18 Great Adventure Motorcycles Of The Past And Present

[@John_Smith__]

Thanks for your video, I can recognize True Knowledge when I see your videos. Oh and the nostalgia ...Amazing!

[@barebonesmc]

glad you enjoyed it mate 🙂 Theres plenty more on the channel. hope youll climb aboard. Cheers for watching. Ride Free 🙂

[@doorstepmile]

Guzzi v65 tt is another great, forgotten, bike although its V65 siblings were reliable and common. The basic structure is carried over to todays V7

[@barebonesmc]

Great bikes. I had to stop somewhere tho mate😊

[@banevukojevic6187]

Thank you for the amazing video! Nordwest ❤️ I was so in love

[@barebonesmc]

Wish they still made the RC600 😊

[@819jt]

I learned a lot! Thanks for making this!

[@barebonesmc]

Glad it was helpful 😊 cheers for the support 😊

[@jonford6119]

That was excellent. I've done over 200,000 miles on adventure bikes and love them, but there were a few here I had never heard of. Very interesting, thanks for taking the time to put this together.

[@barebonesmc]

thanks for your support 🙂Cheers for adding your bit too mate. Ride Free 🙂

[@bobz1736]

Great video. As a seasoned rider, I'd forgotten about many of these bikes - thanks for the memories. 🙏

[@barebonesmc]

My pleasure! Mate. Wild days 😊

[@sadwingsraging3044]

Much as I would like a few of these living out of hotels and working in multiple states traveling everywhere practically every day there is no way I could ever keep them running for the few occasions I get to go ride.🥺 Still an informative video.👍🏻

[@barebonesmc]

I understand exactly mate. Would so love an RC600 and was offered a beauty. But I knew I’d break it and bodywork all but impossible to find now. I wish bl@@dy piaggio would do a new version now

[@johancarlbark]

I have a Husaberg 650Fe 05a and after 200 hours enduro and ice race it was a big service/renovation for crankshaft bearing etz, sama piston and clutch, now like new again, works perfec. Frim a Swede 🇸🇪

[@barebonesmc]

thanks for your support 🙂Cheers for adding your bit too mate. I have a mate who still uses one at his school for teaching off road riding :-) Ride Free 🙂

[@waldo8050]

Very interesting video. I find it interesting how many of these bikes have Italian roots but never really took off. To me it comes down to local support and aftermarket options. Harley and the Japanese bikes are usually well supported everywhere in North America, but where I live, a fairly urban area, there is nothing for the BMW, Triumph, or RE owners. A friend who loves Italian bikes has to take his Ducati and Guzzi a long way for any work.

[@barebonesmc]

I can see that problem growing everywhere. We only have a Honda car dealer doing the bikes here now. So even the big 4 are moving away from the coverage they once had. Sadly😊

[@garytong3395]

Great video! Some bikes I'd forgotten about, one I'd never heard of!😂. There are at least two that maybe the basis of my next project😊. Personally the KLR650 is the bike that'll always make me smile, but you mentioned that in the intro😊. Keep the great content coming. 👌 Thanks BareBones.

[@barebonesmc]

cheers as always mate, i always preferred the KLR600 to the 650, far lighter and more nice trick bits lol

[@nathanedwards8094]

A great video as usual 😊. I currently own a Caponord Rally Raid and is a lovely bike to ride. I also own a 1995 Cagiva Elefant E750LE too. Another bike that in my opinion is good bike is the 650 Elefant. I've been wanting to buy one for about 15 years, yet not found one in the lucky explorer colours in the UK for sale. So will have to import one from abroad.

[@barebonesmc]

great bikes,i featured the Caponord here kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJywgXmLabZ_sMk and the 750 Elefant is special 🙂 Cheers for watching mate. Ride Free 🙂

[@TCHorwood-xq7mw]

I always thought Elefant was an odd name for a bike, but then I remembered how Hannibal got across the Alps and it made sense.

[@barebonesmc]

lol, a truly great bike regardless :-) 🙂Cheers for watching and for the comment mate. Ride Free 🙂

[@G58]

What was that movie with the infamous hellraising British actor who crossed a mountain range with an elephant? Hannibal Brooks? Oliver Reed. Only had to go through the alphabet twice…!🙄 Anyway, I like the Elephant a great deal, almost as much as I respect the creatures themselves. A lot of people say their favourite creatures are lions. But they would definitely not like the nasty things if they met them. The females are vicious and hunt in packs, and the males kill the young of the females they want to $|.|@G! Elephants and dolphins. Ride safe Peace 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@marjeanedgar3156]

Thank you ! Great content.

