Adventure Bikes

[Howardflat]

I have some friends that have some and it's got me looking. I really like the Honda Africa Twin. Thinking 2020 to 2023. Anyone have any experience with these or love adventure riding? Bikes to look at or stay away from?

 

[white tortilla]

@Dan Lorenze would be the resident expert

 

[TPC]

If I was interested in that segment it's the bike I'd buy. Nice options include transmission choices.

 

[rivermobster]

@Dan Lorenze would be the resident expert

Yep.

And there is a nice one for sale on here somewhere?

 

[mjc]

Two of my sons have bought one in the last year. A yamaha Tenere 700 and a KTM 690. both love them. The 690 has been used in the dunes in Oregon enough he had to go another bike and got a Husky 450.

 

[Sharky]

Love my Honda Africa Twin. Traded in my Honda ST for it. Its a Honda. . . push the starter and go ride. It eats tires and a couple chains but otherwise the bike is bullet proof.

Mine is the older 2018 CRF1000. The newer CRF1100 is incredible. Comes with Apple Car Play.

The Yamaha Super Tenere is also a very nice ADV bike.

BMW's GS is also very nice but, BMW. . . Bring More Wampum.

 

[LAVEYNICK]

At 7600 OTD I love my 23 KLR. Has ABS and does everything i need. I ride a BMW 1200 RT everyday and didn't need alot for a ADV bike.

 

[Nosocks]

No direct experience but the engine in the Tenere 700 is one of the most reliable and simple you'll find.

I had an MT07, which uses the same engine. Pretty great bike. Very high resale on those and for good reason. Sold my MT07 for $300 less than what I paid OTD after 3 years.

 

[Your ad here]

I had a BMW F800GS. It was so much fun and maneuverable. All adventure bikes are gonna be tough to off road like a dirt bike. 800 is the perfect bike. The 1200 is a beast and exhausting to handle off road to the point it's not really that fun.

 

[rivermobster]

Love my Honda Africa Twin. Traded in my Honda ST for it. Its a Honda. . . push the starter and go ride. It eats tires and a couple chains but otherwise the bike is bullet proof.

Mine is the older 2018 CRF1000. The newer CRF1100 is incredible. Comes with Apple Car Play.

The Yamaha Super Tenere is also a very nice ADV bike.

BMW's GS is also very nice but, BMW. . . Bring More Wampum.

My V-Rod ate tires, till I put a set of Avon's on it. Holy chit what a difference...

Avon Trailrider - Avon Tyres

Official website. Avon trailrider is an aggressive appearance for your road biased dual sports bike. State of the art dual tread compound with superb grip, on- and off-road.

www.avontyres.com

 

[2Driver]

Ive had a few. You really need to think through what type of riding you are going to do. Short trips on the road under 100 miles and a lot of trails or longer road trips multi state then off road.

KTM 890 seems like the go between. Ive riden a 700 Tenere on the highway and it would not be fun for long. BMW 1200 Adventure was great on the road but too big off road. Africa twin seems good in-between too, but the suspension gets crappy reviews. Maybe a KTM 1090. My buddy just got the new Suzuki 800 adv and loves it

All depends what the riding is going to be. Dan L is the guy

 

[sintax]

Its been while since i've done any, but when I was, I was looking at the Africa Twin as a larger touring bike. I've had my big XR650R for a while and thats been my goto.

The AT has some cool features though, the cruise control is nice!

 

[Flatsix66]

I love the ADV bikes. Had some KTM 950 Adventures and Super Enduros, have a KTM 790 now. My thing is more about day rides rather than camping trips, so I want something I can ride from my house to the desert and back or hotel it for a few nights and back. If you plan to ride in the SW desert areas I wouldn't count on the factory tubeless tires and wheels holding up, I bent the front wheel on my 790 the first ride up Saddleback, went to real dirt wheels and tubes after that.

 

[papabear639]

I have a 2018 Honda Africa Twin Adventure sports...I've put a lot of long days on it in California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Colorado...its rock solid, reliable, durable and affordable compared to the other brands. if you plan to do a lot of on road and just a little bit of off road a BMW GS is probably more comfortable...in more off road stuff the AT shines...mostly off road, I'd say Tenere. It also depends on if you plan to camp off of the bike...If so, a bigger bike is for sure more beneficial for loading it down.

 

[185EZ]

My ZX14R goes off road just fine
Even while Mrs EZ takes pics on back
1441 cc's is just right

 

[Dan Lorenze]

I have some friends that have some and it's got me looking. I really like the Honda Africa Twin. Thinking 2020 to 2023. Anyone have any experience with these or love adventure riding? Bikes to look at or stay away from?

