Dreaming of a motorcycle trip to distant climes? This section will help you to plan your trip, whether it's to the next state, country or all the way around the world! Start here!
The Achievable Dream 5-part series - the definitive video guide for planning your motorcycle adventure. Get Ready! covers planning, paperwork, medical and many other topics! "Inspirational and Awesome!" See the trailer here!
You could just get on a plane with your credit card and passport and buy or rent everything you need when you get there. That includes the bike, riding gear, etc. etc.
Gear Up! is a 2-DVD set, 6 hours! Which bike is right for me? How do I prepare the bike? What stuff do I need - riding gear, clothing, camping gear, first aid kit, tires, maps and GPS? What don't I need? How do I pack it all in? Lots of opinions from over 150 travellers! "will save you a fortune!"See the trailer here!
So you've done it - got inspired, planned your trip, packed your stuff and you're on the road! This section is about staying healthy, happy and secure on your motorcycle adventure. And crossing borders, war zones or oceans!
On the Road! is 5.5 hours of the tips and advice you need to cross borders, break down language barriers, overcome culture shock, ship the bike and deal with breakdowns and emergencies."Just makes me want to pack up and go!" See the trailer here!
Tire Changing!Grant demystifies the black art of Tire Changing and Repair to help you STAY on the road! "Very informative and practical." See the trailer here!
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Horizons Unlimited Presents!
Ladies on the Loose! For the first time ever, a motorcycle travel DVD made for women, by women! These intrepid women share their tips to help you plan your own motorcycle adventure. They also answer the women-only questions, and entertain you with amazing tales from the road! Presented by Lois Pryce, veteran solo traveller through South America and Africa and author of 'Lois on the Loose', and 'Red Tape and White Knuckles.'
"It has me all fired up to go out on my own adventure!" See the trailer here!
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Not so unknown, the 790 Duke was launched in Europe earlier this year and being a sports model it'll be well tested by the owners. And that's without the testing by KTM themselves, who have been blasting round on development models for at least the last 3 years, with pre-production adventure models being used in offroad competition during this year.
The new 790 has only been out a year now and very few out in the public so far. And the 790 Duke has not been released in USA yet! So, I'd say it's still early days on that engine and the bike overall.
I'm sure KTM have pre production bikes out there and the race team testing is invaluable. But small part and involves a small number of machines.
Lets hope they've got it right first time out ... God knows they've taken enough time! (probably busy fine tuning the Chinese plant operation? )
Will you be a Beta tester for this new KTM ... on your pound? :smarts:
Don't be too quick to knock Chinese manufactured bikes. The brand owners have been chasing cheap labour all round the world so are well used to instilling and ensuring their global quality standards. They don't just give them a set of drawings and say "off you go"!
A friend of mine had a Honda Innova as well as the Chinese branded equivalent, both made in the same plant in China. The Honda was everything you'd expect, slick, reliable, well finished, and the Chinese bike made for the local market was shoddy, sharing only an engine and a shape. If European and Japanese companies manufacture abroad they are very careful to make sure the product quality stays the same, the only effect should be that it costs you less because the poor sods who make it for pennies earn less in the process.
So regardless of where each bike is made you should judge it by the standards of the parent company not the local market. That said I intend to buy either a 790 or a T7, as I want a relatively lightweight bike that can eat up the miles but doesn't flounder like a whale off road. My thoughts were the KTM, as I believe they have made great strides in reliability while still maintaining a performance focus, but I'd consider the Yamaha if the weight is comparable.
Good post! and so true. I don't see any China bashing on this thread but we see plenty of that on other forums ... especially KTM and BMW forums.
So true, this is all changing and as you say, it's the parent company that matters. They set the standard. All we need do is look what is coming out of Thailand. The new Triumphs are damn good. Most ALL Thai made with Japanese engine parts and internals.
Somewhere just north of 100 HP according to the sales pitch which is comparable with, say, the 95 HP of the 800cc TIger.
Maybe why BMW have "upped" their engines to 850 and "750" for the mini-GS range.
Yes but remember the Duke sits in the "Supermoto" category and is tuned for power. The Adv is projected to have around 90 which should be good for longevity but still result in a good performance from a bike intended to be the lightest in its class.
[url=http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2018/11/2019-ktm-790-adventure-combines-street-and-dirt-capabilities/]2019 KTM 790 Adventure Combines Street and Dirt Capabilities
I think the comparisons between the 790 and the T7 just stopped. With just 72 bhp and weighing in over 200 kgs dry, the T7 has shot itself firmly into the Africa Twin category. The 790 is thus a bike out on its own, lighter, more powerful and, with the pannier type tank, no doubt feeling a whole lot lower.
