Adventure Bikes

[Tommy Gun Images]

Last November I picked up a Yamaha Tenere 700 in anticipation of a ride my dad and I had planned. As life does plans changed when my folks needed to dedicate some resources to helping my sister out and this postponed our ride. So, I’ve been sitting on the bike since with only a couple local rides (Parker, Oatman) on the clock. My schedule this year has been pretty crazy so I just didn’t have the time to do much with it. Then the other day I got the urge to get out of the heat and head up to the old hometown (Prescott). Hopped on the bike early the other morning and headed out through kingman to Route 66 on up to Seligman. Grabbed breakfast there then headed south from Seligman on Williamson Valley Rd (5) into Prescott. About 240 miles and nice little ride.
That night grabbed some dinner with friends then hit a couple old watering holes on the row.
Headed back home the next morning via copper basin road down to skull valley then down the mountain at Yarnell. Crossed the desert in the heat and finished up with a beer at Foxs. Great couple days. Now I’ve got the itch for more adventure rides. These things really are the best of both worlds!

 

[MK1MOD0]

Looks fun ! Two of my buddies I ride with have 700 Teneres. Great bikes. They seem to just do everything well.

 

[yz450mm]

I bought my KTM 500 EXC in 2018 with the intent of doing similar type rides both on the dirt and on pavement.

Then I realized that riding a dirt bike on the street is pretty much a death wish, so I only have 180 miles on it to date. Maybe if I rode more I'd be more comfortable, but when I'm on that thing on the street I feel like every car is ready to run me over.

Maybe being on a little bit higher profile bike like yours would feel more comfortable?

 

[rivermobster]

@Dan Lorenze

Loved watching your adventures on Instagram Tommy. Hope you do more of them.

 

[Tommy Gun Images]

I bought my KTM 500 EXC in 2018 with the intent of doing similar type rides both on the dirt and on pavement.

Then I realized that riding a dirt bike on the street is pretty much a death wish, so I only have 180 miles on it to date. Maybe if I rode more I'd be more comfortable, but when I'm on that thing on the street I feel like every car is ready to run me over.

Maybe being on a little bit higher profile bike like yours would feel more comfortable?

The bigger bike definitely feels more at home on the road than a more enduro style bike like the EXC. having said that I’ve logged a ton of miles on my 450X on the road and it does start to feel a little less exposed as you get used to it.

 

[Tommy Gun Images]

@Dan Lorenze

Loved watching your adventures on Instagram Tommy. Hope you do more of them.

Thanks Joe! Always try to enjoy my life and work as much as possible!

 

[Tommy Gun Images]

Speaking of smaller bikes I guess an adventure bike doesn’t have to be big. I’ve had some great adventures on my CRF 450X as well!

 

[Your ad here]

They are fun bikes. I had a BMW F800Gs. I miss the riding. I sold it because riding a bike in Phoenix is a death wish.

 

[Dcb.blake]

Bitchen bike! A group of use had 525 dual sports and they were pretty fun! Only downfall was they didn’t street very well. The tires made a big difference sadly, either more street and terrible in dirt or a nice dirt tire terrible on the street.

That’s eventually exactly what I want to get! Never ridden on one the dirt, how’s it do?

 

[Dan Lorenze]

I have so much fun riding my KTM 890R adv bike. My buddies and I just did the Colorado BDR about 5 weeks ago, we did as much off-road as we could. Heading back to Colorado on the little bikes tomorrow morning. You should join us sometime.

 

[Tommy Gun Images]

Bitchen bike! A group of use had 525 dual sports and they were pretty fun! Only downfall was they didn’t street very well. The tires made a big difference sadly, either more street and terrible in dirt or a nice dirt tire terrible on the street.

That’s eventually exactly what I want to get! Never ridden on one the dirt, how’s it do?

The T7 is pretty decent in the dirt. Has very dirt bike like characteristics for a heavy bike. Mine is bone stock and definitely needs the suspension done for more aggressive off-roading. I’ll get it there eventually.

