Saying, "I rode a Bonnie around Shoreditch before the whole hipster thing" might be the most most hipster thing. :)

This is brilliant, Greg! So much information in here as well as it being a fascinating story. Thanks for making this 🙏

Thanks Greg for sharing your story and brilliant insight -amazing help, specially for a total noob like me. 43 y o and just got my first motorcycle, 2016 KTM 450exc-f 6days with 86 h on it. Finally doing something towards fulfilling a teenage dream. Looking forward to make it my own. All the best from Iceland!

Hi Greg, I just watched this video (yes, the whole thing!) and it really resonates - I've been going through (more or less) the same journey recently, except I just turned 66! Bought an EXC300 in March and loving it - wish I'd found your web stuff earlier as it's full of good advice. Brilliant.

It's been very inspiring to hear your story. Thanks for sharing!

I really liked this video Greg, it wasn’t just about the bike, but also a great peak into your life. I can imagine the exc has a lot of emotional value since it was such a part of your own life developing to where you’re now! Looking forward to what’s coming! 👌

Really good Greg. Now that I understand your direction with the bike I really am looking forward to seeing if you get it all to work together, and if it doesn’t and you get rid, what direction you do go. Your story telling either through just talking to the camera or the actual films, that’s what keeps me coming back.

Great video and story about the development of the bike plus the personal development of the rider and changing priorities with a family. Nice to see so many local trails and a mention of the Langley furniture works as it's well tucked away. Good inspiration as looking at exc's and crf's and trying to decide if they are suitable or overkill for the same routes around Northumberland/Cumbria.....

Man, You are talking straight from the heart or something. I dont usually stay for such long videos but You really charmed me with the story! haha, neat

Cracking movie Greg and a great way of telling the story.

Fantastic story Greg. Thank you. Dont’t sell it, keep it as a link to all of your memories and good times. Your life changed, few chapters ended. I think it’s sentimental value cannot be estimated. Sometimes we got weird and yet strong relation with objects. The hardest part is not getting what you want but knowing how to keep it.

Love this stuff, thanks for the personal insight. I was waiting for the T7 to come in at the end lol!

Thanks for a great trip down memory lane, Greg. I have a KLR650 (&numerous mountain bikes) sitting in my garage, not getting the action that they deserve. Everything has memories attached. They're reminders of different times with good friends and places. Regards from S Africa Clive

Loved watching this Greg. For me, it's not just about the bike. It's a personal journey for every rider. Anybody with money can buy any bike they want, with all the kit they need, but the majority are like you and me. Just super enthusiastic amateurs, who enjoy the process of learning and creating, as well as the riding and exploring of those beautiful hard to get to places. And the friendship and camaraderie that goes with it. ❤

I think you sell yourself a little bit short... I can't start to describe how interesting it is to hear how your mind works and your thought about some of your work. I'm a huge fan of your work, style and creative mind. There is no secret that your work has pushed me to try different things and jumped into this whole "create a story on a bike" thing. Great video I finally had the time to see all the way trough. I really hope you get time to do alot more work on your bike and keep adding those brilliant storys. Great at as always Greg 🔥 Thank you

Great relaxed style in your vids. You occupied part of my huge screen while working, but I listened through it all. Like a mellow pod cast supported by the occasional image to look at :) Perfect for what I was doing. You are very relaxed and have a good voice for this. Keep it up. /Rob

Great video Greg... I feel your pain of not being able to get out on the horse, but I also feel the joy of finally getting out as I did on Sunday... Even if it was only a 2 hour ride it was awesome to blow out the cobwebs!! Stay safe and keep snapping :-)

Thanks Greg for this video and insight to your past

Thank you for a great story. Great video.

Been waiting for you to make this video ever since I came across your channel.

I have the 525exc fully restored from 2003! fine on the road ,not as comfy as an adv/trail bike but still. good.Very nice off road.I like your build!

