The truth about Adventure Bikes

[CurveSurfer]

on a related note: there's a video in the "photo/video" forum of Wade Boyd passing most of the field in a flat track race. On an R1.

 

[Ozymandias]

I've been riding them off and on for four decades.

I didn't know that they were ever cool. Ever.

You started before me by about 10 years or so. I rode dirt only up until 14ish, then hit dual sports for a few years. Once I got my first FZR600 around 18 IIRC, that was pretty much the end of dirt riding until about 4 or 5 years ago.

We were just before our time! This thread is an example, isn't it?

 

[two wheel tramp]

on a related note: there's a video in the "photo/video" forum of Wade Boyd passing most of the field in a flat track race. On an R1.

That's because Wade Boyd kicks ass!

 

[Jasepaste]

Why does an adventure bike need to be taken into the dirt in order for the rider to have an adventure?

Adventure in the context of "Adventure Bike" implies some level of offroad capability.

OP you sound pretty judgemental with your posts. Quit hating on people and just go ride.

I must be out of place in Barf.

 

[redtail]

Here is the most adventurous pic I could find of myself.
Image of dood taking a piss in the desert

Umm, you pack your snake bite kit, right?

 

[slowblood]

Adventure Riding, It's about picking your bike up!

Chose a bike you don't mind dropping and you have the ability to pickup.

 

[revnort]

Adventure in the context of "Adventure Bike" implies some level of offroad capability.

Why? I don't think it does.

For the sake of continuing this discussion let's say it does. As far as I know there are only a few bikes marketed as adventure bikes. Marketed as such as in the manufacturer calls it adventure, or adventure touring. The bikes have longer suspension travel and ground clearance, with aftermarket, or options making up the rest of the necessities to be more capable off pavement.

BMW and their GS. All models of which have varying levels of dirt worthiness.

KTM and the Adventure. Dirt worthiness, check.

Yamaha and the Super Tenere is listed as an adventure tourer on their website. As dirt worthy as the larger GS's.

None of the other bikes make claims to be adventure anything. All of that was done by journalists who thought they looked like adventure style bikes, or by riders who said, hey I can ride this thing off road and it does OK.

Now that said, you seem to be confusing adventure bikes and smaller dual sports. You haven't really addressed those that tell you you are wrong. You have zero experience in riding any of the bikes on your list on road or off (well none that you've mentioned). Your only experience on dirt is your 250 and only once.

You started by spouting off an opinion from an article of things you've heard. I will tell you personally that I will ride my F800GS places (and at speeds) where I would not ride a regular street bike. Is it a true trail bike? No it isn't. Does anyone I know actually think it is, no.

I am still not really sure what you are trying to get from this. Are you or are you not interested in adventure bikes? What is it you are trying to say? That adventure bikes are not dirtbikes? Yeah everyone knows. That's why they call them something else. Are many of them suited to light off roading, yes they are. Are many of them suited to more aggressive off road riding? Yes with some modifications and a skilled rider.

 

[ob1ventura]

Shit, and I thought snarky comments and funny pics added value.

Here is the most adventurous pic I could find of myself.

Umm, you pack your snake bite kit, right?

Don't think it will bite.........
Looks like he has a pretty godd grip on it.

 

[wally]

Why? I don't think it does.

For the sake of continuing this discussion let's say it does. As far as I know there are only a few bikes marketed as adventure bikes. Marketed as such as in the manufacturer calls it adventure, or adventure touring. The bikes have longer suspension travel and ground clearance, with aftermarket, or options making up the rest of the necessities to be more capable off pavement.

BMW and their GS. All models of which have varying levels of dirt worthiness.

KTM and the Adventure. Dirt worthiness, check.

Yamaha and the Super Tenere is listed as an adventure tourer on their website. As dirt worthy as the larger GS's.

None of the other bikes make claims to be adventure anything. All of that was done by journalists who thought they looked like adventure style bikes, or by riders who said, hey I can ride this thing off road and it does OK.

you forgot one.

