Sold an Aprilia Tuono for a Triumph 900 RP. Later bought a Honda 300 Rally and sold the Triumph. Eventually realized the 300 just wasn’t enough bike and it’s time to come full circle for the Aprilia 660.
Suzuki had a golden opportunity to knock it out of the ball park. Adjustable suspension, bolt on subframe, engine detuned for more low to mid range torque. And then we saw the weight...
@@spritual_enlightenment Suzuki take the porky insult with stride. They're traumatized after K5 legend become a meme with the ultralight piece of shit frame. Better have a bike that can somehow survive a car crash.
The weight may seem huge in comparison with the Transalp, but if you equip it with the same equipment, the difference is approx. 12 kg. For a road bike which they both are that's negligible. Yes, it's the same weight as the Africa, but nobody will sell you a new Africa for what 800DE will cost.
I'm really praying that soon someone will come out with that unicorn 450cc rally style dual sport with long maintenance intervals. The fact that Suzuki redid the vstrom and I think quite well, I'm hoping for an all new drz400 that would fill that gap we all are dying waiting for. Yamaha or Honda could beat them to it as well. Whoever does it first has my right kidney.
Some extra info.: Transalp 750 is made in Thailand. V-Strom is made in Japan. Tenere is made in France and Japan depending on the market. Tuareg is made in Italy.
Well I already made my choice and bought a Tuareg 660 at the start of the year. I waited for the Transalp but Honda was so shy about it and honestly, I'm kind of alright with how it unfolded now. I am a bit disappointed in the Transalp. I'm sure it is a fine bike but I was hoping for a better mix. It looks to me too focused on the road while at the same time weirdly lacking e.g. no cruise control (apparently not even an option right now?). But maybe I just don't get it. I tested the T7 and Tuareg at my dealer and the Tuareg did it for me. I get the T7 is the purist but honestly I like some comfort. Being in smack middle of Europe I usually have to travel a fair bit by German autobahn to get somewhere remote, experience taught me I want cruise control. Seat height was also a bit challenging on the T7, the Tuareg with the lower comfort seat is just perfect for me. Tubeless tyres and bigger fuel tank are other things I like. Being in Europe dealers for Aprilia are not much of an issue. Of course, it has some gripes e.g. service light can only be reset by dealer, wind shield is lacking, retro fuel cap gets in the way of tank bags, plastic hand guards are no more than windshield for the hands, bash plate a bit flimsy. Anyway seeing the Transalp I do not regret buying the Tuareg.
You played your cards well Ishigami. As you say, the Honda is road-biased, but it comes with a 16 litre fuel tank (not a problem for everyone though). Enjoy your Toureg! :)
I’m with you 1000% No other best option in the market, tubeless makes a big difference + the rest of the attributes of that bike. If I have the Money I’ll go with Tuareg if not the best option it’s the DR 650.
I agree. I hear most reviewers bellyaching about the Honda and Suzi not being sufficient as dirt bikes. Fine with me. I like that the Honda is more road biased and looks good for that kinda bike too. The shots of that guy snaking up the switchbacks looked like a lot of fun. If I got one, I'd lower it another inch. The fact that it's lower out of the box makes it an ADV I could actually touch the ground on stock. Looks to have great ergos, power to weight is dandy, passenger area looks comfortable, luggage available. If they come to the US, I may well spring for one. I'm sure it will be far better suited off-road than the streetbikes I've taken off road. And that's a small bit of the riding I do.
Why not just buy a sports tourer, if you are almost entirely on road? Wayyyy cheaper than an ADV bike and wayyyy better power to weight, AND lower seat height standard.
@@campbellrousselle9752 There aren't that many and my body is rekt. I can't sit w/ my legs bent that much anymore. I'm loving that new BMW RS. They make peg lowering kits for that which is good, but the other problem is I get Golfer's elbow after riding in the tuck for a few months. That's tendonitis in the inner elbows. My HD has outstanding ergos, but it's heavy. If it falls, I can't lift it. The Honda has outstanding ergos and at 450 lbs, I could probably get that one up. Easier to move around the garage and whatnot too. I would love not having to screw with a chain though. I've breathed so much brake cleaner and chain lube over time, my lungs could probably function as a refinery.
Yes, most ADV bikes are pavement and gravel machines and you don't need 10 inches of suspension for that any ways. I'm sure it's coming to the US as it's a huge market, but if you want one you should order early as they're likely to sell out in the first year they're offered.
@@saddle8bag AAAAhhhh so you need a low-ish seat height, but leg room. There are Sports-tourers, or just tourers, or nakeds with very comfortable ergos. But, I see where you are coming from. If you had a Harley previously a tourer probably feels quite alien and a Sports Tourer might seem 'aggressive' by comparison. I love ADVs (But I ride gravel and off-road tracks). They are very heavily compromised for road use. Thanks for your response - always good to hear others opinions and experiences :)
@@campbellrousselle9752 I still have an HD for traveling or carting the wife around. I have a Thruxton for shorter sporty rides. Eventually, either me of the bikes are going to give up. 51k miles on the Thruxton and 43k on the HD. A third bike should extend the lives of the other two. It can also cart my wife and travel. It seemed kinda sporty in the Honda commercial, running up some mountain switchbacks. ua-cam.com/video/s5uLIXB55og/v-deo.html
The Toareg appeals most for outright performance and overall specs (But appeals less because of lack of dealerships, reliability issues and electronics package), The T7 looks good and is a known quantity (but height and top heaviness put me off), Vstrom appeals because it is a Suzuki and I've always had a good run from them and their ABS and Fuel injection were always the best, so maybe their RBW will be good, or at least tolerable (However, 230kg is ridiculously heavy and why wouldn't I just stay with my 2016 Africa Twin?) and lastly the Transalp - Honda reliability and good specs on paper (However, with no suspension adjustment, it'll need to be cheap!)... anyway that's my 2 cents worth :P
@@DifferentSpokesTV Agreed, plus a lot more expensive. I'm just keeping my eyes open for something lighter when age prevents me from riding such a big bike. Reiju 'Baby Africa' looks interesting.
@@campbellrousselle9752 Think DRZ400/DR650.....with a few mods it will make you smile every time you ride it. And with the money you save you could start planning your TAT or Patagonia to Alaska ride....
The Tuareg performance is a double edged sword. For an adv bike, you want that down low torque and the 660 twin is tuned for top end power instead. Gotta be careful playing the specsheet warrior game. Still, it has cruise control. That's a huge plus :) The Transalp is quite road biased in comparison too. This isn't a bad thing, but it's something to keep in mind when making decisions. T7 is the most capable offroad, cheapest, but the height can be an issue for little people. Being 6'4" myself, I added a tall seat, but if you're below 5'9"ish, you'll probably want to lower it.
@@Wintersdark I knew this, but thanks... It depends on whether you like reving things harder - not sure it would bother me overly... however my AT2016 has decent low-end grunt, which I like, so... - I'd need to ride one to see. Also peak figures lie - you would need to see the dyno curves side-by-side to see the real differences.
This is why I rode my BMW 650Rally around the world. It's the bike people have been crying out for without realizing there's been one on the market since 2001. Just needs better suspension (like every bike) and it's a truly amazing bike
I would probably take the T7 even though I’m a Honda guy I want a more off road bias bike, but I would prefer a 400 or 450 version of the crf 300 rally. Low maintenance all around fun bike!
Me too and all my buddies say the same. Where in God's name is it? How has noone come out with this? I just cannot fathom it. I will be on the pre-order list when one comes out I'll tell you that much.
When there used to be only the CRF 250 Rally I heard people say "if only they made the CRF 300 Rally". Now they do, and I hear (probably same) people say "if only they made the CRF 450 Rally". Good stuff.
Aprilia just fixed the throttle issue with the Tuareg 660 that was a known issue around 4000 rpms. Having the update to my 2022 I can say the bike is now a perfect ADV bike. Maintenance has not been issue after 4500 miles with a dealership within 90 miles of both home locations. Completed the WYBDR on the 660 with no issues this past Summer while our Tenere 700 rider had to bypass some of the sand sections. The factory heated grips, quick shifter, cruise control, ride modes was a big selling point for me over the T700. Nice feature is the ride mode and TC both remain off when set even when turning the bike on/off; something my Triumph 900 Rally Pro didn't do.
Tuareg is a great bike on paper and on the show room floor. But I've seen a starter die on an Aprilia Tuareg previous generation during a rally raid and the rider had to DNF. Really love everything about the bike, but the reliability issues kill it for me.
