Big Trallies are for Wussies

[Johnny Monsoon]

Yeah, this is kind of an inflammatory post, but it is all in good fun.  No real offense meant for anyone.

I was sitting at a stoplight two days ago, on my XX when I see a DL1000 roll by.  My first thought is 'hey, that's a practical bike' to try to explain some of the ugly away.  That's about when my mind started to wander.  For whatever reason I thought 'What a friggin' wuss!'  Why'd I think that?  Because right behind him comes a guy on a XLR.  

The VStrommers, GSers, Tigerers, and Caponorders of the world just can't commit to a dirt bike, and never seem to take their lead sleds offroad.  When they do, it is just downright embarrassing.  I hate riding offroad with guys who have these bikes.  I get enough workout time alone without having to pick up  your bike with you every five minutes.  I can also find plenty of folks to bitch about all sorts of things without having to hear you lament your broken plastics.  When I ask why they didn't just get a more dirt oriented bike, they herald the great road prowess of the 'big trallie' over the 'big thumper' (which is BS, BTW).

So, yeah, if you ride a big trallie, there's a good chance you have a Yukon in your garage and consider yourself a true offroader too... just don't expect the Jeep guys to keep pulling you out; they're not as friendly as KLR riders!

 

[photomd]

...and don't expect the guys on CR's, XR's, KX's, YZ's etc to wait for you on the trail either.  



It's all about the ride, not what you ride...IMHO, yada, yada, yada

So, yeah, if you ride a big trallie, there's a good chance you have a Yukon in your garage and consider yourself a true offroader too... just don't expect the Jeep guys to keep pulling you out; they're not as friendly as KLR rider.

Also you do realize that the support vehicle for Long Way Round was a Mitsubishi Montereo...ie a fourwheel drive station wagon?  

[dlrides]

Yeah, this is kind of an inflammatory post, but it is all in good fun.  No real offense meant for anyone.

I was sitting at a stoplight two days ago, on my XX when I see a DL1000 roll by.  My first thought is 'hey, that's a practical bike' to try to explain some of the ugly away.  That's about when my mind started to wander.  For whatever reason I thought 'What a friggin' wuss!'  Why'd I think that?  Because right behind him comes a guy on a XLR.  

The VStrommers, GSers, Tigerers, and Caponorders of the world just can't commit to a dirt bike, and never seem to take their lead sleds offroad.  When they do, it is just downright embarrassing.  I hate riding offroad with guys who have these bikes.  I get enough workout time alone without having to pick up  your bike with you every five minutes.  I can also find plenty of folks to bitch about all sorts of things without having to hear you lament your broken plastics.  When I ask why they didn't just get a more dirt oriented bike, they herald the great road prowess of the 'big trallie' over the 'big thumper' (which is BS, BTW).

So, yeah, if you ride a big trallie, there's a good chance you have a Yukon in your garage and consider yourself a true offroader too... just don't expect the Jeep guys to keep pulling you out; they're not as friendly as KLR riders!

 

OFFROAD means there is no road. !!!!!!

The GS's, DL's, KTM950's are not offroad motorcycles, they are "Adventure Touring" motorcycles, as in, they can travel all types of ROADS.

Try reading & learning about motorcycles.

[dlrides]

BTW - Monsoon has an excellent point hidden there.

Guys that buy a DL, GS etc.. and think these bikes are a offroad motorcycle, are of the "StarBuck's" crowd.

 

[Albie]

OFFROAD means there is no road. !!!!!!

The GS's, DL's, KTM950's are not offroad motorcycles, they are "Adventure Touring" motorcycles, as in, they can travel all types of ROADS.

Try reading & learning about motorcycles.

Hell, he thinks his KLR is a dirt bike.  

[1moreroad]

BTW - Monsoon has an excellent point hidden there.

Guys that buy a DL, GS etc.. and think these bikes are a offroad motorcycle, are of the "StarBuck's" crowd.

 

No, the Starbucks guys are the ones who buy GS Adventures or Touratech the crap out of their DLs because they might go off road but they haven't yet.  Those that blast down every dotted line road on a map they can find after riding 500 miles to get to them probably have the best bike for the use.

I have a Subaru.  I bought a Subaru because I don't need a Jeep to drive to work on I-405 and most days that's all I ever do.  At the same time, there are some good campsites 10 miles down dirt roads that are nice, and I drive to them with my family at more than 5 mph not worried that every dip and bump in the road will rip my oil pan screw off, something I was forever scared of on my Saturn.

[dlrides]

 Those that blast down every dotted line road on a map they can find after riding 500 miles to get to them probably have the best bike for the use.

   Bingo, that's the intended use for the Adventure Touring bikes, not running offroad.

[Rincewind]

Haha.  I'm a wussy!  

But I have no pretension that my Tiger is a dirt bike, so I am spared from your flame.  

