The internet thinks you're on the wrong adventure bike...

🏍 - Llel Pavey
🎥 - Llel Pavey
🎬 - Llel Pavey

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Choosing the correct adventure bike is a minefield.The internet is full of 1000 different opinions that are 1000% correct. Both the ideology and the culture surrounding it are problematic, so let's address that a little bit.

Being honest and pragmatic about what you want to do and how capable you are will determine exactly what type of bike you should ride and that decision is perfectly good for you, in this moment.

Enjoy YouTube!

[saddlsor]

Forty-six Thumbs Up! Oh darn, I can't do that here.

Having followed you for many months now, this is one of the most in-your-face, let's-do-Reality-here commentaries I've seen in quite a while. (Then again, I just now watched a video of a guy telling the YT world that "adventure bikes are a myth." pfffttt!)

Three key refreshing and relevant takeaways from your comments (which *should* be obvious to most):
1. It's usually the Rider, not the bike.
2. Take Responsibility for yourself and your decisions.
3. Practice self Reflection - what do you want to do with the bike, is this bike suitable for it, and how good are your riding skills?

Fortunately, you do not internalize the naysayers, nitpickers haters who simply wish to argue, regardless of the merit of their arguments, or their excuses. Good on ya; a thick skin here on the interwebs is about as important as quality riding gear to avoid injury.

And while riding motorbikes IS a very personal thing, there are at the same time some realities that must be faced, such as the very basic reality that every motorbike will compromise in some areas, will suck in some areas, and will excel in some areas.
Let's ride our rides, improve our skills and our attitudes, and let's be curious -- not judgmental.

Thanks for the voice of reason, and well done.

[peteandalie]

The "right" adventure bike is the one in your shed.

[ultimatist]

Well said. Egos are out of control, humility is lacking, and the internet allows useless opinions to be broadcasted far and wide. Like I tell my kids: learning to ignore the noise is one of the greatest skillsets of the 21st century.

[boomcity]

You forgot to say the magic words! Life is better when you’re riding. Your channel has benefited countless riders and improved the sport. Thank you for all you do!

[FortyFourTeeth]

Excellent video. And even better is that you can apply this philosophy to EVERY discipline, hobby, bike, car, house, t-shirt, exercise, sport, school and profession on the internet. Bravo.

[SabreDog]

I have a Harley and it makes me smile every time I ride. I have a 1250 GSA and it makes me smile every time I ride. I have a job and it does not make me smile. Haters gonna hate. Riders gonna ride. Thanks for your awesome videos and excellent riding tips. It’s good for all of us to remember that we are all unique individuals who are simply trying to make the most of this crazy adventure we call life. Be kind, have fun and embrace the smiles.

[cowmath]

C90 adventures is one of my favorite channels, and if I’ve learned anything from it, ADV can be done on anything with enough grit; and friendly locals 🤠

[kevlow]

Well said young man. I recently bought a Tuareg, it is more bike than I'll ever need as I'm a novice off roader but I will learn. I will take a course and practice and my bike will take me to the gravel roads of Scandinavia or down to Spain. I will have fun and other people can say what they like.

[Qbasz]

I am a short person and i was afraid to ride big bikes offroad, so i bought myself a cheap dualsport a DRZ400s. After a year of practice with my "little" bike my confidence and my skill raised so much that my fears had disappeared. Bought a KTM 790 ADV R and rode it on the same trails where my DRZ, no problem what so ever. As a bonus because it is a lower bike I crashed way less times than on my DRZ :D

[jimpartin]

It’s what Dirty Harry said: “A man’s got to know his limitations.”

[seanholland]

I was hopeless on a dirt bike, always looking at others seemingly doing it all easily. I bought a trials bike and I was awful at first as you would be. Fast forward 5 years and I can pop a 701 over a fallen tree on its back wheel. Now everything is easier because I have so much more feel and time when doing anything tricky. It really pays to do trials if you ride off road.

[BigStreams_]

This whole video is a bit funny from my POV. I've only ridden small bikes, an xt225 and a DR350, and I'm use to seeing the conversations about adventure bikes push really far into the larger bikes with anything smaller than a 650 being too small to be an adventure worthy bike (some even proclaiming that the DR650 is too light, small and underpowered for adventure riding).

I've attempting to point to the riding of Itchy Boots with her CRF300 Rally and had people still claim that the bike is too small to be used as an adventure bike. It also seems the industry has really leaned into the larger bikes with the Tenere 700, V-strom 800 and 1050 as well as the 1250 GS still being quite the common bike to see on the road and in the dirt / gravel.

Suffice to say, I think your title holds true. Whatever you're riding right now, the internet will probably have plenty of folks who will happily tell you how wrong the bike is for you.

[Mdviousdt]

I’ve been riding an “inappropriate” bike for ADV for years. On some obstacles a KTM890 or T7 will walk away from me, however I have become very accustomed to using a 2013 Triumph Scrambler 900 for the past 128, 000miles. It’s the everyday bike that works for me, there’s also something to be said for becoming so familiar with any one bike that you know exactly what went wrong and how to repair it the moment it happens.

So ride your ride often, get familiar with it, that’s probably the best advice I could give.

[damerowr]

Wow. Some impressive comments on free content, no one is forced to watch. I enjoy watching your channel and I appreciate your relevant prospective on the channel's subject. Unlike you, I have not finished (or even started) a Dakar race, my experience level is no where near yours, I lean much from your riding tips, and I have an idea as to how much work goes into providing the content you provide. A heart felt thank you and please keep up the good work, Llel!

[foehammerE]

Last year I had my adventure bike at work and my coworker with a Harley swapped bikes with me to go to lunch. It was actually amazing. You can't judge a bike without riding it.

[MartyH]

Probably the most honest, true to life ADV video I have ever watched and why I roll my eyes at 95% of comments on social media... Mate you have nailed it. Off to sell my Super Tenere that I ridden where 'its not supposed to go' and buy and Vstrom 800DE ( have owned a Vstrom 1000, KTM 950adv S, Tiger 800, Multistrada 1200, DRz400, had long term hire DR650 and 800GS and lots of road bikes)

[devilslawyer]

you nailed it, I'm just surprised so many don't get it, buy the bike that best suits your style, ability, and where you want to ride. So simple, why are we even talking about this? Now if you don't like GS1200's, fine, don't buy one, but just shut-up about it, because not one single GS rider cares what you think, they are too busy covering huge miles in comfort.

[jamescampbell]

Great vid.👍
I've put almost 11k miles on my DesertX in 10 months riding in north and west Texas. Over 1/3 of those miles off-road.
In the 10 months advancing skills, I've become comfortable doing stuff I never thought I'd be willing to even attempt when I picked up the Ducati.
I may be moving up to a DDX Rally later this year.🤔
Thanks for your channel. It helped push me to be a better rider.

[bartlaemmel]

I and my mates, rented stock GS 700's with zero armor and road tires in Oaxaca, Mexico. We rode hundreds of miles of rough mountain roads for 10 days. After the first day of 130 tough miles, I realized something. The best adventure bike is the one you have.

[AdvBrewery]

It's straight forward, the reason the adv bikes (classic bigger machines) sell so well is they don't just sell a bike. They sell the idea of adventure. The need to go buy lightweight kit/gear, and buy this and buy that. You can buy BDR routes, GPX tracks and buy tours! Its a consumeristic thing over anything else. You can adventure on anything, even foot, in case some have forgotten haha.