[@barebonesmc]

glad you enjoyed it mate 🙂 Theres plenty more on the channel, hope you will look around and find something your interested in. there is more on the website too. and there will be more to come. Cheers for watching.Hope you will climb aboard. Ride Free 🙂

[@andreafurlan4369]

The Gilera was really a great bike. First models using this engine was presented in 1988 and evolved year after year based on the Dakar experiences. When finally Piaggio had it right, in 1991, both the RC rally version and the RC/R dual sport were spectacular bikes, even for todays standards. Fast, light, well suspended, and reliable. It had 53 hp, 138 kg dry weight, and a great KYB 46 mm fork with 290 mm travel (240 for the rally) . Incredibly and inexplicably Piaggio decided to stop production at the end of 1992.

[@barebonesmc]

Sometimes they do just get it right lol 🙂But yep, why they killed it is a complete mystery. possibly the best post war bike they built IMO. Cheers for watching and for the comment mate. Ride Free 🙂

[@williamrae9954]

My 2nd brand new bike was a Gilera RC600...took it round Scandinavia, but had to tighten the engine bolts every day...great machine!

[@superhawk3057]

Great video,what do think of the 2016 Aprilla Caponord 1200 Rally ABS ?

[@barebonesmc]

i did put the Caponord in here kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJywgXmLabZ_sMk personally i dont know the Rally version very well so tell me :-)

[@Coldestaevadoit]

Most adventure bikes are so big because the majority of the population live near urban areas so you need the ability to travel comfortably to your destinations

[@barebonesmc]

But they don’t need to be THAT big 😂😂 and let’s be fair. Most are big just so the owners can sit at a coffee shop bragging about their big new adventure bike. 😊

[@Coldestaevadoit]

KTM 1190R is amazing. Honda should have remade the XR650R as a lightweight adventure. Still should. Would sell like crazy.

[@barebonesmc]

Agreed! I wish Gilera would remake the RC600 too. Have a great week mate n cheers for watching

[@diggy-d8w]

A real lesson for those like me, IDKnow much..... thanks for your time. peace

[@barebonesmc]

We all still have plenty to learn mate and you do that well😊 hope all is well 😊

[@diggy-d8w]

Indeed we do, dealing w/ my mom in the hospital here. I don't think it's anything life threatening but it's just a reminder that none of us are bullet proof. You've been on my mind, my brother. I sense you're feeling a little better. For that I'm glad & I hope to catch up w/ you more in time, if the Lord gives us enough..... peace & GB

[@barebonesmc]

@@diggy-d8w send our best wishes to her mate. keeping my fingers crossed. Im ok mate, good and not so good days, but i am walking as much as i can which is whats needed, and at least im walking in the sun here lol it just gets a bit like torture sometimes lol, knowing the only thing that can help is something that hurts like hell will never be easy, but if i dont do it, everything just gets worse and i dont wanna go there, cheers as always

[@diggy-d8w]

@@barebonesmc Gallbladder causing her to throwup continually. After 2 days of not holding food or her meds down she got bewildered as did I..... took her to see what was going on & perhaps tomorrow they take her gallbladder out? I just want her to come back home.... and you as well. I want you better & to get back home. Please keep me in the know..... be well & prayers are with you guys. night > peace

[@barebonesmc]

@@diggy-d8wsorry mate. And fingers crossed. Thoughts with you both. And I will. I just don’t shout about it 😊 it’s just my battle and I’ll keep fighting. But I don’t feel as bulletproof these days lol Take care. Just up sat outside waiting for sunrise so could be far worse 😊💪👌👍

[@apacherider7110]

Some bikes I've never heard of. I do like left of field bikes

[@barebonesmc]

I try to avoid the obvious 🙂Cheers for watching and for the comment mate. Ride Free 🙂

[@jimmyrasmussen7176]

Xt 660 r . Very underrated and one of best overland bikes .

[@barebonesmc]

great bikes, they will find their place in time 🙂 Cheers for watching mate. Ride Free 🙂

[@2wheel_right]

Thank you Barebone, I have had 5 adventure, 13 road and touring bikes over the years. Summery of more than 50 years experience 😂🤣😅: Just change tire to advenure / knobb tire and you have any bike transfered to an adventure motorcycle!

