I got alot of inspiration to make this video all thanks to Pavlin from Motorcycle Adventures on youtube. Please go check out his awesome channel, probably the best motorcycle adventure channel here on youtube! ua-cam.com/users/motorcycleadventures
Try xpulse 200 !! best adventure bike you will find... Lighter than Himalayan .. More off road capable... Less cruise speed compared to Himalayan but more milage...
You must be kidding, 80 seriously...? When I'll be 80 I'll sell my vulcan if I'll have one, to buy my final 250 cc ride bicasket...... P.s : Means seriously..are you 80 that's really amazing..that you still have spirit of biking in you... 🙌🙌⬆️⬆️⬆️ Legend spotted ⬆️⬆️⬆️🙌🙌
"It's the riding that we do on the road less traveled that the pleasure comes from"...that pretty much sums up my personal philosophy of the ultimate riding experience, thank you for the great quote!
Yes she has.....she’s done an awesome job of showing the world how one lady can tour the world on two wheels and take us with her every time. Look up itchy boots on you tube...you will not be disappointed at all!
most people who drop over 10 grand on a bike are too afraid to go on a trip with it in fear they'll scuff up their precious investment. the best adventure bike is one you can afford to lose, if you ask me..
That’s one reason why I love small dualsports, when they fall and scratches start to show Up I don’t get upset, they are just battle scars showing that you’re using that bike as intended to.
Finally someone not advocating bigger, heavier bikes that like you said, are more unyielding, harder to pick up and you can't manoeuvre them as easily. 👍
Totally Agree, I ride a Honda CRF 250 Rally here in the Philippines and it’s been up nearly everyone of the mountains that this beautiful country has to offer ✌🏾
I agree with this. My first “cross country” trip was from southern Luzon to northern Luzon in the philippines. About 2400km round trip on nothing but provincial roads and some provincial highways. No expressways. I did it all on a 125cc Honda Wave and a backpack with the basics. The best time of my life. I plan to do it again as soon as this COVID crap goes away. This time on something slightly bigger. A 150cc Yamaha or Suzuki.
@@Wanderer1 Yeah, my only regret is not documenting at least some of it with videos and pictures. That was back when not a lot of people had smart phones. I didn’t even have a GPS device. I did it all by maps and asking for directions. I didn’t even have a digital camera. I was living in the moment. Next time I will have a few gadgets with me to take along for the ride.
@Paul Buskie haha yeah, well it wasn't always comfortable. plenty of pit stops to give my backside a rest. This was about 12 years ago when I was 25 or so. I'm 6'2 and I think i was 260lbs around that time. Im down to about 210lbs now. It took me about a week to complete the whole trip. I stayed in those "short time" hotels when i could because you can just drive your bike into the little garage and not have it sitting out in the open. Plus they are super cheap. i think the most expensive one was P400 for the night. I drive a 150cc Suzuki GR150 here in China. It's a lot less buzzy than the Wave. I'd like to find one in the Philippines or something similar and do an island hopping trip via ferry service. maybe luzon-leyte-cebu-dumaguete then same way back. Right now just biding my time and saving up for when that kind of travel becomes possible.
so right...what I am telling others, there are two kinds of riders...ones who enjoy the speed and the ones who enjoy the ride. Bike trips are not for the people who enjoy the speed...there are special places for the people who enjoy the speed.
Yeah it's sad that we have to treat everyone interested in places like that with suspicion but as you know some ppl have bad intentions and even if you meet mostly cool ppl all it takes is for you to let your guard down around the wrong person once...
I believe you’re right. I initially bought an Africa Twin, which is a great bike, but I felt it was too big for what I wanted to do. Now I have a Himalayan and I’m much happier. I have a lot more confidence and comfort riding off road and in adverse conditions.
It was a big shock a few years ago to come to the same conclusion. I'd spent almost 40 yrs lusting after, owning & riding large displacement bikes & then dropped to the mid range stuff....& now, I might even dip under 500cc. I've gone full circle 😌
If you are around 80-100 kg, you can ride modern miles or small bikes around the world. It's not about speed but endurance. 80-100 kmph, any modern Japanese bike can do it with 100 mpg advantage ! You carry minimal things only. They are so good that they sell millions in SE Asia.
@Mustafa Hussein example a cbr250 will top out around 140km/hr and a rebel 500 will get up to 150, better for the highway. the biggest difference you'll really feel besides that is the 500 will weigh 200lb more. i sold my 500 and bought a yamaha RS100, top speed 110km and weighs 190lb, has a huge amount of power for its size. I will always think the smaller bike makes more sense, better price and looks cool, forces you to be a better rider and play it safe on busy roads. I wish north america got the small diplacement motorcycles available in asia and india
@Mustafa Hussein 500cc is better when you travelling mainly on bigger roads. It's safer to overtake and the revs are not so high = relaxed cruising. But if you have to ask i'd go for a small bike anyway to get some experience. And try a bigger bike later.
I completely agree with you. I'm driving Honda CRF250 Rally and I'm very happy. Easy to handle, easy to lift up, very low fuel consumption... Small is beautiful
@@dogansakarya5834 One hour sitting is no problem. Longer is not so comfortable. But whole day offroad driving with changing between seating and stand up is very comfortable.
At 58 im not in a race anymore, when i do go riding i want to enjoy the world around me. A couple hundred miles a day is plenty. Change the compass heading and take a different route home. I want reliability, economy. Kawasaki x300, so far a perfect bike for my needs.
It's 2021. In 2023 BMW will introduce the 2027 R2900GSA Turbo. 990 lbm but, hey, 400 hp. And autopilot, so it can go ride off by itself and you can just sit at home watching its videos.
Thanks for a great video, and some very good insights! I'm 61 years old and have been riding bikes since I was 16. I've owned and ridden many bikes and currently have a BMW GS1150 Adventure, and a BMW Dakar 650. I find it more and more demanding riding my big bike, and migrate more often towards the lighter 650. Even this one is getting to feel a little too tall for me (old age is a bugger)! I'm now actually looking to go even smaller, so I'm 100% aligned to your sentiments. I enjoy riding, not speed! A smaller bike that handles easier is the way to go for me. Like other people have commented, I've gone full circle. Greeting from south Africa!
I have driven regular motorcycles for 26 years. Now that I am 75, I just bought a Burgman 400 because its the perfect bike for me. I like the step through to mount the bike, and the belt drive auto transmission makes life very simple. 400 cc is plenty of power.
A fellow South African ... Hoezit ... !!! I am plannining to buy my first adventure bike, @ 46, by the end of this year. At the moment the BMW F800 GSA is on the top of my list. Hopefuly we migt meet up in the bundu's one day ... Keep well.
In India when people ask you about your bike it doesn't always means that they have a bad intention... most of the people are just interested by the bike and they just want to know more about it... people even ask me questions about my bicycle and they sometimes take pictures with it
I'm giving my 5 reasons without watching the video - . They're smaller/lighter so less fatigue on long rides . Very frugal, great fuel mileage. You save tons of money . They're cheap and less exotic so less chance of theft or vandalism . They're low maintenance and have lesser chance of breaking down . Even if you do break something parts are easily available for mass produced smaller bikes
I'm with you on those, except for some parts of the world a cheaper bike means it's more appealing to thieves, just cause it's easier and faster to sell.
Oh in Philippines, the common and cheaper your bike is, the more chances it gets stolen. Why? - parts will get sold faster, everyone has it. - very light to carry - easier and common wiring mechanisms to tamper
Less can be more, that goes also for bikes in general. After owning several K100RS and K75S, a 1400 Intruder and other big, heavy bikes I now ride a SH150i daily and an old CB500S on weekends. Bigger bikes are okay but I won't get a bike that's more than 200 kg. The old CB has 57 hp, weighs 180 kg and goes 170 km/h, I don't need more than that. I owned more than 30 bikes. I'd get the new CRF300L for an adventure trip, it's light, cheap, reliable and fast enough.
I got to where you are after only 3 bikes :D I currently own a Yamaha TDM900A which I will keep for longer onroad trips with my girlfriend, but I am now buying the CRF300L for my 1 person commuter/adventure bike. I don't think I will ever need bigger power than my TDM900 has.
Here in India I've literally seen people go on a 12 hours ride or 300 km trips on a splendor bike which is a 110 to a 120 cc motorcycle. I've also done a 3 hours trip on one with a pillion. It damn fun honestly 🤣
I need a large motorcycle. Any less than one hundred horse power and it won't even be able to pull away, due to the sheer size and weight of my HUGE EGO.