 

[Tommy Gun Images]

I have so much fun riding my KTM 890R adv bike. My buddies and I just did the Colorado BDR about 5 weeks ago, we did as much off-road as we could. Heading back to Colorado on the little bikes tomorrow morning. You should join us sometime.
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Man that looks awesome! I’d love to check out a ride like that!

 

[Skinny Tire AH]

Speaking of smaller bikes I guess an adventure bike doesn’t have to be big. I’ve had some great adventures on my CRF 450X as well!

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Interesting. Do you think the CRF is enough bike for say a long one like the Great Divide Route? I'm sure racks and bags are available? How about enough gear for some highway sections? Great post BTW.

 

[Tommy Gun Images]

It would depend on the route. It could definitely be outfitted with bags and such and it much more flickable than a larger adventure bike. It gets a little buzzy on long road sections though. Mine is geared pretty tall and it can cruise 70 pretty comfortable, but above that for long periods might be a little much. I think I’d rather have something like a husky 701or even the T7 for the tour divide.

 

[snowhammer]

Awesome thread and great pictures, I fear that following may get expensive for me

 

[Tommy Gun Images]

Awesome thread and great pictures, I fear that following may get expensive for me

It’s almost as bad as boats

 

[Flatsix66]

Very cool, can't wait to move to Prescott and do more dual sport exploring around the area.

 

[rivermobster]

We were in Death Valley in the SxS's one day. Passed a couple of AV riders going the opposite direction. Fairly flat road. No big.

Later, on the way back...

We caught up to them on a fairly rocky trail. One guy was at the top, and the other guy was at the bottom looking pretty winded. We passed em up easily, but I'd be Really surprised if the second guy made it up.

As Tommy said...

You have to pick your routes carefully on a big adventure bike.

 

[papabear639]

ADV bikes are incredibly fun...Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports for me...I've been through CA, AZ, NV, CO, UT on it...on and off road..epitome of freedom in my opinion. I have a Harley Davidson Bagger as well, I love that bike but the ADV bike is so versatile its hard to beat.

 

[rivergames]

Nice Bud! Hope you're ready to tear up some dirt when it cools down soon! I can't wait!

 

[Tommy Gun Images]

Nice Bud! Hope you're ready to tear up some dirt when it cools down soon! I can't wait!

Hell yeah Andrew let’s go! Hoping to log a lot more miles of desert with you this year! Maybe we’ll stick to actual open trails this time

 

[Tommy Gun Images]

ADV bikes are incredibly fun...Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports for me...I've been through CA, AZ, NV, CO, UT on it...on and off road..epitome of freedom in my opinion. I have a Harley Davidson Bagger as well, I love that bike but the ADV bike is so versatile it’s hard to beat.

That’s probably what stood out to me the most was how cool it was to be able to go rip some dirt roads and moderate trails yet still sit down on the thing and be comfortable for over 100 miles of slab. The freedom in that is amazing!

 

[papabear639]

I'm sure you guys have heard of it but REVER is a great tool to plan some rides and discover some incredible trails/roads. My buddy and I have used it a lot and it works great.

 

[rivermobster]

When I bought my V-Rod, my other option was to get a KTM 350 and make a super motard/adventure bike out of it. On and off road machine.

I pulled up next to a guy one day who had done just that with his!

Have to admit, I was a bit jelly.

 

[Tommy Gun Images]

I'm sure you guys have heard of it but REVER is a great tool to plan some rides and discover some incredible trails/roads. My buddy and I have used it a lot and it works great.

I’ll check it out!

 

[papabear639]

Just installed a set of Lone Rider semi rigid panniers for my upcoming trip later this month...going to traverse the Sierra Nevadas for 4 days. top qaulity stuff.

 

[Flatsix66]

Some big, some small, all fun!

 

[Wolskis]

BMW 1250GS. A lot of gravel roads and the occasional trial. It gets away from me on occasion.

 

[Kbach]

Interesting. Do you think the CRF is enough bike for say a long one like the Great Divide Route? I'm sure racks and bags are available? How about enough gear for some highway sections? Great post BTW.

Beat bike for that ride is an XR650L. She’s a big bitch but there’s a lot of highway sections on that route and it would eat them up and still be decent on the dirt stuff.

