Totally agree: The KLR is carved out of granite. Simple, tough, big enough frame to hang your gear onto, and as reliable as a ……. Honda! I bought a used one for $3k…. ran the TAT in one go….. and sold it on completion. It didn’t miss a beat, didn’t lose me ANY money and it ‘does what it says on the tin’
I'm thinking we might find out the CF Moto 450 actually has KTM's new 490 Adventure's parallel twin in it. Which might make support and parts easier to find. The KTM is supposed to be sourced out of India, but the fools may have done the R&D in China, and not filed the Patents quickly enough (?) Wouldn't be the first time. Won't be the last.
@@SquareHelmetAn 800cc 12:1 ratio Africa Twin would have been great. As for 450 segment I think using the crf300l rally as a base and using a higher cc thumper would do the job. I would buy a Himalayan but honestly I'm in love with the design of crf.
I can speak to the deal of a used VStrom 650. Got my 2015 bone stock one with 4,800kms on it for $4500 CDN. Love it. Rarely miss the power of the 2018 DL1000 I had.
Anyone looking for a comfortable, capable and dependable adventure bike - at least on the street side of the spectrum - should consider a lightly used DL650 V-Strom. They are fantastic for commuting, touring, Saturday jaunts, and almost anything else you can think of. In 2019 I gave $2900 for a near-mint condition, 2013 ABS Adventure model with 10,000 miles on the odometer. It had all the luggage and other bells and whistles. It is probably the best bike I ever bought when considering smiles generated per dollar spent, and I've owned over 40 bikes in 52 years as an avid motorcyclist. Of course the prices they command have increased lately, along with everything else, but they still represent one of the best values you are likely to find in a motorcycle of any kind.
i have a Dl1000 2008. I love the power and cant imagine stepping down to a 650. But then i do 90%+ of my riding on the road. For the outback its a bit heavy (but so is a gs1290)
Clearly stated and agree, Honda CRF Rally and the KLR are the only bikes you can ride straight out of the showroom floor and around the world, no questions asked, good video👍
I have traveled thousands of kilometres on my two stroke Yamaha 135, never had a problem off road and on road, the Suzuki V Storm 250 is exactly like it , a go anywhere unicorn.
I definitely agree that the smaller bikes are a better fit. I had a 22 Africa Twin ADV Sports DCT. For me, even after lowering it some, I felt it was to heavy, and to tall. I may jump into he ADV market again, but this time it will be something like the Transalp or maybe a Triumph 850 sport, not really hard core ADV bikes but I don’t need the higher displacement machines anymore, several of the bikes you mentioned are road worthy and acceptable for off roading, while being easier to pickup.
Yeah, unless you're planning more hardcore off-roading a 750 makes more sense than an 1100. The only thing missing on the Transalp is the cruise control.
It would make so much sense for Kawasaki to build that bike. It would fly out of the showrooms, especially if they gave it 21/18 inch wheels and good suspension.
@@DifferentSpokesTV I wouldn't mind if they still use 17/19 like in the versys, but an engine with more torque and calmer revs at cruising speed is what i really wish my versys x300 had.
Another great episode. Have to agree with absolutely everhing on this video.😘 Your final recommendations are spot on as well; the seven bike collection I maintain with two sons-in-law include a used 2015 Suzuki VStrom 650 we picked up for $3,500 USD and a new 2022 Kawasaki KLR 650 that was on sale for $6,500 USD. Both the VStrom and KLR (with a 17 tooth front sprocket) keep up quite well on the highway with our Sport/Touring bikes; a Triumph T120, a Moto Guzzi V7 and BMW F900 XR. And, as a Boomer who's ridden since the mid-60s, I can certainly confirm that Japanese made bikes are unquestionalbly the very most reliable. Both of our vintage Yamahas ('76 XS650 & '81 XV920) have traveled from Miami to Anchorage (10,000 miles) and have eaten up the Alaska Highway and the Dalton Highway (to the Arctic Ocean) without issues or repairs. 😎 PS: Love the Guzzi and the Bonneville, however, they've both had more repairs in their first year than my Yamahas have had since new in 1976 and 1981.😱
I bought a 2016 CB500X new in 2017, just to test out, I still have it and has just under 50000klm on the odometer, it averages 2.8 liters per hundred@90klm/hr, its a keeper
@@higgyohiggins4380Nah, they do, they're incredibly efficient for such a large bike, my previous 200cc naked bike used that much too, at 105-110 km/h. Scooters and regular but very efficient bikes use only 2-2.5 liters per 100km, and then there are the small Bajaj bikes, they're not fast, they're just good enough for errands, but they go over 90km with 1 liter, they can go over 600km with 1 small 2 gallon tank.
Here in sunny So Cal we’re just seeing the arrival of the new NX500. As an 80 YO who is celebrating life by getting back on 2 wheels and ready for more highway adventures after COVID and a knee injury that has taken me off 2 wheels for a couple of years, the NX is the perfect weight for the old bod to handle. It should extend my highway light ADV riding hopefully into my 9th decade. My reserved NX (2nd of the first 2 new arrivals) should arrive in a week or two, and I’m anxious to get it home, get the luggage set and do some highway and backroads travel. A big advantage of the NX is the compatibility of all the CB500X accessories on the market, since it’s the same chassis back of the new fairing. Happy trails all.👍
I love my KLRs but am now thinking I might get rid of them and pickup something like the 300L or the KLX 300. I rode my Transalp for the first time in the rain today and was impressed by how much shelter it provided, another way it would be better than the T7. That said I'm still thinking I should have got the T7. I would personally avoid something like the cfmoto or ktm I like riding much more than being broken down
The Transalp definitely provides more cover from the elements than the T7. The Tenere does better off road but if you get a KLX300 you'll be covered there. That bike eats any adventure bike on a trail.
