What Adventurer Bike to Buy

[gord955]

Hello Everyone.

I'm at the stage in my life(55) that my wife and I want to purchase a bike that we can trailer to a destination and ride for a few days.  We are not into long distance road trips on bikes(but that could change) Anyway I'm an experience off road/mx racer with a ton of time on bikes all my life. I've narrowed my bike choice to an Adventurer bike, BMW, KTM, Yamaha. So far I've found that the 2012 1200 Yamaha Tenere seems to fit what I'm looking for.  Do you have any other suggestion,  or your thoughts on the Yamaha.

[Mac]

The suzuki DL-1000 v-strom.

Any of the BMW GS bikes would probably do everything you want, but more expensively.

The KTM is probably too race oriented and wouldn't be comfortable for the pillion.

The Triumph Tiger is another.

As is the Ducati Multistrada, some of the base models aren't too terribly expensive.
 

[R Doug]

Like MAC said, don't rule out the DL1000.  You have a good list to start with.  Go test ride and see what you like, that's the best way.

However, I would not rule out the KTM for lack of pillion comfort.  Just about everything you don't like about a particular bike can be fixed.  Get a Renazco seat for the big Ktoom and I doubt you'll find anything more comfortable.  

[garry]

Ride them and see which one trips your trigger. Shouldn't be hard to get a demo ride on a KTM or BMW. Lightly used examples in nice shape are easy to find. With the Yamaha, you're buying new and (likely) paying close to retail since it's a new model. If you will do mostly street, then BMW and if you want to explore gnarlier dirt (given your background) then the KTM.

I don't know how it stacks up for pillion comfort, but the BMW 800GS and upcoming Triumph Tiger 800 XC should be on your radar screen as well.

A nicely outfitted V-Strom can go a lot of places too and they are great values on the used market. A nice DL650 can be had for about $4K - $5K depending on accessorized it is.

[gord955]

Great thanks for the replies! I received an e-mail from my dealer and they were told that the Yamaha Tenere will not be avail to spring of 2012. However he also advised me that that they just bought all of 2010 KTM 990's demo's, he has one with only1700kms, price will be 4 to 5k off list. I'm a little concern about comfort for my wife, she is a small girl, 5', 90 pounds. How would the 990 be for passenger comfort. There are a lot of great bikes out there, the V-Strom also sounds like a good choice.

[5nines]

My S/O prefers the KTM to the FJR  

I have the Givi top case with a back pad and a stock seat. The bike is surprisingly good two-up off pavement

[DNA]

In my expereince - passenger comfort i largley influenced by a rear trunk, seat back or other support to make them comfortable they are not going to fall off the back.

My big GS is awesome and would fit your needs if 90+% street, if you are going to do more than just dirt roads and easy 4 wheeler trails I'd look at the KTM.

Whatever you get - put a rear case on for the wife.

You didn't mention price - but they gap between a GS and Weestrom is pretty large.

[Papa Lazarou]

All excellent suggestions but don't forget the Ducato Multistrada or the Motoguzzi Norge.

[R Doug]

All excellent suggestions but don't forget the Ducati Multistrada or the Motoguzzi Norge Moto Guzzi Stelvio.

FTFY.    

[Papa Lazarou]

FTFY.    

Cool.

[Davy F.]

Well, here's my thoughts for what they're worth.

I've owned an R1200GS which I covered 25k on. Superb bit of kit, but not the ultra reliable machine BMW would have you believe it is. There are well documented problems and it seems very 'luck of the draw' as to which you may suffer. My bike had a couple of minor recalls and six days before the warrenty ran out (two year warrenty in the UK), it had to have the gearbox seals replaced. This in itself is quite a scary operation as the mechanic has to split the bike in half to do this job and to see your baby virtually cut in half...... As much as I loved this bike for its overland quality, it is the only bike I've ever owned that I became paranoid about not 'if' but 'when' it would break down. Plus reading alot of other owners horror stories just fazed my confidence in the bike which is a pity as it did everything I needed to do very very well.

I've also ridden the new Super Tenere 1200. Having owned the original 750 Super Ten, I really wanted to like this machine. However, it just isn't quite up there with the big GS. But I bet that the reliability will be practically perfect. It also had the second worst seat on any bike I've ever ridden. However, it handles well, brakes well, returns good mpg and goes well. But note there's no brilliant anywhere and it just doesn't give the riding pleasure that a GS will.

The KTM Adventure is a more 'hard core' bike. Terrific engine and terrible brakes just about sums it up. Then there's the seat which was THE worst seat. The buffeting from the wind was another problem I suffered and the stock screen is unadjustable. Of these three bikes, it would be my least favourite although it will better both of the others if you are spending more time off road.


