Did you get the free BMW Torque Map Update for your bike after the break-in period?

2024 just bought mine for $9k at 8000 miles. its well worth it at that price

Slightly off topic Craig...what seat is that on your goldwing?

just wondering about your color is the side black or grey i have 2023 rt1250 tripple black trying to decide mr Laam does great work this will be second seat from him i want to match my back box as close as i can thanks jimi

Let's admit it the reason why so many HD riders are watching this and commenting is the GW has their interest. I'm a Ultra Classic and Triumph Bobber owner. Lol

Goldwing is nice...I owned an earlier model years ago. Was never a fan of the side loading bags...all my gear would fall out every time I opened the bags. Air filter change is a nightmare on them. Was considering changing from my Roadking back to a new Goldwing...after riding the new wing I couldn't do it. Great bike but almost too automotive for me...almost lose the feeling of being on a motorcycle...like a two wheeled floating couch. But to each their own.

Love my Honda Africa twin will be riding from Pennsylvania to California in June of 2025. There are plenty of black kids on dirt bikes now so hopefully things will change.

I generally agree. Get what suits your interests best. I chose a small ADV (KTM 390) with 19" & 17" tires. I love curvy back roads, will be on gravel/dirt at times, hate superhighways, generally no more than day trips. But if I want to camp/tour/travel? I could. Could I cruise a highway? Sure, careful of winds & passing semis. It's perfect for what I like, but doesn't limit me if I expand my style.

You are mixing maintenance and normal wear and tear items. While they may come out of the same pocket it is important to differentiate between the two.

Another " Not your average Brother " who rides ADV. My Husqvarna Norden 901 EXP is my second ADV bike, started w/ KTM 1190R. I ride BDR's and similar routes so my bikes do go into the backcountry, but since I also ride off road ( KTM 500EXC ) they still look good..Lol Fellas the best part of riding ADV Moto's is putting its capability to use. Start with some forest roads w/out gravel then gravel and go from there. I've found some special places Lakes,streams, vistas... When close I take my wife and they become our special place, and I never fail to remind her how we found our spot. You know where I'm headed with that one. I've been riding adventure bikes for a minute, so if anybody needs info on equipment setup or technique feel free to reach out. Would be nice to see more of us out there living our best. 👊🏽

If you're going to video yourself driving your bike, you should obey the traffic rules and stop at stop signs. Rules of the road are there for a reason.

Hey Craig, I'm helping Honda with a book about the Gold Wing and we're looking for a shot of a Gold Wing with trailer. It's proving hard to find a good one. Would you have any still images of this bike with a clean background?

I loved to have an adventure touring bike, but my legs are too short.

I think comfortable position is at least a little bit related to whatever you’ve gotten used to. I’ve heard people say that a cruiser position with feet out in front and hands up in the air feels odd to them. I’ve ridden 20k this year in that exact position and wouldn’t have it any other way

VStrom 650 baby. My First and last motorcycle

Good video, thanks Craig

Currently looking to sell my Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer in favor of a Indian Chieftain or Roadmaster. After test riding one I could not believe how good they felt on the road. Sitting back and stretching out your legs, with surround sound audio. It can't be beat!!

This is only my second riding season (and I'm nowhere near retirement age) but after my starter bike I went for a Tiger 900 GT (the more "road-focused" adventure bike of Triumph's compared to the Rally, which is definitely more off-road oriented). I find it to be a great all-rounder. Comfort is great around the city--with roads that tend to be extremely bumpy the suspension just soaks it all up, and the rider position is incredibly agreeable. It is sporty enough for me. Even springing for the fully loaded trim (heated seats/grips, quickshifter) and getting luggage and crash protection it did not break the bank like I would imagine a similarly kitted touring bike from Harley would be. I like that if I want to go "minimal" for fun rides around town with no intermediate stops I can just remove the panniers and top box and get a pretty clean look. Only gone on a few multi-day trips but they were no problem whatsoever. Although I don't have personal experience with a tourer for comparison, I think the Tiger does everything well enough that I doubt I'd really find a tourer to be that much better than what I have.