I’d go with the Suzuki Strom 800DE. I’m under no delusions that these bikes are great for single track. All 4 will or should handle gravel ROADS just fine in addition to their primary purpose of pavement riding. The vast majority of Adv riders ride their bikes on ROADS only. Smaller dual sports or dirt bikes are a far better choice when there aren’t any ROADS (paved or unpaved). If I were one of the very small number of people with desire to take a 450+ pound bike on single track (off ROADS) I’d pick the Tenere - it’s the simplest and least expensive; therefore, the least painful financially to damage….
Everybody on here talks about listed wet weight.....206k for the Tuareg, ect., ect.....does everyone here ride without so much as a pack of gum in a tank bag??.....ladies and gentleman, after its all said and done with adding all the shit needed to have the "adventure" these bikes were marketed for, you looking at somewhere in the neighborhood of adding an additional 75 pounds, MINIMUM to ever bike made.....that instantly makes most of these bikes, the Transalp, the Touareg, the T7, the BMW 850, the KTM 890, the Duke Dez X, the Triumph 850/900 well over 500 pounds with some close to 550.....Adventure bike???.....more like bloated, overweight, over-priced techo-wiz wannabe's if the truth be known.
@@1vmxracer True, however after adding 50 pounds of racks, panniers and guards to a 450 pound bike you will end up with the same weight the Suzuki 800DE comes off the show room floor almost naked.
These are actually all in the same weight class as the 890, and generally feel heavier, they are just a bit cheaper. Went from an africa twin to a 701 enduro a few years ago so these all look a bit like the golden corral crowd to be honest, Tenere is just patting itself on the back for hitting up the salad bar.
@@TraveladvRajanSRai as someone who has rode dirt bikes since they were 3 years old, I couldn't disagree any more. Tubeless plugs are cheap and 1000x's easier
The sad fact is: if on the side of Tuareg would be written Honda, Yamaha or Suzuki. Everybody wants to buy, because it is clearly the best of the best among those bikes. Unfortunatelly on the side is written Aprilia that is why we have questions… i would surly pick Aprilia if I were sure of its reliablity.
well said. lack of cruise is unbelievable these days, even though I don't care for it. I'm looking for something in this class, for a lot of two-up, light off-roading, I think the V strom might be the one.
If you were going to buy a Suzuki VStrom, why not get the 650? - Cheaper, lighter, just as good on a gravel road, OR buy a mint secondhand 1000 - cheaper, easy to find mint, tons to choose from, much faster, bullet proof and about the same weight.
The only thing I don't get about the new V-Strom is why no tubeless. They definitely do not aim for hard core offroad with that weight, so who needs tubes on the highway? It's just super weird. They could do it the way they do it on the 1050DE. Tubed 21" wheel and tubeless 17" wheel. I'd be fine with this configuration since the front wheel rarely gets punctured. And changing the tube in the front wheel is a much simpler task than doing it on the rear.
only thing i dont like about the T7 is the north/south dash, i think it would look better if it was east/west. edit: maybe the fuel range could be abit better too.
mid size adv make the most sense. One bike to maybe add to this list is CFMOTO 800MT. Well equiped bike but maybe a bit porky. Having ridden the aprilia Tuareg, I can say it meets the hype.
CFMoto 800MT is a winner on price. Build quality is good. Dealerships are a bit sparse, but hey, if you don't drop it or crash it, then you won't be needing spares in a hurry. Resale value on the CFMoto may not be too hot, but bang for buck as a new machine looks good.
I have a 2020 Honda Africa, twin adventure, sport Lovett little bit too big for some trails. I like to go on. I think I would go with the T7 for my new bike in 2023.
Just sold my 2018 ATAS because I never took it off road... In search of a sports/touring bike now that could still do mild trails (which almost any bike can)
Yeah, I took the Africa Twin Adventure Sports on the same single track trail I'm doing near the end of the video and it made it through, but it was a handful. The T7 is a better choice for that terrain but a proper dual sport is still much better.
I think you chose wisely, the T7 seams to have it all. But what the second hand market is going to do the coming years, is what's going to decide it for me. I predict, lots of T7'S ridden hard put away wet. No to little Italians on offer, Older Vstroms galore(boomers wanna replace them).But to the point: Low mileage well maintained Transalps in heated garages bc the owners wanted a reliable easy to maintain, good servicable bike. Only if i locate a T7 like that i'll jump on it, but my next ADV is probably a Honda again. Just makes the most sense.
Ah, i remember the F800GS was always there lurking in the shadows. Yamaha teased the T700 for a few years and KTM came out delivering the 790 Adventure before the T700 hit the floor. Now get us the sub 350lbs twins
I've got 2019 G310GS now, had it for three years. I'm planning on getting a bigger bike next summer. Since I don't really like the bulky fronts, and I don't want anything extra heavy, these are the bikes I'm looking at. I was thinking of Tenere, but then I saw Tuareg in person, didn't even know about it before and I just liked how it looked and felt. Haven't had a chance to ride any of these though, but now I just feel like the Tuareg would be the one for me, so now I'm just waiting to see how it proves more in long term from other people.
@@patricktracy7940 Yes, that was my bigger bike that I was aiming to, the front is not that much bigger, so I still liked it, but yeah, then I saw the Tuareg and yeah, love on the first sight I guess :D I really like the slim, tall and overall agile look Tuareg has, similar to Tenere, which I was looking at too. But I definitelly want to try as many bikes as possible before my final decision, including the bigger GSs.
Easy, cause it puts all the others to shame. He went out of his way to take it out, saying it's in the 1000cc category. But nobody wants to talk about the elephant in the room ... nobody wants to admit they are not as rich as they say they are. It all comes down to money, as always.
And pricewise, the CFMoto 800 is another one to consider if you're riding mostly on the road with the occasional unsealed road trips. Dealerships are a bit few and far in between though. When it comes to dealer support, the Tenere is probably a good pick, but of course it depends on your location.
for me the Tenere 700 is perfect, just over 70hp, just over 200kg. Simple technology, a robust and reliable motor, slim design and not expensive. i don't need any driving modes, traction control or the other little helpers. The Tenere also looks great. my dream would be the KTM 490 Adventure but it is not coming although it has already been announced for 2021. The gap between the 390 48hp and the 890 105hp is just too big.
I'm surprised the ducati DesertX wasn't included in the comparison. Maybe it was a bit too expensive to be included. But it still fits the demographic as far as midsize is concerned ..
I'd choose Aprilia with my motorcyclist heart. However, looking at the long term reviews of that bike has me concerned. So I'd choose Yamaha with my head. Haven't ridden one yet, however the engine in MT07 is so good, it should be easy to ride it off road.
These mid sized bikes are really just road bikes with rally styling to get them sold. If they were ridden off road they would get dropped a lot and break their fairings, windows and boxes, probably needing an insurance claim. Off road bikes don't have these issues, have 1 cylinder 21/18 wheels, weigh
Personally, I would rather see a larger displacement Dual Sport like to good old XR 650, KLR 650, KLX 650 , DR 650, LC4 640, TE 610, XT 660, etc. with modern suspensions, lighter weight, long maintenance intervals, and a fuel-injected parallel twin engine. Adventure bikes are just too heavy, have too much plastic to damage off-road, and are really just street bikes that can occasionally go off-road. I prefer a dirt bike that occasionally goes on road, but has a minimum of 4.5 gallons of fuel. A rally pillar would be a nice addition as well.
Tempting as the new offerings are... I will still stick with a true dual sport for my off road oriented adventures, and a dedicated pavement bike for everything else. For me, I find too many compromises are required for these mid sized ADV's, primarily weight. When you go down, (not if) it only takes a couple of times picking a 400+ pound bike before one will realize the amount of energy expended is not worth the added weight, farkles and comfort of these kinds of machine are worth the price.
Absolutely...... my Beta RR 430 S, will blow away these off road! Just put on the larger gas tank and you can do LONG AGGRESSIVE RIDES! And TUBELESS IS THEE WAY TO GO! With traction control and tubeless...... the Beta keeps hooked up on just about anything! I LOVE the Yamaha...but it should be tubeless...
Aprilia first, but not by much. The rider modes, tubeless tyres, TFT display and cruise control edge out the T7. The Transalp is just one big disappointment, while the VSTROM is just too porky for me! I am not sure why the Aprilia reliability gets called in question all the time, with the Tuono and the RS being very reliable bikes in their own right. I guess only time will tell but for me, I will take the Tuareg 660 thank you Sir!