Or are you built huge ? Adventure riding , you travel at 70-100 kmph only. Faster you risk injuiry and the ride will be in jeopardy. You also miss the scenery.... Any modern small 150cc Japanese bike can do it. Malaysian riders have reached the top Himalayan highway on 7 Honda C100 ! If you can reached there, on a small bike, you can go anywhere ! They did it to reached London with 6 riders with one fatality to the lawless Indian roads
This is excellent and I agree - mostly. Here in North America we have high-speed highways that demand high horsepower. Often I simply have to get where I'm going. I'd love to go smaller and cheaper, but the need to do many highway miles keeps me on a bigger bike. All the best.
@@remypericard6508 then buy 500cc (250+250) to have even more fun. Also for extreme fun buy a 1000cc (500+500). That's how it got out of hand. 125 is plenty, i have a 125 honda monkey, 600cc honda hornet, and looking to buy a honda 250L rally soon. Plenty of fun with all of them, in their own elements.
@@siimtuulik6344 Yes, but with a 1000cc you don't have enough torque, I think you should consider a 1800 GW or a K1600 ;)) Seriously : the real dificult pb is 250L or 250Rally ? both are good bike with the same engine ; they have their cons & pros. how did you do to select the Rally againt the L ? The other question is if you have to keep only one ? the cb500x Adv ?
@@remypericard6508 I rode an electric trial motorbike for a long while and after that i really just wish to explore with my bikes now, as unhindered as i can, i suppose. Also doesn't help that i have done parkour for 14 years now, so i might be somewhat biased towards "climbing" with my bikes. For me weight is really important. 70-160kg range really. Also need something comfortable and speedy enaugh for traveling. I like the rally because it has most what i look for. The metal protection i will make for myself, and need to buy a lower seat but other than that it's all i need. Also looked at Yamaha xt250 and TW200 and Tricker R1 XG250. But they don't sell them here, eu regulations, and no way to try them out. I would keep the monkey 125, too much fun and does all i need. Cb500x just too heavy for my type of riding, grest for light sand and gravel roads etc.
@@siimtuulik6344 Here in France, it is quite difficult & expensive to get the driving licence, so when you've got it, you want to have a "real" bike. So, now, you cannot buy new 250 cc anymore. Honda had tried many time without success, and there is no used bike as well. When I was young, a 500 cc or a 750 cc was a big bike. Now 500 cc is a little bike
I ride CRF1000 I like effective fuel range with bigger motorcycle. Sometimes there are places where fuel isnt to be found and you need to cross big distance. With good discipline, keeping higher gear and maintaining low speed, you can cross 500-600km on a big motorcycle with added external fuel tank. Also this is really important during onroad sections. Fuel is a real limiter in some places. Also all big tour enduros are all at least capable road machines. Some are not just capable, but outright excelent. You get to enjoy that windy road if you like that kind of thing. Smaller are better offroad but strictly worse on road, no denying that. Downside of bigger bike is - more training offroad required. You can do everything you can do on a lighter bike, and all of that is harder. If you like hard - thats what you can enjoy. There are lots of challenges there, but lots of possibilties also. Its a special art to handle those beasts offroad. Also - if you carry passanger with you, more powerfull bike will more comfortable for both of you. Though naturally, not all destinations allows a passanger. Regarding chosing type and class of motorcycle, everything is always tradeoff, always. There are no better bikes, only those that suit you for what you chose to be doing.
EXCELLENT POINTS coming from someone with experience. It's so refreshing to hear from someone who's common sense is larger than his ego! Thank you sir!
Much the same applies to smaller adventures. I bought a G310GS for my 60th birthday. I hope to go on week long motorcycle camping vacations, but most of my adventures will be overnight trips, and my small bike is also much more useful for trips around town. More power to the 1200GS folks if that's their thing. I don't get it, but that's OK. What I don't get that's not OK are the big ADV guys who complain in the online comments about smaller adventure bikes. I've wanted a 300cc adventure bike since 1975, manufacturers are finally making them, and these guys are trashing them and telling manufacturers not to build them. I can only assume these guys are trying to feel better about spending $20,000 on a big heavy bike, loading it with a ton of stuff, and then punishing themselves by fighting with it on a long trip. Manufacturers - Larger fuel tanks! Putting an 11 liter fuel tank on an adventure bike is inexcusably dumb. It should have twice that fuel capacity.
Just ride what you like. I've ridden 650's most of my life. They've been good to me. Rode a BMW Dakar 650 to the tip of Baja and back, mostly on dirt. I'm currently riding a GS 800 on everything from slab on Hwy 50 across Nevada to ATV routes in the Utah desert. It's got its limitations but it's a blast. I'm currently considering something smaller because that looks fun too. Just ride. That's all.
I'm a very healthy active 74 year old.... been riding since I was 10...ride and love my Africa twin..best handling bike for older guy for adventure riding and some light off road stuff
Thankyou... so motivation for me... i will start my short travel in my country Indonesia with small bike 110cc Honda scooter matic One more time thankyou
A maxim of sailing is ‘use the boat you have’, because so many people get caught up in having a bigger better boat before they do the adventures. Same goes for lots of adventure activities - use what you have, or what you can afford. My current ride is a DRZ250, and yes it can be loaded onto the sailboat.
could not agree more! This summer and fall Idid: 1000 mile camping trip from my home in Sedona AZ to Colorado, New Mexico, Utah. 700 miles through Mexico Numerous 200 mule day trips Hundreds of miles of freeway Even more off-road No breakdowns, problems. How, Honda CRF 250L. Same bike Steph Jeavons rode around the world, *with no breakdowns). This video NAILS the reasons to choose the Jeep over the Escalade.
I have just sold my 2018 R1200GS rallye and have ordered a new 2021 Royal Enfield Himalayan (hopefully delivered mid april to dealer). For the exact reasons mentioned in this vid..I live in the UK and the Himalayan will see Europe and the Mediterranean at a more fun leisurely pace using 'B' roads only for once :D
Thank you. My last bike was 31 Years ago. Suzuki TRS 150. Now it is tiime to come back for ride.. get my license, purchase a helmet, jacket, gloves..and a 500cc ..yesterday i tested ride KTM duke 390 and bmw gs310..still testing..
I have ridden solo around North America on.a 1300cc FJR, 27000km over 2 months and truly enjoyed it. It's a heavy bike, meant for highways and not to be dropped which I didn't. Making a major which, I have recently returned from a 8000km trip to the Arctic Ocean, 4 weeks of riding on a DR 650. I got passed by a LOT of LARGER bikes on the trip, but I still had an epic trip and unlike the other larges bikes I didn't turn back because of road and weather conditions got to be too much to handle. I was blown off the road in a section of road called 'Hurricane Alley' by the locals. Fortunately I was able to pick up the bike and work my way out of the ditch to continue on. Those bikes didn't make it that far. On June 11, 2022 I dipped my toe in the Arctic Ocean and then started my journey south.
Correct on absolutely EVERY point. I would add that smaller bikes are also cheaper on insurance and easier to transport to repairs if they fail. Great video, excellent logic. Many years ago I owned a Seca 550. Beautiful, fun mid-size bike. Of the 10 motorcycles I have owned it was the smallest and by far, the most fun to ride. I still miss it. What the Seca 550 lacked in power (it could out-launch a twin-cam CB750) it more than made up for in versatility and sheer riding pleasure. I regret parting company with it. There is a stereotype about men buying large, powerful cars in order to compensate for feelings of inadequacy and insecurity. Unfortunately, there is some truth to this stereotype. I could cite examples. Another downside to large bikes is that RARELY do you ever get to feel/hear engine really working hard without risking a speeding ticket. Compounded by the fact that modern 500s and 600s have the power of 750s and 900s from 25 years ago. Ride safely. Have fun. Cheers.
@Daniel Smith there is truth in what you're saying but you're missing one of my points. A Decked Out Touring bike is one heck of a lot more work to get into the back of a pickup truck than a 550 Seca. As for repairs on the road , absolutely one should never travel without emergency money. A lesson I learned the hard way many years ago. But whatever you ride, the more capable you are repairing the bike on the road the better off you are which is why you need to know your motorcycle really well. And absolutely keep some spare parts on hand
Nice done and true facts. But in India people are fascinated with bikes and specially in rural area. When the bike is loaded with all luggage and carriers, they wish to know everything about it. I ride a superbike and royal enfield too and I have only caught eyes with a sense of curiosity in them and a lot of questions. Next time dont be afraid. No one will rob you👍
Nearly all my riding is on paved roads, most but not all. In 88' I took my 78' Goldwing, which I eventually put over 262,000 miles on, up to Happy Valley-Goosebay, Labrador and attempted to ride to Churchill Falls. It was like riding through a sand and gravel pit for about 40 miles. Not sure if it got better because that was about all I could take, ran out of courage. The soft sand in spots, and large round glacial rocks that kept my speed down to 10 miles an hour, plus the remoteness, turned me back. But, I'm glad I gave it a shot. It's something I'll never forget.
