displacement bikes to continue working on my skills, ultimately picking up a ktm exc-f 350 about a year ago. I try to practice drills at least once a week and I recently test rode a vstrom 800de which I felt so comfortable and confident on compared to my old Africa Twin. I chalk that up to the skills I've acquired over the last few years. Not to discredit the bike either, Suzuki has done a great job!

@magnusengelmark Ай бұрын

Love the message. Be inclusive and accepting of others who are not like you. I've been riding my 1200 GS off road for 10 years. I've always loved the challenge it brings me on day long rides with ever smaller bikes around me year after year. I put in about a 1000 hours of training off road riding skills the first year on my 1200GS when I got it, before I started doing longer ride outs on a regular basis. The training has made all the difference. I couldn't really ride it off road when I got it and would have probably replaced it for a smaller bike within a year if I hadn't put in the work that is needed :) Great channel mate!

@tonat7765 Ай бұрын

Well said. I first got a taste of off-road riding in Nepal on a Himalayan 450. I came back from that trip, chopped the S1000R in for a 1200GS Rallye. Never took the GS off road, I was too afraid to break the thing and found it too bulky. Chopped that in and got a T7 instead and in essence learned off-road skills on that T7. I have loved it ever since and it suits my needs to a Tee (😅). So much so, I have two, one in the UK and one in Northern Asia to toot around the Himalayas. Ultimately we are in the prime riding era, with a little compromise there is a bike to suit your needs. Go enjoy yourself and give the GS riders some stick for riding a farm tractor but ultimately don't take it too seriously. Its a fun social hobby that we can enjoy more as a community.

@rodh4512 Ай бұрын

Excellent video and excellent points. With regards to skill level - I am constantly amazed at the amount of money people will spend on their bike yet spend nothing at all on the training that would make riding that same bike so much more pleasurable!

@samiounasti6638 Ай бұрын

Great video, gave me a lot to think about. Never understood the people who buy a big adv bike and strip parts for less kilograms. Or the people who buy a lightweight bike and add tens of kilos of extra to them. Then again, I think some people don’t understand me.

@Irish.adventures Ай бұрын

Great watch, nice to see the positivity and encouragement 👌

@joshzo46 Ай бұрын

Sensational video!! Makes me want to get out and do some training 👏🏼👏🏼

@HarlockG Ай бұрын

Hey! LOVE your work. I am really looking forward a review from you of the F900GS. No one tests bikes like you do. AT ALL.

@BrakeMagazine Ай бұрын

Coming soon! We start filming Thursday!

@HarlockG Ай бұрын

@@BrakeMagazine Eeeeeepic! Thank you!

@diogenes9809 Ай бұрын

Best adv bike advice ive seen in a while. Im a mid level rider, (10 years now riding dirt bikes, sport bikes, and adv bikes on the weekends), am always annoyed when people say a bike "can't" do something. Almost no bike will break if you ride it up an enduro trail - ive even done some silly enduro climbs on an r6. It is true though that smaller is easier offroad and bigger is comfier on road. If you have a ton of experience you can absolutely shred on a big adv tourer - dirt is still easier on a small bike though. It's all trade offs and no bike really sucks. Main advice i would give though is if you want to improve quickly, you need a bike that's cheap enough you arent afraid to drop it.

@scottmilo3429 Ай бұрын

Great video as yours always are. I have been riding my 2013 1190 standard version for 10 years just started my 11th yesterday. Single, 2 up twisties decomissioned logging roads, two track trails snd lots of fast'ish gravel loaded and not. Pretty sure I've heard that my 17 inch rear and 19 inch front are not very good offroad so many times I've lost count. I just cover her sensitive bits so she doesn't get offended, watch all of your videos and practice what I see. With 130,000kms on my Orange KTM (same as you road in a test when they first came out) Still at 62 practice learn and ride as much as I can thanks for your clear no ego explanations. Cheers from British Columbia.

@nickmurphy5616 Ай бұрын

I agree with the theme, the decisive factor for me is if I'm on my own can I get out of trouble , pick it up, turn it round. I have a 690R and do a biannual commute to the Alps where I spend the 8 months a year. The trip down is painful (relatively),but after Paris I find bits of gravel and take my time. So adventure bikes get you where you want to go quicker but you can find a slower equally rewarding route. A 690R on alpine hairpins also offers a huge buzz! Perhaps my age and I admit I downsized from a big adventure to a much smaller 690, but as you say ride what makes you feel confident, because that is what you enjoy.

@julianelmo109 Ай бұрын

That’s the reaoson I bought a 26 years old Suzuki DR 650. It’s such a great concept and the perfect dual sport in my opinion. I completely rebuilt it and it’s barely stock now. It does everything I want and need. Everyday rides, traveling and Rally racing. BUT I had to invest a lot of work and money. It definitely cost me the same price like a new modern bike. Absolutely worth it!

@BrakeMagazine Ай бұрын

But that's the bike that you enjoy, clearly!

@andreaswales7739 Ай бұрын

wise words as always , keep the good work up, you give us all inspiration👍

@markmcintosh3202 Ай бұрын

We had a group ride on the weekend with all kinds of bikes and skill levels. There is one climb, Mt. Coree, which apparently has gotten easier over time, but as a learner, it poses a challenge. It is the second time up it and I made it without running up the embankment this time. But on that ride there was a BMW 1250, who made it to the top, and a CT90. I was on a DRZ400. I think all 30 bikes made it to the top, but some found it easier than others. Was there a perfect bike? Maybe to the owners and not to others.