Tenere was here as a xtz660 for years and it was alone at this segment. Other brands was sleeping from 2008 and we waiting for their reaction. It's like Hoka One One in the world of runner's shoes. For ten years Hoka dominated the sales and then the other brands wake up
Yamaha "broke the mold with the T7"??????.....thats laughable. Kawasaki and Suzuki have both had EXTREMELY capable dual sports that will crush a 250 mile asphalt day just as easy as ANY T7, 800DE, 750 Transalp, Toureg, ect., ect.....since the 90's. The KLR650 and DR650 are every bit as capable on road and twice the bike off road as any the aforementioned bikes, at almost 50% less in cost. Unreal how most people think they need the latest, greatest to be one of the "In" riders. My DR650 will go just as far, just as fast, legally, with similar comfort for THOUSANDS less, at the same time have equal or better reliability. And when it comes to off-road, with equal riders, NONE of those "In" bikes can hang with a DR650. NONE. And isn't off-road what this category is all about??? Or is it more important to pretend you're an off-road tuff guy at your local Starbucks in front of all the other wannabes that show up on 500+ pound make-believe "ADVENTURE" bikes????
Actually the category is on and off-road capable. It's the unicorn category that all manufacturers are trying to capture customers on, but not all customers have the same requirements.
I´d happily own any of these bikes except for the suzuki. But if I wanted a semi off roader I would buy the Triumph scrambler XE. It has a touch of class, and if you still owned it 20 years from now it would still look good whereas these plastic fantastics (and they are great) would look extremely dated. Personally I would any bike like this after two or three years.
Great Video, very informative and accurate. We have several great choices in the middleweight adventure segment now. I wonder if kawasaki will join in or stay comfortable with just the klr650? There should be a right bike for almost everyone in class now. Either way I'm happy with the Tuareg and sticking with it.
Honestly a hard skip either way. Come back again when Suzuki, Honda, and Yamaha introduce a good 400 class. (CB400X was basically CB500X but lower torqued)
Don't think its coming out ... ever, and why would it? It would be at least 415 lbs with less tork and less hp than the 690. The 890 is at 450 lbs, so why bother at this point?
@@jean-pierrefournier9416 I don't know, my perspective is based around the price point the 490 Adventure would like come in at. The 690 requires thousands of dollars of modifications to make it long distance travel ready and it already cost $11k. The 890 is priced around $15k now pushing the envelope on potential buyers. If, and this is a big if, the 490 was priced around between $9k and $10k it would open up a range of that KTM doesn't currently have an offering for adventure bikes. Unfortunately, we know the manufacturers have their own ideas about what we want. A 500cc twin cylinder in an adventure chassis would be really popular. Heck, if the 690 single engine was put in an adventure chassis I would be the first in line for that bike. I just don't want to modify a 690 Enduro for comfortable long distance travel and the 890 is beyond my next bike budget. So, I will continue to wait. Cheers.
@@advmatt Hell yes, absolutelly, update the 640 design, drop the latest LC4 engine in it and boom, you end up with the "UNICORN" ADV bike everybody say they want. Easiest thing to do, but what people say they do vs what they actually do, doesn't warrant such an off road capable bike and that an entirelly different conversation.
My 2017 f800gs trophy has 85hp, and is 207kg wet. Ride by wire with ride modes and electric suspension all standard. These new models aren't any different
The 2013> models were 214kg wet I'm not sure why ? Earlier 2008-2012 with the 45mm marazochi forks were 207kg electronic suspension may have been standard on the trophy (top spec) but was part of the dynamic pack for the normal version. Must say the v-strom 800de on paper looks a lot worse than a bmw f800gs. Our 230mm 9.1" suspension travel still looks impressive.
I am leaning more towards an Africa Twin.... just trying to rationalize between the standard bike or the AS. I currently ride a litre-bike sports tourer... so I am not anxious to take a hit on power/acceleration when I upgrade to a new bike.
I reviewed the AS in the summer and it's a good bike. It's not a ripper in a straight line but with the electronically adjustable suspension the handling was solid and my wife loved the back seat.
Tube tires is no go for me for $10k+ price tag. If you travel 100's of miles on motorcycles, 1000cc+ is desirable as well. For playing in dirt 250-300 is plenty and probably way more fun anyway.
Can’t believe the Transalp was designed more towards pavement… You already have the CB500X Honda come on!! They dropped the ball massively and could have been a big competitor to the Tuareg and T7…
i guess at this time of my life i would buy two bikes, one for touring with my wife, so that would be the vstrom, i would keep my 250 dualsport and maybe buy a honda trail 125
I like Honda i had 2 honda and 1 yamaha bike. But i switched back to cb 500x. Which is a veri good bike for A2 license. I choose transalp or tenere if i by a bigger stronger bike. But i happy with my cb 500x while i riding mostly on road.
size of engine is a bit of a confusion though, the T700 is same weight as KTM 990 adv near as makes no different with considerably less BHP, its ok making a smaller bike but it has to be lighter, just making a smaller engine with less bhp at the same weight is hardly ground breaking?
I am looking to get an Adventure bike but there is pretty much no way i will buy an import, looking forward to the Pan America 975, currently have 3 Harley's which is probably why i have no interest in an import
Like Adventure Spec says, LIGHT IS RIGHT 👍. I stay, in this particular order , with Yamaha, Honda, and Suzuki, RELIABLE AND SPECTACULAR SERVICE EVERYWHERE. THEY GOES WHERE YOUR EYES CAN REACH!
I don't understand the 21" front wheel on either the Honda or Suzuki.... oh, yeah I do... fashion! If the bikes are road based then a smaller front wheel and cruise control make sense, if they are offroad focussed then the wheels make sense but the weight of the Suzuki and the suspension of the Honda are cost based compromises that may not have been worthwhile. Perhaps both manufacturers are looking at the massive RTW overlander market... or at least those who aspire to be RTW ovelanders.
not at least offering cruise control is a big let down and i think will cost them in sales. if especially if the Honda and Suzuki are more for highway touring , which is what i would use them for , then there is no reason for them not to have cruise control. for any on road, EFI motorcycle in my opinion. i was really looking at the Transalp and Vstrom hoping they had cruise control. its a major disappointment for me at least. their reasoning could be that "they wasnt designed for long highway use" even though people have been using smaller bikes for that for a long time now. ohh well. good vid
The Transalp dampening is easily fixed with a different weight oil. You're making it sound like the suspension and ground clearance are leagues below the competition and it's not. It will still be a very capable adventure bike.
My DR650 has over 10 inches of suspension travel front and back (the Honda has less than 8) my DR has 10.4 inches of ground clearance (the Honda has less than 8.5) and the DR weighs 100 pounds LESS than the Honda. And will probably be 4 THOUSAND dollars less. A good tank, a good seat, throttle lock a set of DDC's and springs for the forks and a stiffer rear shock and you now have a bike capable of "round the world travel" that's STILL $2,000 less expensive than any of the "Trendy" or "Must be seen on" bikes that is more reliable and 100 times easier perform trail-side repairs on. Now, which bike is a "capable adventure bike"?????
I'm sure it's plenty capable for what 95% of riders will use it for. I think the difference will be felt over rocky or super bumpy terrain. It may take some hits over rock gardens and logs but most riders will never try that to find out.
BMW should have kept building and further evolving the 2006 HP2 Enduro. Mine was 186kg and was tuned up to 122hp and 120nm torque. Keep shaving of weight and increasing HP and Nm. Best large offroad bike i ever had.
But known one was buying them. People said that's what they wanted but it didn't sell. It was really expensive for such a stripped down bike. It was more like a duel sport with a boxer engine just thrown in. Few creature comforts
@@DifferentSpokesTV Correct, BMW lost around $5.000 per bike. They only wanted to produce 1000 bikes for specialists and with the Dakar in mind. It sold-out instantly. Due to high demand they desided to build 2000 more, but the losses were to large, and never intended to produce high numbers. I was somewhat involved in the early production ideas, 2000 to 2004. But when KTM got the notion that BMW had plans to build this HP2 to enter the Dakar, KTM and the Dakar org prevented entry of the HP2 by making new rules, that 2 cylinders were limited to 450cc and 550cc. . . . . . . to protect the dominance of the KTM 1 cylinder bikes. Thats how it played out, company politics. And so, the bike would indeed cost way to much for most people, never intended to be an "Adventure" bike, but hard core offroad endurance.
Tubed tires and small fuel tanks are big FAILS imo, those two trends really need to stop. was planning on buying the new Suzuki or Honda based on highest fuel range, but the tubeless wheels are a massive let down!