Heck! Most of riders here in the Philippines only use 110-150cc Scooter for long rides in provinces (but not rough terrain ones) yet still they only pack cloths, them selves, money, self courage and trust in their bike! BTW Nice video sir! =D
Completely agree. Really great advise. I started out on a world overland touring trip and the BMW R1200R stayed at home in Australia. It's too flash, too valuable and way too big. In Indonesia we rode across using a hired battered scooter. Perfect for Java. We fitted right in. Vietnam again hired small road bikes scooter and then dirt bikes for the caste country in the north fabulous. Europe more hire bikes. North America bought an an Indian. But different riding. Small is beautiful and a lot better riding between rice fields across bouncy suspension bridges or rocky trails. Hiring means you can love it and leave it. And beauracratic processes are much reduced.
How true this is. I've had far more fun off the beaten path a bit both here in Alaska and the lower 48 on my adv Honda than I've ever had on my HD road glide. The solitude, lack of traffic, ability to reduce the level of stress and not have to worry about your safety as much is priceless. It's especially rewarding to experience this all when given a lighter machine to manage your expended energy level, at least for me, is lower than with a huge bike and therefore I'm able to remain alert and avoid fatigue for longer periods. A very well done video. Please keep up the great work with them and above all, Please stay safe. Thank you!! 😎👍
Itchy boots proved your point. Thanks for the video. Ordered my new royal Enfield today. Big bikes are a pain in the arse. If you know your trade it’s in the skill not the tools.
I rented a Lifan 200 for 2 weeks, and had an absolute blast on the backroads of Belize, including a crash on a rain slick mountain road. Everything you say is 100% accurate. I would have been screwed, blued, and tattooed on my own v-strom 650.
So true. I have been riding over 40 years. I don't have a big bike anymore..... More fun with less! It's all about the journey not what your doing it on.
I did four long trips on a Yamamha XT500 is the 80s. England to Portugal return three times and Greece and back once. It never broke down. Great bike. More relaxed than a 250.
So true! We rode through Pakistan, India & Nepal on a 800 GS & 1090R few years ago. Almost everytime we stopped a crowd gathered around us. No one looted us😉, but tons of pics where taken & questions where asked. Although, I damit, this was nerve wrecking sometimes when you arrived at a guesthouse after 8-10 hrs and just wanted a shower and food.
@@kiradotee difficult situation, as most (western/first world) adventure bikes cost much more than the average Indian earns in a few years. We decided to answer (truthfully) as follows:' I had to work xx month for this bike'. So you neither have to lie nor to talk about 10'000+ €/$.
I road a r1100gs all up the east coast of australia. Up through the centre to Darwin. It was fantastic until I dropped it, man it was hard to pick up empty so a nightmare when loaded. Then I need a new back tyre. They had to take one of a display bike in the BMW shop. And that was in Darwin, the capital of the NT. So yes buy small cheap if it's reliable and common so you can get spares easy. Loved the bmw but never again. Great vid cheers
South East Asian loves small bikes and mopes. They are very reliable. The non modern ones can ride underwater during floods with snookler aid !!! If you don't ride hard, no valve adjustment needed after 8 years of use !!! Mine is 5 years without valve adjustment as the power is still there ! I ride modern mopes fast 100kmph average speed doing 600-800 km for weekend fun trip. My other quarter litre is half the range with 4-5 times maintenance cost ! I got two modern mopes , a smoky 125 two stroke dirt bike and a chainless mid size chopper.
@@rohzpopper4922 great post! so interesting, too. you are living a dream most americans can't even dream about lol ADV bikes here, lol Well, at least some try, some of the time.
great advise, especially for new riders. Also for vertically challenged riders ,. I am 5ft 6 in, and having your feet plated when you need it is a great conferdence boost. Having ridden oversea and all of NZ and riding pretty much everyday for the past 55 years I have met most challenges. At 71 I really am not 21 anymore and plan to ride many more years. We , my partner and I,.and she is a great passenger rode UK Scotland,Wales,Isle of Man and Ireland in 2019 and and on a 650 Vstrom we bought in Folkstone UK and bought it home to NZ..Its more than enough and would plan a couple of 250 Vstroms next trip should covid be under control befor I am pushing up daisey,s
Never mind daisies, do whatever you want. As the famous cartoon Snoopy says: -Someday, we will all die, Snoopy. +True, but on all the other days, we will not.”
I have a lot of different bikes and it true. Not only is it more fun, satisfying and engaging to ride the smaller bikes but you can see in the kms on the bike that the smaller get ridden a lot more.
You are totally right, i drove 40.000 km trough Indonesia on a Versys 650 and due road quality and usebility I suggest everyone to buy the Versys 250, they are easier to handle, have enough power, speed and drive comfort, but lighter bikes are much easier to handle in mountains and rural areas. Fully packed the Versys 650 has a weight of more than 250kg and the most, fuel and luggage makes her top heavy... I still enjoy my bike, especially the reliability, never had one failure during my adventure, only oil and tires, and one chain replacement, totally different with other bikes i had in the past.
c90adventures beat the hell out of his bike and did all kind of mods and fix so he can get to south america. I don't thing any part is original any more except the frame.
C100 is much more better. The new Rs150i are more awesome twin cam engine have succeed to reach London from Malaysia by a couple of newlyweds in snowy conditions !!! 7 C100 Malaysian riders did reached the highest road in the world on the way to London too. All are old guys !!
I've rode motorcycles for probably about 15 years, started off on a Honda Frankenstein 50 my dad made for myself and my sisters haha. Moved up to a 125, then a 225. Always had a blast. Then just this past year I bought an F800gs, and I've been having a wonderful time with it. It's brought a lot of happiness and joy into my life when I wasn't really enjoying life too much. It was used, low mileage (under 6k) and the price was also 6k. Had panniers, Shinko big blocks and everything I wanted. I honestly think it's what'll make you happy as the rider, along with whatever your competency, physical fitness level, and price point are. My F800gs weighs 510lbs with a full tank and the Aluminum Touratech panniers. I'm also a big guy though, in decent physical shape (6'1 220lbs), and have no trouble picking up this motorcycle when I have dropped it offroad. But I do feel a lot of that is technique, as well as using your brain. I definitely wouldn't recommend it for anyone too much smaller than I am though, and I agree it would be a lot easier to ride a 250cc or a lighter bike in general. But, I think a lot of it depends on some of the aspects I mentioned.
Great video....well narrated and your topics are on point. I will like to add that fuel consumption is much more economical on smaller displacement engines.
I have a 500x that has the full Rally Raid upgrade. I use this for longer more focused trips where riding long distance is comfortable and the ability to carry significant support kit makes the living outdoors experience a lot more pleasurable. Also have the CRF250L for the more off road/track type environment. Not comfortable for long haul but gets you to those special places.
I'd like to get a CB500x but the problem is a rally raid kit nearly costs 3000$ and the bikes itself costs 7000$. I couldn't decide whether I should get Tenere 700 for 10,000$ or CRF 300 Rally for my long trips 🤷♂
Makes sense, riding a motorcycle amongst the local inhabitants that cost equal to 20 years of there hard labor can only instigate resentment, ride a top heavy bike overloaded in rough terrain alone is asking for trouble, find a 650cc used painted with a spray can, that what I did love it, build your own panniers out of plywood, look like a hobo. People will have compassion and invite you to eat with them.
Hahaha, you make laugh about people see you as a hobo and invite you eat! That's not only clever, but is true that a low profile bike will not tempting anyone to rob you maybe they give you some money to go on your journey,
I'm guessing the number of people that actually do big 'adventure' trips is tiny. Most might go for a couple of weeks and do a few thousand km loop in places where off-road is rare/it's not really off-road/illegal. And when they get home, and do the other 95% of their riding during the rest of the year, they want a comfy Range Rover of a bike. And then, when you do the once in a life-time circumnavigation, you get something cheap, cheerful and disposable. If it makes it back in one piece, you hang it on the wall and get back on your 1190 (and 500 EXC when you fancy being naughty in the local woods).
spot on. The people doing around the world trips are a miniscule minority. Going on trips that may occasionally have gravel roads or dirt roads is what the big bikes are for. It can handle both, and it has comfort...which is something this video ignored. A Yamaha TT200 is not as comfortable as a Tenere.
Great advice 👍🏾really appreciate that👍🏾no1ever talks about having a smaller bike. Its always the Fastest and Biggest Bikes. No one ever talks cost, weight, theft, or being tried on a trip like this so Thankyou 👊🏽
Right on mate...Been riding since '69 (6 yrs old) and owned 6 Enfields, rode every single state of India, and Nepal, and Bhutan over many years; 130,000 adv klms on 350's and a 500...the only way to go on the sub-continent
I fully agree with all the reasons. I drive a Suzuki TU250G Grasstracker and am completely satisfied with its on-road and off-road capabilities. Thank you from Ukraine.
