The Perfect Dual Sport? | Thinking Outside the Box to Create Your Unicorn ADV Bike 🦄

#dualsport #adventure #chroniclesofsolid

What is a unicorn dual sport or adventure bike? Why have we not seen one yet from any of the manufacturers? I discuss why we are still waiting and the best bikes to go with so that you don't have to wait.

Chapter Times
00:00 Intro
00:48 What is a Unicorn Bike?
03:14 We Consumers
05:00 The Euro Manufacturers Reasons
05:50 Japanese Manufacturers Reasons
06:33 The Unicorn List
07:03 Honda CRF450L
08:03 Suzuki DRZ400
08:59 Yamaha WR250R
10:00 Honda CRF300L
10:58 Kawasaki KLX300
11:10 Enduro Bikes Options
12:00 Adventure Bike Unicorns
12:26 Single Cylinder Options
13:19 Middleweights
13:40 The Small Adventure Bike Option

Enjoy the video,
COS

[gxm]

Went from a WR250R to a 701. Can't say I m feeling the Enduro being much more of a hassle in the trails. The tank in the rear really gives a lighter feeling to the bike in the trails as the weight is where you want it. I have also owned a DR650 and I have to say the 701 is far superior. To me the 690/701 is the unicorn bike, especially the later models with added counter balancers and riding assistance and bigger tank

[adamzadro]

AJP PR7 I think is the closest to the unicorn bike. 17-litre tank, long-travel fully adjustable suspension. Windscreen for high way riding. Wide-ratio gearbox (6 speed) 165kg wet. Around 50HP. Fitted with Tablet for GPS and other functions. Long service intervals. Just need Japanese manufactures to replicate this as AJP have limited dealerships for support and parts.

[kevinnashskitchen]

Take the crf300 Rally and give it the 650cc single with wide ratio 6 speed and fuel injection. Give it the suspension of the crf450L and keep it under 400 lbs. Call it the Honda crf650 R/T rally/touring.

[davidcutube]

Excellent analysis!

I was stuck drooling over the "ideal" bike and bemoaning their cost for years until a co-worker who rides suggested that I would have a lot more fun just buying whatever I could afford that was as similar to my dream bike as possible and riding it. He was soooo right!

Riding an imperfect bike is way better than imagining how much fun you will have on anything else. Get on something and give her some throttle!

[heinschwartz]

500EXC - Aaron just clipped 140, 000km on his. Add a 19litre tank and 15tooth front sprocket. Good to go....mine has now done over 12, 000 hard km’s with everything standard 👌

[mattevans]

The problem is the gun makers and sellers told everyone they need a .30 calibre rifle to kill gophers and the consumers believed them. I worked ranches and farms and a .22 works fine for way less money in bullets. Same thing for "adventure" bikes.

[WRW]

KTM 500 exc. tank, tubeless, Baja lights, bags. Done!

[itsallabouttheridekeepingi]

Also to the Yamaha XT660 R is a pretty good light weight ADV bike, it’s all day reliable, comfortable, BIG oil capacity ( just needs suspension mods and larger fuel ⛽️ tank ) and only 5 speed box, but higher gearing front sprocket makes a big difference. Also around 176kg wet .
I also own a SWM 650 Superdual, standard has better suspension, brakes, fuel range and a 6 gear. But seat needs modifying. Also being a high output engine long term reliability may be an issue. But mine has been flogged in the Bush for 20, 000kms now, and besides two small recall issues only had one electrical problem in 3 years - the rectifier went . I know you do go on about dealer networks etc but HEAPS of independent bike shops that fix anything. And as it’s basically a RS650 or old TE630 ( beefed up ) most machines have worked on those bikes before anyway, if your no good doing bike maintenance yourself.

[fatpigeonadventurerider]

I have the AJP PR7, this is my unicorn

[raffs_adv]

I have a 19 Husky 501 with cush drive 14:45 gearing, 15ltr tank, Vortex ecu, twin gps, usb/cig rear 6b&s cable power point, Kickstarter fitted, zipty fuel filtering, it’s amazing, 21.5klm to the ltr, 100kph all day long, and first gear is still walking speed, Topline custom seat, the rear subframe has been carrying Endurastan soft panniers at 15-18kg easy, I’m looking at putting a lightbar on soon.

[southerndeth]

I've been riding a Kawasaki Versys X 300 for the lase two years. In my opinion, with better suspension it would be a unicorn.

[MotoGuzziMoto]

My previous bike was the Husky TR650. I adventurised it with bash plate, screen, tires, barkbusters, and stripped off what weight I could and it ended up at 182kgs. Very smooth, torquey and powerful for a single, although just 5 gears.
My current bike is the T7, added barkbusters, bash plate and case covers, stripped off what weight I could, changed to narrower excel wheels and gave it a tune. It now weighs 200kgs and likely to get it a few kilos lighter with a few more mods. This is a great bike for open trails and can even handle sand with the right tires and enough speed.
My unicorn is still somewhere in between these two. For me it needs to be a powerful twin for torque, smoothness, reliability and long legs, but weight around 180 or less. Some guys are achieving that with major mods to the T7 and I might go there too if it can be provided by the aftermarket.

[SWTrailsAndWheels]

The first Unicorn you describe is the Honda CRF450RL. Just add an aftermarket tank.

[Rusty-Gold]

I think the BMW G650 Xchallenge (full öhlins) I had was the ultimate unicorn.

[bryanwhited]

The nearest thing seems to be the KTM690 / Husky701.

[tracythorleifson]

I've ridden a DR650 for years. In comparison to the 690/701, it's woefully underpowered, and the suspension is primitive. However, it's tough as an old boot, and the service intervals are long, and parts are cheap I've used Cogen components to upgrade the suspension, added an Acerbis tank, a Madstad windshield, and a Moose rack with soft bags for luggage. It's not a bad setup. I'm contemplating a big bore kit, and wide ratio gears to take advantage of the extra power, mainly because 75 mph is about the top end on the highway. I'm at an age where even the DR is getting heavy for me off-road. If I have to pick it up four or five times, I'm about done. I wish to God some major manufacturer would make a small-ish ADV bike making 50 HP, 350 lb.s wet, with decent road manners and serious off-road chops. Given the way the Tenere is selling, one might think the major manufacturers would get a clue, and go *smaller* with ADV bikes.

[andrew]

1) Low new bike price, 2) low maintenance / high dependability, 3 ) low weight - I keep coming back to DRZ400E. Time to just buy one and get out there.

[xbgo]

Huski 701 with aftermarket Screen and Fairing, great bike

[johnt.saylor]

Bikes are like footwear, you need different ones for different jobs. 4 or 5 bikes is the minimum.

[gurcanaba]

I guess we will always be chasing the Unicorn bike of our dreams. For now the 250L with tank and suspension mods helps to file the desire.