Sportsbike to Adventure

[the_lone_wolf]

happyWanderer said:

I would like to try manhandling one of those beasts offroad

Then go for it, get it bought and get yourself booked on a ferry to Africa with some friends...

You only get one life...

[graham22]

OP - Super nakeds are made for people like you (and me). The risk of losing licence/life/freedom was becoming to much of a likelihood when riding a GSXR1000 - replaced mine with a KTM Superduke and have had so much fun at less insane speeds.

Not an adventure bike fan personally, feel they are too much of a comprimise, not to mention the 'image problem' - prefer my off-road bike a little more serious (and smaller).

[y2blade]

graham22 said:

OP - Super nakeds are made for people like you (and me). The risk of losing licence/life/freedom was becoming to much of a likelihood when riding a GSXR1000 - replaced mine with a KTM Superduke and have had so much fun at less insane speeds.

Not an adventure bike fan personally, feel they are too much of a comprimise, not to mention the 'image problem' - prefer my off-road bike a little more serious (and smaller).

Good call^^^^

OP: Big ADV bikes don't suit everyone, A good friend went from 20+ years of superbikes/sportsbikes to a 1200GS Adventure and hated it (missed the overtaking punch and fun factor)..bought it new and kept it for about a month..then traded it back in for another 1000cc Sportsbike.


As you all know I'm sure I rode a 1200GS Triple-Black and loved it, Booked a second demo and took MissB out...she hated it, her words were "boring,slow,heavy,ugly and it sounds awful"
I rode the wheels off it with her on the back, she said she could have dozed off at any moment.

Get a few demo rides.

[MrKipling43]

Or this: http://www.gp45.co.uk/

Or wait until KTM do a Moto3 replica.

[y2blade]

All said and done, one of these will probably be my next big bike:

[obscene]

graham22 said:

OP - Super nakeds are made for people like you (and me). The risk of losing licence/life/freedom was becoming to much of a likelihood when riding a GSXR1000 - replaced mine with a KTM Superduke and have had so much fun at less insane speeds.

Not an adventure bike fan personally, feel they are too much of a comprimise, not to mention the 'image problem' - prefer my off-road bike a little more serious (and smaller).

I need to get a speed triple instead of my gsx-r 1000. Bye bye licence at this rate

[RumpleFugly]

happyWanderer said:

the_lone_wolf said:

The 990 is a BIG bike, unless you're spending weeks at a time or are happy to handle it off road the slightly lighter 690 would probably be a better bet

Buuuuut...

The 990 is addictively powerful (the torque, THE TORQUE!!) and the twin engine is much nicer than the singles

I would like to try manhandling one of those beasts offroad
Tbh if I ever get one it will spend most of the time on the road, but still would prefer to have the option to venture offroad.

Check out Iker the Basque doing the fastest crossing of the Vitim Bridge in Siberia, on his KTM 990.

Absolute nutter but the guy can seriously ride.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=tqtzmJrHdxw#t=03m06s

[shoestring7]

Dare2Fail said:

Also, some of the newer adventure bikes are pushing out 140+bhp. They really aren't going to slow you down too much.

This.

I tried a new GS yesterday. The bloody thing flies; performance and handling way better than a 750 sports bike when I started out (not that long ago) nd added to an illegible speedo and I was seeing 3 figure speeds too often. I'm sticking to my old GSA.

SS7

[y2blade]

shoestring7 said:

Dare2Fail said:

Also, some of the newer adventure bikes are pushing out 140+bhp. They really aren't going to slow you down too much.

This.

I tried a new GS yesterday. The bloody thing flies; performance and handling way better than a 750 sports bike when I started out (not that long ago) nd added to an illegible speedo and I was seeing 3 figure speeds too often. I'm sticking to my old GSA.

SS7

Really???? in "three figures" all the time without realizing?? on the Liquid Cooled GS!!!! I've not tried it, I rode and enjoyed the 1200GS it was fun but not a quick bike by any stretch of the imagination!

[jjr1]

I tried a GS a few weeks back and it was so below my expectations performance wise, I brought it back after 30mins of an hours test drive. The one thing it most certainly doesn't do is 'fly'.

[fergus]

jjr1 said:

I tried a GS a few weeks back and it was so below my expectations performance wise, I brought it back after 30mins of an hours test drive. The one thing it most certainly doesn't do is 'fly'.

Driven round to the redline, rather than shortshifted, they are significantly quicker. My 2005 bike seems to come "on cam" around 4500rpm.

[shoestring7]

Either I have a small dick or you guys need the seat of your pants recalibrated. The sensible shoes enduro tourer GS produces the same power as a Ducati 996, but with 30% more torque. Dry weight isn't that far off either.

So yes, it was very easy to go faster that I felt comfortable doing on the road.

SS7

[bobd]

I have had many bikes and like you thought slowing down and going adventure route was the way forward. So I traded in my 2010 year zx10r for a 2007 GSA and thought this is for me. Two weeks in I had decided it was the biggest pile of sh 1 t I had ever had. The brakes felt pulsy, the engine was ok, but didnt excite and the handling was acceptable. After 6 months of being pissed off with poor dealer workshop service and a bike I hated the dealer took it back for an R1200s. Once again problems with the dealer and the way in which they had completed some work, bike was OK, but nothing special although looked good. I was pissed off with this so traded it to another dealer, this time someone I have known a long time for a 1098 with all the right bits and I love it. Each ride is an event and it reminds me of my TVRs but obviously two wheels less.
Having owned a lot of bikes from different manufacturers I will never buy another BMW again.
The adventure bike thing is great if thats what your doing - going off on an adventure.
If your not then dont buy a peaked helmet and stick with what you know.
Just for the OP benefit a roomy sports bikes great and if you want the off road job get a small cheap trailie as well.
I have had a quite a few bikes and a few indecisive moments with impulse purchases and the adventure bike was by far the worst one.
If you are going down the change route ride as many different models over different roads for as long as possible. A twenty minute test ride doesnt work.
Good luck

[the_lone_wolf]

To all the people who bought BMWs and thought adventure bikes were boring, please try a KTM before consigning an entire sector of bikes to the bin...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVGry7-gZkg

[bogie]

Back to the OP, why do you think you are limited to an "adventure bike"? to me they are big trail bikes that have developed into practical tourers...and most of the top end ones are 120-160bhp anyway so as quick as most sportsbikes...throw on a touring screen and 3 figure cruising is too easy all over again

if you dont need to carry bags and tour, then any naked bike will do the job , and there are so many to choose from

without a screen I find the natural comfy cruising speed is well under 3 figures and the sensation of speed much greater ...its still lots of fun doing 0-80 on A/B roads

so just choose your brand/style of big naked bike and go test ride a few to see what you get on with