30+ year rider and I was considering an adventure bike, mid-size for backroads, gravel etc, not heavy off road but enough to get lost. After a lengthy search I found a 2017 Vstrom 650, coming up on a year and I love this bike. Didn't break the bank and extras were on it from the previous owner. If a bit takes a bit to find for sale used it's likely because people keep them, a good sign in your choice. Thank you for doing the channel.
Great video as usual! The further from the civilization I go, the more I start appreciating the simplicity and reliability. So, KLR, DRZ, CRF300 come to the top. I actually would take my XT250 around the world in a heartbeat too. I plan a major roadtrip to Newfoundland soon. Let's see how it does. Thank you for great videos!
Thanks! Yes, the XT250 is probably better off-road than any bike. The only thing that might hold it back is highway performance with a rider and camping gear strapped to it. But you can have a great adventure on any bike and the XT has always had my attention as one of the best value bikes out there.
Here in Italy, RE Hymalaian 450 is selling very well. Many people look at the new CFMOto but the best selling is the 10:42 Benelli TRK 702, italian best selling motorcycle. Would you believe it?
Chinese made bikes have really improved recently and the Benelli does have an Italian name. I guess we're used to so many things being built in China that people don't mind as long as the value is there.
I had a ‘18 V Strom 650 XT and it was a great riding bike. The L twin is smooth and reliable. It handled light off-road/gravel sufficiently well, and it was better at touring than my current ‘23 VStrom 800 DE. A lot of new ADV riders overestimate how much off road they’ll be doing. They’ll likely spend more time on surface streets than gravel/dirt, and for that reason I’d choose a V Strom over the KLR.
good common sense!going back to the essential:what do we need for travel , a bike we can afford,light and reliable;so we have to keep it simple without all the electronic gadgets;back to basic:be in connection with the nature and people ;in many countries people will see you differently if you stop with a klr rather than with a 1300gs!
Agree about the V-Strom 650, it is a real workhorse that can be bought cheaply. Also a Versys 650 would fit the bill, the older ones are sold used for pocket change (propably due to the ugly front) but they are still Kawasaki quality. Propably not long now for a 500 Versys, we need more 2 cylinder options. 🙂
Sounds good to me, but the new “middleweight” Adv. bikes are (still) quite heavy ☝🏻 CF-Moto, Kawa, RE ect. … so, there is one more truth : get a still good used one, doesn’t have to be always a new one
Sorry- I disagree... Small dual sports (CRF300, etc.) are dual sports, not adventure bikes. really punishing yourself to tour on them (one of the things adventures are supposed to do). And yes, I have a dual sport (DR200SE) and an adventure (Tiger 900gt). Adventures aren't really for the dirt, they are for the street, touring, and really light (car capable) trails.
The CRF300L Rally does a fairing and fairly comfy seat, plus a 12.8L tank. It's not the best for droning on the highway but is very capable for most roads. Other small adventure bikes like the NX500 are actually quite comfortable for long distances and have plenty of power for the highway.
If all you're doing is car capable trails, then you can use practically any bike for that. You don't need the rider modes and suspension travel of an ADV bike. As far as the CRF 300L, there is a female UA-camr traveling around the planet on one for the last few years.
A lot of people cross the world on CRF300L ...Rally and Himalayan...Light if you're travelling by yourself...Easier to pick up...Easier to maintain...Easier to repair in foreign countries...Cheaper to fuel...
I would only add the DR 650 used with low mileage…can be kitted however you like it and there are parts for it everywhere. Unfortunately, not available in Europe since early 2000 so here we need to search for well preserved one that is 20+ years old. Yet it would be the same bike.
5:38 The Tenere T700 is 21.300$ in Costa Rica, and we don't have laws that increase tax in imports of big bikes, the brands just love to r*pe their customers when they're dreaming about a machine like that one. My Versys x300 costed me 7.900 USD, (8800$ Nowadays in the CR currency because the dollar went down) and the NX500 is above 10.000 USD, the CFMoto 450MT is at 9.900$ and it looks like a great bike for the price compared to what the mainstream brands offer, keep in mind, CFMoto is still fckn with us because the 700MT costa 9.000$, less than the 450MT because it's actually a less desired bike.
I have a new Transalp and I don’t see myself changing it for any other of this list even if they pay me for the difference. Great road performance and more than decent off-road unless you’re doing enduro type stuff
I've had a few, what I like to call, adventure motorcycle. Yamaha XJ 900 Diversion( I don't think these came to North America. The closest you had was the Seca 750) which I put Shinko 705 tyres on and a Can am Spyder. The rest all had a side car on them. Honda CX 500, Royal Enfield Classic 500 and my latest one is a 1982 Honda VF 750 V45 Magna. The CX 500 and the Magna 750 are great as they both have shaft drive, so no need to worry about cleaning and adjusting the chain. They may not be any good for single track but as I never do that it's not a problem.
Yep, any bike can be an adventure bike with some knobbies. Riding gravel should be possible on practically every motorcycle. It's only when it starts getting really bumpy that you need the longer suspension.