I love the message and the idea of owning a small motorcycle to do really cool exploring trips on, but I think the reason big (900cc +) advs are popular is they can be ridden on the commute as well as a trail. I live in the Midwestern USA and the nearest 'trail' is nearly 100 miles away or more. I currently ride a 1985 xt350 and I love it but I definitely would get more use out of something a bit bigger and a bit smoother and a bit heavier. Traffic here is 60-80mph (100-130kph) and it's a lot of stress on my little bike, plus its getting pushed all over. If I ride a bigger bike more of the time than I do the little bike, isn't that more riding?
As per usual, it depends a lot on the usage, terrain, money, experience... but the argument still stands. First of all, if you don't do trails or any dirt... why even grab an adventure bike then? There are more confortable bikes for long cruises. Even if you do some commuting and no trails, there are better solutions than a big adventure bike too. In the case that you want to comute at those speeds and do trails, why not grab something like a NC 750X, Teneré 700, Tenéré 660, a Versys 650 or even a CB500X? Sure, it depends on the commuting distance but those bikes are normally lighter than something like a 1250 GS. The ténerés will even be great for trails (as long as they aren't just rough, which in that case it's better to grab a dirt bike). The rest are more road oriented but they can somewhat do some trails. I would only grab a big adventure bike though if I'm tall, want to do long cruises at 120 kph and some light trails. In that case, yeah, they're great.
Again, referencing "Itchy Boots" she has now started posting up a new series of videos and is riding a 250cc Honda. It was probably one of the cheapest machines on offer from the dealership she used.
100% correct on all points. TTR250 FTW! Lightweight, air-cooled, understressed, cheap to fix, carb but you can get by without rejetting for altitude up to 10K' IME, over 11 inches of suspension travel and ground clearance, rides like a barely heavy dirt bike with plush trail suspension, runs on cheap gas and gets amazing gas mileage, runs fine with half the oil leaked out if you suck at cutting/buying gaskets, never overheats as long as you go at least 1mph, linkage takes a beating and mostly still works, electrical system works fine if you replace it every 20 years or 100,000 miles. You can beat the holy living shit out of it and it just keeps going. Dump it and pick it up a thousand times. And most important of all: fires up immediately every single time you hit the button, even after a get-off. OK, not sure if they're all like that but if you find one, marry it!
Definitely agree! Size is not everything! I have just come back to biking after 40 years off. I only have uk cbt currently so 125cc is the upper limit for me until I am confident enough of passing the uk test. I have a Honda Varadero 125 currently, that I absolutely love. It is big enough to have some presence on the busy roads around me and also be comfortable to ride. Yes a bit more grunt for overtaking would be nice but with age has come the realisation that speed is not the appeal anymore. Having dropped this bike whilst trying to load it on a trailer and pinned myself to the ground for some considerable time (alone) until I could wrestle my leg free, I am convinced that it is a heavy enough bike. I have a bigger bore kit coming to boost the capacity by a mere 50cc and from 14 to 20 hp after the test obviously!😂 I would love to start touring this bike and I think that smaller will increase the sense of genuine adventure for me.
The advantages and disadvantages of small verses large are pretty obvious. If your traveling solo it's just a matter of personal preference, anything will work. If your young and strong a big bike shouldn't be a problem unless your riding in extremely difficult terrain. If your small, old or weak and you plan on going off road you would be wise to go small.
If you are not a particularly big person, middle age or older, and do not feel that lifting a big bike fully loaded can be easily done….choose the smaller bike.
Your advice is common sense, really. I could never understand why people would _ever_ want to take anything bigger than 250cc offroad. It's like asking for trouble. This girl, Noraly, from the Itchy Boots channel rode one of those Royal Enfields across Asia comfortably. She's now in Africa on a Honda 250, even smaller than her Royal Enfield. It's all advertising to get people to buy bigger bikes, but globalls, most bikes are smaller than 250cc, especially in Asia, Africa and Latin America. I've ridden bikes all the way up to 1000cc and now, I'm quite happy with my 125cc Yamahas.
90 kg, you can ride very reliable Japanese 100 -150 bike. 100kg go ride a 250 or cb500x bike. Adv is about endurance and not top speed. Normal riding speed is only 70-100 kmph. 60 kmph on rocky terrain. You don't want the fun trip staying in foreign hospital ....
![АЛАУДИНОВ у Скабеевой: эти их ВСУ нас НЕ ДОГОНЯТ 😁 [Пародия]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/an0anqU4WGQ/mqdefault.jpg)
I got alot of inspiration to make this video all thanks to Pavlin from Motorcycle Adventures on youtube. Please go check out his awesome channel, probably the best motorcycle adventure channel here on youtube! ua-cam.com/users/motorcycleadventures
Good stuff.
No way 'Itchy Boots' beats everyone hands down , she is going to places that hardly any 'male' adventure rider has even dreamed of ...
Try xpulse 200 !! best adventure bike you will find... Lighter than Himalayan .. More off road capable... Less cruise speed compared to Himalayan but more milage...
I turn 80 this year and will sell my Vulcan 900 and buy a 250 cc dual purpose and get back to riding fun!
Hell yeah that's awesome
You must be kidding, 80 seriously...?
When I'll be 80 I'll sell my vulcan if I'll have one, to buy my final 250 cc ride bicasket......
P.s : Means seriously..are you 80 that's really amazing..that you still have spirit of biking in you...
🙌🙌⬆️⬆️⬆️ Legend spotted ⬆️⬆️⬆️🙌🙌
😀
I worked in the oilfield with a guy in his late 70’s that drove several liter super bikes. Rock on.
I will buy your Vulcan. I am after one. Seriously.
Before my mom passed last year she said to me, “never stop exploring”......I believe this is what she meant!
"It's the riding that we do on the road less traveled that the pleasure comes from"...that pretty much sums up my personal philosophy of the ultimate riding experience, thank you for the great quote!
No worries thanks for watching and enjoying the video 😁👍
I have been riding for 50 years and I totally agree with you
mucho GRACIOUS , much valuable info and true. Your video footage so realistic , i feel as tho I've taken the ride just by viewing your link.. .
60 years. And yes.
I have never ridden a motorcycle and i totally agree with u
@Daniel Smith I guess you have the experience to back that up. Or not.
The other side of an argument is faulty when based on presumption.
Itchy boots is living proof. She has covered half of the world with Royal enfield Himalayan.
On a Royal Enfield? But... but why?
@@jcorkable cause she is a legend 😊
Yes she has.....she’s done an awesome job of showing the world how one lady can tour the world on two wheels and take us with her every time. Look up itchy boots on you tube...you will not be disappointed at all!
She got a different bike - Honda CB500X. Much better bike, it's about the same size but has a bit more power and Honda's reliability.
@@stevelarson4487 after completing tour on RE
most people who drop over 10 grand on a bike are too afraid to go on a trip with it in fear they'll scuff up their precious investment. the best adventure bike is one you can afford to lose, if you ask me..
That’s one reason why I love small dualsports, when they fall and scratches start to show Up I don’t get upset, they are just battle scars showing that you’re using that bike as intended to.
Exactly, we must always take on account the risk of loosing that bike and if that happens wouldn't be the end of the world.
Amen!
I recently sold my 1200GS and bought a KTM390 ADV. I started on a KZ400 40 years ago. I've come full circle with no regrets.
I'm about there. Love my GS, but that bike is HUGE!
I prefer the GS 750 than 1200...too heavy 😬
@@jairalmeidajunior1262 Yep. Too heavy for anything but firm surfaces.
Tempted to get a KZ400 - how good are they for long rides? how's the gearing for highway?
@Old fisheyed Fool I owned 390 4 months ago amazing 🤩
Finally someone not advocating bigger, heavier bikes that like you said, are more unyielding, harder to pick up and you can't manoeuvre them as easily. 👍
You might enjoy this feature length Film on what it is like to ride a motorcycle around Australia. ua-cam.com/video/ep0gmY1d85s/v-deo.html
Totally Agree, I ride a Honda CRF 250 Rally here in the Philippines and it’s been up nearly everyone of the mountains that this beautiful country has to offer ✌🏾
hey man just curios, are the seats comfortable?
@@MarvilatAggies Hey Bro I’ve rode to Manila from here in Dumaguete and had no problem with the seat ✌🏾
@@MarvilatAggies more comfy if replaced with Seat Concept brand.
@@adityanugraha1640 thanks mate!
Itchy boots is dominating Africa on a CRF250 Rally. I might pick up the 300 Rally. Honda’s are indestructible
I like inexpensive so when I dump it , I cry less.
Haha yep well said 😂
Yeah. Easier to only wipe a few tears each time. I’d probably have a mid-life crisis every time I would drop some 1290
@@ZSmith-yy4lv ,,,to be closely followed by a hernia picking it up.