Really enjoyed following your 450 journey

thanks for the video greg, i recognized myself a lot! Stay safe

Good story Greg. I needed to refill the coffee but it was a great watch! I think for those new to the off-road market this would be useful intel. Unicorn bike! Doesn't exist period, the wallet will be in constant search LOL. I now have a FE350 equipped for mini adventure and blue level enduro riding because that's about all I can handle and I just took delivery of and 890R which could be my Unicorn bike, time will tell. I think the important take away from this video is that owning off-road capable bikes is a journey, not a destination and we must all enjoy the ups and downs (literally) of that journey.... hoping it never ends. I hope you have a great riding season in front of you... and don't worry about those two kids, you'll have them on two wheels before you know it. Beast Health from Canada

Great story I only started riding 2 years ago and this whole TET and adventure riding has got me Griped I went out and got T700 and i love it but it's not the bike for the off-road trail days with TRF so I have just got the crf300l and I must say it a great bike off-road for the money I have upgraded the suspension to Yss rear shock and upgraded spring and 15 w oil in the fork with upgraded front sping from andy at firefox racing in Yorkshire its cost me about £450 but its made the bike handle so much better .so hearing your love with the KTM is interesting how these bikes get so attached in a very personal way to all us bike Nuts ..Keep the Adventures coming Greg

Enjoyed this 👍👍

Hello from Spain Greg. Great video, very well expleined all your fellings with each bike. My travel has been very similar...GASGAS 250 ec enduro ( im sure that i will not sell it ), husqvarna svartpilen... hipster bike, it didn´t get my goals and now I´m waiting for my PR7...hopefully in Augoust it comes to me. So thank you so much for your videos and sorry about my english. You are a great inspiration. see you on the tracks

That was a ‘This Is Your Life’ for your KTM. Great video! I also bought an early Triumph Scrambler, an 07 carb model, while living in the London suburbs. I still have it, but we live in the French Alps now. My unicorn is my Husky 701 (complete with one of your stickers) and I couldn’t resist buying a BMW R9T Urban GS. I have talked about getting a lighter enduro bike for a long time, but now firmly believe I don’t need one. My E-MTB takes me to places an enduro bike can’t legally go, keeps me fit, and improves my off road skills. I might feel differently if I lived in a place with lots of motorcycle-legal single track, but I have no plans to move from here. If you’re considering getting an e-mtb go for it. Find some people who already know the best places to ride, like you did with the KTM and just get out there. Or come to the Alps and rent a bike and come for a ride, I will happily be your guide.

Love it fantastic film Greg, and that first dirt bike feeling must have been scary on a 450, 50years ago my first bike was a BSA bantam not so scary lol...

Wicked tale! Made it through whilst windows was updating! Love the new light fairing. Cheers 🍻

Cool story, fun to explore the history of the AS crew

Greg, You, perhaps accidentally but certainly from the heart, in those last few sentences personified what it is to be a motorcyclist. The bikes they come and they go. What stays is the journeys and the memories that are attached to them. That's what separates one bike from another. The 4k that the ktm represents will not replace the bereavement that you may feel when it and the joy that it represents is not there to see anymore. Romantic old tosh maybe, time will tell. Good luck and thank you for the great videos. Keep it retro! 🤠👍

I’ve got the same attachment to my 1190 Adv R. It makes no sense as a green laning bike that it gets used for, the Motoz Rallz look out of place on the road and the cut up inner tube zip tied to the frame where “contact” is likely to occur makes it look like an extra from a Mad Max film. I’ve often thought about swapping it out for a smaller bike but when I hit the starter with my pals on they 250’s, it makes me smile and I guess at the end of the day, that‘s the point. Really enjoy your approach and content - definitely been a great lockdown find.

Great video!

Nice story/adventure Greg :-) I rode my Yamaha XT 250 on L Plates from Edinburgh to London on A and B roads, 30 odd yrs ago, no satnav or mobile phones, lol...Now in my 60s, i want to get into trail riding, hopefully get some kind of A2 licence adventure bike...Good to watch your videos here and on Adventurespec :-)

you EXC it´s a beautiful bike man. you did a great job. I can imagine your indecision.