It irritates me that Aprillia came out of nowhere and got so many things right where the other, more reliable manufacturers, still can't get it right. So frustrating.
Great times for customers with more choices comming to the market. All great bikes in their own right but the perfect bike is yet to be made. For picking one over the other it comes down to usage & preference. Apples & Oranges. More dirt: T7 & Aprillia Around the world & back in comfort: TA & Vstrom. For Me personally the no1 priority is reliability. I live in a very high cost country with insane taxes so cost predictable products are important. The truth is Japanese products historically has proven most reliable & therefore more cost effective.
@@Alexanderpaal67 I've had a Thai Honda. Parts were made in Thailand. Like when I bought a spare part, it had Made in Thailand on every single bolt of it. So it's not like they only assemble the bike there. The difference with a Thai made CRF250 Rally and a Japanese made RM-Z 250 I bought later was dramatic. The Italian factory used to be an assembly line indeed with the parts coming from Japan.
@@cheetah694 I understand. Honda is a huge company that produces: cars, lawn cutters, generators & boat engines etc. Hrc is their racing departement: f1 engines, motogp, superbike & Dakar. In the end its about profitt…fex in Nairobi Kenya produce Honda locally for the east Africa market with Small 125cc bikes aimed at the boda boda (mc taxi) market
For me I'd choose the Aprilia. I'm 5'7 and the Tenere is just way too tall and the Tuareg also has tubeless spoked. For me Honda and Suzuki have always been slightly boring bikes. But except for the Vstrom 650 neither the Tenere nor Tuareg are currently available in India.
India never been sought after market for adventure bikes earlier, so foreign player not enter earlier, it's last 5-6 years demand for adventure tourer bikes takes place. Decades old bikes in foreign countries not having hopes to be launched in India.
@@kavishwarmokal124 why would manufacturers launch old bikes? Most manufacturers are launching their current versions in India. Hopefully Aprilia brings the Tuareg
And the winner is ktm 890r which smokes all the bikes in that list in every catagory... Yha might pay more but you end up with a Dakar 450 race frame redesigned with the 890 engine... And its the fastest bike on and off hwy then those little bikes... Just say'ing is all...
A peculiar fact: Yamaha has the best maintenance record. Parts are cheaper, build is solid, and the thought going into the assembly is mechanic friendly. Suzuki is at the opposite end of the scale for the Japanese bikes. They are the smallest of the big three, and they are performance hungry as a company. Parts are expensive, and the assembly is often an afterthought. My V-STROM 1000 is not to be trifled with on the road, but something of a headache for my mechanic. Honda has solid engineering. Solid performance. And a perpetual disconnect between marketing and R&D. Parts will be more expensive than the Yamaha, but repairs will be less frequent. Aprilia, it should be noted, owns Moto Guzzi. If you like cutting-edge technology, Aprilia is the way to go. If you like solid simplicity, Moto Guzzi is your way. I can also attest to the efficacy of the Aprilia cruise control. Parts will drive anyone in the western hemisphere mad.
I wouldn't say Suzuki is performance hungry at all. They're lazy, and have been rehashing old bikes and old engines far more than the other three. I'd say Yamaha is the one pushing the best power/weight bikes across their range at this point, when considering the Jap 4. That is, until the CB750 / TA hits the floor.
In My country (Colombia) Suzuki is the post service, and also Best in bikes and parts prices. Yamaha comes second, honda is in third position and Kawasaki is just fucking expensive in everything
I think this whole adventure bike concept is an obnoxious fad. That's just 1 man's opinion. These bikes are very high priced, sorry but new bikes costing over $11,000+ USD is a boatload of money for a new bike. They are all way too heavy for their intended use. And, imo they look ungainly and badly proportioned. There's very little if anything these big bloated adventure bikes can do that a DR650 can't do, or that a KLX300 can't do for that matter, and in most cases do it better and cost less.
Try 6 hours on the fast slab at 70+mph to get to the mountains. Then three days riding Forest Service and TAT roads. Then another 6-7 hours at 70MPH to get home. That's what these bikes do well. They are the SUV of motorcycles. Not great on interstate, not great on trails. But, they can do both pretty well.
Sold an Aprilia Tuono for a Triumph 900 RP. Later bought a Honda 300 Rally and sold the Triumph. Eventually realized the 300 just wasn’t enough bike and it’s time to come full circle for the Aprilia 660.
Suzuki had a golden opportunity to knock it out of the ball park. Adjustable suspension, bolt on subframe, engine detuned for more low to mid range torque.
And then we saw the weight...
It's probably the frame. It's the least likely to break and the easiest to weld back together, but the penalty for that is 50lbs.
@@DifferentSpokesTV Wow, the penalty is so big!
@@spritual_enlightenment Suzuki take the porky insult with stride. They're traumatized after K5 legend become a meme with the ultralight piece of shit frame. Better have a bike that can somehow survive a car crash.
@@victoriazero8869 I just googled it. Yes, they may have developed a trauma.
The weight may seem huge in comparison with the Transalp, but if you equip it with the same equipment, the difference is approx. 12 kg. For a road bike which they both are that's negligible. Yes, it's the same weight as the Africa, but nobody will sell you a new Africa for what 800DE will cost.
I'm really praying that soon someone will come out with that unicorn 450cc rally style dual sport with long maintenance intervals. The fact that Suzuki redid the vstrom and I think quite well, I'm hoping for an all new drz400 that would fill that gap we all are dying waiting for. Yamaha or Honda could beat them to it as well. Whoever does it first has my right kidney.
Royal Enfield is testing a 450cc himalayan but this time it comes with more HP and less weight.
Also, KTM is eyeing the release of a two cylinder 490 Adventure
Kove 450
Some extra info.: Transalp 750 is made in Thailand. V-Strom is made in Japan. Tenere is made in France and Japan depending on the market. Tuareg is made in Italy.
Japan made for me…
@@richardhretczak536 thai ones r jus as gud
Thanks for the review. If you'd included the KTM 790ADV, I'm pretty sure it would come in 2nd overall after the Tuareg in basically all categories.
Well I already made my choice and bought a Tuareg 660 at the start of the year. I waited for the Transalp but Honda was so shy about it and honestly, I'm kind of alright with how it unfolded now.
I am a bit disappointed in the Transalp. I'm sure it is a fine bike but I was hoping for a better mix. It looks to me too focused on the road while at the same time weirdly lacking e.g. no cruise control (apparently not even an option right now?). But maybe I just don't get it.
I tested the T7 and Tuareg at my dealer and the Tuareg did it for me. I get the T7 is the purist but honestly I like some comfort. Being in smack middle of Europe I usually have to travel a fair bit by German autobahn to get somewhere remote, experience taught me I want cruise control. Seat height was also a bit challenging on the T7, the Tuareg with the lower comfort seat is just perfect for me. Tubeless tyres and bigger fuel tank are other things I like.
Being in Europe dealers for Aprilia are not much of an issue.
Of course, it has some gripes e.g. service light can only be reset by dealer, wind shield is lacking, retro fuel cap gets in the way of tank bags, plastic hand guards are no more than windshield for the hands, bash plate a bit flimsy.
Anyway seeing the Transalp I do not regret buying the Tuareg.
You played your cards well Ishigami. As you say, the Honda is road-biased, but it comes with a 16 litre fuel tank (not a problem for everyone though). Enjoy your Toureg! :)
Good choice in my book. Best value for what it offers. Hopefully the reliability comes with it. Time will tell.
I’m with you 1000%
No other best option in the market, tubeless makes a big difference + the rest of the attributes of that bike.
If I have the Money I’ll go with Tuareg if not the best option it’s the DR 650.
I think you nailed it on this one, great points on all of the bikes. I love all of the bikes, but my black 2021Tenere 700 is a keeper.
I agree. I hear most reviewers bellyaching about the Honda and Suzi not being sufficient as dirt bikes. Fine with me. I like that the Honda is more road biased and looks good for that kinda bike too. The shots of that guy snaking up the switchbacks looked like a lot of fun. If I got one, I'd lower it another inch. The fact that it's lower out of the box makes it an ADV I could actually touch the ground on stock. Looks to have great ergos, power to weight is dandy, passenger area looks comfortable, luggage available. If they come to the US, I may well spring for one. I'm sure it will be far better suited off-road than the streetbikes I've taken off road. And that's a small bit of the riding I do.
Why not just buy a sports tourer, if you are almost entirely on road? Wayyyy cheaper than an ADV bike and wayyyy better power to weight, AND lower seat height standard.
