Cape Town to Nairobi on a Vespa PX200EFL, 10" wheels, and 12 HP. Then again on the 9000 km Budapest to Bamako Enduro Rally (also offroad bits like the moroccan deserts, the beaches of Mauritania, pistes under construction, etc).

I've also done a fair bit of travel on a Yamaha 50 CC DTR.

I still don't consider any of those adventure bikes - they are capable, but unsuitable - and they don't fit with the most agreed upon form factor concept (factory ready bikes advertised as adventure bikes). My Yamaha WR250, or the Honda CBR 600 F - same thing. Their intended use is completely different - though no doubt thay adventurously could take me just about anywhere if I was so perversely inclined. My old BMW F600GS Dakar on the other hand, fits well within the most agreed upon concept as of what a factory ready adventure bike is... as would the Yamaha XT 660 Z Tenere that I currently have my eyes on.

Although interesting to have a discussion about trying to define the term - I find that when questions such as "what is the best adventure bike", quickly turns into a rethorical debate rather than simply trying to answer the question within the most agreed upon definition of the term - the one the poster probably thinks of (otherwise the poster would most likely have supplied; a broader definition of the term, a different definition alltogether, or ask for the definition to be challenged???

So to answer the question of the poster - as most modern factory ready adventure bikes seem to start at 50 HP (one cylindered thumpers) - with few severe complaints as far as I can see, I would say 50HP for one person is more than enough. And as for those riding two up and hauling a ton of stuff - usually finding a larger bike more accomodating for two up - usually having bike choice reduced to options with more than one cyclinder and more than 70HP. I believe approx 85-110 HP is more common choice than 70, with for instance the F800GS starting at 85 and the R1250GS delivering a whopping 136. I've never heard any complaints of having too much power, and I have not heard any serious complaints of from someone only having 85 HP either. I frequently hear complaints of the bike being too heavy or big.

Now, sinking thousands into kitting for instance a WR250R (30HP) could make a great adventure bike (enough power to get you over tall mountains, ride off road, do ok on the highways - and keeping the weight low). But - it isn't a factory ready adventure bike.

So, 30 HP for one person, and 70 for rider plus pilion - seems more than enough - though most selections would probably start at 50/85 HP for 1 or two people. You could still probably cut that in half and still have enough - but why would you if you didn't make any significant gains in other places? No point in actually trying to find a weak bike?

The 70 vs 85 HP does make a significant difference when riding two up, especially on faster roads where you need to pass other vehicles, etc. But I don't need a bike so powerful that the pilion will fall off if a twist the throttle all the way.

So, for me, the lower limit would be 30 hp for a kitted dual sport (one person), 50 hp for a factory ready adventure bike (one person), and 85 for a factory ready bike for two people (seing few arguments of trying to kit a non factory ready adventure bike for two people).

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Blog: www.bamakobyvespa.no
My Youtube Channel

To bemore into facts what is realistic.
Rather than possible.


Ted Simon, that knows what he is talking about.
Said that a good speed fro traveling is 50 mph= 80km/h.
Of course if road and other conditions permitts.
It is a compromise between having time to look around.
And to get to knew places within decent time.

So if a bike can cruze without problem at that speed.
Given the load it has to carry.
It has enough power.

Sure, but how many HP is that? High altitude, going up hill, with a pillion and luggage for two?

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Blog: www.bamakobyvespa.no
My Youtube Channel

Last year I did 8,000km in India and Nepal on a Hero Impulse 150, think Honda XR150 built in India with a passenger and our luggage and it did the job even at altitude in Nepal, although 60-70kph was more like it going up hill in the mountains. A great bike and great fun and I think around 15bhp.

Ditto ditto, 12,00km's around India top to bottom including Napel on a 150 Hero Hunk back in 2011. Was it an adventure, of course yes. Did I need more grunt, maybe..!!! Do I have fond memories........

I have now since scratch built a purposeful overlanding bike that has 75hp, my ideal speed is up to 50mph and 70mph on highways/open roads. The concept of my build was based on durability and function not performance or looks. As someone mentioned, the bike is the tool that enables adventure, so much more to it than BHP....!!!!

I'm prepared to bet that the number of times you wished for 'more grunt' would've been far outweighed by the number of times you would've been wishing for 'less weight' had you done that same trip on 250kg of 'proper' Adventure Bike?
I've long held the opinion that the best all-around bike for travelling one-up beyond the easy reach of roadside recovery trucks and main-dealers is one based on the Honda OHV125cc engine that first appeared in the CG125 back in the 1970s; 40-odd years of proving itself and copies/clones (including the hero hunk) all around the world under a variety of badges - we once spotted seven different ones in less than an hour along the motorbike shops street in Cartagena, Columbia! - they're light enough to lift onto a pick-up truck (or even push) and repairable anywhere.

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BobnLes

I've never ever wanted less power.

But I've always wished for more. Why wouldn't you ?

But extra power usually means extra weight. And when it doesn't mean extra weight, it means less reliability.

So the question 'how much power do you need' really depends on the type of bike.

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

But weight is also an issue, a 250kg dry weight would never make an adventure bike


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

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Charles CCM450, BMW R90/6, BMW R50
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...a/027_27-1.jpg

Hold on a minute, who said this and where is this set in stone or where has science proved this..?? Conversations like this tend to go round in circles and at the end of the day it's only our individual opinions. If two people want to share the same adventure using one bike then the 'light is right' approach goes out the window but the two said people still go on to have live the adventure on the bike that they chose. There simply isn't a right or wrong here....

andn so it goes on ..............
one mans bike is a tarmac thing !!! ( err !!)
another is a very small bike good for not a lot !!
and .............................................. the perfect combination is ... around 650 ish and 70 bhp !. ............................. :...