You really have to ask yourself, where do you plan on riding it? That's everything really..

Almost all of my buddies including myself have sold their 1090's, 800's,1190's, 1290's, Africa Twin's, GS's etc for smaller bikes like the 790's, 890's and the T7. But we ride tons of offroad, I'll bet most people that buy ADV bikes don't ride that much off road, my group is all about it. You won't have fun with us riding a big ADV bike.. But if you just want to casually ride some dirt roads many bikes will suit your needs. 690's are great, but I don't want to ride one across Colorado for multiple days. I love my 890 as it does everything really well and I feel really comfortable on it offroad, it's the best motorcycle I have ever purchased. I just love riding the thing.

My old 1090 was ok, I road that thing to Deadhorse Alaska and it did great. But the 790's and 890's are way better at everything, and lighter.

 

[Rajobigguy]

It really depends on how adventurist you wan to be. My Husky kind of straddles line between a serious dual sport and large adventure bike. I can do a couple hundred miles of on road in a day but it wont be as comfortable as some of the larger bikes already mentioned . On the other hand when we hit the trail those big bikes are going to play hell trying to keep up,

 

[Ol Man]

I have a 2022 BMW GS and a 2015 KTM Super Adventure. I have taken the KTM to Alaska twice. At 78 I am primarily an asphalt rider, but will take dirt roads to what is at the end. The 1290 is for sale and is a super bike. I got the low suspension on the GS. Right now I am in Beatty after a 250 mile day. Perfect So Cal weather before the storms of Storm Watch 2024. DM me if interested.

 

[Blackmagic94]

I have some friends that have some and it's got me looking. I really like the Honda Africa Twin. Thinking 2020 to 2023. Anyone have any experience with these or love adventure riding? Bikes to look at or stay away from?

Ducati multistrada or bust.

BMW if you want to go slow.

 

[Kbach]

I might be biased since I helped with development of the Africa Twin but I love mine

I’ve got about 24k miles on my personal 2016 and it’s still chugging along.

On a side note…if you pick up a first gen AT (or anybody else here that has one) and needs a spare wheel set let me know. I have a hoarding problem when it comes to MC wheels so I’ve collected probably 3-4 spare sets so I’d let a set go cheap.

 

[2Driver]

I have a 2022 BMW GS and a 2015 KTM Super Adventure. I have taken the KTM to Alaska twice. At 78 I am primarily an asphalt rider, but will take dirt roads to what is at the end. The 1290 is for sale and is a super bike. I got the low suspension on the GS. Right now I am in Beatty after a 250 mile day. Perfect So Cal weather before the storms of Storm Watch 2024. DM me if interested.

Damn, Iron man.

 

[MK1MOD0]

It’s pretty hard to buy a bad bike these days. They have all gotten so good, that reliability is almost never an issue. Biggest question will be, how will he be using the bike. Is it mostly on road with some mild trail riding. If so, the bigger bike rule. If he is going to be doing more 50/50, then the 700 cc bikes seem to be the ticket. And he is like us, we ride pretty hard when we’re off road and basically run smaller bikes (450-600cc ) due to less weight. All bikes will be a compromise.... just need to figure out what it will mostly be used for.

 

[COCA COLA COWBOY]

I had a KTM Adventure back in the day and it was amazing. Wheelie king! Fun to ride and very maneuverable. Not good in the dirt, but ok on roads. I'd get another if I had time to ride it.

 

[papabear639]

I might be biased since I helped with development of the Africa Twin but I love mine

I’ve got about 24k miles on my personal 2016 and it’s still chugging along.

On a side note…if you pick up a first gen AT (or anybody else here that has one) and needs a spare wheel set let me know. I have a hoarding problem when it comes to MC wheels so I’ve collected probably 3-4 spare sets so I’d let a set go cheap.

i may be interested in a set, id like to have an additional set for a more road worthy tire.

 

[Ryphraph]

I bought this 2017 new in early 2018 and love it. I haven't had a lot of dirt time aside from fire roads but it has been flawless for 8000+ miles.

 

[Howardflat]

Thanks guys. It will probably be mostly road with some offroad. Nothing too crazy but like fire roads or some mild single track. Would like to work up to some camping. All these bike seem to be capable depending what you plan on doing. Not one seems perfect.

 

[Kfabe]

@Howardflat I think something like this would fit your lifestyle way better than an adventure bike.

 

[Howardflat]

@Kfabe do i sense a little jealousy?

 

[Kfabe]

@Kfabe do i sense a little jealousy?

If you’re asking if I’m jealous of you getting a bike or the lifestyle. Then the answer is both. I’m jealous of both of those things