[@barebonesmc]

thanks for your support 🙂Cheers for adding your bit too mate. My first "adventure" bike was an old CJ360 that had XL forks and later longer shocks, to begin it just had knobbly tyres but was FAR better than the TR25 Trophy trail on dirt lol Ride Free 🙂

[@mrmyme]

Great vid brother! 🔥🔥🔥

[@barebonesmc]

thanks for your support 🙂 Ride Free 🙂

[@mrmyme]

@@barebonesmc the Gilera RC600R looks great!

[@barebonesmc]

@@mrmyme only seen one decent one in years to be honest, but yep, a beautiful bike

[@marthinusvorster]

Hi, some great names on your list. Awesome watch. Thanks! If permitted I would add BMW XCountry, XChallenge (Simon Pavey Dakar rally) to this list. Cult following. Moving on from them XChallenge owners will get AJP or 701. XCountry, that's a hard one, maybe 650GS. Also stoked CCM 450 GP on your list. Not available in AUS. I love that manufacturer. Special looking bikes.

[@barebonesmc]

The X challenge and country are special bikes😊 and oh I wish ccm had built the gpx650 everyone wanted 😊 I’m sure if they did it today they would sell out before they had even begun production 😊

[@Free_Ranger_CT110]

The Laverda is a beaut, why did they sell so few? High cost perhaps? I see Itchy Boots now has a 1987 Yamaha 600 Tenere. Made the year she was born, will this boost prices for classic adv/dual sports? I'd like an NX650 Dominator.

[@barebonesmc]

great bikes, i think by then the company was really struggling financially. as to the Itchy Boots comment, who knows, it might, the Dominaor is a forgotten gem 🙂 Cheers for watching mate. Ride Free 🙂

[@G58]

@@barebonesmc Good point. The German lad (I’m no good with names tonight) who’s travelling around the world on his electric bike (currently in India or Pakistan?) had a Honda Dominator before he went electric. Markus? Anyway, it developed an intermittent noise that sounded like a chain tensioner rattle, and several bike shops had it in for weeks pretending to fix it, but never did. So he abandoned it at his mother’s house, and set off on his appliance. Rather ironically, initially, he was accompanied by his high maintenance NZ girlfriend in a Suzuki Jimny as a sort of support vehicle. Then she insisted he take her to see the silly woke Barbie movie…! Predictably, they broke up a few days later. Personally, I would be more upset swapping a solid Honda Dominator for a life of hunting charging points three times a day, but we can’t all have good taste. I’ve mentioned Noraly’s new bike in another comment. That one shows promise. Ride safe Peace 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@kenbrooks7794]

I really wanted an AJP PR7, however I wasn't impressed by the dealer in my area. Pity! 🤔 The 'Adventure ' bike i always regretted not buying though was the Highland Desert Storm. Awesome!! 👍👌

[@barebonesmc]

The Highland were great bikes ,i featured them here kzbin.info/www/bejne/jIK6gpilZbeSgas 🙂 Cheers for watching mate. Ride Free 🙂

[@Davidkxf]

I loved my 1996 Triumph Tiger 900.

[@barebonesmc]

big n top heavy, but the early 900 engine was a peach :-) with my trophy 3 i always said, pick a gear, any gear, 50-100 in less than 3 seconds :-)

[@Davidkxf]

@@barebonesmc I now have the new Tiger 900 and not so happy with it. I don't like the cross plane engine.

[@barebonesmc]

@@Davidkxfanother classic case of if it ain’t broke……..

[@ivorscruton5121]

Having used a Yamaha XT 500 during my 30-plus years of travelling without problems, my conclusion is simplicity has a quality of its own. As motorcycles became more focused on power to generate sales, they, in my opinion, lost their way. The low-end torque was sacrificed for higher revving over square multi valve configurations, which dont lend themselves to slow technical off-road use. Dakar winners, after the first few events, were merely factory supported competitions, not really reflective of the average needs of the adventurer. Having said that, I do understand the industry, along with the clientele, has changed, and my antiquated thoughts and opinions are irrelevant, for the most part.

[@barebonesmc]

A good point well put mate 🙂 im a luddite too really lol, simple is always best :-) Cheers for the comment. Ride Free 🙂

[@dougmacnr1]

Moto Guzzi V65TT?