From Red Lodge to Yellowstone on the Beartooth Pass, I was aggressively overtaken by a pack of ADV’s…5 or 6 of them. I’m running an S&S 129ci I built with Klock Werks. I noticed a decrease in power at the higher altitude. They had a higher seating position, were not effected by altitude, and their lean angles were SIK! Two had the Africa model, a BMW, I couldn't make out the rest. While in the Badlands, GPS sent me down a 20 mile dirt road with piped rumble strips at intersections. I made it but at an average speed of 10mph. Brutal. Thanks for the video. 👍 🔔 SKWID Rider’s Shipmate ET1(SS/SW/MTS) US Navy, Ret. Killmonger (Fat Boy, Stag 2) SilverBAK (Road Glide, S&S 129)

BINGO, bud…having owned both types of motorbikes…for me, the ADV wins hands down in virtually every category. Thanks for the analysis❗️ 🏍️

Spot on for all of the reasons you stated here. I recently sold a 2018 Goldwing DCT and opted for a Tiger 900. Honda rates all of the storage compartments at 20 lbs, there are panniers for ADV bikes that are rated for 30 lbs. Plus as you mentioned the ability to carry stuff on top of the cases! I was developing a type of hip pain due to the width of the Wing seat and my inseam. That pain is gone on the Tiger!

I have never seen a beverage holder on a GS. Can you explain the pros and cons of that please? Here is Australia we don’t do that.

I am a bit surprised by some of your reasons. I thought a touring bike would be the better choice. for quite a few of the 5. Even though I have never ridden a dedicated touring bike. I have a "Big" BMW R1200 GS. I fit the stereotypy ADV rider. Older guy going for coffee. Depends what you want to do with it. I wanted to do a bit of everything. So Versatility. I wanted to do a particular tour. To the Arctic Ocean and Alaska. So long distance, highway speeds and some off road dirt gravel mud. 1000+ miles. Most touring bikes or road bikes, not going to be ideal. Dirt bike dual sport. to much highway. ADV of some kind. I picked the GS. I find the GS very comfortable for me. I've never ridden a touring bike. so cant compare. It's more comfortable than a standard or sport bike. with much better wind protection compared to none. The big ADV was ideal for me. Others might find it to big, to heavy, to expensive. It is very heavy to move around, I can't push it up an incline. I have to be careful how and where I park. Goldwings are heavier but have a reverse gear. So do the really big BMW Tourers. I can lift it if I have to. Again its very heavy. It is expensive, I bought mine used so not to bad. Similar budget to a new Standard Bike. Box's came with it but they don't have a lot of capacity. The big aluminum ones maybe a lot better. I think a regular full size touring bike has probably got more capacity. It has a 20ltr tank. Gets about 200 miles range. good but 40ish miles to a gallon. It's in top bracket for insurance, so are most touring bikes. Expensive to insure. I am relatively tall. So I can flat foot it no problem. My taller friends also like big ADV bikes. The seating position works for tall people. I can stand up and stretch. It worked for what i wanted to do at the time. I kept the GS because I really like it. And I am planning or dreaming of new adventures. In the meantime, I ride it round town or just down the road for coffee. Its a very good touring bike. Mabey not quite as good as a touring bike. but still pretty good. No 1 Versatility.

Recycled bikes this year. Road glide for road glide, but my fat boy was either going to develop into a Lowrider or a Harley Pan America. I went with the low rider. Lots of personal preferences and timing…riding buddies. Even though an ADV would open up another 150% capacity of roads. I just don’t have the buddies/desire to pursue at this point. Maybe in the future.

My Pan America CVO is my favorite bike. Especially since I live on a gravel road.

I use to ride chops and bangers in the old daze (pre 1982) but I won’t ride anything now that I can’t stand up on the foot pegs upright. The back and hips just can’t take it anymore. I’ve downgraded to a 650 ADV for comfort.

Touring bikes are heavier with tight turning radius needs more skills to enjoy it.

I have a middleweight ADV and a touring bike. They both have their place. Yes, if you can only own one bike the ADV is the best compromise. Comfort is subjective. On a touring bike you have sitting options. Highway pegs , rider backrests, etc. Carrying capability is another it depends. You have a biased video. I built out a Honda Africa twin with all the touring option from Honda and it was in the mid 20s.

The big advantage of a Harley is the availability of parts and the parts are less expensive than BMW/HONDA etc.

I’m on a ‘21 Africa Twin AS ES DCT. It’s like having a giant dirt bike that can carve twistys like a sport bike and then haul a heavy load over long distances like a truck. It’s not the fastest or the best at one thing but it does a lot of things very well.

Thanks for this video. I’m 63 years old and started in this wonderful world of motorcycles this year after my retirement. I bought a Harley Sportster 883, but I really don’t feel comfortable on it. I’ve been looking at this adventure touring bikes, and they look great, more secure and more comfortable. Is there one in particular that you can recommend me? Thanks again for the video and ride safe.

I traded my goldwing in for a R1200GS and love the change… the bike is not as heavy and I wanted a clutch… I’ve went semi long distances and am just as comfortable on the gs as I was on the Goldwing… without all the extra weight.. I love it and haven’t looked back… plus working on the gs is a lot easier bcs everything is just about right at ur hands…will be keeping this by for a long time…

Good choice, especially with all the trouble people had with harleys 2024 line up this year. Harleys don’t get near the longevity of the honda. you were saying that you wanted to get the DCT just be glad you didn’t. The manual is a lot better bike. Mainly because when you’re in canyons and going downhill, you can pick and choose your gears which make it a lot easier. I had a friend that made that mistake and he regretted it.