@@campbellrousselle9752 There aren't that many and my body is rekt. I can't sit w/ my legs bent that much anymore. I'm loving that new BMW RS. They make peg lowering kits for that which is good, but the other problem is I get Golfer's elbow after riding in the tuck for a few months. That's tendonitis in the inner elbows.
My HD has outstanding ergos, but it's heavy. If it falls, I can't lift it. The Honda has outstanding ergos and at 450 lbs, I could probably get that one up. Easier to move around the garage and whatnot too. I would love not having to screw with a chain though. I've breathed so much brake cleaner and chain lube over time, my lungs could probably function as a refinery.
Yes, most ADV bikes are pavement and gravel machines and you don't need 10 inches of suspension for that any ways. I'm sure it's coming to the US as it's a huge market, but if you want one you should order early as they're likely to sell out in the first year they're offered.
@@saddle8bag AAAAhhhh so you need a low-ish seat height, but leg room. There are Sports-tourers, or just tourers, or nakeds with very comfortable ergos. But, I see where you are coming from. If you had a Harley previously a tourer probably feels quite alien and a Sports Tourer might seem 'aggressive' by comparison. I love ADVs (But I ride gravel and off-road tracks). They are very heavily compromised for road use. Thanks for your response - always good to hear others opinions and experiences :)
@@campbellrousselle9752 I still have an HD for traveling or carting the wife around. I have a Thruxton for shorter sporty rides. Eventually, either me of the bikes are going to give up. 51k miles on the Thruxton and 43k on the HD. A third bike should extend the lives of the other two. It can also cart my wife and travel. It seemed kinda sporty in the Honda commercial, running up some mountain switchbacks.
ua-cam.com/video/s5uLIXB55og/v-deo.html
The Toareg appeals most for outright performance and overall specs (But appeals less because of lack of dealerships, reliability issues and electronics package), The T7 looks good and is a known quantity (but height and top heaviness put me off), Vstrom appeals because it is a Suzuki and I've always had a good run from them and their ABS and Fuel injection were always the best, so maybe their RBW will be good, or at least tolerable (However, 230kg is ridiculously heavy and why wouldn't I just stay with my 2016 Africa Twin?) and lastly the Transalp - Honda reliability and good specs on paper (However, with no suspension adjustment, it'll need to be cheap!)... anyway that's my 2 cents worth :P
Thanks for the input. I'd stick with your Africa Twin as the Transalp would be a downgrade.
@@DifferentSpokesTV Agreed, plus a lot more expensive. I'm just keeping my eyes open for something lighter when age prevents me from riding such a big bike. Reiju 'Baby Africa' looks interesting.
@@campbellrousselle9752 Think DRZ400/DR650.....with a few mods it will make you smile every time you ride it. And with the money you save you could start planning your TAT or Patagonia to Alaska ride....
The Tuareg performance is a double edged sword. For an adv bike, you want that down low torque and the 660 twin is tuned for top end power instead. Gotta be careful playing the specsheet warrior game.
Still, it has cruise control. That's a huge plus :)
The Transalp is quite road biased in comparison too. This isn't a bad thing, but it's something to keep in mind when making decisions.
T7 is the most capable offroad, cheapest, but the height can be an issue for little people. Being 6'4" myself, I added a tall seat, but if you're below 5'9"ish, you'll probably want to lower it.
@@Wintersdark I knew this, but thanks... It depends on whether you like reving things harder - not sure it would bother me overly... however my AT2016 has decent low-end grunt, which I like, so... - I'd need to ride one to see. Also peak figures lie - you would need to see the dyno curves side-by-side to see the real differences.
"Hard to justify calling a 500lb motorcycle mid size" -- Attention: 800DE has left the building
Exactly. It's heavier than some versions of the Africa Twin. It is NOT a middleweight.
Overweight/Underpowered
I do not get why it is so darn heavy? Cannot be the motor as the GSX 750 has the same motor and is significantly lighter.
Great suspension and comfy seat, quick shifter.. is all huge bonus. New pipe alone will reduce weight 10lbs probably.
@@curtn7076 - Seems like a solid bike. Probably not my pick as a middle weight but I am sure it will sell well
This is why I rode my BMW 650Rally around the world. It's the bike people have been crying out for without realizing there's been one on the market since 2001. Just needs better suspension (like every bike) and it's a truly amazing bike
And is 50lbs lighter than my klr.
klr is lighter older ones
frame not as strong motor is good but old klr is lite to
on bm klri s strongr
I would probably take the T7 even though I’m a Honda guy I want a more off road bias bike, but I would prefer a 400 or 450 version of the crf 300 rally. Low maintenance all around fun bike!
Me too and all my buddies say the same. Where in God's name is it? How has noone come out with this? I just cannot fathom it. I will be on the pre-order list when one comes out I'll tell you that much.
When there used to be only the CRF 250 Rally I heard people say "if only they made the CRF 300 Rally". Now they do, and I hear (probably same) people say "if only they made the CRF 450 Rally". Good stuff.
@@cheetah694 I rode my cousin cb300 and the old rally. Always wanted a 400 or 450 version, but not a high performance version.
Aprilia just fixed the throttle issue with the Tuareg 660 that was a known issue around 4000 rpms. Having the update to my 2022 I can say the bike is now a perfect ADV bike. Maintenance has not been issue after 4500 miles with a dealership within 90 miles of both home locations. Completed the WYBDR on the 660 with no issues this past Summer while our Tenere 700 rider had to bypass some of the sand sections. The factory heated grips, quick shifter, cruise control, ride modes was a big selling point for me over the T700. Nice feature is the ride mode and TC both remain off when set even when turning the bike on/off; something my Triumph 900 Rally Pro didn't do.
Aprilia Tuareg 660 is 205 kilo. Perfect adventure bike?))
@@АлександрК-ю3в No thanks.....DR650 = 166 kilos, soaking wet.
Tuareg is a great bike on paper and on the show room floor. But I've seen a starter die on an Aprilia Tuareg previous generation during a rally raid and the rider had to DNF. Really love everything about the bike, but the reliability issues kill it for me.
@@cheetah694and what do you know about reliability of Tuareg 660?
I’d go with the Suzuki Strom 800DE. I’m under no delusions that these bikes are great for single track. All 4 will or should handle gravel ROADS just fine in addition to their primary purpose of pavement riding. The vast majority of Adv riders ride their bikes on ROADS only. Smaller dual sports or dirt bikes are a far better choice when there aren’t any ROADS (paved or unpaved). If I were one of the very small number of people with desire to take a 450+ pound bike on single track (off ROADS) I’d pick the Tenere - it’s the simplest and least expensive; therefore, the least painful financially to damage….
Everybody on here talks about listed wet weight.....206k for the Tuareg, ect., ect.....does everyone here ride without so much as a pack of gum in a tank bag??.....ladies and gentleman, after its all said and done with adding all the shit needed to have the "adventure" these bikes were marketed for, you looking at somewhere in the neighborhood of adding an additional 75 pounds, MINIMUM to ever bike made.....that instantly makes most of these bikes, the Transalp, the Touareg, the T7, the BMW 850, the KTM 890, the Duke Dez X, the Triumph 850/900 well over 500 pounds with some close to 550.....Adventure bike???.....more like bloated, overweight, over-priced techo-wiz wannabe's if the truth be known.
@@1vmxracer True, however after adding 50 pounds of racks, panniers and guards to a 450 pound bike you will end up with the same weight the Suzuki 800DE comes off the show room floor almost naked.
These are actually all in the same weight class as the 890, and generally feel heavier, they are just a bit cheaper. Went from an africa twin to a 701 enduro a few years ago so these all look a bit like the golden corral crowd to be honest, Tenere is just patting itself on the back for hitting up the salad bar.
I really wish the T7 had tubeless tires, and the cruise control would be nice too. Still very torn
tubes u can fix n repair ez
@@TraveladvRajanSRai as someone who has rode dirt bikes since they were 3 years old, I couldn't disagree any more. Tubeless plugs are cheap and 1000x's easier
Still glad I have my F800GS👍🏼
The sad fact is: if on the side of Tuareg would be written Honda, Yamaha or Suzuki. Everybody wants to buy, because it is clearly the best of the best among those bikes. Unfortunatelly on the side is written Aprilia that is why we have questions… i would surly pick Aprilia if I were sure of its reliablity.
well said. lack of cruise is unbelievable these days, even though I don't care for it. I'm looking for something in this class, for a lot of two-up, light off-roading, I think the V strom might be the one.
Before anything else you want to look for “load capacity” and adjustable damping front and rear for two up work.
