Adventure Bikes... ok so I am really bored with 'em.

[Kevin]

<snip> But lets be honest just how many bikers actually use their 'adventure' bikes regularly off road, some do...but most don't, if ya want to go off roading then buy am off road bike and do it properly <snip>

I think you're missing the point. They aren't off-road bikes, they're tourers that have off-road ability. I'm sure anyone regularly going off-road would do exactly what you suggest - buy an off-road bike. People who want to tour yet retain the ability to go trail riding while on tour, especially when two up, will buy something like a GS if they have any sense. It's not just off-road where they come into their own - they're great to push round twisty country lanes as they soak up the bumps and handle really well.

It's horses for course. We took the FJR for our blast round Europe recently and the GSA for the weekend in Wales. For the Brit Butt Rally this year we'll be taking our FJR as there will no doubt be lots of motorway riding and I'll be the first to admit the GSA is not a great motorway bike. For the German Butt Rally later in the year, which is in the Alps, we'll be taking the GSA.

I'm sure I've said this on here before but if we could only have one bike it would be something like a GSA just for their go-anywhere ability. If you doubt the last bit of that statement get yourself booked on one of the courses at the BMW off-road school in Wales and see exactly what they are capable of.

Kevin

[Winston Smith]

+1 

Adventure Bike.  The Land Rover of the two wheel world.

[Mogster]

nope, still not convinced, i had a GS, brand new one with all the toys.

It was fine for a weekend away but when it was loaded up for the trip to Andorra, by the 2nd day i could have happiley set fire to it... it's slow, under powered, the buffeting is utterly miserable at anything over 60mph and it handles like a Giraffe on LSD.. I would rather ride through the Alps on a Donkey than go on a GS again...

Ok I agree if you are Charlie Mc Ewan and you are going through Africa or Russia, it's probably ideal, seeing as it runs on goats piss and the roads are crap.... but i would take one of the old ones rather than one with all the electronic gismos...... anyway, didn't Nick was-is-name go round the world on an R1...

so Adventure bikes are just that, something that a 40 something bloke can dress up in his 'enduro' gear and have an 'Adventure' down to local bike shop..... same as the other 40 somethings that dress up like a Moto GP star and 'race' to the local bike shop.

20 years ago if i had to have one bike it would have been a Gixxer 750... which it was .... i went everywhere on it, including  zig zaging across Spain (I camped as well!)
10 years ago, i went naked Yam XJR and the the Tuono.... same again toured Italy on the Tuono.
Now i have the GTR (and tuono) ... but tbh if i had to have one bike it would be a close thing between the GTR and the VFR12.... they are sports tourers ....which is what i do...
I have never relied on Jurnos (cos they're reccomend which ever Bike they get paid the most to push) other peoples opinion or brand loyalty, the only way to find out if a bike suits is to get on and ride it....sometimes as with the GS it takes a while to sink in, but one should at least be honest with one's self, and say...nope not for me... get shot of it and get summit that 'ripens ya plums'

If Adventure bikes are for you... then good on ya.... me ... i'd rather have Eeyore

[Winston Smith]

You're right Mogs - horses for courses, etc.

If I was placed in the only one bike for the rest of your life position it would probably be the most versatile of all - ST1300 Pan, but it would be a close run between that and the GTR!

[viper]

any bike that ive ridden that basically isnt a japanese 4 cylinder , ive been disapointed with

[Mogster]

Adventure Bike.  The Land Rover of the two wheel world.

Ah yes.... and there are 2 sorts of people who own Land Rovers thems that live in the middle of no where and need to transverse rough ground..... and thems that pounce about Oxfordshire wearing a wax jacket and trying to look windswept and interesting... Bit like the GS really *snigger*

But thems in the know would always go for a Toyota Land Cruiser, cos it's more reliable and much easier to mount a 50 cal machine gun on the back!!.... bit like a GTR 

[Bondu]

There's no bike that does it all for everyone - For me, most fun was my Speed Triple, best for long distance & touring is GTR, favourite beast is/was my ZX12, my best all-rounder . . . 1200GS - did it all, but not as well as the others in my categories

[Rusty]

Anyway ... going back a few posts .. Moggs ... glad you like the VFR ! 

[Boomer]

For me;
Best LD bike - Kawasaki Z1300/6 with Krauser fairing and Russell saddle.
Best dirt bike - Yamaha YFZ450
Best "sport" bike - Kawasaki 1400GTR (remember that I don't fit on sportsbikes)
Best Tourer - Honda Goldwing
Best "Adventure" bike - KTM 990 Adventure
Best all-rounder - Kawasaki 1400GTR

I've ridden just about every BMW except the 1600s and their gearboxes are rubbish, until recently they used stupid switchgear, and they are overpriced. Build quality isn't all that any more either.
The best BMW I ever rode was a K100RT . Did what it said on the tin with no fuss or bother. Gearbox was shite though.

As for Adventure bikes, different people ride for different reasons.
Some want to pose, some want to see the world in 3D (not possible in a car), some crave the "rush", others just want to belong to something. Me, I fit into all those categories at various times.

[Winston Smith]

Ah yes.... and there are 2 sorts of people who own Land Rovers thems that live in the middle of no where and need to transverse rough ground..... and thems that pounce about Oxfordshire wearing a wax jacket and trying to look windswept and interesting... Bit like the GS really *snigger*

But thems in the know would always go for a Toyota Land Cruiser, cos it's more reliable and much easier to mount a 50 cal machine gun on the back!!.... bit like a GTR 

[O.C.]

Just got home from a looooong day at work, tired, worn out, full of cold, headache, and feeling fairly crap

Thanks Mogs your post made me laugh out loud, and I agree 100%

BTW I have a Land Rover but don't do the school run thingy, nor do I own a wax jacket 

Most of the off roaders that fit that category only ever come into contact with bull not real  like mine does 

And as I've said before I owned a new BMW GT 1300 EE, which had 'issues', and then I owned a BMW R1200GS with Adventure kit.. sorry guys but it was a heap of