Adventure vs Dual Sport

It occurred to me that a lot of people don't know, or simply don't care what the difference is between Adventure bikes and Dual Sports.

[toddbenfield]

Nice explanation👍everyone needs one of each✌️

[LibertyEver]

I've ridden 250cc to 350cc dual sport bikes since 1975, when I wanted a light thumper ADV bike. We got ADV bikes in the 80s but only recently got small ADV bikes. I bought a G310GS for my 60th birthday and love it. The video is correct in stating they're in a class all their own. I appreciate the excellent road manners compared to my dual sport bikes, which were always dirt bikes with lights and mirrors. I'm gradually making the baby GS better for off road. I love the 34 HP 374 pound bike. I travel light and avoid highways so it's nearly perfect for me, but it needs a 5 gallon tank instead of 2.9 gallons. So far, the manufacturers insist on treating their small ADV bikes as beginner bikes, budget bikes, and bikes for the Asian market. Contrary to the manufacturers' intent, they're becoming hugely popular with people who have ridden for 50+ years and need a small fun bike to keep riding because a 1250GSA is too heavy for a 70 year old. The manufacturers need to make full featured small ADV bikes with large fuel tanks, as light as possible. They need to see them not as competion for their mid and large ADV bikes, but as upscale bikes that keep us riding when the big ADV bikes are too big. There are many younger riders who would also pay for an up scale small ADV bike because they'll go places the big bikes won't, yet they're much more comfortable for longer distance touring than a dual sport.

[ownTer]

Thanks. You laid it out plain and simple for those just like me, new to adventure biking.

[JohannesDalenMC]

That guy who brought his T7 into an ocean of mud probably isn’t the sharpest.. 😁

Excellent video.

[galuhrichata]

This is the exact video I need to show my wife. I once had a 1290 Super Adventure T MY2016 (I crashed it), and now I have a 790 Adventure R, while I have ordered a 250 EXC Six Days (will arrive in a couple months). So when I told my wife that I am interested in buying a 690 Enduro R, she replied, “What for?! You already got everything you need?!”. That’s when this video would play the part and speak for me…😅😅😅

[ferkuzuel]

Thanks for sharing, and great comparation, As an average rider I can take my old f800gs to fire roads, camp sites, etc.. but with my 690r I can play off road, it always wakes up childhood memories and man is hard to beat that feeling and in my own experience that's when off road becomes a sport to me

[Thumpermad]

My entry level bike for Adventure riding was the KTM790 R loved the motor and capabilities for such a bigger style Offroad bike in fact I can imagine that the Duke is an absolute weapon in the right hands. Owning a 790R was a bit of a mistake because after riding and owning the 690R for a while I can't believe how much I love the 690 in fact the question is why the 790. Man the 690R to me is like the power of an open class motocrosser with the supreme stable handling of a KTM Dirtbike yes I'm a dual-sport rider through and through great comparo hope you didn't upset anyone 🤔😅😉🤪😁

[DavideGTI]

Totally agree everything you said.
I had a 2016 701 and now I have a 2019 701, and I've done a total of 45000km (combined) with those bikes. As much as i love the concept of a light, less powerful dual sport, I think its time for a heavier and more travel oriented Adventure bike (KTM 1190s).
The marketing tries to convince us offroading a 500lbs bike its doable an enjoyable. It simply isn't.

[mikeguitarification]

I think this was a very reasonable way to differentiate the two types. Thanks for the info.

[Ride_XP]

One of the best explained videos on the topic, at a short length too! Thanks for this.

[dudebud]

I own a ZX14r. I will never part ways with it, but since I am able to ride again, an adv is my next addition to my bike family. I wouldn’t DI the things a dual sport could allow me to do, so the adv is the answer for me. I loved the video

[friktionrc]

As a non biker who is looking to get into riding, this has to be the best explanation of the differences between ADVs and Dual Sports I’ve seen yet (and believe me, as a newbie I’ve watched loads of YT vids hahaha). Not condescending but equally proving what I’ve seen in comments on other videos, namely that there are pretentious folks out there in the world and its just the same in the biking community hahaha.

