some sexy new adventure bikes

[Darren Williams]

My heart yearns for the V85TT but this little Honda might be an excellent choice for pensioners weary of heavy bikes



https://powersports.honda.com/street/adventure/cb500x

We had a 2014 CB500X that my wife toured on. Light weight and low power (but would cruise at 85mph and passing ability was OK when fully loaded) but was bulletproof. Never an issue. The bike was ridden to the BRP, All over Colorado, Texas Hill Country and countless Ozark trips from our home in Oklahoma. It's a budget bike from suspension and gadgets standpoint, but the rest is very well designed and made. Never did much off road (ours had a 17" front wheel) but handled everything else quite well. Oh, and have to add it got great MPG and only requires regular gas, easily getting 200 miles per tank. 

[Darren Williams]

I kinda like the Yamaha 700 Tenere that should be out this year. Not real big, plenty of dealers available and Yamaha's reliability. The others, not so much.




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I can't wait to see one in person and test it out. Might be my next new bike, replacing both the WR250 and the R1200GS. That would get me down to 4 bikes! The FJR, FJ09 and Griso have very stable spots in the garage.

The GS could go to a good home for not much cash.   

[Siamese]

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!! Nothing can be added to this conversation, well said Sir😂😂😂👍👍👍

That little bugger was on my short list when I ultimately got my 2018, V7III Special.  That little Honda ticks a lot of boxes.  I just found it a bit galling that it needs a valve adjustment at the first service, and it's a total beast to do.  Of course, the Guzzi also has a much higher CGF (cool guy factor). 

[zedXmick]

1) Harley, a beautiful motorcycle stunner actually, can’t wait to test ride one.

2) if I would use it as a dirt bike the new Yamaha 700

3) one I would buy today Honda CB 500 and RR kit it. 

4) the Honda AT 1100 looks even more top heavy than the 1000 and more fugly.....

[Darren Williams]

I just found it (CB500) a bit galling that it needs a valve adjustment at the first service, and it's a total beast to do.

By the time I bought mine, Sept. 2014, that first service valve check suggestion was disregarded.  CB500 forum had a lot about it being overkill by Honda.  At the 18,000 mile first scheduled check interval, mine needed 2 exhaust shims that were slightly snug (both only changed by two shim sizes) and probably could have gotten by without doing it. Actually wasn't that hard. Have to drop the radiator, but the cam rocker pivot shaft comes loose very easy to access the shims. One of the easier bikes to do, that has overhead cams and shims.

[Knuckle Dragger]

For me the new Gold Standard in ADV bikes looks like it will be Husky's new Norden 901.  Assuming Stephan Pierer allows KTM to manufacture it as a close facsimile of their prototype, it seems to me the most complete, carefully crafted long-range tourer on the market.

120 odd neddies, 100-ish Nm. of torques, less than 200 odd kg. of wet weight, low C of G, 'superior' integrated fuel, engine and bodywork protection & about 500 odd Km. of range.  That proprietary (waterproof?) soft luggage system looks pretty good too.

The only thing missing is a cardan drive to make it in my opinion the definitive iteration of a long-range , rough road ADV to date.  Assuming the price is kept within sane boundaries, that is.

It's also nowhere near as pig-ugly (in that 'beloved' insectoid, praying mantis style) as most KTM are wont to be.  Not a trace of hideous orange anywhere.  But, still, it's a KTM at heart.  That old adage of "KTM on Sunday, ATM on Monday" high maintenance expense supposedly still applies.

https://www.rideapart.com/articles/388399/husqvarna-norden-901-adv-overview/

[Blaufeld66]

The so-called "ADV bikes" of today that are heavy, convoluted, and full of brittle plastics appeals to the crowd that will, perhaps, travel on well-paved roads but think that a BMW K1200 LT is for "old men"... 

[JohninVT]

For me the new Gold Standard in ADV bikes looks like it will be Husky's new Norden 901.  Assuming Stephan Pierer allows KTM to manufacture it as a close facsimile of their prototype, it seems to me the most complete, carefully crafted long-range tourer on the market.

120 odd neddies, 100-ish Nm. of torques, less than 200 odd kg. of wet weight, low C of G, 'superior' integrated fuel, engine and bodywork protection & about 500 odd Km. of range.  That proprietary (waterproof?) soft luggage system looks pretty good too.

The only thing missing is a cardan drive to make it in my opinion the definitive iteration of a long-range , rough road ADV to date.  Assuming the price is kept within sane boundaries, that is.

