Current choice of lightweight adventure bikes?

[wazza]

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[mr bergman]

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[Jimmy]

Nah, the big heavy beasts are a hoot in the rough stuff.

Recent'y picked up a low k KTM 1190 Adventure S.

Have taken it down some tracks many wouldn't dream of taking their hard core enduro bikes. The weight adds to the comedy of it all, wouldn't do it any other way.

Chasing the light bikes, you may as well just fit a big tank to an enduro bike and be done with it.

Will be doing a two dayer this weekend and can't wait.

I am look at the 1190R. I know yours in the S, but how have you found it on long trips? We are going to do a lap in 2021 on maybe 80/20 road to dirt and i think 1190 would idea for me. When not doing big tours, does it still entice you jump on each weekend, or do you wish you have a tracer or something more road oriented?

[tmac450]

I am look at the 1190R. I know yours in the S, but how have you found it on long trips? We are going to do a lap in 2021 on maybe 80/20 road to dirt and i think 1190 would idea for me. When not doing big tours, does it still entice you jump on each weekend, or do you wish you have a tracer or something more road oriented?

Sorry, don't know why I put S, mine is an R.

I'm loving it and always look forward to riding it, especially off road. I've been known to ride to work on it some days just for a reason to ride it (and I'm not the biggest fan of road riding).

It was always a toss up between this and a BMW GS. The Bimmer is nicer on the road, but not quite as planted off road.

The 1190 is an absolute power house on the road and is listed in the top 50 fastest road bikes of all time if you're into that sort of thing.

Biggest trip I've done is a 2 dayer at about 450ks per day and am doing another one with more off road and similar distance weekend after next. An enduro bike on a similar trip is utter torture for rider and machine, on the ADV bike it's pure bliss by comparison.

[Jimmy]

I wont be even thinking about anything entirely dirt biased like the 790 or T700. the 1190 is even possibly too dirt biased, i aim to ride one this sat.

I do want lots of power, when you pass a road train you want to do it at warp, i dont want to sit next to one while i wind up 70hp. So plenty power on the hwy is good. 160hp offroad is about 120 more than i would need My offroad will be dirt roads and easy tracks.

Which GS have you got?

[tmac450]

I wont be even thinking about anything entirely dirt biased like the 790 or T700. the 1190 is even possibly too dirt biased, i aim to ride one this sat.

I do want lots of power, when you pass a road train you want to do it at warp, i dont want to sit next to one while i wind up 70hp. So plenty power on the hwy is good. 160hp offroad is about 120 more than i would need My offroad will be dirt roads and easy tracks.

Which GS have you got?

I don't have a GS, was considering one when I got the 1190.

My brother and a few friends have the GS. They seem to prefer the one below the full-on adventure model as the tank is smaller and easier to manage off road.

The 1190 drops to 100hp in off road mode, which is still more than the GS' peak output.

[silverfox]

I have heard Whispers of a Sherco Adventure bike soon

[tmac450]

I wont be even thinking about anything entirely dirt biased like the 790 or T700. the 1190 is even possibly too dirt biased, i aim to ride one this sat.

I do want lots of power, when you pass a road train you want to do it at warp, i dont want to sit next to one while i wind up 70hp. So plenty power on the hwy is good. 160hp offroad is about 120 more than i would need My offroad will be dirt roads and easy tracks.

Which GS have you got?

Update on a GS for you.

We did a 600k, two day adventure ride on the weekend, mostly off road, some gnarly single and a heap of fire trails.

One GS didn't make it after bottoming out the front suspension on a drainage mound on a fire trail, the engine case cracked in 3 places where the frame bolts on.

If you've looked at the front end set-up on one of these, they have a sort of front swing arm, which often bottoms on medium hits and can come in contact with the frame. Looks like over this GS's 70k life it finally copped one hit too many and most likely will be a write off.

My 1190 was a dream everywhere. Got through everything easily and I found myself having to help some of the smaller bikes get through sections. At least I got to ride a bit of variety and found while the smaller bikes were notably lighter, they also weren't as planted on the really gnarly sections either.

[hairyone]

I'd consider the KTM 690... If I could afford it... Which I can't.
I guess such money on such bike is such maintenance too.
I'm interested to know from DBWers in the know: Speak up.

[silverfox]

I'd consider the KTM 690... If I could afford it... Which I can't.
I guess such money on such bike is such maintenance too.
I'm interested to know from DBWers in the know: Speak up.

Love my 701. whih is the same bike, but with bigger tank, more suspension travel and white. will take it anywhere my 350 beta will go, including an mx track!!!!. 6 litre rade tank added and well over 340km range . Great on the black top, will sit on 12+ all day long. Ticks all my boxes as I want more off rad than on. If you want more blacktop.buy somthing else as other bikes do that better. It does not excell anywhere, but does it all well as far as a dirt bike goes. The 19/20 have to much crap on them IMO, mine is a 17

[Pete40]

I'd consider the KTM 690... If I could afford it... Which I can't.
I guess such money on such bike is such maintenance too.
I'm interested to know from DBWers in the know: Speak up.

My 2008 is for sale hairy. You could probably afford that. No huge difference to 2019 if you ask me.

[380EXCQLD]

Love my 701. whih is the same bike, but with bigger tank, more suspension travel and white. will take it anywhere my 350 beta will go, including an mx track!!!!. 6 litre rade tank added and well over 340km range . Great on the black top, will sit on 12+ all day long. Ticks all my boxes as I want more off rad than on. If you want more blacktop.buy somthing else as other bikes do that better. It does not excell anywhere, but does it all well as far as a dirt bike goes. The 19/20 have to much crap on them IMO, mine is a 17

I haven't ridden one, but earlier this year I met an old pom on one at the top of a big mfing grade 4 hill at Kenilworth.
He had a sweat up (as all poms do out here!), but he'd ripped up there first shot, while a few blokes 20 yrs younger than him needed a 2nd go, on more suited mounts.

I'd surmise a 690/701 would be more than capable of blowing a few cobwebs out of an old hairy one

[Pete40]

dont really want to sell mine because I've always said if you could only have 1 bike (god forbid) then the 690 style is it.

[Jimmy]

We bought Tenere 700s. We will be doing long distance and i think the way it rides HWY and dirt roads is ideal. Anyway we both rode it and both loved it. I think it was kinda between the Africa and this and the Africa is just too high tech and that little bit bigger and a fair bit more $$....anyway we may love em or not. If we dont, then we will sell and get something else.

[380EXCQLD]

Good stuff Jimmy, but where's the pics?

If you haven't seen them yet, check out MVDBR on youtube. Josh has had his 700 for about 6 months and has some good honest tips & reviews on add-ons etc.
They also have some good vids from the last few years of big bikes going where they probably shouldn't, especially his mate with an AT.

Please keep us posted on how you get along with yours. I'm pretty sure you won't be selling them anytime soon.