Nice overview. But I disagree with your assesment, that a 650 V-Strom is better than the 1050. In the dirt maybee. On the street, the 1050 is running circles around the 650. A fork with a cartridge, way better brakes, a more active riding position and more power make all the difference there. I switched often enough between my brothers 650 and back on my 1050 to be very sure about that.
I have a Tiger900RP which is a great bike but I broke my leg on it recently as it was starting to low side on a gravel road and I put my foot out to stabilise it. I blame the bike weight and the SIDI adventure boots (and maybe my skill/luck). So I bought a Honda 300 Rally and really enjoying it. Also Tech7 boots.
Yeah, you want to ride them like dirt bikes but most ADV instructors will say not to stick your foot out on a heavy bike like that. You can on the Rally though.
I watched a review from a guy who had ridden the Himalayan 411 and the new 452. He said the 411 was far better offroad and pulled like a tractor but the 452 required constant shifting. I am new to the ADV scene and I am learning on a chunky Benelli 502x. Having a blast. I came up on sport bikes and JSM but this is a new kind of thrill. 60 mph on gravel is a rush. Probably hitting actual trails Sunday. There will be some drops.
My old Honda NX650 single, that I bought in Europe, took me from Italy yo the Balkens and then too Poland. It cost me 2000Euro ( less than $3000 Canadian), uses the same engine as the Honda XR 650, so parts are easily available. It's simple and reliable and does everything I need and want it to do. Ad at 2000 Euros, I could give it away and not worry about it, After all, I've had way more that that much value in funs and adventure from the Bike.
That sounds like an awesome adventure. There are so many inexpensive choices out there that will let you see the world without breaking the bank. Thank you for sharing!
Unfortunately in Australia, the Tenrere 700 is definitely *not* a budget, and between the T7 and the Transalp, the Transalp wins hands-down for value. In Australia, the Transalp is 15 800 AUD, or about 10 500 USD But the Tenere 700 is 21 900 aud, or about 14 600 USD. 4100 USD more expensive. And you could basically use that money to turn the Transalp into an absolute weapon with high-end suspension and other mods.
What are the one full tank average ranges for this bikes? Canada it's really big, and up north gas stations or trading posts are far and between, and you can only get regular low octane gas.
Noraly has proven to have travelled for the world for years with used 250/300cc Hondas. (Although she did enjoy borrowing a Ducati a 452 Royal Enfield, and a Honda TransAlp recently.) I can't imagine buying anything but Japanese. Since the '70's, a few years after I started riding, they've just been the best for any category. The German/Austrian/Italian/current British bikes are just not in the same league as the Japanese. I might feel differently if I lived Back East, closer to Europe and the UK, but the Japanese still are the best. For example, would you trust a Harley or Ducati to ride across Africa? Or, a "little" 400/700/750cc Japanese bike. Life is fun to have so many choices though, eh? How's Brooke, healthy. i hope. Cheers from the Pacific West Coast of Canada.
Yes, you can fix a Japanese bike anywhere in the world. Brooke is doing well, We're a month out now and getting really excited. Thanks for asking! All the best!
The 300 is really chinche. The gear shifter or brakes will break if you just happen to know it over. I live in Medellin just bought the CFMoto 450. The little Yammies are same bike.
I would get either the KLR 650 (if I could get my hand on one, not sold in Europe) or a Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, the latter being the second option just because its reliability is yet to be proven. The fact that it’s the company’s first liquid cooled engine scares me a little
Yeah, good point. Their other bikes have been pretty reliable so I hope the 450 continues that tradition. Still, always good to take a couple of years till they work out the bugs.
It would be gloriously fun and comfortable, but buggered if I'd want to be looking for parts and support for a Ducati Multistrada out the back of Siberia. But, even there, they probably have Honda parts on the shelf, and a bloke who knows how to fit them...
"Go anywhere, do anything" would be the Dual spot bikes. Adventure bikes are like modern expensive SUVs that are big, comfortable, have that cool rugged "offroad adventure" look but will spend most of their time on pavement. Maximum, some gravel roads or car drivable forest roads. Jeep Wrangler: KLR or DRZ come to mind. These do not pretend: they can really handle offroad and, just like Wrangler, they are not as good on pavement.
I've been following your videos long enough to remember you trying to wrestle that Tenere up a fairly tame dirt incline in the woods that a DR 650 would've gone up like it was falling out of bed. So there's that. LOL . That Honda CRL300 will cruise at 70 all day long and not blow up, and go through the woods like a charm. Anything bigger , heavier , and more expensive than that is working against you, isn't it?
Yeah, that was more of a rider skill issue. I'll try it again this summer and I have a feeling the Tenere will shoot up there now that I have so much more dirt experience under my belt. Also, when I have a manufacturer's bike I'm always a lot more careful than with my own. I think it's time for some more Tenere 700 content.
Used KLR all day every day! Parts are everywhere and it is simple to work on, even if you aren't that mechanically inclined. Plus, the KLR community is second to none!
Have you been riding Kawasaki KLX250S which has got much better suspension than Honda? And the 250 class winner, Yamaha WR250R which beats both Kawasaki and Honda. Those would be (and they were) my choices for small adventure bikes even if I prefer European bikes as they offer so much more fun.
I've tester the KLX300 on this channel a few years ago and that's a great bike. You can adventurize it with a bigger tank and windshield but it's more of a dual sport than an adventure bike out of the box.
