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2 Days Ago
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Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
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Join Date: May 2011
Location: midlands uk
Posts: 241
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Big adventure bikes ..............
Is it the end for large big adventure bikes ?
Do you really need 120 hp to go on an adventure ?
We now see a lot of small bikes coming into the market .. ie 300cc.450cc 500cc
They have a massive advantage as they cost on some cases 1/3 of the cost !
Easy to ride on rough tracks
Better fuel economy
Cheaper to insure
and more fun !
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2 Days Ago
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Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
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Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Colombia,(when not travelling)
Posts: 374
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...and lighter in case you have to pick them up : )
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1 Day Ago
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Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
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Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Devon, UK
Posts: 836
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It's the old story, "horses for courses". A big bike will be better and more capable on the road, a smaller one vice versa. You *can* tour on anything, as I'm sure we have all seen, but if you tailor your ride to the style of journey you want to do, you'll probably have a more enjoyable experience.
For me, 650-900cc has always been the sweet spot. Most of my travel is on blacktop but it's important to me to have a bike that isn't quickly overwhelmed by a bit of rough going, or impossible to pick up unaided. OTOH, I don't want something I have to cane flat out to get between cities at more than pony pace. Upper-middleweight bikes are also better for carrying luggage long distances. I don't carry the kitchen sink but for a long trip you need a reasonable amount of clothes, tools, spares and camping gear.
Where I think we can agree is *nobody* needs 1300cc and a 30 litre tank. There's no place anywhere in the world where that's necessary.
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1 Day Ago
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Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Back into the hamster wheel again, in Oslo - Norway. Did a 5 year RTW trip/250 k kms, 2014-2019
Posts: 1,503
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Its great that we now have more alternatives in the middle and smaller segment of travelbikes. However for example both the CF Moto 450 and the new Himalayan 450 are around 195 kilos wet weight. Thats a lot more than old school bikes such as the Dr650, XT600 etc. The NX500 also weighs almost 200 kilos.
The Crf300 Rally is the only option that I can remember with a weight around 150 kilos.
Of course we have the KTM/Husky/GasGas 700 line - but that it will need bigger petrol tank to be a decent travel bike.
A new KTM 390 Adv is coming - weight is not known yet but probably around 170-180 kilos wet. A brand new Aprilia Tuareg 450 twin cylindred is also rumoured - and that is great. But I dont belive it will be less than 175 kilos wet.
So yes - several new smaller/midle bikes available nowadays so thats great. But the weight of these new alternative small/middle weight bikes is much like the weight of much bigger bikes some 20-30 years ago.
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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....
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16 Hours Ago
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Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
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Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: Catalunya
Posts: 325
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomkat
... OTOH, I don't want something I have to cane flat out to get between cities at more than pony pace. ...
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That sounds fair, when I'm off on a trip the last place I want to be is around a city so I prefer the "pony pace"
Quote:
Originally Posted by Snakeboy
...
The Crf300 Rally is the only option that I can remember with a weight around 150 kilos. ...
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Voge Rally 300 is the only other one I know of, or for short people the Voge 300ACX is alright for trails apparently and weighs about 170kg.
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6 Hours Ago
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Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Back into the hamster wheel again, in Oslo - Norway. Did a 5 year RTW trip/250 k kms, 2014-2019
Posts: 1,503
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Forgot the Voge 300 Rally yes….
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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....
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5 Hours Ago
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Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
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Join Date: May 2011
Location: midlands uk
Posts: 241
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arrr........ Honda is always your best bet !
love to buy a new xr650 from usa in whie !!! wow
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