It's also nowhere near as pig-ugly (in that 'beloved' insectoid, praying mantis style) as most KTM are wont to be.  Not a trace of hideous orange anywhere.  But, still, it's a KTM at heart.  That old adage of "KTM on Sunday, ATM on Monday" high maintenance expense supposedly still applies.

https://www.rideapart.com/articles/388399/husqvarna-norden-901-adv-overview/

There is exactly zero chance the Norden is under 440lbs.  KTM is lying(like Ducati and everyone else) about the weight of the 890.  It's well over 400lbs ready to ride since they list dry weight without fuel, oil, a battery, water or even fork oil.  It's more like 430lbs+ ready to ride.  A Norden, with beefed up subframe, luggage mounts, skitplate, fairing, etc is going to be 460-480. 

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

I agree with much of the above.  Impressive technology.  Just doesn't turn on my heart light.  Not really applicable to my riding style, where I ride, my height, or my age.

A post 1996 Suzuki DR650 is still the best fit for my riding, my location, and general simplicity/functionality.  Tinkerability and after market farkles are a big bonus.

If you haven't tried one out yet do so.  As a former editor of Cycle World said "Every time I ride a DR 650 I wonder, why don't I own one of these?"

I had the money for a v85 burning a hole in my pocket, but while I was waiting for release date & fretting over which dealer in the 4-6hr round-trip range to buy from... I saw a nicely farkled 2014 dr650 come up on Adventure Rider in the mid 3k's...  I bought that thing and havent regretted it for a second. Sure it's underpowered, but I still love it. It's pretty fun to ride, and like yourself--it fits my location and the riding I want to do perfectly.

[Rough Edge racing]

A true adventure bike needs to be as simple as possible to get the job done , it seems highly unlikely there will be a mechanic in Botswana or Terlingua TX who can work on any of those after it tangles with some local large fauna .

 Oh , and they are all kinda ugly 

 Dusty

 Absolutley.....And ugly...

[PeteS]

There is exactly zero chance the Norden is under 440lbs.  KTM is lying(like Ducati and everyone else) about the weight of the 890.  It's well over 400lbs ready to ride since they list dry weight without fuel, oil, a battery, water or even fork oil.  It's more like 430lbs+ ready to ride.  A Norden, with beefed up subframe, luggage mounts, skitplate, fairing, etc is going to be 460-480.

If true about the KTM or MV that means the weight is the same as a KLR with 2 1/2-3 times the horsepower. I don't see these bikes as true off road machines but ones you can ride cross country on hard pavement as well as gravel roads. The V85 is still at the top of my list but also not intrigued with having to go 350 miles to buy one. Been spoiled for decades with one of the best dealerships in the country until the owner passed.

Pete

[Scud]

Here's one to add to the list, the Husqvarna Norden 901 will be available in a while:

https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2019/12/03/husqvarna-norden-901-going-into-production-adventure-touring-motorcycle/

[Moto]

Quite honestly, if the name plates/logos of these were all randomly reassigned I wouldn't know the difference.

Moto

[TN Mark]

The MV is by far the best looking in the video as well as the least likely to leave the pavement. The H-D and the Yamaha are tied for second place in the looks department. Kawasaki and Suzuki are just, well boring to look at. I literally yawned upon seeing them in the video. By far the ugliest bike is the KTM. Was it KTM’s intension to make it so ugly. BMW, again, boring and ugly. Enough of the ‘beaks’ on this type of bike. It’s so over done.

But yea, the little Guzzi V85 is quite handsome.

[twowheeladdict]

If I were going to buy one of those bikes for actual touring it would have to be the Yamaha. 

I would pick the Harley over the rest because of the dealer network if needed. 

[Bisbonian]

If I were going to buy one of those bikes for actual touring it would have to be the Yamaha. 

I would pick the Harley over the rest because of the dealer network if needed.

But do you think the general H-D dealer will be well-equipped to work on this bike?

[TN Mark]

But do you think the general H-D dealer will be well-equipped to work on this bike?

Yes, absolutely. There’s nothing their that’s really unique. All the same parts but arranged a bit differently. No one else comes close to the H-D support/dealer network.

[blu guzz]

back in my beemer days 97-2015, i always thought the gs would be the bike for me, but could not get past the looks.  i can say the same for this entire crop we see here, just one man's opinion. 

[JJ]

IMHO...a lot of today's 1000+cc adventure bikes are way too big and heavy for off-road use...   Lighter is better...

If I buy an adventure bike for just putting around...it will be about this big....(200cc - 300cc)

[twowheeladdict]

IMHO...a lot of today's 1000+cc adventure bikes are way too big and heavy for off-road use...   Lighter is better...

If I buy an adventure bike for just putting around...it will be about this big....(200cc - 300cc)

That's a dual sport.

The Royal Enfield Himalayan and a few others meet the small Adventure bike category.

The YouTube video was mostly Adventure Touring bikes with emphasis on touring.  In very capable hands they can be ridden off road. 