I can't find information nowhere about the 452cc Kawasaki engine or bike, it's like it's just a made up rumor that someone started 1 week ago because I can't find anything on Google about it.
We need.....A 400cc single-cylinder, dual sport version of either the KLX300 (maybe use their new 450cc twin instead?) or the Honda (with the rear suspension "fixed" please), at an extra $1,000 and voila, about 325 lbs of highway-able and primarily off-road worthiness versus the 500-600 lbs cows that need to go on group rides because if you fall, in the dirt, on a slight slope with some rocks, FORGET GETTING THE COW UP if you are by yourself, call for rescue on your GPS and cry your way home. Also, the new crowd of the lightweight ADV stuff (2025 KTM 390 adventure and CF Moto 450) are, when comparing wet weights, about 75 to 100 lbs heavier than the two RELIABLE Japanese bikes listed above. We do not need all the tech crap, at most traction on/off and abs on/off on such a low powered bike down to none at all. You may add a light, small-med screen to your liking as you won't be cruising down the road past 80 MPH and hopefully an upgrade in the seating area for your bottom. A rack in the back is all you need to extend the luggage area past your butt. Too bad Suzuki partially missed the boat by not adding a 6th gear to their new DRZ400 dual sport as what Kawasaki did to the KLR650 (no 6th gear either). WHY THE HELL CAN'T THE MARKET PROVIDE WHAT PEOPLE REALLY WANT?
No CB500X - says a lot - video means nothing without that bike. NVM you mentioned the NX500 without explaining to uninformed viewers that it's the new successor to the CB500X and has only existed this year.
They are, but they are not yet widely known. They remind me of when Kia first came on the scene with some great cars. Took a while for customers to warm up to them.
I have a 05 KLR and it is NOT up to the task. It is an antiquated turd and struggles with anything more that getting groceries.... STOP promoting it as more capable... IT IS NOT!!!
Maybe the new one is better because I took it on some ATV trails and even single track and it survived. It's not great on that terrain but will do no worse on it than many much more expensive adventure bikes.
@@DifferentSpokesTV And yet there are MUCH better bikes that are more capable for less money as well. In this day and age there is NO justification for buying a KLR. As I said it is an antiquated overweight turd..
Totally agree: The KLR is carved out of granite. Simple, tough, big enough frame to hang your gear onto, and as reliable as a ……. Honda! I bought a used one for $3k…. ran the TAT in one go….. and sold it on completion. It didn’t miss a beat, didn’t lose me ANY money and it ‘does what it says on the tin’
Yeah, if you're touring someplace out of the way you can always find a used KLR.
Yeah, I had a KLX-650 for a couple decades and sold it for like 1k less than I bought it for new lol.
I think that the new RE himy and the cfmoto 450 will make a big impact on the adventure segment, hopefully Kawa follows them soon
Yes, and the new KTM 390 Adventure should be a hit too.
I'm thinking we might find out the CF Moto 450 actually has KTM's new 490 Adventure's parallel twin in it. Which might make support and parts easier to find. The KTM is supposed to be sourced out of India, but the fools may have done the R&D in China, and not filed the Patents quickly enough (?)
Wouldn't be the first time. Won't be the last.
Honda or Yamaha should have made something like CFmoto 450!
@@SquareHelmetAn 800cc 12:1 ratio Africa Twin would have been great.
As for 450 segment I think using the crf300l rally as a base and using a higher cc thumper would do the job.
I would buy a Himalayan but honestly I'm in love with the design of crf.
I can speak to the deal of a used VStrom 650. Got my 2015 bone stock one with 4,800kms on it for $4500 CDN. Love it. Rarely miss the power of the 2018 DL1000 I had.
Yeah, I'm seeing tons of low mileage ones with the aluminum bags included for less than a new KLR650.
Anyone looking for a comfortable, capable and dependable adventure bike - at least on the street side of the spectrum - should consider a lightly used DL650 V-Strom. They are fantastic for commuting, touring, Saturday jaunts, and almost anything else you can think of. In 2019 I gave $2900 for a near-mint condition, 2013 ABS Adventure model with 10,000 miles on the odometer. It had all the luggage and other bells and whistles. It is probably the best bike I ever bought when considering smiles generated per dollar spent, and I've owned over 40 bikes in 52 years as an avid motorcyclist. Of course the prices they command have increased lately, along with everything else, but they still represent one of the best values you are likely to find in a motorcycle of any kind.
i have a Dl1000 2008. I love the power and cant imagine stepping down to a 650. But then i do 90%+ of my riding on the road. For the outback its a bit heavy (but so is a gs1290)
Clearly stated and agree, Honda CRF Rally and the KLR are the only bikes you can ride straight out of the showroom floor and around the world, no questions asked, good video👍
Wrong. There are plenty others, such as the CB500X.
@@HondaWanderer and the NX 500 of course👍
...and the RE Himalayan
And the NX 500
I have traveled thousands of kilometres on my two stroke Yamaha 135, never had a problem off road and on road, the Suzuki V Storm 250 is exactly like it , a go anywhere unicorn.
I definitely agree that the smaller bikes are a better fit. I had a 22 Africa Twin ADV Sports DCT. For me, even after lowering it some, I felt it was to heavy, and to tall. I may jump into he ADV market again, but this time it will be something like the Transalp or maybe a Triumph 850 sport, not really hard core ADV bikes but I don’t need the higher displacement machines anymore, several of the bikes you mentioned are road worthy and acceptable for off roading, while being easier to pickup.