 

[papabear639]

Some big, some small, all fun! View attachment 1263580 View attachment 1263581 View attachment 1263582 View attachment 1263583 View attachment 1263584

I see you have a 300 2 smoker…I had a 2016 KTM 300 xc-w six days…best dirtbike I’ve ever ridden…like a mountain bike with a motor. I sold it and have regretted it ever since.

 

[Flatsix66]

I see you have a 300 2 smoker…I had a 2016 KTM 300 xc-w six days…best dirtbike I’ve ever ridden…like a mountain bike with a motor. I sold it and have regretted it ever since.

I just bought that last fall, 2023 300xcw. So far best small bike ever. Great around Havasu trails...if you don't get wiped out by a drunk family in a SxS.

 

[Skinny Tire AH]

Beat bike for that ride is an XR650L. She’s a big bitch but there’s a lot of highway sections on that route and it would eat them up and still be decent on the dirt stuff.

I and two others are leaning that way. it checks all the boxes, its very light for class. It's also about half the price, 6999.00 as some of the comparable Husky/KTM stuff.

I've tried and failed the route twice on bicycles. Figure my chances go up considerably on a dirt bike. We are planning ride as much of the bicycle route as possible. It's only about 150 miles of payment out of 2750. There's some reroutes around bicycle only stuff.

 

[JDKRXW]

Beat bike for that ride is an XR650L. She’s a big bitch but there’s a lot of highway sections on that route and it would eat them up and still be decent on the dirt stuff.

X2.
I've got an old one and a newer DRZ.
The old Honda is tough to beat as an all arounder.

 

[Blackmagic94]

Last November I picked up a Yamaha Tenere 700 in anticipation of a ride my dad and I had planned. As life does plans changed when my folks needed to dedicate some resources to helping my sister out and this postponed our ride. So, I’ve been sitting on the bike since with only a couple local rides (Parker, Oatman) on the clock. My schedule this year has been pretty crazy so I just didn’t have the time to do much with it. Then the other day I got the urge to get out of the heat and head up to the old hometown (Prescott). Hopped on the bike early the other morning and headed out through kingman to Route 66 on up to Seligman. Grabbed breakfast there then headed south from Seligman on Williamson Valley Rd (5) into Prescott. About 240 miles and nice little ride.
That night grabbed some dinner with friends then hit a couple old watering holes on the row.
Headed back home the next morning via copper basin road down to skull valley then down the mountain at Yarnell. Crossed the desert in the heat and finished up with a beer at Foxs. Great couple days. Now I’ve got the itch for more adventure rides. These things really are the best of both worlds!

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Cool bike debating about adding on to the garage. Also considered the Aprilia flavor of it as well. Just hard to justify one when I already have a Ducati multistrada 950 and a aprilia Dorsoduro 900 now

 

[alpha 1]

T700 are great ADV Bike's I got one of the first shipment to the US had a 790R prior to it and it spent more time at the dealer than in my garage the Yamaha in 3 years has never had 1 issue. a couple pic's of it in BAJA

 

[MK1MOD0]

I’m about to start my next project. I’m going to turn this Suzuki Bandit 1200 into an Adventure bike. Basically, I wanted an inexpensive bike that would eat the miles... run dirt/ gravel roads and be able to go just about anywhere there was a “ road”. I’ve got hardcore dirtbikes and enduros. But this is different. Basically will have it completely built for less than 2K. And if I drop if..... I won’t cry( which I might if I dropped a new 25K ktm. I’m going long travel suspension, Pirelli STR tires, moto bars ect. Will be fun.... and it’s wil be just as ugly as any other Adventure bike out there .

 

[JDKRXW]

I’m going long travel suspension,

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Great project idea.
Curious what front end you're thinking about using?
I think you're going to need something pretty heavy duty.

 

[MK1MOD0]

Great project idea.
Curious what front end you're thinking about using?
I think you're going to need something pretty heavy duty.

The bandit uses a 43 mm Showa. The DR 650 also uses a 43 mm Showa., but the tubes are 3” longer. So installing the tubes and aftermarket heavy springs plus Racetech gold valve emulators. The rear will have new dog bones, plus a 1” shock extension for a 3” lift as well.