Why are adventure bikes getting so heavy?︱Cross Training Adventure

Let us know if we used your music but forgot to credit you. Many thanks to the following artists for their copyright free music in various vids:
Music by Atch:
#crosstrainingadventure #adventureriding #adventurebikes #dualsportriding
#dualsportbikes

[Wintersdark]

It bears noting that in many places, you literally can't ride actually off road at all, so dirt roads are the most technical riding you're able to do. In others - particularly much of North America - for a huge portion of people you must ride a significant distance to get anywhere "adventurous". I mean, I've got 60km to get to a well maintained dirt road, and other than 2 specific (well travelled and no longer really exciting outside of practice) places I'm looking at over an hour of travel one way to get somewhere you're going to find rougher doubletrack. So many major markets where it's not that riders *want* to spend more time on the highway but because they simply must.

[BlackdogADV]

I’ve been on a 1200GS for 15 years (I’m on my second one). Somehow, I’ve become old so I’ve been taking more of my adventures on my Husqvarna 701 as it’s over 200 pounds lighter. I miss the smooth ride and wind protection of the GS but I’ve modified the 701 to make it more adventure capable. Im 73, I can still lift the GS but for how long I don’t know.

[Graybeard_]

I'll toss in my two cents here. In 1986 a buddy and I road our enduros 3, 300 miles from my home in the woods of the Northern Sierras in CA to the Canadian border and back. My buddy had a brand new XL600, while I had a 1981 XL500. My 500 had Fox air forks, a super trap and one step down from full knobbies on the rims. Prior to this trip, my riding experience was almost exclusively off road. I rode powerlines (a trail cut by PUD companies underneath powerlines that are cut across mountains and through forests, usually with cats), logging roads (the rough kind, ungraded) and skid trails (even rougher, similar to today's single tracks). Our plan for our trip had two goals, stay off road as much as possible and fish as much as possible. We spent a couple of afternoons studying Delormes topo map books of Northern CA, Oregon and Washington states before we left (no cellphones or GPS back then). The reality was, despite our best efforts, we still spent a fair amount of time and miles on county roads, and forest service roads. We also did a fair amount of single track riding down and up footpaths to reach the edge of streams to fish to keep our bikes close to us. By today's standard we traveled light with a med. duffle bag and a sleeping bag. My buddy carried a little sixpack igloo cooler, and I carried a small two man tent that we shared. These bikes were called "big thumpers" back then. They were quite decent off road, but chewed you up after hours on the smoother stuff. In reality (20/20 hindsight) we needed a more comfortable, heavier bike with more cargo capacity, but a bike with a 21" front tire, stiff suspension and the rake closer to a dirt bike. I'm 62 now, but 6'1", 185lbs and still fit. I'm getting a Triumph 900 Rally Pro in a couple of months and thinking about a ride down through Argentina and Chile. If I were still mainly running powerline roads and skid trails, I'd be getting a Honda CRF450 or something of that sort. On many youtubes I'm seeing comments like, "well they aren't really going to be riding offroad much if at all." This may be true, but it's misleading. Done right, bigger Adventure bikes can take you on 1, 000 mile + trips and still ride a footpath down to the edge of a stream, but the dirt bikes still should not be used for long distance adventures, even if the adventure includes single track.

[docadventures]

Great video Barry! I believe it is as you stated with most of the "Adventure" bikes never seeing any dirt at all (other than maybe some dirt washing across the Starbucks parking lot) Even so, they are heavy and do really well for longer rides on road and gravel and dirt roads to reach camping spots. Spot on about the perfect ADV bike being a bunch of cash to build which would reduce the number of sales. Oh, one thing also. It doesn't matter if one has an ADV bike if they are not an "Adventure Human" to start with.
Cheers!

[robertandre]

Great video Barry. I think the light Euro bikes weren't so popular because they don't have the perceived reliability of the Japanese big bore bikes.

[rideadventure]

I think you nailed it Barry. I have adventurised sub 150kg, sub 200kg and also have a 1090 Adventure R in search of the bike to suit me. Owning all 3 at the same time is a luxury I can't afford and will have to cull soon. As much as I love to get on technical trails, most of the riding is road and maintained dirt roads where around a 200kg bike covers both well. The light bikes can do it but aren't that enjoyable when there are hours of this kind of travel. Dirt capable road bikes around 200kg are getting very good once you have reasonable skills. You have to have the patience and confidence to work your way up to them. That said, if you want to Adventure in the snotty stuff, you have to sacrifice road comfort and handling for light weight to man handle and pick up the bike. You can't get both, physics doesn't work that way.