I was initially looking to get into to riding to one day have a Suzuki Hayabusa or a 1000 (or similar), but living near a major city in Europe means not only do we have loads of traffic but we also have lots of speed bumps and ‘average speed cameras’ (the latter located on many of our motorways). So then I thought, why not go for a 600, but then the same applies - where and how will I be able to make the most of it. I dont live near any race tracks - closest one is like 2 - 3 hours away (in my country that’s a huge time spent travelling - I mean if I was flying I could be in another country in that time lol), so then I started looking at smaller bikes. Having messed around with my mates off road Kawasaki as a kid I thought maybe something small and light that I could easily flick around when filtering through traffic - but then fuel economy came into the equation - I plan to run mine for commuting (though wont need much in the way of panniers etc) and thats when ADVs popped up. Not being a fan of the modern love affair with retro cafe racers (you’d think coming from England I’d love all that, but the modern version all stinks a bit of a Channel perfume ad - you know the one, girl sprays on loads of smelly stuff, guy arrives looking like he’s straight from the 1950s, (minus the sexist attitude, alcohol problem and face like pebble dashing)…on a clean sleek cafe racer. She hops on and off they ride into oblivion….Most definitely not my cup of tea. Now I find myself looking at a simple 250 adv. Something small enough to keep up and pass traffic in a European city environment, comfortable enough that I can keep riding well past my 60s (I’m nearing the big 5-0 so this is part of the future planning lol) and something I won’t piss of the neighbours with. I’ve heard dual sports - great on a beach in the summer, rubbish at 5am in the morning when the whole neighbourhood wakes up because you have to get to work.

As I said at the start of my ramblings, this is a great explanation and for someone like me, kind of vindicates me that I’m heading in the right direction when looking at what sort of bike to get. Nice one mate 👍👍😎

[mrhlynnu]

I have the 1250GSA, now I am going to add a 690 for dual sport duties.

[m.l.d.]

1 cyl, vs multi cyl's i think is the most defining spec but the dual sport/Adventure thing is and has always been a compromise as what works best off road VS whats best on road are usually the opposite, that being said as a long time dual sport/adv guy today we have more choices than i would have ever dreamed of back in the day

[glossblack]

So many great options for ADV twins. Just about every bike brand does one. But not many options for modern, six gear, fuel injector, low maintenance Dual Sports similar to the 690 or 701.

[clvrswine]

1.8 gallon tank on the t-dub (Yamaha TW 200). 278 pounds and has a low-fender. We get our own sub-category: ag-bike!

[craighoffman]

Nicely produced and well thought out video! Bikes are tools, and we are blessed to have so many tools available in our motorcycling toolbox. No one bike can do it all truly well of course.

If one is going to strap a ton of sh%t to their bike, ride a lot of pavement and eventually reach two track hard pack dirt roads that one could drive a Toyota Camry down, then a large ADV is the way to go. To be honest, I am dumbfounded by people who put aggressive tires on large ADVs though. I love my Super Tenere, which has a Penske shock and re-sprung/re-valved forks, for touring, as it rides great on the highway and rough roads, it has cruise, and goes far on it's 6.1 gallon gas tank. I am not riding that 600 plus pound (before adding cargo) pig in anything resembling actual offroad though, regardless of what tires are on it. Ya, the Super T is not a "dirty" big ADV bike. Whatever, I wouldn't want to ride a big GS or 1290 on the trails I ride either.

In contrast to the big touring ADV, we have dual sports. If one has the opportunity to be able to ride a day trip from their house down some curvy canyon roads to dirt trails that are rocky and otherwise challenging, then the 690 or even a Honda 300 type dual sport is a great way to go. Even among dual sports there is a significant variety of options. I have a Husky 701, which is a master of nothing, except fun, and man, is that bike fun, as it simply is naughty! Wheelies, going up and down stairs in closed business parks, general naughtiness is encouraged. I live in Colorado and along with the '14 Super Tenere with street tires on it and Husky 701 with more aggressive tires, I have a 300 XC, so I figure my MC needs are covered. Fortunately there are good riding opportunities all around me.

I can't imagine riding even a smaller ADV like a T7, etc the way I want to ride when I hit the dirt. Even my 701 is a "lot" off road but I ride it more than a little like I ride my 300 XC, as much as I can get away with anyway. A smaller dual sport could be easier to deal with off road, but I like the big single's power and sound. What an engine, and it is surprising how much a 690 Enduro (or 701, same bike) lets one get away with wherever they happen to be riding.

So, in summary, I get it, funds for bikes are limited for most of us. Do what you have to do, buy clean used bikes instead of shelling out a ton for a new big ADV. I paid 8K for my one owner clean used Super T, which came nicely pre-farkled. That was a great purchase as the bike works great and I was able to surround it with the 300 XC and 701. Own more than one motorcycle instead of trying to do it all on just one. More bikes are always better than less 😆

[Dave-swdm]

My philosophy is to use the lightest bike that will get the job done. It all depends on they type and speed of the roads you want to ride, and how much crap you feel the need to carry with you. When I bike travel I only carry one pair of shorts and sandals. Otherwise, I am in my riding gear.

[catdaddy]

I went from a Husqvarna Norden 901 to a KTM 690 Enduro R. Before the Norden I rode big BMW GSAs. I’ve got a lot to adapt to. But I love the 690 Enduro A LOT! ❤️

[mau]

Nice video, I like a good for road trips and some gravel Adv and a lightweight dual sport