Why Tour on an Adventure Bike vs a Cruiser?

Why Tour on an adventure bike vs a big full dressed cruiser? I have seen this question both in the comments of my videos and on forums like Reddit. It seems that some people just don't understand why anyone would want to ride an adventure bike rather than one of those big rolling living rooms.

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Thank you for watching and ride safe! --Craig Ripley

[dhcever]

Several reasons.
One is my age, well over 60,
2. Living with previous injuries and age related atrophy.
3. Australia, its fricken huge, and a lot of roads are dirt or rough, long travel suspension is advisable.
4. Fuel range, refer back to Australia being fricken huge.
5. Comfort, refer back to 1, 2, and 3.
I spent over 30 years punting a Moto Guzz lemans 3 as a daily rider, play racer and long distance tourer, I've earned a bit of comfort in my dotage.
Whatever you ride, enjoy. Don't worry about anyone else's opinions.
Cheers.

[IRLtrolls]

I’m only 33 years old but I’ve been dailying bikes for 11 years with no car. I’ve owned many Dualsports, street bikes and touring machines. I’ve always been a huge fan of Dualsports for round town commuting and off-road fun and I loved my Concours 14, Goldwing 1800 and Harley Ultra Classic for long distance touring. The Goldwing was unbeatable in terms of comfort. 800 mile days were a breeze but it was finally time for me to get a real twin cylinder adv bike so I sold the Concours and the Goldwing and got a Super Tenere (That’s how I found your channel Craig. Watching super ten videos)

Here is my personal reasons for getting an Adv bike. I’m an experienced off-road rider my current Dualsport is a plated street legal WR450F. I love challenging myself in off-road conditions and the Super Ten is a handful off-road especially loaded up with gear but still obviously much more capable than a Goldwing when it comes to offroad.

First is turning radius and low speed maneuvering. The adv bikes have a very wide steering lock-to-lock span. I can whip my Super ten around 180° easily in a very tight circle.

Two, the ability to absorb impacts. I’ve dented two rims on sport bikes from hitting rocks and pot holes. I hit a rock in the middle of west Texas and had to hitch hike into a town to get cell service to call my father to come pick me and the bike up with a trailer 9 hours from his house because I had no other options. An adv bike with more suspension travel and spiked rims has a better chance of absorbing the impact.

Third. Ground clearance and the ability to hop curbs. Sounds silly but how many times have you pulled into a business, strip center or a gas station and realize there is no cut away in the curb to go to the business you actually wanted to go? An adv bike makes easy work hopping over a curb, median or riding down a sidewalk.

Fourth. Riding your bike directly to your camp site. Many times I’ve had to park my big touring machine in a parking lot then carry my camping gear 100ft to the actual tent spot. An adv bike makes it easy to ride right up to your tent spot and unload your gear.

And lastly the most obvious one is an adv bike just opens up more options for you to explore. You don’t have to avoid gravel or dirt. Many times on my goldwing especially in North California in the Mt Shasta area I found fantastic dirt roads that connect two paved highways but I couldn’t take the shortcut because I didn’t trust the Goldwing on gravel/dirt.

And also, the point of the “poser” adv rider is very true at least down here in Houston Texas. I meet so many adv guys at coffee shops (mostly on BMW GS of course) and they look at me like I’m fkn crazy when I ask them if they tour or do off-road on their bikes. Most of them just want to live that lifestyle in their Klim gear and Mosko moto bags and take the bike out for a Sunday cruise. But I love those guys because I buy all my bikes used for a great deal when those guys need to upgrade to the latest and greatest

[murraycharters]

Craig, You are well qualified to discuss this subject well done.

I am 80 in March this year, I ride a Suzuki VStrom 650, which I purchased new in April 2018. Currently I have done 55, 000 km

I purchased a Suzuki Boulevard when I was 72 after Hang Gliding for 23 years.

I got rid of the Boulevard which is a cruiser for the following reasons

I had not had any trouble with my hips before I started riding the Boulevard .

Doing a good days ride my right hip started to ache on the Boulevard
Combined with that the Boulevard does not have ABS.

The big advantage for me is I can ride quite comfortably standing up on the VStrom which gives my hip a rest. You can’t do that on a Cruiser.
I also find the seating position much more comfortable on the VStrom and it has ABS which for me is a must have.

I can still throw my leg over, but not on the motorbike.
I get on and off my bike the way you demonstrated using the peg.

For all you older guys and gal’s out there I highly recommend you choose an adventure bike, not a cruiser.

My VStrom has been 100% reliable and I am very happy with it.
I do love the Triumph 900 Tiger which I have test ridden. It is in fact a little bit lighter than the VStrom BUT more than double the price.

It is not twice as good as the VStrom.

Last bit of feedback is, don’t buy a bike you can’t pick up if (not if when) you accidentally drop it.

[thetrailbuzzard]

I've owned over 40 motorcycles. I'm in my 50's now and ride an adventure bike. If you're going to own one bike that can do almost anything then an adventure bike is the one. I always enjoy your vids Craig. Thanks for sharing!

[shakey]

I gave up riding “Off Slab” a while ago. I travel alone mostly. ADV bikes, loaded, are heavy. I can still pick one up if I drop it in my driveway, but I never seem to drop one there, it’s always on a gravely hillside, or muddy creek etc, and at 70, I just can’t pick it up anymore in those places. Bought a BMW RT and have learned that there are more beautiful two lane road miles in this country than I could ever ride. Everybody….ride your own ride, whatever it is you enjoy, and ride safe!