[Johnny Monsoon]

LOL, hey, the KLR is not a dirtbike, for sure (unless you compare it to a big trallie, then it becomes a high-performance desert screamer!).  Alas, I don't have a KLR anymore (maybe a TE-610/510 in my future?!?).

And, I will say that a quick spin through the forums at www.advrider.com will net you a bunch of folks who ride their big trallies in places lots of true dirt-bikers would fear to tread.  I'm just poking fun at the average American, nothing more, nothing less.

I could just as easily have started poking fun at sportbike riders and how they will never likely see a track (the average American, again).  It was just that the DL happened to cross my cynical path that instant.  Frankly, I think the DLs (and similar) make way more sense on our roads than sportbikes.

Where's the love?

[photomd]

Where's the love?

PO is down there. VVVVVVVVVVVV

 

[forester]

Yeah, this is kind of an inflammatory post, but it is all in good fun.  No real offense meant for anyone.

I was sitting at a stoplight two days ago, on my XX when I see a DL1000 roll by.  My first thought is 'hey, that's a practical bike' to try to explain some of the ugly away.  That's about when my mind started to wander.  For whatever reason I thought 'What a friggin' wuss!'  Why'd I think that?  Because right behind him comes a guy on a XLR.  

The VStrommers, GSers, Tigerers, and Caponorders of the world just can't commit to a dirt bike, and never seem to take their lead sleds offroad.  When they do, it is just downright embarrassing.  I hate riding offroad with guys who have these bikes.  I get enough workout time alone without having to pick up  your bike with you every five minutes.  I can also find plenty of folks to bitch about all sorts of things without having to hear you lament your broken plastics.  When I ask why they didn't just get a more dirt oriented bike, they herald the great road prowess of the 'big trallie' over the 'big thumper' (which is BS, BTW).

So, yeah, if you ride a big trallie, there's a good chance you have a Yukon in your garage and consider yourself a true offroader too... just don't expect the Jeep guys to keep pulling you out; they're not as friendly as KLR riders!

 

Ok you fuckin' fuck!    

Sure, the v-strom is not the best off- road, but it is NOT bullshit that it is better on-road than something with DOT or off-road knobbies on it.  This is especially true going around curves in the wet.  The seats on dual sports are not meant for on-road riders, but rather those who stay mostly on their pegs.

Try touring two-up on a KLR, XLR, etc....  Not as good on the road bullshit my ass!  

I off-road for a living.  I am usually in places you couldn't get ANY bike, much less a dual sport...The grand scheme of the idea behind pavement-biased motos is the fact that most roads in most areas are PAVED!  In these areas, OF COURSE they will excel over their dirt-biased competitors.

THAT is the primary reason I bought my 'strom. - so I could run pavement comfortably along sections of road during the intermittent supervision of timber sale contract compliance responsibilities associated with projects that are sometimes more than an hour, but not more than 5 hours away from here - OR in the case of any distance forestry work where it is not cost effective for me to take the truck and fully-equipped LANCE truck camper to a jobsite.  The bike remains my #1 transportation for the mapping of wildlands roads for my private landowner clients up here in the North country.

So, I would say that you had the right first thought, but an obvious bias to having fun running through muck with a bike.

To conclude, if you want a toy to run down a short distance to singletrack or ORV loops on the weekend or on your days off, get yourself a dirt-biased dual sport.

For us professional types who do this for a living, we wouldn't bother.  Why?  Because toys for weekend warriors are not the most suitable bike for the professional.

Have a nice day.  

[forester]

Oh yeah and to make your argument only more shitty than it already is...

In my driveway sits a 2007 JEEP 4 door Sahara model.  Ok, the wife WON it...  , but we didn't opt to sell it but sold the more practical RAV-4 instead.
We had the top and doors off the first week we got it.  It was 48F outside and sunny.  We rode it for a few hours that way.  Check out my review in the off-topic area.  There are already a couple of dents and scratches in our jeep and it's only 2 months old.

My other vehicle is a 1990 Ford F-150 with helper springs in the rear.  It has rust and 208,000+ miles.

My last comment is YOU OWN A GARAGE?  GARAGES ARE FOR WUSSIES!  

Let me know when you want to join the badass club, flatlander.    

[Johnny Monsoon]

Oh yeah and to make your argument only more shitty than it already is...

In my driveway sits a 2007 JEEP 4 door Sahara model.  Ok, the wife WON it...  ,

Hellz yeah!  Thanks for the review on that one too; I thought it was extremely cool that she won it (not sure if I'd posted congrats on that or not; if not... CONGRATS!)  I was wondering if you'd have been so inclined to be happy with it if you'd have actually went out and purchased it yourself though (just from some of the comments you made about it).

My last comment is YOU OWN A GARAGE?  GARAGES ARE FOR WUSSIES!  

I, sir, woefully submit that I am wussified in the garage debate; twice wussified, actually since it is a two car garage.  I simply could not take the bashing from my wife anymore about her new car sitting outside in the Omaha winter!  