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuffAgreed, that's why the suzuki, soft comfy seat, adjustable suspension, good capacity
If you were going to buy a Suzuki VStrom, why not get the 650? - Cheaper, lighter, just as good on a gravel road, OR buy a mint secondhand 1000 - cheaper, easy to find mint, tons to choose from, much faster, bullet proof and about the same weight.
Yep, for two up it looks like the most solid choice. The T7 will definitely your and your passenger's butt sore after an hour or so.
The only thing I don't get about the new V-Strom is why no tubeless. They definitely do not aim for hard core offroad with that weight, so who needs tubes on the highway? It's just super weird. They could do it the way they do it on the 1050DE. Tubed 21" wheel and tubeless 17" wheel. I'd be fine with this configuration since the front wheel rarely gets punctured. And changing the tube in the front wheel is a much simpler task than doing it on the rear.
only thing i dont like about the T7 is the north/south dash, i think it would look better if it was east/west. edit: maybe the fuel range could be abit better too.
mid size adv make the most sense. One bike to maybe add to this list is CFMOTO 800MT. Well equiped bike but maybe a bit porky.
Having ridden the aprilia Tuareg, I can say it meets the hype.
CFMoto 800MT is a winner on price. Build quality is good. Dealerships are a bit sparse, but hey, if you don't drop it or crash it, then you won't be needing spares in a hurry. Resale value on the CFMoto may not be too hot, but bang for buck as a new machine looks good.
Great info. but the Honda Transalp not available in USA!
I have a 2020 Honda Africa, twin adventure, sport Lovett little bit too big for some trails. I like to go on. I think I would go with the T7 for my new bike in 2023.
Just sold my 2018 ATAS because I never took it off road... In search of a sports/touring bike now that could still do mild trails (which almost any bike can)
Yeah, I took the Africa Twin Adventure Sports on the same single track trail I'm doing near the end of the video and it made it through, but it was a handful. The T7 is a better choice for that terrain but a proper dual sport is still much better.
Put tubleless 19/17 combo on the Transalp and I'm sold. Preload both ends is enough. Nice power/weight/price/reliability/appearance.
That plus a bigger fuel tank :)
I think you chose wisely, the T7 seams to have it all. But what the second hand market is going to do the coming years, is what's going to decide it for me.
I predict, lots of T7'S ridden hard put away wet. No to little Italians on offer, Older Vstroms galore(boomers wanna replace them).But to the point: Low mileage well maintained Transalps in heated garages bc the owners wanted a reliable easy to maintain, good servicable bike.
Only if i locate a T7 like that i'll jump on it, but my next ADV is probably a Honda again. Just makes the most sense.
Yep, I see your point. If I'm looking for an off road bike I'm buying new because these take the most abuse.
Ah, i remember the F800GS was always there lurking in the shadows. Yamaha teased the T700 for a few years and KTM came out delivering the 790 Adventure before the T700 hit the floor.
Now get us the sub 350lbs twins
Appreciate your insights.
Currently looking to add a V-Strom or Transalp to my stable.
If you don't mind the smaller fuel tank, the Honda might be the pick of the two.
Aprilia Tuareg all the way!!!!!
I've got 2019 G310GS now, had it for three years. I'm planning on getting a bigger bike next summer. Since I don't really like the bulky fronts, and I don't want anything extra heavy, these are the bikes I'm looking at. I was thinking of Tenere, but then I saw Tuareg in person, didn't even know about it before and I just liked how it looked and felt. Haven't had a chance to ride any of these though, but now I just feel like the Tuareg would be the one for me, so now I'm just waiting to see how it proves more in long term from other people.
I have a ' 21 G310GS. My 11th bike in 52 years of riding. I love it. Curious, why would you not consider the GS 750/850 line?
@@patricktracy7940 Yes, that was my bigger bike that I was aiming to, the front is not that much bigger, so I still liked it, but yeah, then I saw the Tuareg and yeah, love on the first sight I guess :D I really like the slim, tall and overall agile look Tuareg has, similar to Tenere, which I was looking at too.
But I definitelly want to try as many bikes as possible before my final decision, including the bigger GSs.
Honda's omission of adjustable rebound and damping on the Transalp is lamentable.
Rally Raid will come to the rescue, I hope.
I'm surprised you didn't mention the ktm 890 in this group if you were talking about mid-sized sub 500 lb adv motorcycles
Easy, cause it puts all the others to shame. He went out of his way to take it out, saying it's in the 1000cc category. But nobody wants to talk about the elephant in the room ... nobody wants to admit they are not as rich as they say they are. It all comes down to money, as always.
And pricewise, the CFMoto 800 is another one to consider if you're riding mostly on the road with the occasional unsealed road trips. Dealerships are a bit few and far in between though. When it comes to dealer support, the Tenere is probably a good pick, but of course it depends on your location.
what if we compare Tenere World Raid with Tuareg ??
what suspension is greater then ????
for me the Tenere 700 is perfect, just over 70hp, just over 200kg. Simple technology, a robust and reliable motor, slim design and not expensive. i don't need any driving modes, traction control or the other little helpers. The Tenere also looks great. my dream would be the KTM 490 Adventure but it is not coming although it has already been announced for 2021. The gap between the 390 48hp and the 890 105hp is just too big.
I'm surprised the ducati DesertX wasn't included in the comparison. Maybe it was a bit too expensive to be included. But it still fits the demographic as far as midsize is concerned ..
I'd choose Aprilia with my motorcyclist heart. However, looking at the long term reviews of that bike has me concerned. So I'd choose Yamaha with my head. Haven't ridden one yet, however the engine in MT07 is so good, it should be easy to ride it off road.
These mid sized bikes are really just road bikes with rally styling to get them sold. If they were ridden off road they would get dropped a lot and break their fairings, windows and boxes, probably needing an insurance claim. Off road bikes don't have these issues, have 1 cylinder 21/18 wheels, weigh
Personally, I would rather see a larger displacement Dual Sport like to good old XR 650, KLR 650, KLX 650 , DR 650, LC4 640, TE 610, XT 660, etc. with modern suspensions, lighter weight, long maintenance intervals, and a fuel-injected parallel twin engine. Adventure bikes are just too heavy, have too much plastic to damage off-road, and are really just street bikes that can occasionally go off-road. I prefer a dirt bike that occasionally goes on road, but has a minimum of 4.5 gallons of fuel. A rally pillar would be a nice addition as well.
Tempting as the new offerings are... I will still stick with a true dual sport for my off road oriented adventures, and a dedicated pavement bike for everything else. For me, I find too many compromises are required for these mid sized ADV's, primarily weight. When you go down, (not if) it only takes a couple of times picking a 400+ pound bike before one will realize the amount of energy expended is not worth the added weight, farkles and comfort of these kinds of machine are worth the price.
Absolutely...... my Beta RR 430 S, will blow away these off road! Just put on the larger gas tank and you can do LONG AGGRESSIVE RIDES! And TUBELESS IS THEE WAY TO GO! With traction control and tubeless...... the Beta keeps hooked up on just about anything!
I LOVE the Yamaha...but it should be tubeless...
Aprilia first, but not by much. The rider modes, tubeless tyres, TFT display and cruise control edge out the T7. The Transalp is just one big disappointment, while the VSTROM is just too porky for me! I am not sure why the Aprilia reliability gets called in question all the time, with the Tuono and the RS being very reliable bikes in their own right. I guess only time will tell but for me, I will take the Tuareg 660 thank you Sir!
T7 is simple, yes, and is a bid advantage for adv bike.
@@АлександрК-ю3в I agree mate but the Aprilia steps it up a notch for me!
@@andrewtreloar7389a notch? It steps up big time!
I think I would go with the T7, or the base model Africa Twin. It’s lighter than the Suzuki and has cruise control.
Yes, if the T7 didn't exist I'd probably be riding an AT right now.
@@DifferentSpokesTV Something the T7 has that no other ADV does, is the ability to completely turn off ABS to both the rear and front.
@@2wheels.are.better.than4 Tuareg also does it.