KTM or HUSQVARNA 500, my choice after the Tiger 800xc
Yeah, unless you're planning more hardcore off-roading a 750 makes more sense than an 1100. The only thing missing on the Transalp is the cruise control.
NCX 750 DCT
Keep mentioning the Versys 500X! I believe we are going to have to WILL that bike into this world!
It would make so much sense for Kawasaki to build that bike. It would fly out of the showrooms, especially if they gave it 21/18 inch wheels and good suspension.
@@DifferentSpokesTV Totally agree!
@@DifferentSpokesTV I wouldn't mind if they still use 17/19 like in the versys, but an engine with more torque and calmer revs at cruising speed is what i really wish my versys x300 had.
Mainstream manufacturers hate the idea of making a perfect bike and eat off of their other bike sales.
@Al.j.Vasquez this is thr same problem I am having with mine right now. Looking for something still small but a bit calmer.
Another great episode. Have to agree with absolutely everhing on this video.😘
Your final recommendations are spot on as well; the seven bike collection I maintain with two sons-in-law include a used 2015 Suzuki VStrom 650 we picked up for $3,500 USD and a new 2022 Kawasaki KLR 650 that was on sale for $6,500 USD. Both the VStrom and KLR (with a 17 tooth front sprocket) keep up quite well on the highway with our Sport/Touring bikes; a Triumph T120, a Moto Guzzi V7 and BMW F900 XR.
And, as a Boomer who's ridden since the mid-60s, I can certainly confirm that Japanese made bikes are unquestionalbly the very most reliable. Both of our vintage Yamahas ('76 XS650 & '81 XV920) have traveled from Miami to Anchorage (10,000 miles) and have eaten up the Alaska Highway and the Dalton Highway (to the Arctic Ocean) without issues or repairs. 😎 PS: Love the Guzzi and the Bonneville, however, they've both had more repairs in their first year than my Yamahas have had since new in 1976 and 1981.😱
Thanks for the comment. Yes, after owning a Guzzi I decided to go back to Japanese bikes for the forseable future. Live and learn.
I bought a 2016 CB500X new in 2017, just to test out, I still have it and has just under 50000klm on the odometer, it averages 2.8 liters per hundred@90klm/hr, its a keeper
Yep, the CB500X hits that sweet spot of just big enough for the highway and still light enough for some challenging off road.
CB500X does not get 2.8L/100 km. Scooters barely achieve that. 3.5 would be reasonable.
@@higgyohiggins4380Nah, they do, they're incredibly efficient for such a large bike, my previous 200cc naked bike used that much too, at 105-110 km/h. Scooters and regular but very efficient bikes use only 2-2.5 liters per 100km, and then there are the small Bajaj bikes, they're not fast, they're just good enough for errands, but they go over 90km with 1 liter, they can go over 600km with 1 small 2 gallon tank.
Here in sunny So Cal we’re just seeing the arrival of the new NX500. As an 80 YO who is celebrating life by getting back on 2 wheels and ready for more highway adventures after COVID and a knee injury that has taken me off 2 wheels for a couple of years, the NX is the perfect weight for the old bod to handle. It should extend my highway light ADV riding hopefully into my 9th decade. My reserved NX (2nd of the first 2 new arrivals) should arrive in a week or two, and I’m anxious to get it home, get the luggage set and do some highway and backroads travel. A big advantage of the NX is the compatibility of all the CB500X accessories on the market, since it’s the same chassis back of the new fairing. Happy trails all.👍
I love my KLRs but am now thinking I might get rid of them and pickup something like the 300L or the KLX 300. I rode my Transalp for the first time in the rain today and was impressed by how much shelter it provided, another way it would be better than the T7. That said I'm still thinking I should have got the T7. I would personally avoid something like the cfmoto or ktm I like riding much more than being broken down
The Transalp definitely provides more cover from the elements than the T7. The Tenere does better off road but if you get a KLX300 you'll be covered there. That bike eats any adventure bike on a trail.
30+ year rider and I was considering an adventure bike, mid-size for backroads, gravel etc, not heavy off road but enough to get lost. After a lengthy search I found a 2017 Vstrom 650, coming up on a year and I love this bike. Didn't break the bank and extras were on it from the previous owner. If a bit takes a bit to find for sale used it's likely because people keep them, a good sign in your choice. Thank you for doing the channel.
Thanks! Yeah, another encouraging thing is that some of the used ones are very high mileage so you know it will last.
I got versys x300(250 in malaysia)...still got the job done...been running 4 years now...at 90000km...still going strong...
One of the problems with Japanese bikes is that they don't break down and give you an excuse to buy a new bike.
Agree 100%. New klr adv is easy to fall in love with
Great video as usual! The further from the civilization I go, the more I start appreciating the simplicity and reliability. So, KLR, DRZ, CRF300 come to the top. I actually would take my XT250 around the world in a heartbeat too. I plan a major roadtrip to Newfoundland soon. Let's see how it does.
Thank you for great videos!
Thanks! Yes, the XT250 is probably better off-road than any bike. The only thing that might hold it back is highway performance with a rider and camping gear strapped to it. But you can have a great adventure on any bike and the XT has always had my attention as one of the best value bikes out there.
Here in Italy, RE Hymalaian 450 is selling very well. Many people look at the new CFMOto but the best selling is the 10:42 Benelli TRK 702, italian best selling motorcycle. Would you believe it?