Let me know when you want to join the badass club, flatlander.    

It is surprisingly hilly here (and along the IA bluffs just a few minutes away).  However, I'd like to sign up for the 'Badass Club'.  Where do I send the check?

Seriously, you did read my secondary post on this thread, right?  It was just me poking fun, nothing more.  Keep this on the down-low, but... shhhhh... I kinda want an 1150GS Adventure... shhhhhhh

[Albie]

LOL, hey, the KLR is not a dirtbike, for sure (unless you compare it to a big trallie, then it becomes a high-performance desert screamer!).  Alas, I don't have a KLR anymore (maybe a TE-610/510 in my future?!?).

And, I will say that a quick spin through the forums at www.advrider.com will net you a bunch of folks who ride their big trallies in places lots of true dirt-bikers would fear to tread.  I'm just poking fun at the average American, nothing more, nothing less.

I could just as easily have started poking fun at sportbike riders and how they will never likely see a track (the average American, again).  It was just that the DL happened to cross my cynical path that instant.  Frankly, I think the DLs (and similar) make way more sense on our roads than sportbikes.

Where's the love?

Actually, you could compare the Adventure Bikes to the "Offroad" SUV's. How many Hummer owners ever see anything more then a gravel road. I'm betting at the most, maybe 10% of the big trailies ever see anything tougher then dirt roads. Heck, my DL hasn't. Not for any reason other then I haven't had the time. My GS saw some pretty rough single track before I got rid of it, and hopefully I'll be riding the DL in those places soon.  

[Johnny Monsoon]

Actually, you could compare the Adventure Bikes to the "Offroad" SUV's. How many Hummer owners ever see anything more then a gravel road. I'm betting at the most, maybe 10% of the big trailies ever see anything tougher then dirt roads. Heck, my DL hasn't. Not for any reason other then I haven't had the time. My GS saw some pretty rough single track before I got rid of it, and hopefully I'll be riding the DL in those places soon.  

True enough.  Though, I for sure would like to see a VStrom 1000 in place of every ULV (Unnecessarily Large Vehicle) on the road.

I've seen the DLs through some pretty gnarly stuff, but there are certainly better bikes (or less expensive bikes to repair) for that function.  Now, if I could get a DL650 with a minimal fairing (think Dakar style) and laced wheels... Hmmmmmmm  They'd also have to re-route that forward exhaust pipe too....

[Dichotomous]

Actually, you could compare the Adventure Bikes to the "Offroad" SUV's. How many Hummer owners ever see anything more then a gravel road. I'm betting at the most, maybe 10% of the big trailies ever see anything tougher then dirt roads. Heck, my DL hasn't. Not for any reason other then I haven't had the time. My GS saw some pretty rough single track before I got rid of it, and hopefully I'll be riding the DL in those places soon.  

no, no you really can't make that comparison.  these bikes do not have huge weights and huge engines and use 2-3x more gas than their other bike counterparts.  for example, the DL's have the same motors (actually down on power and up on gasmilage) than their SV brothers, and the SV's are not sportbikes either so the comparison between a regular car (we'll call it a civic cause thats pretty normal) and an SUV (we'll call it a ford exploder cause thats about normal too), you'll get less than 20mpg with the 'asploder that CAN go offroad as long as there is kinda a trail, you will get twice that with the civic which doesnt even pretend to handle any trail.  Although when you get down to it the naked SV is better off road (per online reports) than the DL because there's nothing up front to obscure the veiw and it weighs a LOT less and is closer to the ground...
anyways I though the KTM 950sm was supposed to be pretty goood offroad, same as the BMW hp2

[thatguy]

Actually, you could compare the Adventure Bikes to the "Offroad" SUV's. How many Hummer owners ever see anything more then a gravel road. I'm betting at the most, maybe 10% of the big trailies ever see anything tougher then dirt roads. Heck, my DL hasn't. Not for any reason other then I haven't had the time. My GS saw some pretty rough single track before I got rid of it, and hopefully I'll be riding the DL in those places soon.  

Not all of them................................... ... But then again my Tuono has probably been nastier places than most Adv. bikes.I have a habit of exploring new places.

[Mac]

That pic doesn't look like it'll have a happy ending.

[thatguy]

Sure it does.I don't have the exit 'cause he quit taking pics when I didn't get stuck.Here's what I do have.I actually have an entire sequence up to this photo.

[RideWV]

Too many negative threads can be a bummer and the last thing motorcycling needs is more division.  But, when it's taken lightly enough, stirring the pot can be entertaining.  So...

Dirt bikes are toys, unless you happen to be a professional racer or possibly own a ranch with no roads.

Big Trailies can be practical replacements for automobiles.  Sure, there are those who buy GSADVs and put TKC80s on them to go Starbucks, those are just really big toys.

James