Motorcycle Forums

XR/XL or XT

I remember the wonderful XR600 and the XT600. These were far lighter than today's behemoths, better looking and as reliable as rock.

With larger capacity fuel tanks and updated suspension these bikes could be market-leaders (not the heavy current XT660 with duel pipes) and so much fun as well off-road, maybe not quite as good on the motorways, but who wants to ride the motorways in any case? ;-)

Remember the long way round with Claudio the cameraman in Mongolia running rings round the big GS's on his little russian 125 in the dirt?

I don't think it matters what you ride, and if you can afford 18k to buy a brand new R1200GSA and throw the Touratech catalogue at, and have the size, strength and ability to manage it, then good luck to you, enjoy! However, for most people spending a small amount on a manageable trailie and some basic, simple DIY mods then going out and exploring is much more achievable and realistic, both in terms of cost and in terms of managing the bike. I think there's a place for all of the options, but I do think there is a danger that the increasingly prevalent perception that an 'adventure' bike is a large capacity, expensive, heavily modified bike out of many people's reach could put off riders from trying a big adventure, when in fact they could afford a DRZ400 and some throw-over panniers and head off if they only realised that that approach is just as, if not more, valid. I would love to see some 250-400 size bikes produced in 'adventure' versions with a few simple mods compared to a trail bike designed for off road/green laning - a larger tank (though for a small capacity bike 16 litres is ample - you don't need 30l if your bike does 60mpg!), wider flatter seat for comfort over distance, stronger sub frame to avoid cracking when doing distance on poor roads with luggage, and easy lowering for shorter legged riders. Of course you can modify a trailie yourself, but if these were available and advertised it might make people realise that bike adventures can be more like Austin and Lois and less like Ewan and Charlie.

Haha, busted.

Bunch of mid-life-crisis blokes living out their Long Way Round fantasies on bikes that needed a full support team and BMW UK on the phone 24/7 to keep them going.

Tourers, sure, at least the R1200GS with an auxiliary tank.  But adventure bikes?  Well, only if you class taking your office receptionist up the gravel drive of Shaghard Towers as an adventure.

There's more hilarious bitch-slapping from Vince here:

www.visordown.com/how-to-do-just-about-anything/ride-around-the-world-without-a-film-crew/11064.html

Most things you buy

are selling an image. Your S1000RR says that you race wheel to wheel with Liam Haslam every weekend. Your Lorenzo replica helmet says that your going to kick Stoners ass. Your Replica England kit says that you will be taking over from John Terry next week. Your divers watch says that you will be meeting sharks at 200m for fun. Your Ferrari jacket worn carelessly over your shoulder as you mince into a club makes no apology for the wanked up Corsa parked outside.

Yes, we all know of bikers who, lets face it, seem to do it just for the dressing up. They're like grown up cowboys, with a silver six shooter and Milky Bar Kid glasses. But don't assume that the GS rider is any different to the Fireblade rider with the Repsol paint job, HRC leathers, unblemished knee sliders and 2 inch chicken strips.

I don't think that big Adventure bikes are killing off adventure riding. I would guess that it might even encourage more. It just depends on differing opinions of what defines an "adventure". I reckon the poor lad who got pulled off his scooter in last summer's riots felt that he'd just had one hell of an adventure, and not even left London.

I also suspect that Austin Vince is suffering from a severe bout of inverted snobbery. A wee bit of Bear Gryls.

"You don't need a chainsaw to cut up your firewood. Look, I cut this tree down with my Swiss Army Knife"

As other bikers have shown in the past, you can traverse continents on a Honda C50. But would you really, really want to?

Sure, the big Adventure bikes are selling a dream. So are Harley Davidsons, so are Race Replicas. I would suggest that some contributors to this forum look a wee bit closer at themselves before criticizing what others are riding, or wearing, or where they choose to park their bikes.

People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones, etc.....