Chinese made bikes have really improved recently and the Benelli does have an Italian name. I guess we're used to so many things being built in China that people don't mind as long as the value is there.
I had a ‘18 V Strom 650 XT and it was a great riding bike. The L twin is smooth and reliable. It handled light off-road/gravel sufficiently well, and it was better at touring than my current ‘23 VStrom 800 DE. A lot of new ADV riders overestimate how much off road they’ll be doing. They’ll likely spend more time on surface streets than gravel/dirt, and for that reason I’d choose a V Strom over the KLR.
My trusty T7 would be my choice, but if I had no bike and a budget not to exceed $9k OTD, I would probably go with the Honda NX500, or a DR650.
Yeah, we're lucky to still have the DR in North America. I don't know how much longer it can hold out before regulations kill it off.
On Sunday orders my new CF Moto. Gets here in July. Can’t wait!
450 or 800?
good common sense!going back to the essential:what do we need for travel , a bike we can afford,light and reliable;so we have to keep it simple without all the electronic gadgets;back to basic:be in connection with the nature and people ;in many countries people will see you differently if you stop with a klr rather than with a 1300gs!
Yep, ironically most riders will do better off road on the KLR.
Agree about the V-Strom 650, it is a real workhorse that can be bought cheaply. Also a Versys 650 would fit the bill, the older ones are sold used for pocket change (propably due to the ugly front) but they are still Kawasaki quality. Propably not long now for a 500 Versys, we need more 2 cylinder options. 🙂
Yeah, I didn't include the Versys 650 because I always considered it more of a sports tourer but any bike can ride gravel or lighter dirt.
Sounds good to me, but the new “middleweight” Adv. bikes are (still) quite heavy ☝🏻 CF-Moto, Kawa, RE ect. … so, there is one more truth : get a still good used one, doesn’t have to be always a new one
Yeah, it's funny how twenty year old bikes tend to be lighter than the current models. It's true for the KLR650 too.
Sorry- I disagree... Small dual sports (CRF300, etc.) are dual sports, not adventure bikes. really punishing yourself to tour on them (one of the things adventures are supposed to do). And yes, I have a dual sport (DR200SE) and an adventure (Tiger 900gt). Adventures aren't really for the dirt, they are for the street, touring, and really light (car capable) trails.
The CRF300L Rally does a fairing and fairly comfy seat, plus a 12.8L tank. It's not the best for droning on the highway but is very capable for most roads. Other small adventure bikes like the NX500 are actually quite comfortable for long distances and have plenty of power for the highway.
Agreed but advs can do way more than car capable trails man.
@@porkoholic They can, but that depends on tires, and similarly, touring tires are much different than off-road tires.
If all you're doing is car capable trails, then you can use practically any bike for that. You don't need the rider modes and suspension travel of an ADV bike. As far as the CRF 300L, there is a female UA-camr traveling around the planet on one for the last few years.
A lot of people cross the world on CRF300L ...Rally and Himalayan...Light if you're travelling by yourself...Easier to pick up...Easier to maintain...Easier to repair in foreign countries...Cheaper to fuel...
Yup, adv bike would be my next bike. Just have to finish my ‘car project’. 😄
I would only add the DR 650 used with low mileage…can be kitted however you like it and there are parts for it everywhere. Unfortunately, not available in Europe since early 2000 so here we need to search for well preserved one that is 20+ years old. Yet it would be the same bike.
5:38 The Tenere T700 is 21.300$ in Costa Rica, and we don't have laws that increase tax in imports of big bikes, the brands just love to r*pe their customers when they're dreaming about a machine like that one. My Versys x300 costed me 7.900 USD, (8800$ Nowadays in the CR currency because the dollar went down) and the NX500 is above 10.000 USD, the CFMoto 450MT is at 9.900$ and it looks like a great bike for the price compared to what the mainstream brands offer, keep in mind, CFMoto is still fckn with us because the 700MT costa 9.000$, less than the 450MT because it's actually a less desired bike.
Still loving my 2007 Triumph Tiger 1050 ❤ (luckily I never go off road) LOL
That's a great sports tourer for sure.
I would recommend labeling the bikes when you’re talking about them at some point so that when people take a snapshot, it’s easy to reference.
I have a new Transalp and I don’t see myself changing it for any other of this list even if they pay me for the difference. Great road performance and more than decent off-road unless you’re doing enduro type stuff
Yeah, you can tour very nicely on those. They are very comfortable and I even did some single track on the one I tested last year.
Just make sure the "doohickey" has been replaced on that used KLR.
Totally missed the klx 300 by kawasaki! My opinion much better than honda crf 300.
I've had a few, what I like to call, adventure motorcycle. Yamaha XJ 900 Diversion( I don't think these came to North America. The closest you had was the Seca 750) which I put Shinko 705 tyres on and a Can am Spyder. The rest all had a side car on them. Honda CX 500, Royal Enfield Classic 500 and my latest one is a 1982 Honda VF 750 V45 Magna. The CX 500 and the Magna 750 are great as they both have shaft drive, so no need to worry about cleaning and adjusting the chain. They may not be any good for single track but as I never do that it's not a problem.
Yep, any bike can be an adventure bike with some knobbies. Riding gravel should be possible on practically every motorcycle. It's only when it starts getting really bumpy that you need the longer suspension.
I have a 2nd gen V-Strom 650. It has been an absolute banger. I only pay $15 a month for insurance.