Thanks for sharing this video with us! I rekognize your thougts. For me it has been a journey trying to find the unicorn. But I don’t think it exists. From Africa Twin, Triumph scrambler, F800gs, BMW Urban Gs I have now got a Husky 701 Enduro LR. Smaller bike for more exploring and gravelroads, maybe some TET tralis. And because our children is grown up, there’s now more time and better economy, so I bougth an Harley Ultra Limited.....So now me and my wife can go on touring trips. She’s loving it. There are many different kinds of riding and experiences. Looking forward to build my Husky more like an adventure bike. Thanks again for your videos and thougts. It is really inspiring! 😀

I can feel the struggle from here. So many memories on a bike it’s hard to get rid of it.

Absolutely love the story..... to be honest, pretty much like my story with my 2015 KTM 450 XCW, two kids and the mid 40ties. Have more-or-less the same mods on the bike - minus the cush drive hubs. What really kills me on my 450 is the vibrations through the handles and the pegs, cannot ride the bike for more than three hours straight. So will let her go soon and get an AJP or a Husky 701. Cheers and keep up the great story telling.

Thank you for sharing this story. Whichever way the 450 goes (keep or weep), a great journey was made. But I'd hate to see you part with it though.

Greg your videos are the reason for me buying an enduro bike and coming from a big road bike I've done exactly the same thing and bought a 450 too 😂🤦

Great video Greg - early story really resonated as I'm in same position at the moment. Looking to get first bike but something that can handle a bit more road and take on longer trips too. Currently eyeing up a 701 😬

Nice vid Greg, I’m sure your 450 has gone up in value due to this provenance 😎

Great video Greg, reminded me of some great memories! I’d say keep it, so we can have another crack at the K2 one day and not get stuck👍

amazing love story :)

Great story teller Greg. I’m currently going through the same process with a DRZ400 (de-gaudifying/adventure build) we need to get out and ride sometime! Give you an excuse to pull the ktm out of early retirement! Shiplo (ntrf)

You could get some rubber fork gaiters on the front for that retro look

Great story, true as well👍❤

Awesome bud cheers 👍🏻

...I am very sure that your 4Fifty looooooves you too, Greg - - rock on!!

Love your stuff man. Don’t sell the 450! I’m getting ready to purchase a 2014 500 exc that I plan to “de-race” and hipster up a little. Really like all the white 👌🏼

You should never use metal handguards. It’s a great way to lose a finger, hand or arm. That’s why most racing organizations don’t allow them and that’s why metal ones don’t come stock on bikes anymore.

Fascinating - always interesting to hear the stories behind a bike and the person that rides it. And whatever you decide at least you'll have your fantastic photos to remind you of the good times...!

Liked the story, just wished the pictures were up for longer than 2 seconds. ( I understand the pause button is a thing, just like to see what is being referenced, while it's being referenced)

Well put, I know how hard it is to find time for a bike sounds like you should keep the 450 because it's such a large part of you ....

It' s lousy that things just snap on these expensive things - side stands should work. Nice explanation of the mods, thanks. What did it all cost though - thinking about going down this route? Do you think the PR7 would be good for the Pyrenees or should I go for the 450 or maybe say sod it all and Pimp up my old Serow?

Greg your storytelling ability is captivating, thanks for this. Fellow 500exc owner in the states. Im looking to add a larger tank as well, why the 5 gallon instead of the 4?

Greg, you need to use the exc for ldt events and local work. Design wise....check out Roland Sands version of an exc as a Kurt Caselli tribute. There is no unicorn,you need three bikes with varying degrees of off road capability to choose from depending on the destination.

i started off like you. but have 7 bikes now and my wifes not happy about it. building me some 2 stroke race bikes now for sentimental value..

How about one of those filters that stick on the back of the carb, get some sort of seat that takes two and looks right and get someone to build a steel subframe to fit the seat and exhaust (or possibly a different retro exhaust) and add rear footpegs. Then cruise around with your wife on the back?

