That's really bold statement and couldn't be father from the true.
The biggest downside of 21" are tubes, next is handling. If there would be no problem on tarmac with 21" front wheel MotoGP would use them instead of 17"

Don't believe the advertising hype of the GS800 and Tiger800, they are both heavy bikes, add the usual Touratech catalogue bash plates, protection and racks etc, luggage, water, food, camping gear (and some ) and they get very heavy. Unless you are young, tall, strong with a long inseam and can pick up a loaded 500+ lb. bike on your own on a remote sandy trail after you've dropped it for the 20th time that day in 35 degree heat while wearing full riding gear, then look for something lighter.
If you don't have much dirt riding experience, keep your cruiser for road riding for the time being - and buy a lightly used Yamaha WR250R to learn on. I know a few people that have sold their cruisers, bought a big 'Adventure' bike and not enjoyed themselves when the going gets tough - or they have had a big accident trying to wrestle these big bikes. They normally end up selling their bikes and go back to cruisers, or it sits in the garage and never gets used.
As the guys have said, learn on a small bike - get a taste for riding dirt and see if its your 'bag'. After a while you may outgrow the WR250R and move up to a bigger bike, but I know a lot of people who are moving back from the bigger bikes and downsizing to the DR650, KTM690, CB500X, WR250R, CRF250L - For a reason.


These guys live in the Calgary area and do lots of trail riding, Trent and Daan ride 450's, Jordan and Rene ride WR250R's - if you want to get started riding dirt they know plenty of places to ride and are very helpful.


Wanduro — Explorations on a Motorcycle


.......and of course, make sure you get to the HUBB meet at Nakusp this Summer for lots of first hand experience...and a few

__________________
Cheers
Grif

'11 KTM 450 EXC
'09 Suzuki DR650
'00 Discovery Series 2 V8
'95 Defender 90 300 Tdi Overlander
http://gipperstravels.blogspot.ca

My XRV 750 Africa Twin has 21s (obviously) and I can honestly say that I have never felt that the size of the front wheel keeps me from taking turns how ever I want. I have had other ADV bikes with 19s and pushed them hard from time to time but, when you are touring you hardly push the bike to the limit.
I think that is not the idea for these bikes... specially in a long trip abroad.

As for the Original post, consider the CB500X with the Rally Raid Adventure kit.. from my experience, that motorcycle has everything you really need (good price, reliability, range, simple, lightweight and great suspension).

But, at the end, buy the bike that makes you tick.

cheers

Wow, old thread, sorry I missed this one.

You'll need to take my statement in context of what the conversation was about. We're talking 50/50 riding, so at least some dirt in the mix. So right away the 21" front is in the lead over 19 and 17 fronts.

Lots of bikes have tubes front & rear. YES ... it's PITA ass to do flats. But often the wheels are tougher than cast wheels, can be cheaper too.

I find handling on my current and former 21" equipped bikes has been remarkably good. You should come ride with us. On a recent twisty road ride
I out ran 5 better riders riding new KTM 1290s ... this on my 37 HP DR650 with a 21" front tire ... a knobby to boot! Granted it was all tight switchbacks most take at 20 mph. I can go double that speed on my DR. KTM guys can't hack it. But on any sort of smooth fast road ... they're GONE in an instant.
(160 HP) I owned 5 or 6 sports bikes before I ever owned a dual sport, lots of track days, schools, so i can ride a bit.

When I first started riding dual sport bikes 30 years ago I was stunned to discover just how good these 21" equipped "dirt bikes" handled. My first encounter was riding with Motorcyclist magazine staff. They were on FZ1000's,
Buell's, CBR600 and the like. On the very tight and dirty roads I kept pace easily on my old 1987 XL600R Honda.

Next, bring RAIN into the mix. Nothing works better on rainy roads than a dual sport with a 21" front. I can outrun many average riders on sports bike ... and I'm old and slow.

If you don't have good sporty roads where you live then you'll never know just how good these bikes can be. The Suzuki is simply a superb handler.

as I said, tell guys at MotoGP to change wheels and tyres especially in rain to 21" and knobbies. I'm sure they will love your idea at 150 mph.

I don't know where you ride or where you're from .. as you've left off your location. (Now why is that?)

Obviously not comparing to MotoGP here. But bring those MotoGP guys over to our BEAT up, horribly bumpy, pot holed nightmares for roads and lets see how they do.

Average speeds on such roads go from 15 to 60 MPH for the most part.

Trust me, I've ridden such road with plenty of fast sport bike guys (not MotoGP racers) and they struggle. BTW, in rain I leave off the knobbies and use a nice
80/20 dual sport tire like an Anakee or Distanzia.

Ever ride (or race Flat Track?) The tires above are a bit like flat track tires and work really well on paved roads and even on some smooth dirt roads within reason.