@@ZSmith-yy4lv Every time I see a KTM video I want to go straight out & buy one.
Then I remember I'm no Chris Birch...
Right! The key word is "when", not "if".
I agree with this. My first “cross country” trip was from southern Luzon to northern Luzon in the philippines. About 2400km round trip on nothing but provincial roads and some provincial highways. No expressways. I did it all on a 125cc Honda Wave and a backpack with the basics. The best time of my life. I plan to do it again as soon as this COVID crap goes away. This time on something slightly bigger. A 150cc Yamaha or Suzuki.
Now how awesome is that.. on a 125cc and a backpack. That's some good adventuring. I love it!
@@Wanderer1 Yeah, my only regret is not documenting at least some of it with videos and pictures. That was back when not a lot of people had smart phones. I didn’t even have a GPS device. I did it all by maps and asking for directions. I didn’t even have a digital camera. I was living in the moment. Next time I will have a few gadgets with me to take along for the ride.
@Paul Buskie haha yeah, well it wasn't always comfortable. plenty of pit stops to give my backside a rest. This was about 12 years ago when I was 25 or so. I'm 6'2 and I think i was 260lbs around that time. Im down to about 210lbs now. It took me about a week to complete the whole trip. I stayed in those "short time" hotels when i could because you can just drive your bike into the little garage and not have it sitting out in the open. Plus they are super cheap. i think the most expensive one was P400 for the night. I drive a 150cc Suzuki GR150 here in China. It's a lot less buzzy than the Wave. I'd like to find one in the Philippines or something similar and do an island hopping trip via ferry service. maybe luzon-leyte-cebu-dumaguete then same way back. Right now just biding my time and saving up for when that kind of travel becomes possible.
Honda wave is good...many of these are used in Argentina...they last a long time
Just bought my 175 Rusi for a road trip on Luzon and Mindoro in January.
so right...what I am telling others, there are two kinds of riders...ones who enjoy the speed and the ones who enjoy the ride. Bike trips are not for the people who enjoy the speed...there are special places for the people who enjoy the speed.
Bro I live in India, I really think they were just amazed to see the bike.We don't get to see costly bikes that often.
Yeah it's sad that we have to treat everyone interested in places like that with suspicion but as you know some ppl have bad intentions and even if you meet mostly cool ppl all it takes is for you to let your guard down around the wrong person once...
I believe you’re right. I initially bought an Africa Twin, which is a great bike, but I felt it was too big for what I wanted to do. Now I have a Himalayan and I’m much happier. I have a lot more confidence and comfort riding off road and in adverse conditions.
It was a big shock a few years ago to come to the same conclusion. I'd spent almost 40 yrs lusting after, owning & riding large displacement bikes & then dropped to the mid range stuff....& now, I might even dip under 500cc. I've gone full circle 😌
If you are around 80-100 kg, you can ride modern miles or small bikes around the world.
It's not about speed but endurance. 80-100 kmph, any modern Japanese bike can do it with 100 mpg advantage ! You carry minimal things only.
They are so good that they sell millions in SE Asia.
@Mustafa Hussein example a cbr250 will top out around 140km/hr and a rebel 500 will get up to 150, better for the highway. the biggest difference you'll really feel besides that is the 500 will weigh 200lb more.
i sold my 500 and bought a yamaha RS100, top speed 110km and weighs 190lb, has a huge amount of power for its size. I will always think the smaller bike makes more sense, better price and looks cool, forces you to be a better rider and play it safe on busy roads. I wish north america got the small diplacement motorcycles available in asia and india
@Mustafa Hussein search for "around the world on a honda grom" someone took it.. around the world
@Mustafa Hussein 500cc is better when you travelling mainly on bigger roads. It's safer to overtake and the revs are not so high = relaxed cruising. But if you have to ask i'd go for a small bike anyway to get some experience. And try a bigger bike later.
@@noongl8719 Just bc you can doesn't mean you should lol
I completely agree with you.
I'm driving Honda CRF250 Rally and I'm very happy. Easy to handle, easy to lift up, very low fuel consumption...
Small is beautiful
How about the seat comfort on your bike after an hour riding ?
@@dogansakarya5834 One hour sitting is no problem. Longer is not so comfortable. But whole day offroad driving with changing between seating and stand up is very comfortable.
dogan sakarya I have a Corbin on mine. Super comfy for those times when you get to sit.
At 58 im not in a race anymore, when i do go riding i want to enjoy the world around me. A couple hundred miles a day is plenty. Change the compass heading and take a different route home. I want reliability, economy. Kawasaki x300, so far a perfect bike for my needs.
It's 2021. In 2023 BMW will introduce the 2027 R2900GSA Turbo. 990 lbm but, hey, 400 hp. And autopilot, so it can go ride off by itself and you can just sit at home watching its videos.
L.O.L.
I already ordered one...
The multistrada already has radar
😂😂
Where did you get this information from
Thanks for a great video, and some very good insights! I'm 61 years old and have been riding bikes since I was 16. I've owned and ridden many bikes and currently have a BMW GS1150 Adventure, and a BMW Dakar 650. I find it more and more demanding riding my big bike, and migrate more often towards the lighter 650. Even this one is getting to feel a little too tall for me (old age is a bugger)! I'm now actually looking to go even smaller, so I'm 100% aligned to your sentiments. I enjoy riding, not speed! A smaller bike that handles easier is the way to go for me. Like other people have commented, I've gone full circle. Greeting from south Africa!
I have driven regular motorcycles for 26 years. Now that I am 75, I just bought a Burgman 400 because its the perfect bike for me. I like the step through to mount the bike, and the belt drive auto transmission makes life very simple. 400 cc is plenty of power.
A fellow South African ... Hoezit ... !!! I am plannining to buy my first adventure bike, @ 46, by the end of this year. At the moment the BMW F800 GSA is on the top of my list. Hopefuly we migt meet up in the bundu's one day ... Keep well.
@@jacopieterse138 lekka my maat! The 800 GSA is a great choice! Wishing you well with this and hoping you find a great bike! Cheers!
In India when people ask you about your bike it doesn't always means that they have a bad intention... most of the people are just interested by the bike and they just want to know more about it... people even ask me questions about my bicycle and they sometimes take pictures with it
99.9 of the people in the planet are good people
I support you
Nah they wanted to rob him.
@@KC08RAS are you one of them or what??
@@abhinaykarteek
One of who
I'm giving my 5 reasons without watching the video -
. They're smaller/lighter so less fatigue on long rides
. Very frugal, great fuel mileage. You save tons of money
. They're cheap and less exotic so less chance of theft or vandalism
. They're low maintenance and have lesser chance of breaking down
. Even if you do break something parts are easily available for mass produced smaller bikes
Haha and you're spot on. Maybe even better said than the video lol
Pavlin, motorcycle adventures.
You forgot one... they're just more fun!
I'm with you on those, except for some parts of the world a cheaper bike means it's more appealing to thieves, just cause it's easier and faster to sell.
Oh in Philippines, the common and cheaper your bike is, the more chances it gets stolen.
Why?
- parts will get sold faster, everyone has it.
- very light to carry
- easier and common wiring mechanisms to tamper
Less can be more, that goes also for bikes in general. After owning several K100RS and K75S, a 1400 Intruder and other big, heavy bikes I now ride a SH150i daily and an old CB500S on weekends. Bigger bikes are okay but I won't get a bike that's more than 200 kg. The old CB has 57 hp, weighs 180 kg and goes 170 km/h, I don't need more than that. I owned more than 30 bikes.
I'd get the new CRF300L for an adventure trip, it's light, cheap, reliable and fast enough.
I got to where you are after only 3 bikes :D I currently own a Yamaha TDM900A which I will keep for longer onroad trips with my girlfriend, but I am now buying the CRF300L for my 1 person commuter/adventure bike. I don't think I will ever need bigger power than my TDM900 has.
Here in India I've literally seen people go on a 12 hours ride or 300 km trips on a splendor bike which is a 110 to a 120 cc motorcycle.
I've also done a 3 hours trip on one with a pillion. It damn fun honestly 🤣
You are absolutely right brother...👍👍👍
IMB
Very good advice! A light bike with decent suspension is definitely my preferred choice.
I need a large motorcycle. Any less than one hundred horse power and it won't even be able to pull away, due to the sheer size and weight of my HUGE EGO.
Or are you built huge ?
Adventure riding , you travel at 70-100 kmph only. Faster you risk injuiry and the ride will be in jeopardy. You also miss the scenery....
Any modern small 150cc Japanese bike can do it. Malaysian riders have reached the top Himalayan highway on 7 Honda C100 !
If you can reached there, on a small bike, you can go anywhere ! They did it to reached London with 6 riders with one fatality to the lawless Indian roads
@@rohzpopper4922 I think you need to go back and read my comment again.