I'm pleased they are offering a base and R model, as the base looks pretty good for adventure touring while the R will be a bit higher with more electrickery for sporty riding.
189 kg dry and 20 liters tank with 450km range so it's about 204 kg wet, not that bad similar to T7 which has smaller tank and range as well as less power.
still heavy, not sure why some would buy this instead of 1090 adv R?
[url=http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2018/11/2019-ktm-790-adventure-combines-street-and-dirt-capabilities/]2019 KTM 790 Adventure Combines Street and Dirt Capabilities
That weight specs are far out! The KTM 1090 is 205 kilos dry so no way the 790 can be ~ 11-12 kilos more. The specs in Tremens thread seems correct - 189 kilos dry and ~ 204-205 wet.
That weight specs are far out! The KTM 1090 is 205 kilos dry so no way the 790 can be ~ 11-12 kilos more. The specs in Tremens thread seems correct - 189 kilos dry and ~ 204-205 wet.
if you dial in reliability; I think the comparisons have just started for me. In a travel bike, reliability is at the top of my list of priorities; and here KTM just stalled.
I'd agree about the importance of reliability but I wouldn't agree the 790 can be judged on it. After all this is a virtually brand new engine, KTM have done a mahoosive amount of work to develop it and there have been no problems I'm aware of reported in the 790 Duke which has been out for nearly a year.
It's wrong to judge KTM by the standards of its past bikes (though BMW kinda trades on that), and even if you do there are plenty of examples of machines that have clocked up huge mileages with no problems.
I find it incredible that KTM thinks this is an advert for an adventure travel bike. Enduro yes, but definitely not Adventure.
Let's see some photos with luggage and sensible off-tarmac riding, not some juvenile Top Gear type antics.
50 kg heavier is not a selling point to me and I definitely don't need any extra power, so it looks like I will stick with my KTM 690 'bumbling adventure' bike.
The one thing that might have swung it for me is if KTM had made the spokes external to allow tubeless tyres.
__________________ "For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)
I've tried both. Against things that penetrate the outer tyre, the thickness of the inner tube has no relevance.
Heavy duty tubes might help with 'snake bite' punctures when you are running at low pressures over rocks and where the tube gets pinched, but there's a downside that even when fully inflated they limit the speeds you can run at due to heat buildup.
Slime has never worked for me. Some people report that once a tube has had slime in it, you can't patch the tube, but I find it washes off just fine. But then I rarely patch tubes, I replace the tube with a new one and then have the old tube vulcanised.
So at the moment my preferred options are tubeless or running mousses. I use mousses in my KTM 690 Enduro. Michelin BIB mousses are a real PITA to fit but they last as long as the outer tyre.
__________________ "For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)
Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's thelist of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...
2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.
"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)
Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.
Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes.
(ONLY US RESIDENTS and currently has a limit of 60 days.)
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Every book a diary
Every chapter a day
Every day a journey
Refreshingly honest and compelling tales: the hights and lows of a life on the road. Solo, unsupported, budget journeys of discovery.
Authentic, engaging and evocative travel memoirs, overland, around the world and through life.
All 8 books availablefrom the author or as eBooks and audio books
Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!
Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.
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helps answer the question - Why Go? Inspirational stories by veteran travellers Greg Frazier (5 times RTW), Peter and Kay Forwood (193 countries), Tiffany Coates (Mongolia Mayhem) and Rene Cormier (University of Gravel Roads).
Get Ready! covers planning, paperwork, medical and many other topics! "Inspirational and Awesome!" See the trailer here!
What stuff do I need - riding gear, clothing, camping gear, first aid kit, tires, maps and GPS? What don't I need? How do I pack it all in? Lots of opinions from over 150 travellers!
break down language barriers, overcome culture shock, ship the bike and deal with breakdowns and emergencies."Just makes me want to pack up and go!" See the trailer here!
Grant demystifies the black art of Tire Changing and Repair to help you STAY on the road! "Very informative and practical." See the trailer here!
Ladies on the Loose! For the first time ever, a motorcycle travel DVD made for women, by women! These intrepid women share their tips to help you plan your own motorcycle adventure. They also answer the women-only questions, and entertain you with amazing tales from the road! Presented by Lois Pryce, veteran solo traveller through South America and Africa and author of 'Lois on the Loose', and 'Red Tape and White Knuckles.'
Cotton or synth sweat-wicking t-shirts with the cool Horizons Unlimited graphic on the front and a snappy slogan (changing every year) on the back.
Show your route on your panniers. Great conversation starter when you meet people on the road!
Motorcycle and travel books to inspire and inform you!
The definitive guide to planning your motorcycle adventure! This insanely ambitious 2-year project has produced an informative and entertaining 5-part, 18 hour video series. "The ultimate round the world rider's how-to!" MCN UK.
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