That's crazy where I live. Our Candian insurance companies bend us over a barrel. The second gen is the best looking one IMO.
Nice overview. But I disagree with your assesment, that a 650 V-Strom is better than the 1050. In the dirt maybee. On the street, the 1050 is running circles around the 650. A fork with a cartridge, way better brakes, a more active riding position and more power make all the difference there. I switched often enough between my brothers 650 and back on my 1050 to be very sure about that.
I have a Tiger900RP which is a great bike but I broke my leg on it recently as it was starting to low side on a gravel road and I put my foot out to stabilise it. I blame the bike weight and the SIDI adventure boots (and maybe my skill/luck). So I bought a Honda 300 Rally and really enjoying it. Also Tech7 boots.
Yeah, you want to ride them like dirt bikes but most ADV instructors will say not to stick your foot out on a heavy bike like that. You can on the Rally though.
I watched a review from a guy who had ridden the Himalayan 411 and the new 452.
He said the 411 was far better offroad and pulled like a tractor but the 452 required constant shifting.
I am new to the ADV scene and I am learning on a chunky Benelli 502x. Having a blast.
I came up on sport bikes and JSM but this is a new kind of thrill. 60 mph on gravel is a rush.
Probably hitting actual trails Sunday. There will be some drops.
Oh my damn! My dude just mentioned the road of bones. I wonder if he knows why it is called that. Just a bit dark, man.
Great, informative video! Looking for an adv bike for next season, switching from mt07 (toured europe on it lol)
My old Honda NX650 single, that I bought in Europe, took me from Italy yo the Balkens and then too Poland. It cost me 2000Euro ( less than $3000 Canadian), uses the same engine as the Honda XR 650, so parts are easily available. It's simple and reliable and does everything I need and want it to do.
Ad at 2000 Euros, I could give it away and not worry about it, After all, I've had way more that that much value in funs and adventure from the Bike.
That sounds like an awesome adventure. There are so many inexpensive choices out there that will let you see the world without breaking the bank. Thank you for sharing!
The best adv bike is the adv bike in your garage or diveway. Ride on
Unfortunately in Australia, the Tenrere 700 is definitely *not* a budget, and between the T7 and the Transalp, the Transalp wins hands-down for value.
In Australia, the Transalp is 15 800 AUD, or about 10 500 USD
But the Tenere 700 is 21 900 aud, or about 14 600 USD. 4100 USD more expensive. And you could basically use that money to turn the Transalp into an absolute weapon with high-end suspension and other mods.
No baby V-strom 250 sx , nice looking .
What are the one full tank average ranges for this bikes? Canada it's really big, and up north gas stations or trading posts are far and between, and you can only get regular low octane gas.
Noraly has proven to have travelled for the world for years with used 250/300cc Hondas. (Although she did enjoy borrowing a Ducati a 452 Royal Enfield, and a Honda TransAlp recently.) I can't imagine buying anything but Japanese. Since the '70's, a few years after I started riding, they've just been the best for any category. The German/Austrian/Italian/current British bikes are just not in the same league as the Japanese. I might feel differently if I lived Back East, closer to Europe and the UK, but the Japanese still are the best. For example, would you trust a Harley or Ducati to ride across Africa? Or, a "little" 400/700/750cc Japanese bike. Life is fun to have so many choices though, eh? How's Brooke, healthy. i hope.
Cheers from the Pacific West Coast of Canada.
She has also completely rebuilt that Honda. New engine, new suspension front and back and at one point broke the rear sub frame as well..
Yes, you can fix a Japanese bike anywhere in the world. Brooke is doing well, We're a month out now and getting really excited. Thanks for asking! All the best!
I find it ridiculous that USA of all places doesn't have the almighty Honda XRE300 and Yamaha Tenere 250 (Both are South American model)
Our roads are so bad, we needed those models to go around without having our bikes dissasemble from home to work xD
Yeah, Honda figures that we'll pay more if they bring n the 300L Rally. Yamaha does sell the XT250 here though.
The 300 is really chinche. The gear shifter or brakes will break if you just happen to know it over. I live in Medellin just bought the CFMoto 450. The little Yammies are same bike.
Too bad the KLR650 isn't available in the EU.
I would get either the KLR 650 (if I could get my hand on one, not sold in Europe) or a Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, the latter being the second option just because its reliability is yet to be proven. The fact that it’s the company’s first liquid cooled engine scares me a little
Yeah, good point. Their other bikes have been pretty reliable so I hope the 450 continues that tradition. Still, always good to take a couple of years till they work out the bugs.
It would be gloriously fun and comfortable, but buggered if I'd want to be looking for parts and support for a Ducati Multistrada out the back of Siberia. But, even there, they probably have Honda parts on the shelf, and a bloke who knows how to fit them...
Yep, the big four will have parts available everywhere.
My best bargain new is the VStrom 800, as it costs nearly the same as the Versys 650.
Yeah, that looks like the comfort king in the class with a big, cushy seat and plush suspension.
I’m looking at either a new KLR or a new Himalayan. I’m 6’4” so looking for something comfortable
Going back a little bit didn’t you used to have. Moto Guzzi Norge?
I like adventure bikes. They're like the Jeep Wranglers of the motorcycle world. Go anywhere, do anything.✌🏾
Yeah but they also handle the pavement surprisingly well.