Personally I need it to carry my massive GS buying wallet and huge, cast tungsten testicles!
@@johnhill8529 LOL
@@johnhill8529 I hope they are Touratech Testicles
This is excellent and I agree - mostly. Here in North America we have high-speed highways that demand high horsepower. Often I simply have to get where I'm going. I'd love to go smaller and cheaper, but the need to do many highway miles keeps me on a bigger bike. All the best.
I appreciate the wise tips from someone who has actually done adventure riding 👍🏻
I travel in a 125cc...i have two 125 and every weekend i do 400kms...sometimes plus.
I enjoy every single km!
Next time, buy a 250cc (125+125=250), you will have more fun ;))
@@remypericard6508 then buy 500cc (250+250) to have even more fun. Also for extreme fun buy a 1000cc (500+500). That's how it got out of hand. 125 is plenty, i have a 125 honda monkey, 600cc honda hornet, and looking to buy a honda 250L rally soon. Plenty of fun with all of them, in their own elements.
@@siimtuulik6344 Yes, but with a 1000cc you don't have enough torque, I think you should consider a 1800 GW or a K1600 ;)) Seriously : the real dificult pb is 250L or 250Rally ? both are good bike with the same engine ; they have their cons & pros. how did you do to select the Rally againt the L ? The other question is if you have to keep only one ? the cb500x Adv ?
@@remypericard6508 I rode an electric trial motorbike for a long while and after that i really just wish to explore with my bikes now, as unhindered as i can, i suppose. Also doesn't help that i have done parkour for 14 years now, so i might be somewhat biased towards "climbing" with my bikes.
For me weight is really important. 70-160kg range really. Also need something comfortable and speedy enaugh for traveling.
I like the rally because it has most what i look for. The metal protection i will make for myself, and need to buy a lower seat but other than that it's all i need.
Also looked at Yamaha xt250 and TW200 and Tricker R1 XG250. But they don't sell them here, eu regulations, and no way to try them out.
I would keep the monkey 125, too much fun and does all i need.
Cb500x just too heavy for my type of riding, grest for light sand and gravel roads etc.
@@siimtuulik6344 Here in France, it is quite difficult & expensive to get the driving licence, so when you've got it, you want to have a "real" bike. So, now, you cannot buy new 250 cc anymore. Honda had tried many time without success, and there is no used bike as well. When I was young, a 500 cc or a 750 cc was a big bike. Now 500 cc is a little bike
I ride CRF1000
I like effective fuel range with bigger motorcycle. Sometimes there are places where fuel isnt to be found and you need to cross big distance. With good discipline, keeping higher gear and maintaining low speed, you can cross 500-600km on a big motorcycle with added external fuel tank. Also this is really important during onroad sections. Fuel is a real limiter in some places.
Also all big tour enduros are all at least capable road machines. Some are not just capable, but outright excelent. You get to enjoy that windy road if you like that kind of thing. Smaller are better offroad but strictly worse on road, no denying that.
Downside of bigger bike is - more training offroad required. You can do everything you can do on a lighter bike, and all of that is harder. If you like hard - thats what you can enjoy. There are lots of challenges there, but lots of possibilties also. Its a special art to handle those beasts offroad.
Also - if you carry passanger with you, more powerfull bike will more comfortable for both of you. Though naturally, not all destinations allows a passanger.
Regarding chosing type and class of motorcycle, everything is always tradeoff, always. There are no better bikes, only those that suit you for what you chose to be doing.
exactly.
EXCELLENT POINTS coming from someone with experience. It's so refreshing to hear from someone who's common sense is larger than his ego! Thank you sir!
Ed March on his channel c90adventures is living proof, he's had some amazing tours on mostly clapped out C90's.
Much the same applies to smaller adventures. I bought a G310GS for my 60th birthday. I hope to go on week long motorcycle camping vacations, but most of my adventures will be overnight trips, and my small bike is also much more useful for trips around town.
More power to the 1200GS folks if that's their thing. I don't get it, but that's OK. What I don't get that's not OK are the big ADV guys who complain in the online comments about smaller adventure bikes. I've wanted a 300cc adventure bike since 1975, manufacturers are finally making them, and these guys are trashing them and telling manufacturers not to build them. I can only assume these guys are trying to feel better about spending $20,000 on a big heavy bike, loading it with a ton of stuff, and then punishing themselves by fighting with it on a long trip.
Manufacturers - Larger fuel tanks! Putting an 11 liter fuel tank on an adventure bike is inexcusably dumb. It should have twice that fuel capacity.
Just ride what you like. I've ridden 650's most of my life. They've been good to me. Rode a BMW Dakar 650 to the tip of Baja and back, mostly on dirt. I'm currently riding a GS 800 on everything from slab on Hwy 50 across Nevada to ATV routes in the Utah desert. It's got its limitations but it's a blast. I'm currently considering something smaller because that looks fun too. Just ride. That's all.
I'm a very healthy active 74 year old.... been riding since I was 10...ride and love my Africa twin..best handling bike for older guy for adventure riding and some light off road stuff
I couldn't agree more (17.000km from The Netherlands to Nepal with an old 750 Africa Twin)
Have you made a blog about your journey?
That's not a small bike! Quite de opposite.
Thankyou... so motivation for me... i will start my short travel in my country Indonesia with small bike 110cc Honda scooter matic
One more time thankyou
A maxim of sailing is ‘use the boat you have’, because so many people get caught up in having a bigger better boat before they do the adventures.
Same goes for lots of adventure activities - use what you have, or what you can afford. My current ride is a DRZ250, and yes it can be loaded onto the sailboat.
could not agree more! This summer and fall Idid:
1000 mile camping trip from my home in Sedona AZ to Colorado, New Mexico, Utah.
700 miles through Mexico
Numerous 200 mule day trips
Hundreds of miles of freeway
Even more off-road
No breakdowns, problems. How, Honda CRF 250L. Same bike Steph Jeavons rode around the world, *with no breakdowns). This video NAILS the reasons to choose the Jeep over the Escalade.
I just wanted to deliver a message it's about the journey while the bike is a tool . I prefer to not to worry and enjoy the ride .
For most people doing this the bike is more than a tool. That explains the bigger bikes.
@@Lecruque aaaah. Well there's something about being able to hide behind fairings ....and also to enjoy the unobstructed views without it
I have just sold my 2018 R1200GS rallye and have ordered a new 2021 Royal Enfield Himalayan (hopefully delivered mid april to dealer). For the exact reasons mentioned in this vid..I live in the UK and the Himalayan will see Europe and the Mediterranean at a more fun leisurely pace using 'B' roads only for once :D
If we get freedom back and we are allowed to freely travel....
Munta! Sounds like a plan … but I bet in less than 2 years you’ll Bon that piece of shit and buy another big bike !
Good luck either way !
Thank you. My last bike was 31 Years ago. Suzuki TRS 150. Now it is tiime to come back for ride.. get my license, purchase a helmet, jacket, gloves..and a 500cc ..yesterday i tested ride KTM duke 390 and bmw gs310..still testing..
I have ridden solo around North America on.a 1300cc FJR, 27000km over 2 months and truly enjoyed it. It's a heavy bike, meant for highways and not to be dropped which I didn't. Making a major which, I have recently returned from a 8000km trip to the Arctic Ocean, 4 weeks of riding on a DR 650. I got passed by a LOT of LARGER bikes on the trip, but I still had an epic trip and unlike the other larges bikes I didn't turn back because of road and weather conditions got to be too much to handle. I was blown off the road in a section of road called 'Hurricane Alley' by the locals. Fortunately I was able to pick up the bike and work my way out of the ditch to continue on. Those bikes didn't make it that far. On June 11, 2022 I dipped my toe in the Arctic Ocean and then started my journey south.
Hi. I agree with you. I owned R1150GS and I can tell that weight matters in offroad.
Correct on absolutely EVERY point. I would add that smaller bikes are also cheaper on insurance and easier to transport to repairs if they fail. Great video, excellent logic.
Many years ago I owned a Seca 550. Beautiful, fun mid-size bike. Of the 10 motorcycles I have owned it was the smallest and by far, the most fun to ride. I still miss it. What the Seca 550 lacked in power (it could out-launch a twin-cam CB750)
it more than made up for in versatility and sheer riding pleasure.
I regret parting company with it.
There is a stereotype about men buying large, powerful cars in order to compensate for feelings of inadequacy and insecurity. Unfortunately, there is some truth to this stereotype. I could cite examples. Another downside to large bikes is that RARELY do you ever get to feel/hear engine really working hard without risking a speeding ticket. Compounded by the fact that modern 500s and 600s have the power of 750s and 900s from 25 years ago.
Ride safely. Have fun. Cheers.
