Does size matter?
- Thread starter Whealie
- Start date
Dee Dub
Active Member
I confess to being torn on this issue. Pretty sure I've posted along the lines of Mr Horak myself, but now I find myself thinking, "Ah, but..."!
I'm getting cantankerous.
I think the bottom line is that people have different requirements. A 450-650 would struggle with much of the use I put the Vara to, crossing Europe at speed etc etc. In the end most manufacturers produce what the market demands.I love the AT, but there isn't a mass market for it. I agree Honda has missed an easy win by not bringing outadventure versions of its big traillies, but the KTM 690, BMW Sertao G650 etc simply don't sell well
My second reservation is that bigger bikes can be surprising ly capable off-road. I'm no expert, but rides with the Legal Trail Riders around the forests of S Wales has shown me that the bike can do amazing things with the right tyres. (Too many vulnerable parts to do it regularly, though. Never did straighten out that brake pedal afterwards.)
My third reservation is that there is more than one type of adventure. I could easily ride my Vara around most of Uganda, and most roads there are gravel/mud... Okay, maybe not in the rainy season...! It's not all rutted mud paths. East Europe? South America? Why not?
But yes, a little more choice among smaller, lighter bikes would be nice.
Yours,
Confused, of South Wales
I'm getting cantankerous.
I think the bottom line is that people have different requirements. A 450-650 would struggle with much of the use I put the Vara to, crossing Europe at speed etc etc. In the end most manufacturers produce what the market demands.I love the AT, but there isn't a mass market for it. I agree Honda has missed an easy win by not bringing outadventure versions of its big traillies, but the KTM 690, BMW Sertao G650 etc simply don't sell well
My second reservation is that bigger bikes can be surprising ly capable off-road. I'm no expert, but rides with the Legal Trail Riders around the forests of S Wales has shown me that the bike can do amazing things with the right tyres. (Too many vulnerable parts to do it regularly, though. Never did straighten out that brake pedal afterwards.)
My third reservation is that there is more than one type of adventure. I could easily ride my Vara around most of Uganda, and most roads there are gravel/mud... Okay, maybe not in the rainy season...! It's not all rutted mud paths. East Europe? South America? Why not?
But yes, a little more choice among smaller, lighter bikes would be nice.
Yours,
Confused, of South Wales