"Go anywhere, do anything" would be the Dual spot bikes. Adventure bikes are like modern expensive SUVs that are big, comfortable, have that cool rugged "offroad adventure" look but will spend most of their time on pavement. Maximum, some gravel roads or car drivable forest roads.
Jeep Wrangler: KLR or DRZ come to mind. These do not pretend: they can really handle offroad and, just like Wrangler, they are not as good on pavement.
Budget arround the world bike ?! R150GS, if lots of pavement/gravel roads, D650SE if more fire roads, or more offorad
Honda CB500X? That seems to tick a lot of boxes, particularly price.
I've been following your videos long enough to remember you trying to wrestle that Tenere up a fairly tame dirt incline in the woods that a DR 650 would've gone up like it was falling out of bed. So there's that. LOL . That Honda CRL300 will cruise at 70 all day long and not blow up, and go through the woods like a charm. Anything bigger , heavier , and more expensive than that is working against you, isn't it?
Fair point about the 300L. Also, the DR650 is still awesome after all these years.
Yeah, that was more of a rider skill issue. I'll try it again this summer and I have a feeling the Tenere will shoot up there now that I have so much more dirt experience under my belt. Also, when I have a manufacturer's bike I'm always a lot more careful than with my own. I think it's time for some more Tenere 700 content.
Used KLR all day every day! Parts are everywhere and it is simple to work on, even if you aren't that mechanically inclined. Plus, the KLR community is second to none!
The KLR is an antiquated overweight turd...
Yep, you could break down anywhere and find parts. Great bikes!
@@DifferentSpokesTV Not in Guatemala/Central America..
DR650!😊
You didn't mention the DRZ400
X300 for me.
Have you been riding Kawasaki KLX250S which has got much better suspension than Honda? And the 250 class winner, Yamaha WR250R which beats both Kawasaki and Honda. Those would be (and they were) my choices for small adventure bikes even if I prefer European bikes as they offer so much more fun.
I've tester the KLX300 on this channel a few years ago and that's a great bike. You can adventurize it with a bigger tank and windshield but it's more of a dual sport than an adventure bike out of the box.
I can't find information nowhere about the 452cc Kawasaki engine or bike, it's like it's just a made up rumor that someone started 1 week ago because I can't find anything on Google about it.
The RE 450 would be neat if it wasn't basically the same weight as a T7
True, but that weight includes a rear rack and tank guards which are add ons on the Tenere. The difference is larger than the spec sheet suggeasts.
The bike i currently own is the best motorcycle ever
That's always the case!
We need.....A 400cc single-cylinder, dual sport version of either the KLX300 (maybe use their new 450cc twin instead?) or the Honda (with the rear suspension "fixed" please), at an extra $1,000 and voila, about 325 lbs of highway-able and primarily off-road worthiness versus the 500-600 lbs cows that need to go on group rides because if you fall, in the dirt, on a slight slope with some rocks, FORGET GETTING THE COW UP if you are by yourself, call for rescue on your GPS and cry your way home.
Also, the new crowd of the lightweight ADV stuff (2025 KTM 390 adventure and CF Moto 450) are, when comparing wet weights, about 75 to 100 lbs heavier than the two RELIABLE Japanese bikes listed above. We do not need all the tech crap, at most traction on/off and abs on/off on such a low powered bike down to none at all. You may add a light, small-med screen to your liking as you won't be cruising down the road past 80 MPH and hopefully an upgrade in the seating area for your bottom. A rack in the back is all you need to extend the luggage area past your butt.
Too bad Suzuki partially missed the boat by not adding a 6th gear to their new DRZ400 dual sport as what Kawasaki did to the KLR650 (no 6th gear either).
WHY THE HELL CAN'T THE MARKET PROVIDE WHAT PEOPLE REALLY WANT?
No CB500X - says a lot - video means nothing without that bike. NVM you mentioned the NX500 without explaining to uninformed viewers that it's the new successor to the CB500X and has only existed this year.
Cfmoto is already on the map.
They are, but they are not yet widely known. They remind me of when Kia first came on the scene with some great cars. Took a while for customers to warm up to them.
little motor equal vibration man , talk about it
How about Suzuki DR650 or Honda XR650L?
Great bikes but I'd define them more as big dual sports rather than ADV bikes. The XR also does not have a cush hub so it's a lot more dirt oriented.
Is that Martha Stewart on a Harley at 0:15?
Yep, I found that picture online an put it in there to see if anyone noticed. Good eye!
The super tenere needs to be discontinued and remade from the ground up
Thought these things were meant to be off rd bikes , majority ride them to on road ????
Thats fuckin Obi-Wan Kenobi
But tell us how you really feel. 😆
All motorcycles are off road motorcycles if you are brave enough.
Yep. You can adventure on a Gold Wing. Just put knobbies on it :)
Used. VStrom 650
Hawk 250 less than $2k.
I have a 05 KLR and it is NOT up to the task. It is an antiquated turd and struggles with anything more that getting groceries.... STOP promoting it as more capable... IT IS NOT!!!
I had one and you are exactly right
Maybe the new one is better because I took it on some ATV trails and even single track and it survived. It's not great on that terrain but will do no worse on it than many much more expensive adventure bikes.
@@DifferentSpokesTV And yet there are MUCH better bikes that are more capable for less money as well. In this day and age there is NO justification for buying a KLR. As I said it is an antiquated overweight turd..
KTM 500.
I hate them with a passion.
First!😊
Likes to hear himself talk. 2 minutes in and hasn't stopped talking but hasn't said anything either.