@@cheetah694 it does? I was not aware
Tenere was here as a xtz660 for years and it was alone at this segment. Other brands was sleeping from 2008 and we waiting for their reaction. It's like Hoka One One in the world of runner's shoes. For ten years Hoka dominated the sales and then the other brands wake up
Yamaha "broke the mold with the T7"??????.....thats laughable. Kawasaki and Suzuki have both had EXTREMELY capable dual sports that will crush a 250 mile asphalt day just as easy as ANY T7, 800DE, 750 Transalp, Toureg, ect., ect.....since the 90's. The KLR650 and DR650 are every bit as capable on road and twice the bike off road as any the aforementioned bikes, at almost 50% less in cost. Unreal how most people think they need the latest, greatest to be one of the "In" riders. My DR650 will go just as far, just as fast, legally, with similar comfort for THOUSANDS less, at the same time have equal or better reliability. And when it comes to off-road, with equal riders, NONE of those "In" bikes can hang with a DR650. NONE. And isn't off-road what this category is all about??? Or is it more important to pretend you're an off-road tuff guy at your local Starbucks in front of all the other wannabes that show up on 500+ pound make-believe "ADVENTURE" bikes????
Actually the category is on and off-road capable. It's the unicorn category that all manufacturers are trying to capture customers on, but not all customers have the same requirements.
I´d happily own any of these bikes except for the suzuki. But if I wanted a semi off roader I would buy the Triumph scrambler XE. It has a touch of class, and if you still owned it 20 years from now it would still look good whereas these plastic fantastics (and they are great) would look extremely dated. Personally I would any bike like this after two or three years.
Yes the XE is beautiful. Problem is, it's too pretty to bang around off-road.
Great Video, very informative and accurate. We have several great choices in the middleweight adventure segment now. I wonder if kawasaki will join in or stay comfortable with just the klr650? There should be a right bike for almost everyone in class now. Either way I'm happy with the Tuareg and sticking with it.
If Kawasaki did a 400cc Versus correctly, it would kick ass!
Ithink their versys lineup is solid. But maybe the sweetspot between wr 450, klr 650 and all the versys is a utopia. I‘d still love to see an attempt!
Honestly a hard skip either way. Come back again when Suzuki, Honda, and Yamaha introduce a good 400 class. (CB400X was basically CB500X but lower torqued)
Great video but I must say that I am a Baby Bear bike rider. ;)
Nothing wrong with that :)
Holding out for the KTM 490 Adventure...... a decade from now.....
Don't think its coming out ... ever, and why would it? It would be at least 415 lbs with less tork and less hp than the 690. The 890 is at 450 lbs, so why bother at this point?
@@jean-pierrefournier9416 I don't know, my perspective is based around the price point the 490 Adventure would like come in at. The 690 requires thousands of dollars of modifications to make it long distance travel ready and it already cost $11k. The 890 is priced around $15k now pushing the envelope on potential buyers. If, and this is a big if, the 490 was priced around between $9k and $10k it would open up a range of that KTM doesn't currently have an offering for adventure bikes. Unfortunately, we know the manufacturers have their own ideas about what we want. A 500cc twin cylinder in an adventure chassis would be really popular. Heck, if the 690 single engine was put in an adventure chassis I would be the first in line for that bike. I just don't want to modify a 690 Enduro for comfortable long distance travel and the 890 is beyond my next bike budget. So, I will continue to wait. Cheers.
@@advmatt Hell yes, absolutelly, update the 640 design, drop the latest LC4 engine in it and boom, you end up with the "UNICORN" ADV bike everybody say they want. Easiest thing to do, but what people say they do vs what they actually do, doesn't warrant such an off road capable bike and that an entirelly different conversation.
My 2017 f800gs trophy has 85hp, and is 207kg wet. Ride by wire with ride modes and electric suspension all standard. These new models aren't any different
The 2013> models were 214kg wet I'm not sure why ? Earlier 2008-2012 with the 45mm marazochi forks were 207kg electronic suspension may have been standard on the trophy (top spec) but was part of the dynamic pack for the normal version. Must say the v-strom 800de on paper looks a lot worse than a bmw f800gs. Our 230mm 9.1" suspension travel still looks impressive.
You're not wrong. No-one has really brought anything new to the table at all. Is it so hard to pull something off that's sub-200kg?
Yeah, BMW was ahead of its time with the electronics.
None, they're still too big, heavy, clumsy and expensive enough that you DON'T want to drop it.
S
Did you ride these bikes? Thanks...
was so looking forward to the new TransAlp... what a disappointment... still too heavy too... : (
Why do you mention (only) Canadian Dollars and US dollars. Are these the only target groups you have on UA-cam...?
I am leaning more towards an Africa Twin.... just trying to rationalize between the standard bike or the AS. I currently ride a litre-bike sports tourer... so I am not anxious to take a hit on power/acceleration when I upgrade to a new bike.
I just sold my 2018 ATAS yesterday because I want something a little more sporty :) Favoring the V2s right now but we will see...
@@NorCalSaint if I only rode solo, I think I would just keep my bike... but its not great for 2-up...and my son rides with me most of the time....
Love my 2016 Africa Twin, but it 'wouldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding'. A 2003 Vstrom1000 would eat it for breakfast.
I reviewed the AS in the summer and it's a good bike. It's not a ripper in a straight line but with the electronically adjustable suspension the handling was solid and my wife loved the back seat.
@@DifferentSpokesTV AS?
Tube tires is no go for me for $10k+ price tag. If you travel 100's of miles on motorcycles, 1000cc+ is desirable as well. For playing in dirt 250-300 is plenty and probably way more fun anyway.
The only problem with this kind of content, is that two of these haven't been ridden yet.
that's why they began with "now, spec sheet comparisons are dubious at best".
You can get a cruise control kit for the T7 from MC Cruise, but it's *very* expensive, sadly.
Suzuki V strom 800DE for trips with a passenger. Then, I would be much happier with a smaller engine if a light overall package.
Can’t believe the Transalp was designed more towards pavement… You already have the CB500X Honda come on!! They dropped the ball massively and could have been a big competitor to the Tuareg and T7…
Transalp = hard pass, v-strom = maybe, T7 = absolutely yes!!!, Tuareg = not worth the thin dealer support
All paralell twins. I'd take an old vstrom650 like my 2021 strom any day of the week.
i guess at this time of my life i would buy two bikes, one for touring with my wife, so that would be the vstrom, i would keep my 250 dualsport and maybe buy a honda trail 125
I like Honda i had 2 honda and 1 yamaha bike. But i switched back to cb 500x. Which is a veri good bike for A2 license.
I choose transalp or tenere if i by a bigger stronger bike. But i happy with my cb 500x while i riding mostly on road.
Great review, thanks 👍
size of engine is a bit of a confusion though, the T700 is same weight as KTM 990 adv near as makes no different with considerably less BHP, its ok making a smaller bike but it has to be lighter, just making a smaller engine with less bhp at the same weight is hardly ground breaking?
The same weight? I don’t think so!
I am looking to get an Adventure bike but there is pretty much no way i will buy an import, looking forward to the Pan America 975, currently have 3 Harley's which is probably why i have no interest in an import
Don't know if it's coming this year but Harley introduces its models a bit later than everyone else so we'll have to wait and see.
“An import”. Dude, are you young enough for an adventure bike?
@@billygraham2132 ride what you like, I will do the same
Like Adventure Spec says, LIGHT IS RIGHT 👍. I stay, in this particular order , with Yamaha, Honda, and Suzuki, RELIABLE AND SPECTACULAR SERVICE EVERYWHERE. THEY GOES WHERE YOUR EYES CAN REACH!
V-STROM 👍
I don't understand the 21" front wheel on either the Honda or Suzuki.... oh, yeah I do... fashion! If the bikes are road based then a smaller front wheel and cruise control make sense, if they are offroad focussed then the wheels make sense but the weight of the Suzuki and the suspension of the Honda are cost based compromises that may not have been worthwhile. Perhaps both manufacturers are looking at the massive RTW overlander market... or at least those who aspire to be RTW ovelanders.
not at least offering cruise control is a big let down and i think will cost them in sales. if especially if the Honda and Suzuki are more for highway touring , which is what i would use them for , then there is no reason for them not to have cruise control. for any on road, EFI motorcycle in my opinion. i was really looking at the Transalp and Vstrom hoping they had cruise control. its a major disappointment for me at least. their reasoning could be that "they wasnt designed for long highway use" even though people have been using smaller bikes for that for a long time now. ohh well. good vid
If I were to get an adventure bike it would be a RE Himalayan
A new 450 liquid cooled single is in the works now and is looking very promising.
Well done 😊👍. Would be nice to get the Numbers in centimeter and Kilogram all the Time as well
Still to big and heavy, I don’t need 80 hp 45 would do in a bike that’s no more than 160 kg
The 2023 tenere 700 still has the same old dash for the US and Canada models and the same old turn indicators..and the msrp in the US is 10,599.00
Really? That's unfortunate that Yamaha is treating the huge North American market as an afterthought.