@Daniel Smith there is truth in what you're saying but you're missing one of my points. A Decked Out Touring bike is one heck of a lot more work to get into the back of a pickup truck than a 550 Seca. As for repairs on the road , absolutely one should never travel without emergency money. A lesson I learned the hard way many years ago. But whatever you ride, the more capable you are repairing the bike on the road the better off you are which is why you need to know your motorcycle really well. And absolutely keep some spare parts on hand
Nice done and true facts. But in India people are fascinated with bikes and specially in rural area. When the bike is loaded with all luggage and carriers, they wish to know everything about it. I ride a superbike and royal enfield too and I have only caught eyes with a sense of curiosity in them and a lot of questions. Next time dont be afraid. No one will rob you👍
Nearly all my riding is on paved roads, most but not all. In 88' I took my 78' Goldwing, which I eventually put over 262,000 miles on, up to Happy Valley-Goosebay, Labrador and attempted to ride to Churchill Falls. It was like riding through a sand and gravel pit for about 40 miles. Not sure if it got better because that was about all I could take, ran out of courage. The soft sand in spots, and large round glacial rocks that kept my speed down to 10 miles an hour, plus the remoteness, turned me back. But, I'm glad I gave it a shot. It's something I'll never forget.
Heck! Most of riders here in the Philippines only use 110-150cc Scooter for long rides in provinces (but not rough terrain ones) yet still they only pack cloths, them selves, money, self courage and trust in their bike! BTW Nice video sir! =D
Completely agree. Really great advise. I started out on a world overland touring trip and the BMW R1200R stayed at home in Australia. It's too flash, too valuable and way too big. In Indonesia we rode across using a hired battered scooter. Perfect for Java. We fitted right in. Vietnam again hired small road bikes scooter and then dirt bikes for the caste country in the north fabulous. Europe more hire bikes. North America bought an an Indian. But different riding. Small is beautiful and a lot better riding between rice fields across bouncy suspension bridges or rocky trails. Hiring means you can love it and leave it. And beauracratic processes are much reduced.
How true this is.
I've had far more fun off the beaten path a bit both here in Alaska and the lower 48 on my adv Honda than I've ever had on my HD road glide.
The solitude, lack of traffic, ability to reduce the level of stress and not have to worry about your safety as much is priceless.
It's especially rewarding to experience this all when given a lighter machine to manage your expended energy level, at least for me, is lower than with a huge bike and therefore I'm able to remain alert and avoid fatigue for longer periods.
A very well done video.
Please keep up the great work with them and above all,
Please stay safe.
Thank you!!
😎👍
There is a maxim with sailors that applies here: The smaller the boat, the more you will sail it.
It's well worth playing this video at 1.25 speed to make his voice sound like it hasn't been slowed down ✔️
Excellent video! all those Aggressive riders need to take note. I would like to add you feel the terrain much better on a smaller lighter bike
Itchy boots proved your point. Thanks for the video. Ordered my new royal Enfield today. Big bikes are a pain in the arse. If you know your trade it’s in the skill not the tools.
I rented a Lifan 200 for 2 weeks, and had an absolute blast on the backroads of Belize, including a crash on a rain slick mountain road. Everything you say is 100% accurate. I would have been screwed, blued, and tattooed on my own v-strom 650.
So true. I have been riding over 40 years. I don't have a big bike anymore..... More fun with less! It's all about the journey not what your doing it on.
Don’t have any problems whit big bikes. Pack them well and enjoy your ride🤘🏼.
Better train your self that is my advice.
Drive safe🤘🏼
And stick to the roads. The narrow, rocky mountain trails I ride would rip the undersides out of most porky "adventure" bikes.
yes you are right.... after riding many many miles on the track, i decided to buy a small 310 cc bike , never,ever had so much fun with it ..
I did four long trips on a Yamamha XT500 is the 80s. England to Portugal return three times and Greece and back once. It never broke down. Great bike. More relaxed than a 250.
In India, when people ask about the bike, they are curious and interested in the bike. They don't want to loot you 90% of times.
So true! We rode through Pakistan, India & Nepal on a 800 GS & 1090R few years ago. Almost everytime we stopped a crowd gathered around us. No one looted us😉, but tons of pics where taken & questions where asked. Although, I damit, this was nerve wrecking sometimes when you arrived at a guesthouse after 8-10 hrs and just wanted a shower and food.
True that
Can they ask how much I paid for it? What should I say?
@@kiradotee difficult situation, as most (western/first world) adventure bikes cost much more than the average Indian earns in a few years. We decided to answer (truthfully) as follows:' I had to work xx month for this bike'. So you neither have to lie nor to talk about 10'000+ €/$.
90%, so if you have 20 people standing around your bike 2 of them will rob you? :D
The primary reason to buy a big capacity and powerful motorcycle is not to start an adventure but seems like a macho man.
Very good points made in this video. I ride an 03 Honda XR250R. Super fun, low maintenance and all the power you really need.
Very clarifying video! Small bikes are the wise option either for a long trip or for cities traffic. Big bikes are for self pleasure and show off.
Benefit from big bike:
Moar powah and thrills.
Disadvantages:
Every else
I road a r1100gs all up the east coast of australia. Up through the centre to Darwin. It was fantastic until I dropped it, man it was hard to pick up empty so a nightmare when loaded. Then I need a new back tyre. They had to take one of a display bike in the BMW shop. And that was in Darwin, the capital of the NT. So yes buy small cheap if it's reliable and common so you can get spares easy. Loved the bmw but never again. Great vid cheers
Damn bro now that sounds like a punish. This is why my next bike will be a Yamaha WR250R, really great lightweight and indestructible machine.
South East Asian loves small bikes and mopes. They are very reliable. The non modern ones can ride underwater during floods with snookler aid !!! If you don't ride hard, no valve adjustment needed after 8 years of use !!! Mine is 5 years without valve adjustment as the power is still there !
I ride modern mopes fast 100kmph average speed doing 600-800 km for weekend fun trip. My other quarter litre is half the range with 4-5 times maintenance cost ! I got two modern mopes , a smoky 125 two stroke dirt bike and a chainless mid size chopper.
@@rohzpopper4922 great post! so interesting, too. you are living a dream most americans can't even dream about lol ADV bikes here, lol Well, at least some try, some of the time.
When I bought my bike, everyone was asking if I should buy a 1200 GS....
I bought a F800 GSA and I’ve never regretted it for a second!
You speak from my soul. A small motorcycle has a magic few appreciate
great advise, especially for new riders. Also for vertically challenged riders ,. I am 5ft 6 in, and having your feet plated when you need it is a great conferdence boost. Having ridden oversea and all of NZ and riding pretty much everyday for the past 55 years I have met most challenges. At 71 I really am not 21 anymore and plan to ride many more years. We , my partner and I,.and she is a great passenger rode UK Scotland,Wales,Isle of Man and Ireland in 2019 and and on a 650 Vstrom we bought in Folkstone UK and bought it home to NZ..Its more than enough and would plan a couple of 250 Vstroms next trip should covid be under control befor I am pushing up daisey,s
Never mind daisies, do whatever you want. As the famous cartoon Snoopy says:
-Someday, we will all die, Snoopy.
+True, but on all the other days, we will not.”
And for all those reasons that’s why I bought a RE Himalayan.
I have a lot of different bikes and it true. Not only is it more fun, satisfying and engaging to ride the smaller bikes but you can see in the kms on the bike that the smaller get ridden a lot more.
You are totally right, i drove 40.000 km trough Indonesia on a Versys 650 and due road quality and usebility I suggest everyone to buy the Versys 250, they are easier to handle, have enough power, speed and drive comfort, but lighter bikes are much easier to handle in mountains and rural areas. Fully packed the Versys 650 has a weight of more than 250kg and the most, fuel and luggage makes her top heavy... I still enjoy my bike, especially the reliability, never had one failure during my adventure, only oil and tires, and one chain replacement, totally different with other bikes i had in the past.
c90adventures beat the hell out of his bike and did all kind of mods and fix so he can get to south america. I don't thing any part is original any more except the frame.
Sorry for this but, its think*
C100 is much more better.
The new Rs150i are more awesome twin cam engine have succeed to reach London from Malaysia by a couple of newlyweds in snowy conditions !!! 7 C100 Malaysian riders did reached the highest road in the world on the way to London too. All are old guys !!
Excellent video and advice.. Commonsense rocks! even though I never thought of an REH as being lightweight.
I've rode motorcycles for probably about 15 years, started off on a Honda Frankenstein 50 my dad made for myself and my sisters haha. Moved up to a 125, then a 225. Always had a blast. Then just this past year I bought an F800gs, and I've been having a wonderful time with it. It's brought a lot of happiness and joy into my life when I wasn't really enjoying life too much. It was used, low mileage (under 6k) and the price was also 6k. Had panniers, Shinko big blocks and everything I wanted. I honestly think it's what'll make you happy as the rider, along with whatever your competency, physical fitness level, and price point are.