[robertstone]

I've gone to an ADV bike for touring and it's the best decision I ever made. I've owned a bunch of Harleys (I still have a 2020 Sportster in the garage) and I loved every one of them. I'm close to 66 years old, and although my health and agility are great, I became tired of wheeling around 700-900 pound motorcycles. I was one of those die hard cruiser guys that said I'd never get rid of my big Harley for an ADV motorcycle. They aren't for everyone, but ff you can get past the looks (and all the plastic) ADV bikes offer excellent comfort, handling and power. Good video.

[FrankieBagdonuts]

I went from a Boulevard C50 to a Versys 650 and I love it. I'm 61 years old, and the straight up riding position of the Versys has helped my spine (with 2 degenerative discs) immensely! Once I added a handlebar riser, it gave me the perfect riding position to ride much longer than the low slung C50... like, triple the time. I also love the lighter weight and better handling of the Versys. I have since added a large Givi windscreen, T-Rex frame sliders and T-Rex lowering pegs. So, no more wind slapping the top of my helmet and the frame sliders are in the perfect spot to double as highway pegs. I paid $4, 900 for my 2014 Versys (with ABS) with only 2, 200 miles on it. Barely past the break-in period! ADV bikes are the way to go for an all around bike that does everything you need it to do. Can't wait to get back to the Tail of the Dragon this summer on a bike that will actually be fun to ride it with.

[robortkristensen]

Your main argument against cruisers is the reduced lean angle and weight. Totally agree on that. First corner on my first cruiser 42 years ago resulted in scraping the footpegs, exhaust and even the frame on the Suzuki L 650 G. Sold it next week in favour of the Kantana 650G that was everything the L was not.
You seam to forget that there is a class of bikes between the Cruisers and adventure that offers even more comfort, namely the sport tourers My current bike is the awesom BMW R1250RT and its as fast in the twisties as any of my more sporty bikes, but at the same time offer all the luggage capasity and comfort anybody would need. Its even more frugile than my older bikes.
I belive many adventure riders would be better of on such a bike, but also that they are too set in their minds to admit it.

[mikefyten]

Spot on. I am 63 years old, been riding for almost 50 years now. This video got me thinking about my progression. I had one bike for decades.. a sport touring street bike. A decade ago I went and got a dual sport and a small dirt bike. 3 bikes now and I have the choice to decide. I will say all 3 of my bikes are Japanese bikes.

Your perspective and given reasons were that of a mature, seasoned rider. Thank you.

[olliechristopher]

The reason I chose my Super Tenere for a travel bike is simple. It puts me in a riding position that's comfortable, keeps me alert and the ability to react and control the bike much quicker.

[MyA]

I'm 65 and have both. A 2010 Yamaha V-Star 1300 Tourer and a 2022 Kawasaki 650 KLR Adv bike. I have driven to the maritime provinces (New Brunswick and Nova Scotia) from eastern Ontario on both. Depends which route I take to determine the bike. This year, I'm staying in Canada, going thru Quebec so I will be almost entirely on the trans-Canada Hwy, so it will be the V-Star. When I cross into the States and go thru New York, Vt, NH and Maine, I take the KLR cause I'm entirely on secondary hwy's. If I could only have one bike it would be the KLR. It's bulletproof, easy to handle, simple and has a massive fuel range. It's a pack-mule!

[Ericc]

I took my Honda NC750x cross country last year (8000 trip km total) and loved every minute of it. You just can’t beat that neutral riding position.

[mikewest]

I am blessed to have two motorcycles, my “me” bike (a 2018 Yamaha Super Tenere) and my “we” bike (a 2024 Harley Davidson Road Glide Limited). The best of both worlds.

[crux]

I've gone across America twice on a small ADV bike. Honda CB500X. Fantastic experience! Has it's limitations for sure. But added a Corbin seat and a Puig tinted screen and it was great.

[markhutchins]

For the type of riding I do, I guess I made my decision when I shed all of my bikes down to one: Honda Goldwing DCT Tour. This one does it for me.

[johnmacdonald]

Ride the bike you like and find works for you. I am the wrong side of 60. with a few health issues.
I chose to by a modern classics triumph. It felt familiar and reminded me of the bikes I rode 40 years ago. I toured on it quite happily doing 5 or 6 hundred mile days not knowing any better. It worked for me.
I moved on to a big full size ADV. It works for me. Very happy with it.
I just ride it down the road for coffee and cake. Mostly.
I've been all the way to the end of the road in Tuktoyaktuk for a coffee.
I stopped for coffee in Dawson City, Fairbanks, Denali, Anchorage, before I headed home.
Still trying to get it clean.
Not sure where I'm going next. I will stop someplace for coffee and It will be an Adventure.
Ride whatever kind of bike you like and find works for you.

[Rezaroth]

I ride a 2021 GSA. I chose this bike because its the bike of my dreams. I tried almost all the other types and stuck to this one because it ticks the boxes. I went off road with it twice and quickly came to a realization that off-roading, with my age, can only be fun if you're on a trails bike, a quad, or a 4X4 car.

I love your content.
Thanks.

[jetmanwalking]

Truer words were never spoken! Great video. Bought my adventure bike last year and have very much enjoyed it ever since. At times, I do miss the "couch" ride, but not enough to regret my decision. Back road twisties, fire roads and "off-pavement" adventures are now my "pleasure" rides. They do not disappoint! Thanks for the vid!

[twmclean]

Having grown up riding Enduro and Motocross bikes, Sport/Adventure touring bikes just seemed more a natural fit for me in adulthood given my height and 34" inseam. Great review Craig.

[johnguarino]

After a bunch of abdominal surgeries and the loss of some of my strength I have a blast riding a Suzuki tu250x as my daily ride. I am 62 and plan to retire in about 36 months Thank you for sharing this video. I live in Higganum Connecticut USA