@@DifferentSpokesTV and we still don't get the rally or world raid models either
That’s only $1400 less than Tuareg 660…if you can get one.
@@richardhretczak536 no dealerships near me
The Transalp dampening is easily fixed with a different weight oil. You're making it sound like the suspension and ground clearance are leagues below the competition and it's not. It will still be a very capable adventure bike.
My DR650 has over 10 inches of suspension travel front and back (the Honda has less than 8) my DR has 10.4 inches of ground clearance (the Honda has less than 8.5) and the DR weighs 100 pounds LESS than the Honda. And will probably be 4 THOUSAND dollars less. A good tank, a good seat, throttle lock a set of DDC's and springs for the forks and a stiffer rear shock and you now have a bike capable of "round the world travel" that's STILL $2,000 less expensive than any of the "Trendy" or "Must be seen on" bikes that is more reliable and 100 times easier perform trail-side repairs on. Now, which bike is a "capable adventure bike"?????
I'm sure it's plenty capable for what 95% of riders will use it for. I think the difference will be felt over rocky or super bumpy terrain. It may take some hits over rock gardens and logs but most riders will never try that to find out.
Easily fixed? Turning a clicker and changing oil are a little bit different tasks, won't you agree?
BMW should have kept building and further evolving the 2006 HP2 Enduro. Mine was 186kg and was tuned up to 122hp and 120nm torque.
Keep shaving of weight and increasing HP and Nm. Best large offroad bike i ever had.
But known one was buying them. People said that's what they wanted but it didn't sell. It was really expensive for such a stripped down bike. It was more like a duel sport with a boxer engine just thrown in. Few creature comforts
I liked that bike and it's a collector's item now, but it would be pretty pricey in today's dollars.
@@DifferentSpokesTV Correct, BMW lost around $5.000 per bike. They only wanted to produce 1000 bikes for specialists and with the Dakar in mind. It sold-out instantly. Due to high demand they desided to build 2000 more, but the losses were to large, and never intended to produce high numbers.
I was somewhat involved in the early production ideas, 2000 to 2004.
But when KTM got the notion that BMW had plans to build this HP2 to enter the Dakar, KTM and the Dakar org prevented entry of the HP2 by making new rules, that 2 cylinders were limited to 450cc and 550cc. . . . . . . to protect the dominance of the KTM 1 cylinder bikes.
Thats how it played out, company politics.
And so, the bike would indeed cost way to much for most people, never intended to be an "Adventure" bike, but hard core offroad endurance.
Great review, thanks
Tubed tires and small fuel tanks are big FAILS imo, those two trends really need to stop. was planning on buying the new Suzuki or Honda based on highest fuel range, but the tubeless wheels are a massive let down!
Thanks!
I just noticed this now. Thanks! Much appreciated!
It irritates me that Aprillia came out of nowhere and got so many things right where the other, more reliable manufacturers, still can't get it right. So frustrating.
And next year's model won't change a lot, and on it goes. Honda, if you're reading this, add a larger fuel tank to your parts list. Thank you kindly.
Great times for customers with more choices comming to the market. All great bikes in their own right but the perfect bike is yet to be made. For picking one over the other it comes down to usage & preference. Apples & Oranges.
More dirt: T7 & Aprillia
Around the world & back in comfort: TA & Vstrom.
For Me personally the no1 priority is reliability. I live in a very high cost country with insane taxes so cost predictable products are important.
The truth is Japanese products historically has proven most reliable & therefore more cost effective.
The only really Japanese one from the ones you mentioned is V-Strom. Others are made elsewhere.
@@cheetah694 Honda has assembly plants all over the world. Parts made in Japan. Fex My Transalp XL650V from 2005 is assembled in Italy .
@@Alexanderpaal67 I've had a Thai Honda. Parts were made in Thailand. Like when I bought a spare part, it had Made in Thailand on every single bolt of it. So it's not like they only assemble the bike there. The difference with a Thai made CRF250 Rally and a Japanese made RM-Z 250 I bought later was dramatic. The Italian factory used to be an assembly line indeed with the parts coming from Japan.
@@cheetah694 I understand.
Honda is a huge company that produces: cars, lawn cutters, generators & boat engines etc. Hrc is their racing departement: f1 engines, motogp, superbike & Dakar. In the end its about profitt…fex in Nairobi Kenya produce Honda locally for the east Africa market with Small 125cc bikes aimed at the boda boda (mc taxi) market
Seriously my dude, you went out of your way to take the 890 out of the line-up just to make it fair to the others 🤣
For me I'd choose the Aprilia. I'm 5'7 and the Tenere is just way too tall and the Tuareg also has tubeless spoked. For me Honda and Suzuki have always been slightly boring bikes.
But except for the Vstrom 650 neither the Tenere nor Tuareg are currently available in India.
India never been sought after market for adventure bikes earlier, so foreign player not enter earlier, it's last 5-6 years demand for adventure tourer bikes takes place.
Decades old bikes in foreign countries not having hopes to be launched in India.
@@kavishwarmokal124 decades old Bikes? The T7 is only a couple of years old and the T660 is brand new.
@@Whatreally123 I mean to say bikes which launched in foreign countries 10 year before still not launched in India.
@@kavishwarmokal124 why would manufacturers launch old bikes? Most manufacturers are launching their current versions in India. Hopefully Aprilia brings the Tuareg
I chose Aprilia
if BMW just gave the f800gs the nuda engine and adjustable suspension they would have beat this class with a ten year old bike.
Ktm790 was out way earlier than the t7
And the winner is ktm 890r which smokes all the bikes in that list in every catagory...
Yha might pay more but you end up with a Dakar 450 race frame redesigned with the 890 engine...
And its the fastest bike on and off hwy then those little bikes...
Just say'ing is all...
Lighter, smaller, more off-road capable.
so, a KLR!
Poor BMW, they have been making smaller midsized adventure bikes forever but never get any attention.
What about ktm
no 200kg+ bike is an offroad bike so if i was looking for a touring/commuter bike i'd buy the suzuki
"Yamaha broke the mold with the T700"......really? Has this channel never heard of the T660Z? 😂
That's only true for the last couple of years, XT660Z Ténéré already proves that.
de 800 only
It would probably be the Yamaha
Where is Kawasaki in this market ,all manufacturers have a new products since a couple of the years!!!!!!!!!!!
F800gs has been doing all this for the last 12years. 😂
The Transalp is a dud. Huge failure on Honda's part.
A peculiar fact: Yamaha has the best maintenance record. Parts are cheaper, build is solid, and the thought going into the assembly is mechanic friendly.
Suzuki is at the opposite end of the scale for the Japanese bikes. They are the smallest of the big three, and they are performance hungry as a company. Parts are expensive, and the assembly is often an afterthought. My V-STROM 1000 is not to be trifled with on the road, but something of a headache for my mechanic.
Honda has solid engineering. Solid performance. And a perpetual disconnect between marketing and R&D. Parts will be more expensive than the Yamaha, but repairs will be less frequent.
Aprilia, it should be noted, owns Moto Guzzi. If you like cutting-edge technology, Aprilia is the way to go. If you like solid simplicity, Moto Guzzi is your way. I can also attest to the efficacy of the Aprilia cruise control. Parts will drive anyone in the western hemisphere mad.
I wouldn't say Suzuki is performance hungry at all. They're lazy, and have been rehashing old bikes and old engines far more than the other three. I'd say Yamaha is the one pushing the best power/weight bikes across their range at this point, when considering the Jap 4. That is, until the CB750 / TA hits the floor.
Yes, when I owned a Moto Guzzi the wait for the parts was ridiculous.
In My country (Colombia) Suzuki is the post service, and also Best in bikes and parts prices. Yamaha comes second, honda is in third position and Kawasaki is just fucking expensive in everything
Since when Yamaha parts are cheaper?
But Suzuki is bulletproof in big three!!
Just KTM 890 adventure R
I think this whole adventure bike concept is an obnoxious fad. That's just 1 man's opinion. These bikes are very high priced, sorry but new bikes costing over $11,000+ USD is a boatload of money for a new bike. They are all way too heavy for their intended use. And, imo they look ungainly and badly proportioned. There's very little if anything these big bloated adventure bikes can do that a DR650 can't do, or that a KLX300 can't do for that matter, and in most cases do it better and cost less.
Try 6 hours on the fast slab at 70+mph to get to the mountains. Then three days riding Forest Service and TAT roads. Then another 6-7 hours at 70MPH to get home. That's what these bikes do well. They are the SUV of motorcycles. Not great on interstate, not great on trails. But, they can do both pretty well.