What Large ADV Bike?

[gonidobi]

I'm in the market for a large displacement ADV. I already own a road based touring bike, and I own two lightweight dual sports. But I'm finding more and more often I'm wanting something in between. Something big and comfy for all day road touring. But that can also go explore fire roads and other light offroad areas.

So I'm looking at bikes like the BMW 1250GS, KTM Super Adventure, Ducati Multistrata, etc. I have no brand loyalty, which is making this a very hard decision. They all have strong pros, and they all have some cons.

Anyone have opinions, insight, etc?
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https://collectionofbestporn.pro

[ThunderGuts]

I know someone with a new Africa Twin and he loves it. He doesn't take it off road but it's capable of doing that. Comfy enough for long trips too. Latest one is quite well equipped too (cornering LED lights, Apple CarPlay (bikeplay?!), colour LCD screen etc. etc.). They're pretty big though so if you're on the shorter side might be a struggle, although judging by your bike history this probably isn't an issue.
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TG.

[doggone]

I'm liking the the new Yamaha T700, the latest tenere so there will be a lot of stuff available if you want panniers, guards or whatever.

[to v or not to v]

triumph tigers seem to get good reviews.

[A100man]

[MarJay]

Are you being honest with genuinely how much you're going to go off road? Also, are you being honest with yourself about being able to handle a 200kg bike on a dirt track?

I personally have never seen the point of big 'adventure' bikes. I've had it drilled into me from a very young age that the most critical aspect of a bike that can perform off road is low weight. So making something that is effectively a tourer with the suspension and wheels that look a bit like a trail bike seems like insanity.

I feel like ADV bikes are the same as SUV's for car drivers in that they exist to entertain the idea that you 'could' go anywhere, but actually you're going to have the same drab suburban existence taking your kids to soccer practice as nearly everyone else who owns one.

I mean, even Ewan and Charley did their last trip on cruisers for pity's sake. Electric cruisers made by Harley Davidson. You can't even make it up!
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Bhud]

To give you another point of view to consider, the bikes you're mulling over and which you've named are all premium bikes. You're contemplating buying a premium bike as a luxury good.

A luxury good is something you might find desirable, but which isn't necessary for your survival or existence.

Never mind that it's a bike. Just take it as a lump sum of money.
Let's call it £15000. Let's say you keep it for 5 years, and then sell it for £9000 to £10000. Let's call it a depreciation loss of £1000 per year. Add to that the necessary servicing, at £400 to 700 per year, depending on intensity of use, and how often you get through tyres. So, let's call it a combined running loss of £1500 per year.

And what do you get out of it? In your words, you "go explore fire roads and other light offroad areas." For £1500 per year? Is it really worth that much to you? How many days per year will you actually use it for this? 30? 1500 / 30 = £50 a day. Not too bad, right? But let's add insurance at £200 / year to that. Plus tax, plus fuel. Still affordable, right? Well, let's go back to treating it as money and compare it with an alternative.

Let's say, you're not interested in bikes at all. You're into watches. You buy a Panerai S̶u̶b̶m̶a̶r̶i̶n̶e̶r̶ Submersible. Costs you £15000. Annual service at £350 per year. Gets about 200 days use per year. Sell it in 5 years for £12000. Hmm.. But that's not for people like you, you think. The guy who owns one of these lives in an enormous mansion owned by his offshore company. He may be a FTSE250 CEO, or a senior law partner, or something equivalent to that level. He doesn't do installations or sell kitchens, or something. He's a top-level earner.

Do you see the disparity? Youtube makes this sort of behaviour seem more normal, but if you compare the numbers, you spend/lose more on a luxury good than a guy with much more money, and more luxurious tastes, than you. And for what? To amble around on a dirt track leading absolutely nowhere on a huge 1200cc machine, at a speed no greater than, say, a Greek on a Honda C90.

You asked for opinions, and that's mine.

[CorriganJ]

[ThunderGuts]

[1198]

I’m not a big fan of the look or idea behind a big ‘off road’ bike but I’d love one. I’m thinking it would be ideal as a replacement for my ZZR1100 - it’s over thirty years old now and showing it’s 83k miles. I have no interest in being Euan or Charlie though, it’s too big and heavy for that in my opinion but would be ideal when used for my three season 300 mile motorway commute. The main reason I haven’t bought one is the depreciation would be significant as would other running / servicing costs, whereas my beloved ZZR gets serviced by me and, on paper at least, is pretty much worthless already.
A large Africa Twin type thing would make it easier to stick within at least sight of the speed limit too. The ZZR makes it just too easy to ‘make progress’ and on occasion I’ve found myself at speeds that I wouldn’t be able to explain away to even the most lenient UK policeman.

[Freddyfruitba...]

[ThunderGuts]

[doggone]