Tough. Rugged. Built to last. Loves the open road, devours the rough stuff. The one bike that can do it all, Tiger 800XC sets new standards in the adventure bike sector. With its big wheels and long suspension travel, the Tiger 800XC just loves getting its claws dirty. Let the adventure begin.

but yeah i dont really get the point of this thread either. maybe hating on adventure bikes is the new hating on harleys. whatev. i enjoy the shit out of mine. on or off pavement.

 

[two wheel tramp]

Adventure in the context of "Adventure Bike" implies some level of offroad capability.

Why do you care if someone takes their ADV bike off road or not?

Should I only take an R1 on a track?

Isn't the important part to get out and just fucking ride?

 

[Dmitriy]

Umm, you pack your snake bite kit, right?

That's what GF's are for

 

[Ozymandias]

That's what GF's are for

"Honey, would you hold this in your mouth until the swelling goes down?"

 

[corndog67]

The doctor says you've got to suck the venom out of that snake bite on your ass.

The doctor said your gonna die.

 

[johnkol]

The truth about adventure bikes is this; The GS, KLR and in Europe the Africa Twin basically were the only adventure bikes on the market because it was a small segment.

This may have been true in the US, but in Europe the story was quite different: the Paris-Dakar rally had become very popular and extremely influential by the early 80's, so by the middle of the decade every manufacturer claimed adventure bikes in their stable. Yamaha had the Tenere, Suzuki the big DR, Kawi had the KLR, Honda had the big XL, the Transalp, and then the Africa Twin, Cagiva had the Elefant, BMW the GS, and even Moto Morini had the Camel.

Back in those days, more than half of all the bikes touring Europe were "Adventure" bikes, with the rest either pure touring bikes or standards (very few sportbikes back then) -- quite a different picture from the US.

 

[ScottRNelson]

This may have been true in the US, but in Europe the story was quite different: the Paris-Dakar rally had become very popular and extremely influential by the early 80's, so by the middle of the decade every manufacturer claimed adventure bikes in their stable. Yamaha had the Tenere, Suzuki the big DR, Kawi had the KLR, Honda had the big XL, the Transalp, and then the Africa Twin, Cagiva had the Elefant, BMW the GS, and even Moto Morini had the Camel.

You left out KTM. We don't seem to get much respect sometimes.

 

[flying_hun]

the Paris-Dakar rally had become very popular and extremely influential by the early 80's, so by the middle of the decade every manufacturer claimed adventure bikes in their stable.

You left out KTM. We don't seem to get much respect sometimes.

KTM had an adventure bike by the mid-80's? When did the 620/640 Adventure hit the streets? I thought it was more like the late 90's.

 

[flying_hun]

Pics of some of my favorite adventure bikes.

This one is for Nanda.

The adventure is in the rider, not the bike.

 

[ScottRNelson]

KTM had an adventure bike by the mid-80's? When did the 620/640 Adventure hit the streets? I thought it was more like the late 90's.

You're right, KTM didn't start racking up the Dakar wins until 2001. My mistake.

 

[johnkol]

You left out KTM. We don't seem to get much respect sometimes.

I have a lot of respect for KTM since I have been riding one for close to ten years now, but they didn't really get into the Adventure game until the mid-90's. Before that, their 4-stroke offerings were viewed either as enduro weapons (the first 500cc monsters), or unreliable dual-sports (first incarnations of LC4). I believe they did come out with a big-tank LC4 (must have been early 90's) but they were a rare sight; after a few years they started becoming more popular, but still considered hard-core and not the first choice for adventure riding. That changed in the 00's with their Enduro Championship and Dakar wins, and their mellowing-out with the big Adventure bikes.

 

[Banjoboy]

It's a YAMAHA...

FZ6A!
Word. I've had plenty of adventures of all kinds on my wee already. any ride with the banjoboy iz an adventure. arty

Thar, I dun fixed it fer ya. I gotz the FZ6A, cuz it has Renthal bars. arty

Pics of some of my favorite adventure bikes.

This one is for Nanda.

The adventure is in the rider, not the bike.

Oh, thaz go'in in mah sig line right now. If'n ya don't like that, sue me!
Yes it tiz.