Having a backrest on a touring bike is amazing and just doesn’t compare to any adventure bike.

Yes, even on “pavement” I have had losts of “fresh oil” and “tar and gravel”.

I went from a cvo road king to a new 1200 rally pro triumph and I’ll never look back. I’m a tall guy so the tiger fits me much better and the versatility is outstanding. The Harley looks and sounds fantastic but that’s it. My ADV bike is ugly af and sounds like shit but the comfort and the handling are far superior even with the 21” front tier.

I love my XT1200Z super tenere!!!!!!💪

Todays paved roads will soon be tomorrows gravel and dirt roads due to low to no maintenance. America is quickbecoming a 3rd world country. That said, a japanese adv bike cannot be beat, reliability with the ability to navigate harsh unforgiving roads with ease and still lay down the miles on the good roads. Its a win win. This and the threat of a shtf situation one day was my reasoning for purchasing my vstrom 800de....

This video brought me to your page. I just bought a ADV bike and came from a touring bike and absolutely love the change. To my surprise I recognize the roads you’re on and see your local. I subscribe and have started watching your older videos. Good stuff

I ride a Gold Wing. A 1987 GL1200. Love it for long rides. Also ride a Honda Falcon 400. The Falcon is an ADV bike but is small. For long rides i'll take the Wing.

Adventure bikes are to tall who needs a 35 inch seat height?

In 40 years of riding touring bikes I gradually moved up to heavier bikes. Started with a Honda CB 550 Four K with aftermarket windscreen and panniers. Ended up with a BMW K1300 GT. Than I wanted back to a bike that would give me the same basic feeling of riding a bike like on the Honda. I switched to a GS. It is the best touring bike I ever owned and I regret not having switched earlier.

I ride alone so the GSA works well for me. 500 mile days are relatively easy. Took mine on a trip to Colorado Springs from ATL, 3 days out and 3 days back plus some time in between. I have the Lone Rider side cases on mine. I don’t seek out off road but I don’t shy away from it when riding. I know you can take a Harley down a dirt/gravel road but it just feels wrong. I love Harley’s and have owned a few, 2 of which were Road Glides. What I don’t like about them is they make my lower back hurt, they aren’t as easy to stand on as my GSA and the weight is a bit much.

I ride alone so the GSA works well for me. 500 mile days are relatively easy. Took mine on a trip to Colorado Springs from ATL, 3 days out and 3 days back plus some time in between. I have the Lone Rider side cases on mine. I don’t seek out off road but I don’t shy away from it when riding. I know you can take a Harley down a dirt/gravel road but it just feels wrong. I love Harley’s and have owned a few, 2 of which were Road Glides. What I don’t like about them is they make my lower back hurt, they aren’t as easy to stand on as my GSA and the weight is a bit much.

I prefer them. I like to be able to stand up on the pegs. Big advantage. Stretch my legs. Get above the windshield. The seat height could be it only disadvantage for some.

Very interesting video. I was surprised at some of the reasons, except for the versatility, which is what I thought would be your main point. I just finished a trip to Utah on my R1200RS sport touring bike, and I really found the limits of its ability to go off the pavement. I also have had an Africa Twin, which I found to be more difficult because it's tall. I love riding the RS on highways and back roads, but the versatility of a bike with dual-sport tires to go camping is the best argument, in my opinion. Thank you.

When Erie gets a new mayor it should be back this guy is an idiot

Excellent video, I fully agree with you. I used to own a HD Electraglide Ultra classic, I sold it for the HD Pan America Special. This bike puts a smile on my face daily. The fun factor is never in doubt, I put about 15k a year on the bike and I find myself always looking for opportunities to get on the bike. I would add one more reason to get an ADV bike is the cleanup. With my Ultra I felt almost obligated to keel ot clean, where as the Pan America is sometimes dirty and because of the ADV style I do not feel guilty not to have washed it after coming in from the rain for example.

And on the other hand...ruling out all the others. The touring bike is much more suited for a passenger as well.as well as usually having a much more anesthetic appeal.

Your ADV is already on stilts with a high C of G, then load it up with everything but the kitchen sink? Good luck with that 😮. I'm lucky enough to own a Honda NT1100, tourer based on Africa Twin and it's Europe's best selling tourer for a reason. The 2nd generation has jus been announced and I've pre booked 1 already in HawkEye Blue. Shame it's not available over the pond. Stay safe.