What is the best Adventure bike

[Ian Porter]

Let me start by saying this isn't a 'My bike is better that yours' thread, it's more of a 'Let's hear your opinions' thread

So why an Adventure bike in the first place?

well I just like 'em, don't know why but I do

and in reality, not being able to justify owning loads of bikes, I need a bike that can do everything

whether that is blasting up and down the motorway for work, bimling around the Peak District, two up loaded with camping gear or just looking cool when parked up in Jellies car park.

having had an urge to own an 1150gs (yes I was seduced by Long Way Round ) I just had to scratch that itch and having done so fell head over heal in love with the bike (if that is at all legal)

it does everything I ask of it with ease (even the one and only time I took it off road) and has bags of character, and I even like the colour. Oh and it helps that it's been reliable (strange for a BMW I know)

I keep looking at other bikes but then get back on the 1150 and realise there's no other bike for me

so come on what's YOUR best adventure bike an why?

 

[Boris]

Interesting questions

I suppose it depends on what sort of adventure you are talking about.

My 1200 is the muts nuts but would I take it (or any other modern big adventure bike) across Africa or other out of the way area? No way.

I'd want something easy to ride, easy to fix and get spares for and easy to push when it all goes tits up,. So something like a C90, bajaj M80 or Chinese equivalent would be my weapon of choice depending on what is most prevalent in the region to which I was heading. Work on the premise that it will break down so what is your best chance for getting going again.

But if you are talking about adventure bikes for use in this country where all the backup we would expect is available then I'm not sure.

Unfortunately nothing in the Japanese big four line-up really floats my boat and I don't think I could cope with the character of an Italian bike or the expense of a KTM so we are pretty much left with the sausage munchers. My 1200 adventure is good but it could be better. As I don't do much (if any as the wife seems to have lost interest) two up these days then I would seriously consider the 800 Adventure. I've not actually seen one yet but if it's as good as the standard 800GS with extras then It's a hard bike to beat. Almost as good on the road as the 1200 adventure but waay easier to ride off road

Of course the new 1200 Adventure is out soon and on paper it seems to address the few things I didn't like about the new watercooled 1200GS it could be just the job. If only I had the money.

 

[Mikey]

The 800GSA is much better then the standard 800GS. It's more comfortable and has a longer range. I've had just under 300 miles out of a tank before the light came on. I went to France two up on it last year and with two people and luggage it's adequate. Without the luggage it's ok. I find it easier to handle at low speeds because it's lighter then the 1200GSA. Two up camping would be a big no no.

What's the ideal adventure bike? Whatever your riding at the time.

 

[Boris]

so we are pretty much left with the sausage munchers.

You may have overlooked one maufacturer

I have to admit I haven't ridden a ural in such a long time

Ohh you mean the other one

Again I haven't ridden the 1200 but I did have a shot of the old Tiger and I was glad to give it back.. Not sure what I didn't like about it but I just didn't like it. I went to the launch of the new 1200 and there was oil dripping from the sight glass on the display bike. Not a good sign for the way ahead.

 

[Lord Vader]

The one which i can afford at the moment?


Big points for me are

Comfortable for me and 2up
Got to cope with a bit of luggage
Got to be very good in covering distance
Should be able to do the odd off road


Now my little Panzer does cover these points but so do a few other bikes all of them in the Adventure style
I know there are a lot of bikes outhere which do most of these things but since i bought my first GSA i must say i love the way the ride and handle. If i can afford it i am unlikely to change and stick with the Panzers as they suit me down to the T
But yes as Boris said, it would never be a round the world bike,i probably take my transalp for that

 

[Traveller]

To me the best adventure bike is a bike that you can take where you are going without fear of using it. By that I mean picking up the odd mark from stowage or a minor scrape from use. That means I am not limited as to where I use it.
As to the make and model of bike, then its horses for courses. I have an 1800 Goldwing that is as nimble as you like on roads and in the mountains and will cover miles of Europe with ease.

On the other hand, my Africa Twin is superb for narrow gravelly roads and the odd foray off road so it was brilliant for a 9 day circuit of Ireland and its wonderfull back roads.

 

[Traveller]

To me the best adventure bike is a bike that you can take where you are going without fear of using it. By that I mean picking up the odd mark from stowage or a minor scrape from use. That means I am not limited as to where I use it.
As to the make and model of bike, then its horses for courses. I have an 1800 Goldwing that is as nimble as you like on roads and in the mountains and will cover miles of Europe with ease.

On the other hand, my Africa Twin is superb for narrow gravelly roads and the odd foray off road so it was brilliant for a 9 day circuit of Ireland and its wonderfull back roads.

I also have a little Honda FTR223 flat tracker syle bike that sits on the back of my campervan so I can still go on little adventures on a bike when we are away in the van.