Cool video Greg, could i just ask, you mentioned that the oil changes was quite regular but that was in race mode, what sort of miles was you doing as a more adventure style bike when you took it across to europe?. Must have been a lot more then the regular service hours?. Was just interested what sort of miles i could get out of one if i got one as a more adventure style riding?. Cheers Mike

Have been starting to watch and greatly enjoy your journey from Honda 500->KTM450->AJP PR7->back to 450 Adv build as i'm at a point where I want a bike for the TET (Spain/Portugal for now as I live in Valencia) and am at a juncture where i'm just not sure which side of the off/on road bike I want to lean. Being around 60 and having last ridden off road seriously in the Bultaco age (1970's) I find myself in the great position of being able to buy whatever i lke but living in the city only have a place for 1 bike. The PR7 looks great (and a good seat height for me at 5'11'') though I can't seem to find a curb weight for it, and i'm leaning toward the 500 EXC-F or 501 Husky to build into an adventure as you have done. I may be riding alone quite a bit and the weight will be an issue. My biggest "issue" is will I absolute hate any pavement time on it? I will go with a Seat Concepts seat, full Rade Garage Rally kit w/Scotts damper, balance the wheels, etc to make her as smooth as possible.

👍👍On your mini fairing, do have a link for a vendor?

Great video Greg. I have to say though it felt like a bit of a eulogy. I think you're hanging on to the 450 but you realise deep down it's just time to move on. You need something different to both the 450 and the PR7. Not convinced about electric though 🤔

Great video. I have an FE501 and a friend of mine has the exact same model 450 EXC as you. His evolution went from an Enduro bike to a light ADV bike (like you), but recently he turned his 450 into a super moto bike for the road only. It looks super cool and he can convert it back into a trail bike quite easily.

What year model is your KTM 450?

properly inspirational stuff, this. in a quiet, talking head kinda way.

Hay Greg......Great story(ies). I really enjoyed listing to it all. Would there be a story worth telling about the TET and AS? I hope so..... Thanks again....

What did you do for the security of the bike?

17:55 - Carry a Kauritmoto Tyre Mounting Tool (or the knock-off Baja No-Pinch Tyre Tool). Pretty much one-handed tyre mounting without a bead of sweat or a swear word uttered! Also, you're in your 40s?! What do you know that the rest of us don't?!

@15:03 Haha - my very first day out on a bike apart from lessons and my tests. Seems a long time ago now! The worlds heaviest 250, but a great starter bike. Went everywhere... #wr250r

Hey Greg! Is 5000km on a 450 enduro bike a lot?

U should do podcasts:)

Its a percolator!

I did the same... My first Enduro bike was an EXC500 🤣 I actually bought it to use as a Supermoto hence the 500 but it doesn’t get used for that anymore. Im 6ft though so I wouldn’t say it’s too big necessarily

You rode a Mojito/Habana?

Great story. It's not so much about the bike as it was with the journey. You may well regret selling it.

Be honest, also your wife, at a certain point in time, told you: "dear, why you don't sell the bike?". 😆

Mebs said before but get a ebike you WILL not regret it ...I run vstrom 1050xt for big trips ...himalayan for local jollies..but ebike is for non motorbike crack I'm lucky old and retired..been where yu are make it last goes way too quick...atb dave...

its a race bike, perhaps its time to start racing? Even if only for fun. I think you will realize that to be able to go fast, is not only about purchase the best bike. People who never have raced enduro/motocross think they can buy skill/speed or whatever. It takes time/training to improve your riding skills and can be boring when you realize how hard you need to train to be part of the top 10-20% of the racers out there. We are talking 5-10 years or more, race practice. Racing is not for everyone, but if you are a competitive person, once you learn that you can kick other peoples asses at the track, coasting around green lanes makes you wonder if you are 50 years old???? Green lanes are fun, but you progress faster as a rider if you race. I do everything, racing, trailriding and offroad adventure travel (TET). Now when corona made travel abroad difficult, I decided to focus on my racing this year (Fitness and skills). You dont know how sloppy rider you become when you dont race. I can tell you: ALOT! For example Charle Boorman is a typical motorbike rider, not a racer. If you dont plan on getting into racing you should sell the ktm. If you are, you might want to sell anyway and get a race ready bike, perhaps a twostroke as a nice contrast (if you have been on 4 strokes all your life).

Is the 450 like an old girlfriend? You put in the back of your mind why you split up and in moments of nostalgia you only remember the good times. Maybe time to try electric. Ask Noel about Garburn.

The moment when you said, I would buy something electric was the moment when I stopped the clip and disliked an very good video, but you know just a little bit of shit can ruin a ton of good stuff.