I'd also like to throw another bike into contention...............the KTM SMT.
Fantastic engine in a superb chassis and brakes that'll pop your eyeballs out of their sockets. Cheaper than the Ducati MultiStrada and although it may lack the electrical wizardary of the new Duke, this bike will do everything just as well. It can tour, scratch and carry a pillion in relative comfort. I almost bought one last year, but it's also the bike that could be more than capable of losing you your license in a short space of time as it brings the hooligan out of you.

[gord955]

WOW! Lots of great choices and advice, we live in Alberta, close to the Rocky's, there are mile's and miles of beautiful forestry roads, so I'm leaning to more of the bikes that are more off road capable. The Ducati MultiStrada and KTM's look really good and functional.

Our big motorcycle show is coming in January so I will sure take a close look at all of them and decide, snow is about to fall here so I've got some time to decide. Many thanks to all the comments.

[R Doug]

The Duc isn't very off road capable.  Of the larger bikes, the most off road capable would be the KTM Adventure.  Next would be the big BMW GS and the Yamaha Tenere.  The Duc would be equal to the KTM SM-T.

[gord955]

Thanks for the help. after all the advice and research I'm leaning towards the GS1200, I love the Multistrada but concerned about the off road use, the Yamaha is about the same price along with the GS has a full line of accessories. KTM & Trimuph are nice but I don't think my wife would be comfortable on them. Anyway, they are all great bikes and don't think I would be disappointed in any of them.

[bluepoof]

Totally OT, but SMEGGY!!! Wow, haven't seen you in forever!!

[Bottomdog]

I would say a V-Strom would be right up your alley comfort wise, 2-up and reasonably priced which is why its first.

Next for me would be the Multistrada. Very comfortable bike thats loads of fun. 2-up is awesome too and you can get a base model if you don't feel you need for the ohlins model

I would say the Moto Guzzi Stelvio! 3rd in line for price unless you get used or unsold '09 or '10. Fun and comfortable and also great 2-up and easiest of all the bikes to work on


Personally I'm not a fan of KTM and that plastically look and I don't do that much off road. But if I were serious into off roading, KTM hands down


The Same with BMW as far as mild to med offroad, but I like it's looks alot better than KTM, has a pretty big network(kinda like the Harley crowd. snobby mostly) from which to pull info and hash out probs


Hope this helps!

[GRN]

I'm making the switch to and ADV ride myself... first choice for me if I were going with a larger platform would be the Tiger 800 hands down, and if I had good reason to go to a liter+ ride I would be tempted by the GS, but probably land with the Tenere. Unlike you I'm looking to go lighter, and putting all my chips on a DR650 and pimping it for multiple day runs, primarily off road.

[R Doug]

I would say the Moto Guzzi Stelvio! 3rd in line for price unless you get used or unsold '09 or '10. Fun and comfortable and also great 2-up and easiest of all the bikes to work on

Since I may not need such a dirt worthy big trailie the next time around, the Stelvio is at the top of my list as a comfortable tourer.  

Personally I'm not a fan of KTM and that plastically look and I don't do that much off road. But if I were serious into off roading, KTM hands down

Regarding all the plastic you see, this bike is built for off road.  All that plastic is pretty much the gas tank.  There's one on each side.  In stead of one large tank in the center up high, this bike has one narrow tank on each side of the bike which keeps the bike narrow and the weight of the fuel low to the ground.  

[Davy F.]

Totally OT, but SMEGGY!!! Wow, haven't seen you in forever!!

hello darling.......


Another one in the mix could be the Kawasaki Versys(if you are happy with a middleweight). More than capable two up (especially if you're trailering it about) and can cope fine with fire roads and gentle trails.

[alphabet man]

I

IMHO only real Adventure bike

 Hey neighbor I am in the elk valley and have owned a V-strom and a now have a KTM Adventure, there is no comparison if you intend to ride off road forget the Strom I put 48,000km on a DL1000 and 25,000 on my 990, off road there is no comparison the KTM wins hands down. I ride this thing all over the kootenays and love it. On road the V-Strom is a very nice 2 up machine but the KTM is very capable also. I am as young as you and my wife and I have had several long trips on the bike around BC Montana Idaho and
Washington   If you are an experienced off road rider you will appreciate the KTM suspension, guaranteed

Look for the guy with  a touch of grey hair and the Borscht Burn and BBQ shirt on Friday at the bike show  if you want to ask me more question heading there around Friday at noon

David

2 up touring


or just fooling around in the dirt