@adr2567 Ай бұрын

Most different perspective I’ve heard so far, what stands true is most people just don’t have the time to ever develop the skill to ride such a huge bike everywhere, but manufacturers tempt them with misleading visions of true adventure, hence it’s still true that for most people a large ADV doesn’t work.

@BrakeMagazine Ай бұрын

I don't disagree with that sentiment.

@ElDuderino999 Ай бұрын

The best bike is the one on which you’re up to the task… So if something doesn’t work out (yet), either - _you_ have to change (skill, technique, fitness), - _your bike_ has to change, or - _your challenge_ has to change

@fenner-g6088 Ай бұрын

I had a T7 , it was awesome, and I covered 10k miles on it, mainly only on road to get to off road ... I'm almost 60, vertically challenged, and have lost a lot of my core strength over the last couple of years, so started to really struggle with it, so I swapped to a "heavily modded" CRF300L about a year ago. Oh boy, so much more manageable, I did 7k miles on it last year, and I'm back in love with riding ! I've just done all 9 RallyMoto icebreaker challenge routes in the last 3 months, in a few weeks we are loading up with our camping gear and hitting the TET in Spain, and then off to the Isle of Man to trail ride the island. I wouldn't have done half this if I was still struggling on with the T7, so I agree, pick a bike that you can handle, that you enjoy riding, and don't be told what you should be riding.

@BrakeMagazine Ай бұрын

Exactly.

@robpinter5431 25 күн бұрын

Spot on mate, at times I loose confidence on some of the harder trails, take a deep breath, and give it a go....it is not the bike it is the rider that needs to improve skills and trust the bike...., bigger bike are way more capable than the rider.....

@ThumperTales 28 күн бұрын

So true. The number of times people tell me off for riding a 690. I tried riding a dirt bike in Morocco and every single day I missed my 690. It’s the bike that can get to Morocco from the UK and it can do the tracks I want to do in Morocco. Riding a dirt bike that doesn’t make sense for me.

@V742 Ай бұрын

I really like your comments about bigger bikes not always being inappropriate. Historically, small bikes have been maligned; it's wonderful that in the last 10 years, people have found the joy of downsizing and switching to a bike that is less intimidating or more suited in some other way - I'm considering it myself. However, this has come with an increasing bashing of large bikes. Not everyone physically fits on the smaller bikes - I'm 6'6" and flat foot my VFR1200X on both sides. Extra power is handy for effortlessness, which is something you appreciate on long highway rides or general slogs. Playing "row, row, row your gearbox, swiftly down the street" can get really old. Big bikes are heavier. Often a con, but if you ever pass road trains like I often do, you WANT that weight. The correct bike is whichever one you can ride. I have seen footage of an ST1300 and an FJR1300 going offroad. If somebody wants to get somewhere, they're going to get there.

@JakeBarlow Ай бұрын

I might have been a victim of marketing when I chose to buy a KTM 1290 SA for my first duel sport after only one weekend with Rawhyde, but I also knew my limitations and the bikes capabilities. I learned some hard lessons but also practiced a LOT, and did several schools. Lots of Purposeful practice! It got me through sections of two BDRs, including baby head hill in OR, but not without a few tumbles. The bike could still be intimidating at times, but I still loved the hell out of it and have zero regrets. Thank you for this video. My advice is to try to know yourself before buying the bike, but also be open to discovering yourself after you experience the bike.

@jonathanmillmore7756 Ай бұрын

Bravo. Well said. It's so easy to get caught up in the comments sections, forming opinions on matters that really don't matter to you. Single model forums can be a great source of info for a potential bike purchase, but I get put off by owners slagging off everything other than the bike they choose to ride. If you're lucky enough to own multiple bikes and someone asks you what you ride, always start with the crappiest thing first. If the reaction is negative then don't waste your time telling them about your most prized possession, you'll be wasting your breath.

@steve.afendoulis 22 күн бұрын

Someone had to say it. You did it well. With style and diplomacy.

@BrakeMagazine 21 күн бұрын

Thanks for tip Steve. Very kind.

@richardsimpson3792 Ай бұрын

Good points well made. I suspect most people know they can't master a big twin on anything more than a gravel drive, which is fine. But they shouldn't sneer at those who can. What's really fatuous is the craze for 4x4 cars that never leave suburbia and motorways.

@BrakeMagazine Ай бұрын

Hate only breeds hate ultimately.

@rockenjoshy Ай бұрын

Another great video! The only bike I truly take "off-road" (as in there is no road or trail) is my trials bike! I take the vstrom 800 on asphalt and gravel roads, the DR650 on things a bit more gnarly. I have multiple bikes for multiple purposes. The idea of one bike for everything is impossible without comprises and high levels of skill.

@loblolly777 Ай бұрын

Great comments. I am fairly new to adventure bike riding and the strange thing is that I have found the community (face to face, group activities, or just meeting people out and about) to be unbelievably relaxed, fun and supportive. Strange things happen to humans when they get behind a keyboard. Nowhere is this more apparent than any Africa Twin forum and the endless (and endlessly boring) DCT vs manual discussions. People make choices, those choices are different, and it is that diversity of thought and approach that makes adventure bike riding so much fun.