[Nithhoggr]

Husqvarna 701 is everything I wanted in a dual sport. Weighs less than my dr650 has double the power, and modern suspension/frame. I can actually hit stuff hard with it. The major problem it has is the euro 5 emission which makes it run way too hot temps (the can is as hot as the surface of the sun, lol) and on even moderately warm days here in socal it'll overheat at a standstill. Hopefully it's here to stay with the Enduro/SM models. It has a fairly large base in Europe with supermoto fans. Oh and even though it's more to break... I love the lean angle sensitive abs, TC, and auto-shifter :)

[jonathantrexel]

Love the humor. Barista info is great. I’m new to dual sport, and struggled with size weight power but could only buy 1 bike, and bought a DR650. Did what I could right away to reduce weight. Didn’t set it up for camping and luggage. Love the bike but still have some regrets for technical trails namely size and weight. There are heavier bikes true. But for technical riding it’s too much. If I WERE going to limit myself to more traditional adventure riding, I can see where heavier is better, more power is better; nicer ride, more options and luggage etc. Maybe that’s what we’re seeing. And so I wish I had many bikes: a small 2 strike maybe for technical riding, the DR for pretty decent off-road, a quality adventure bike, and maybe a cruiser. But I’m older and spoiled. I just don’t see a bike that is great at any two of those roles without significant compromise.

[ktm]

I've been wondering the same thing in recent years, I think this mix of factors is probably quite an accurate summary. Can't say I'm happy with the heavier bikes but if it's what generates profits and sales then it's hard to justify complaining.

[crosstrainingadventure]

FURTHER NOTES A point I forgot to mention, riders in the UK and much of western Europe say there are almost no dirt roads at all, so it makes sense to go for the more road-oriented models in the UK and most of western Europe. And in the USA, riders in some of the big cities say their nearest dirt roads can be hours away. This would obviously have an effect on the market.

OUR PLAYLISTS

[RoadDogSteve]

Fashion trends seems to be what I have Expensive ADV bikes and 4WD vehicles rarely used off road for fear of scratches or damage.... To each their own but I don't really see the point... I extend motocamp for weeks with no more than 40 lbs of gear.... Just my thanks for the video....

[DJAguitars]

A lot of riders seem to be after a reliable, modern (efi), low maintenance bike for dirt riding and seem to be willing to make some sacrifices with regards to weight and performance to tick these boxes. Hence T7s and CRF300 rallies selling very well. I've considered both of these bikes but would much prefer a Japanese equivalent to the KTM690

[stevemason]

Good job per usual, added comedy no cost.As an old bloke who is busted and broken, lower seat height and weight was why I bought my little cb500x, and I love it.I get 500k's out of a tank, can keep with my club mates in the twistys, and reasonable manners on dirt roads.At 200kg's, a little heavy though, but a cheap bike to buy.I saw an interesting article about how mid-range adventure bikes are the perfect bikes for old blokes to keep riding, the higher riding position one factor.I have just purchased a little 2021 XT250 to have a bit more fun off road to try and be less terrified, at 132kg's, a little bike to throw around and gain some skills.Would be nice to see a 500 twin at 150kg's and a reasonable price.

[BikerBytes]

As a feather weight rider myself I rely on the lightest adv bike I can get. Having tried a few I settled on the DR650. It enables me to do what I want. But when it comes to replacing it I reckon my choices will be few and far between.

[gabriellaporro]

I have a KTM 790 s, replaced the stock battery with a Lithium type: - 3 kg. Then replaced the stock exhaust with an Akrapovic: - 1 kg. Therefore; 189 - 3-1 = 185 kg, just 15 kg above your suggested threshold.

[allenhuling]

If it was affordable, it still seems to me that a street legal, 'adventurized' bike based on the current 450 Dakar rally bikes is a missing piece of the market! Otherwise it's simply a compromise of road biased or off-road biased! Cheers Barry, and thanks for all your quality videos over the years!🤘

[hazcat]

I think a large part of Husky, Swm, etc. not making it is lack of dealer support. I doubt I could find a dealer for any of those bikes within 200 miles of me.

[johndyer]

This is the best explanation I've come across. Thanks for detailing out the reasons why the manufactures can't/won't make the mythical Unicorn bike. So instead of waiting and hoping, just move forward with what's available and modify as necessary. Helps justify the cost when you understand that the "perfect" bike is not going to magically appear in a few years.

[wyattblessing]

I like my Tiger 900. It's heavier at 550lbs (250kg) but its like a Swiss Army Knife of bikes. Here in the Western US, I have to travel long distances to get to the BDR's, out of state off road riding and back country camping areas. It works well for all of that, just not great. My DR650 its far superior for the off road riding but its top speed and comfort limit, weight carrying limit make it less than ideal for the really long highway rides to get to these off road areas. It's a trade off. I've done 1, 000 miles (1600km) on my DR on the highway but always feel like I'm cheating death on the highways.

[MisterQ]

good video. i'm literally building a spreadsheet of different weight class bikes. there are almost no proper adv/dual sport bikes under 350 lbs with 150+ mile gas range, 3, 000+ mile maintenance interval and EFI to better handle large changes in elevation (sea level to rocky mountains). i currently own a 500 lb honda africa twin and a 240 lb Yamaha WR250F. looking for a 3rd bike that fits in the middle. honda crf300 rally is most likely what i'll buy. then upgrade suspension for 210 lb rider with light luggage.