They are all brilliant in their context. I have had adventures on all three bikes. It would be great if all three could be fitted into one bike, but that is not possible. They are all great fun to ride and do what I want of them, so I am able to enjoy a wide range of adventures.

I am going to try the new XC 750x with the auto box. It may be a bike that almost bridges the gap, if it would hang on the back of the camper van and I am looking forward to the launch of the new Africa Twin.

 

[Steve T]

The bestest adventure bike is the one that your riding - SIMPLES

 

[Philwhiskeydrinker]

The bestest adventure bike is the one that you ENJOY riding - SIMPLES

Fixed it for ya

Phil

sent from my 'phone

 

[Sharribee]

The bestest adventure bike is the one that your riding - SIMPLES

I knew it, mine is the best adventure bike. Steve says so, so it must be true

Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk

 

[Mikey]

The bestest adventure bike is the one that your riding - SIMPLES

Copy cat, I said that five posts before you

 

[mikeyboy]

being an owner of a 1200gs i do have my preferance
yesterday i was pondering this question,as i have just serviced and ridden back to back,
2006 r1200gs
2006 ktm adv990
2011 yamaha s10 tenere
ignoring the different rides for now i came up with one thing that would certainly be something to think about if i were lucky enough to take an extended trip,
lets say 20k plus miles.
the bmw is just so much easier to service.if i was to carry out a service on a campsite/outside a hotel etc,i really wouldnt want to be on the other two bikes.
lets just take the oil change to start with.
on the ktm it is a bit of a faff.
drain the oil tank
drain the sump
change the strainer in the tank
change the strainer in the sump
change the oil filter(can be a bit fiddley to pull out)
then there is the fully synth oil which is not going to be easily available outside of northern europe .
i know it isnt a show stopper but even so something to ponder.
i can keep going if any one is interested
mike

 

[Boris]

the bmw is just so much easier to service.if i was to carry out a service on a campsite/outside a hotel etc,i really wouldnt want to be on the other two bikes.

I know. I can do an intermediate service (including valves) in less than an hour and the annual one not much longer. In fact they are so easy I just do everything each year instead of alternating between gear oils and brake fluids on alternate years

The alternator belt is probably about the most complicated item (24000 miles) and that's down to having to remove the crash bars and those little screws that hold the plastic cover on.

 

[Rubberchicken]

Yeah, you need one of these mate. Valve clearances, a few minutes per side...

Though it's a bit more now that I fitted my shiny new engine guards.

 

[Boris]

The old Airhead would count as a contender for distant lands. No electronics worth mentioning (except I suppose for the diode board) contact breaker ignition and easy to get to mechanicals.

Of all the bikes I have it would be a toss up between a 35 year old BMW and a 25 year old Honda C90 for the one I'd trust on an adventure in the middle of nowhere.

 

[Philwhiskeydrinker]

One bike keeps coming into my mind - old shape Honda cb500.

Simple, compact, not too heavy, enough power, reasonable economy/range & utterly reliable.
It could easily be raised a bit with a bit of protection added.
Some throw over panniers & roll bag and you are sorted

I have never ridden one but for some strange reason have a desire to own a little cb one day.

sent from my 'phone

 

[Mikey]

A friend of mine, Tiffany who's quite well known apparently, does the majority of her travelling on a 30 year old R80GS. So there's some sense in what your saying.

 

[Rubberchicken]

30 year old R80GS

24 year old at best.

But, yeah. I like reading of her travels...

And while the airhead GS isn't quite devoid of electronics, it's quite manageable with a few spare parts. Diode board indeed, hall sensor & ICU and that's about it for the critical components. Ofcourse you wouldn't be the first to retrofit a points ignition from an earlier bike, and I've also seen custom jobs for sale with two redundant hall sensors where all you have to do is swap a plug if the first one dies.

When I went to the XRV national in 2012 I carried a spare "bean can" hall sensor as mine was about to crap out, turns out I didn't need it but it would've been fine to swap out on the side of the road. Which I ended up doing anyway a week later. 10 minute job. (Ofcourse I should've done that before I left, but oh well.)

But, yeah. Best adventure bike? Not something made in this millennium. Old proven stuff. (Though not so old that spares become a problem.) Carb. Aircooled. Simple. Not too big, not too fast, not too powerful. Maintainable with just a bag of spanners. Something with an existing knowledge base. The old BMW is particularly good at the last bit, it's not quite up to the point where you know whether it was Heinz or Hans who put the air in the tyres at the factory, but these things are very predictable in how and where they break down.

 

[Mikey]

My mistake, "Thelma" is 22

 

[PHILinFRANCE]

Interesting .....someone already said "The one you're rideing" i totally agree but would like to add

I bought a XT660Z TENERE 2010 for my Black sea trip in June "into the dirt"

Great bike , a little top heavy ," so gun it "

But also own a DR 650 1996 !!!

IMHO a far better bike ( for how and where i want to ride) !!!!


So which one would you take to the Balkans ?????

Phil