[JJ]

That's a dual sport.

The Royal Enfield Himalayan and a few others meet the small Adventure bike category.

The YouTube video was mostly Adventure Touring bikes with emphasis on touring.  In very capable hands they can be ridden off road.

OK...I stand corrected... see below...  

I always have the ongoing debate with my riding friends, that any "Adventure Bike" needs to cruise at 70-75 mph on the freeways occasionally...at least that's what I would want a bike to do...otherwise, one is limited...

[JohninVT]

OK...I stand corrected... see below...  

I always have the ongoing debate with my riding friends, that any "Adventure Bike" needs to cruise at 70-75 mph on the freeways occasionally...at least that's what I would want a bike to do...otherwise, one is limited...

Niche marketing is just that, marketing.  In practice, there’s no such thing as an “Adventure” bike.  Nick Sanders and Sjaak Lucassen both rode R1’s around the world...African deserts, jungles, South American river crossings, etc.  It would be pretty silly trying to argue that riding a bike 150,000 in five years...literally all around the world wasn’t an adventure.  Therefore, a Yamaha R1 can absolutely be considered an “Adventure bike”. 

It’s how you use it, not what it looks like, imho. 

[Testarossa]

There's a recent article in ADV to the effect that over the next two/three years Husqvarna will introduce adventure bikes at 500, 400, 250 and 125cc. At some point one of those will be light enough to be practical on horrible washed-out dirt roads. Odds are the smaller ones will come from India or ???

I met one of the owners of Hero. He said that after the Buell bust-up they still want to export (someday) but would need a more reliable distribution partner with a better-known brand. That could go in any number of interesting directions.

[JohninVT]

There's a recent article in ADV to the effect that over the next two/three years Husqvarna will introduce adventure bikes at 500, 400, 250 and 125cc. At some point one of those will be light enough to be practical on horrible washed-out dirt roads. Odds are the smaller ones will come from India or ???

I met one of the owners of Hero. He said that after the Buell bust-up they still want to export (someday) but would need a more reliable distribution partner with a better-known brand. That could go in any number of interesting directions.

The Huskies are to KTM what GMC is to Chevy.  They’re mostly styling exercises, though the Norden looks pretty amazing and I hope it’s introduced in a version identical to the prototype. 

The KTM 390 Adventure is an incredibly homely thing, like all KTM’s, but if they’ve finally solved the head issues it’ll be a very popular bike.....until the 490 drops.  The 490 is going to be a twin so maybe some riders will prefer to stick with their 390 single but I honestly don’t think that’ll be the case.  I think KTM is going to slice the pie into too many pieces.  I can’t believe that there’s enough room in the market for any manufacturer to have offerings in 250, 390 and 490 of the same model.  Let alone also having a 125 and the 690.  That’s 5 bikes with only 565cc’s across them.  If KTM can’t pull it off with the main brand there’s just no way they can do it with Husky.  Especially since Svartpilen’s and Vitpilen’s gather dust on showroom floors unless they have 3-4,000 dollars in discounts applied.

[twowheeladdict]

OK...I stand corrected... see below...  

I always have the ongoing debate with my riding friends, that any "Adventure Bike" needs to cruise at 70-75 mph on the freeways occasionally...at least that's what I would want a bike to do...otherwise, one is limited...

That's adventure touring.     I do feel sorry for those who have to ride on the interstates on a motorcycle.   

[twowheeladdict]

Niche marketing is just that, marketing.  In practice, there’s no such thing as an “Adventure” bike.  Nick Sanders and Sjaak Lucassen both rode R1’s around the world...African deserts, jungles, South American river crossings, etc.  It would be pretty silly trying to argue that riding a bike 150,000 in five years...literally all around the world wasn’t an adventure.  Therefore, a Yamaha R1 can absolutely be considered an “Adventure bike”. 

It’s how you use it, not what it looks like, imho.

Of course it is.  There are not many "standard" sitting motorcycles like the V7 and Bonneville anymore so "adventure" bikes fill that niche.  "adventure" bikes come in so many varieties today because they are popular.  There are those  that are designed as street only bikes with a styling exercise.  There are those that are designed as mostly off road with long travel suspension and some type of fairing with windshield slapped on them.  The term adventure bike differentiates them from sport bike, cruiser, etc., even though there are many subcategories in each of them. 

[Devildog]

great poems by women

And Husky's concept bike goes into production....

[Testarossa]

I'm betting the 250 and 125 Huskies will be sold in Asian markets. The domestic Indian market is 11 million motorcycles a year, and the "big" Royal Enfields are only about 500,000 of that -- so 10.5 million bikes at 250cc and smaller.  Indian sources say 35% of new bikes are bought by women.