My F800gs weighs 510lbs with a full tank and the Aluminum Touratech panniers. I'm also a big guy though, in decent physical shape (6'1 220lbs), and have no trouble picking up this motorcycle when I have dropped it offroad. But I do feel a lot of that is technique, as well as using your brain. I definitely wouldn't recommend it for anyone too much smaller than I am though, and I agree it would be a lot easier to ride a 250cc or a lighter bike in general. But, I think a lot of it depends on some of the aspects I mentioned.
I agree with you. It’s subjective based on an individual’s height, fitness and knacks.
I've been saying this since 2004 . So many people still drink the kool-aid from the advertising. Less is more.
Great video....well narrated and your topics are on point. I will like to add that fuel consumption is much more economical on smaller displacement engines.
Thanks Ian 😁👍 welcome to the channel
Its not what you ride, it's the destination...& Getting there in one piece.👍
It's not the destination it's the ride.
I agree with that, and it’s not the first time I’ve seen that advice. It also applies to small cars. Honda Jazz for the win!
I have a 500x that has the full Rally Raid upgrade. I use this for longer more focused trips where riding long distance is comfortable and the ability to carry significant support kit makes the living outdoors experience a lot more pleasurable. Also have the CRF250L for the more off road/track type environment. Not comfortable for long haul but gets you to those special places.
I'd like to get a CB500x but the problem is a rally raid kit nearly costs 3000$ and the bikes itself costs 7000$. I couldn't decide whether I should get Tenere 700 for 10,000$ or CRF 300 Rally for my long trips 🤷♂
Makes sense, riding a motorcycle amongst the local inhabitants that cost equal to 20 years of there hard labor can only instigate resentment, ride a top heavy bike overloaded in rough terrain alone is asking for trouble, find a 650cc used painted with a spray can, that what I did love it, build your own panniers out of plywood, look like a hobo. People will have compassion and invite you to eat with them.
Is a true
Hahaha, you make laugh about people see you as a hobo and invite you eat! That's not only clever, but is true that a low profile bike will not tempting anyone to rob you maybe they give you some money to go on your journey,
Go smaller. That's a mid range.
Japanese bikes are very reliable and cheap
I'm guessing the number of people that actually do big 'adventure' trips is tiny. Most might go for a couple of weeks and do a few thousand km loop in places where off-road is rare/it's not really off-road/illegal. And when they get home, and do the other 95% of their riding during the rest of the year, they want a comfy Range Rover of a bike.
And then, when you do the once in a life-time circumnavigation, you get something cheap, cheerful and disposable. If it makes it back in one piece, you hang it on the wall and get back on your 1190 (and 500 EXC when you fancy being naughty in the local woods).
spot on. The people doing around the world trips are a miniscule minority. Going on trips that may occasionally have gravel roads or dirt roads is what the big bikes are for. It can handle both, and it has comfort...which is something this video ignored. A Yamaha TT200 is not as comfortable as a Tenere.
@@jtfike I think this video was focused on those few handful of people who travel the world on a motorbike.
My first bike was a Honda 305 scrambler. Excellent bike top speed 85 mph. It would go anywhere i pointed it.
Great advice 👍🏾really appreciate that👍🏾no1ever talks about having a smaller bike. Its always the Fastest and Biggest Bikes. No one ever talks cost, weight, theft, or being tried on a trip like this so Thankyou 👊🏽
I drive my WR250 quite slowly on road. That changes when I hit dirt, that sucker can fly. I leave my big bike colleagues - literally in the dust.
Right on mate...Been riding since '69 (6 yrs old) and owned 6 Enfields, rode every single state of India, and Nepal, and Bhutan over many years; 130,000 adv klms on 350's and a 500...the only way to go on the sub-continent
Ahhh I completely agree with you 👍🏽
Big bikes are status symbols. And many people struggle with them.
I fully agree with all the reasons. I drive a Suzuki TU250G Grasstracker and am completely satisfied with its on-road and off-road capabilities.
Thank you from Ukraine.
I love the message and the idea of owning a small motorcycle to do really cool exploring trips on, but I think the reason big (900cc +) advs are popular is they can be ridden on the commute as well as a trail.
I live in the Midwestern USA and the nearest 'trail' is nearly 100 miles away or more. I currently ride a 1985 xt350 and I love it but I definitely would get more use out of something a bit bigger and a bit smoother and a bit heavier. Traffic here is 60-80mph (100-130kph) and it's a lot of stress on my little bike, plus its getting pushed all over.
If I ride a bigger bike more of the time than I do the little bike, isn't that more riding?
As per usual, it depends a lot on the usage, terrain, money, experience... but the argument still stands.
First of all, if you don't do trails or any dirt... why even grab an adventure bike then? There are more confortable bikes for long cruises. Even if you do some commuting and no trails, there are better solutions than a big adventure bike too.
In the case that you want to comute at those speeds and do trails, why not grab something like a NC 750X, Teneré 700, Tenéré 660, a Versys 650 or even a CB500X? Sure, it depends on the commuting distance but those bikes are normally lighter than something like a 1250 GS. The ténerés will even be great for trails (as long as they aren't just rough, which in that case it's better to grab a dirt bike). The rest are more road oriented but they can somewhat do some trails.
I would only grab a big adventure bike though if I'm tall, want to do long cruises at 120 kph and some light trails. In that case, yeah, they're great.
@@TheXtremeSS my thought exactly
Again, referencing "Itchy Boots" she has now started posting up a new series of videos and is riding a 250cc Honda. It was probably one of the cheapest machines on offer from the dealership she used.
100% correct on all points. TTR250 FTW! Lightweight, air-cooled, understressed, cheap to fix, carb but you can get by without rejetting for altitude up to 10K' IME, over 11 inches of suspension travel and ground clearance, rides like a barely heavy dirt bike with plush trail suspension, runs on cheap gas and gets amazing gas mileage, runs fine with half the oil leaked out if you suck at cutting/buying gaskets, never overheats as long as you go at least 1mph, linkage takes a beating and mostly still works, electrical system works fine if you replace it every 20 years or 100,000 miles. You can beat the holy living shit out of it and it just keeps going. Dump it and pick it up a thousand times. And most important of all: fires up immediately every single time you hit the button, even after a get-off. OK, not sure if they're all like that but if you find one, marry it!
Definitely agree! Size is not everything! I have just come back to biking after 40 years off. I only have uk cbt currently so 125cc is the upper limit for me until I am confident enough of passing the uk test. I have a Honda Varadero 125 currently, that I absolutely love. It is big enough to have some presence on the busy roads around me and also be comfortable to ride. Yes a bit more grunt for overtaking would be nice but with age has come the realisation that speed is not the appeal anymore.
Having dropped this bike whilst trying to load it on a trailer and pinned myself to the ground for some considerable time (alone) until I could wrestle my leg free, I am convinced that it is a heavy enough bike. I have a bigger bore kit coming to boost the capacity by a mere 50cc and from 14 to 20 hp after the test obviously!😂 I would love to start touring this bike and I think that smaller will increase the sense of genuine adventure for me.
The advantages and disadvantages of small verses large are pretty obvious. If your traveling solo it's just a matter of personal preference, anything will work. If your young and strong a big bike shouldn't be a problem unless your riding in extremely difficult terrain. If your small, old or weak and you plan on going off road you would be wise to go small.
If you are not a particularly big person, middle age or older, and do not feel that lifting a big bike fully loaded can be easily done….choose the smaller bike.
I’ll rock my Grom, thank you very much.
Your advice is common sense, really.
I could never understand why people would _ever_ want to take anything bigger than 250cc offroad. It's like asking for trouble.
This girl, Noraly, from the Itchy Boots channel rode one of those Royal Enfields across Asia comfortably.
She's now in Africa on a Honda 250, even smaller than her Royal Enfield.
It's all advertising to get people to buy bigger bikes, but globalls, most bikes are smaller than 250cc, especially in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
I've ridden bikes all the way up to 1000cc and now, I'm quite happy with my 125cc Yamahas.
So true ,small big less costs 👍👍👍riding is about the experience not about types of bike or cost of bike .
Lots of wisdom....thank you, stay safe.
The best bike hat i've had was old Transalp 400 (yes, not the 600 version)
Just completed 2000 miles across Uganda and Kenya on my xpulse 200. Can't agree more with this guy.
So glad I ran across this, I want to go small but feel like everyone says go big
90 kg, you can ride very reliable Japanese 100 -150 bike. 100kg go ride a 250 or cb500x bike. Adv is about endurance and not top speed. Normal riding speed is only 70-100 kmph. 60 kmph on rocky terrain. You don't want the fun trip staying in foreign hospital ....