[@barebonesmc]

Great bikes. They will find their place in time 😊

[@1971carmichael]

those big paris dakar bikes looked awesome but so heavy..i brought an xtz750 tenere full copy of the sonatu dakar bike bout 9 years ago..had it one month sold it..just not practical imo..growing up in 70s i was all for the 500s and up but over time seeing a little 125 run rings round a 500 my conclusion now is u just dont need those big bikes fun is riding on a cusp of power to weight u can still control but not scared silly. anybody else came to same conclusion?

[@barebonesmc]

Sort of 😊 with a 100kg me a 50kg passenger and luggage for a 90 day tour you need a bike that’ll handle that though. Not everyone does solo short stop riding

[@michaelcahan8675]

I must have missed the Suzuki Dr750&800.

[@barebonesmc]

Not missed. I had to stop somewhere 😊 Great bikes. They will find their place in time 😊

[@theriderdtm8650]

Cagiva Ele please ✅️👍🏻

[@barebonesmc]

believe it or not, i know a guy with 4 900s, 3 lucky strike ones, i was sorely tempted when he offered me one, but i am trying to thin them down lol

[@mabecka]

Fantic 450 is a Yamaha YZ450F in rally costume.

[@barebonesmc]

i understood the frame was a bit different, but regardless, it has proven what Yamaha seem against doing will work

[@mabecka]

@@barebonesmc true!

[@barebonesmc]

@@mabecka 🙂 if only they would strap a big oil tank to the damn thing 🙂

[@mabecka]

@@barebonesmc Oh yes!

[@kantutana13]

going by your title; for what its worth you did not mention the bmw gs. for the bikes you mentioned which seems like boutique brands it might indeed be a good adventure making a round trip to starbucks. lol, but seriously i was watching this swedish girl itchy for boots and she rides the great continent of africa on a honda crf300l in which bushmen were also taking apart to fix, amazing technology

[@barebonesmc]

😊 the card was so good she’s swapping back to an air cooled tenere 600 😊 you might be surprised by what some of these bikes have and can do. The elefant owners I know still do many miles every year and choose them over newer bikes😊

[@G58]

Well you nailed this subject 100% mate. Excellent selection of off-roaders. Your last question is one I’ve been asking for a long time now. Can it all be due to climate catastrophist appeasement? Check out Noraly’s latest video on her ITCHY BOOTS channel. Two guys in Germany are building her a lightweight rally style adventure bike from a 1987 Yammy 600 Tenere! Looks good so far. She beat me to it. I shared my idea of a custom lightweight adventure bike in 2018/19. But she stuck with factory bikes. Then, after her experiences in the USA and Africa, she’s figured out the vulnerabilities of all those little sensors and complicated computerised controllers. Although I’ve got the CCM 604 frame, which is still in need of serious modifications to fit the BMW F650GS Dakar engine in it, I’m still determined to build the thing. This vid is even more inspiration. After being beaten by a Dutch girl and two Germans, I needed it…👀🧐😎😜 Ride safe Peace 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@barebonesmc]

The. CCM chassis is a great place to start. I never understood why they didn’t do a gpx650. But with the 650 rotax engine from the gs and pegaso. The Suzuki engine just is ok. But the Rotax would have been so much better. And they still have everything to make it now. Good luck with the build mate. Keep me posted 😊👍💪👌

[@G58]

@@barebonesmc I agree on all points. A 650 is a much more appealing proposition. It’s possible that the 450 is seen as the new 650 due to the rally standard being 450. And maybe the cost of two capacity models was difficult to finance. To be frank, the F650GS Dakar engine is by no means an easy fit in the 604 frame. It’s going to take considerable modification. Thank you for your encouragement mate. Much appreciated. Ride safe and free Peace 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@kloss213]

Consider the KTM 950 -990R.

[@barebonesmc]

great bikes, Im actually staying with a 990 owner at the minute but I had to stop somewhere mate 🙂 Cheers for watching. Ride Free 🙂

[@nicolasalvatore8246]

Le Cagiva Gran Canyon e Navigator sono state disegnate da Pierre Terblanche!!!🤷‍♂️

[@barebonesmc]

i have had this conversation with someone else, but that wasnt my understanding at all, do you have a link to anything where i can see the story? and I am NOT saying you are wrong, i would just like to confirm it one way or the other, cheers

[@nicolasalvatore8246]

fr.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Terblanche Ho avuto per 10 anni una Cagiva Canyon 500👌

[@barebonesmc]

@@nicolasalvatore8246 I had a navigator for many years too😊 I will check references to article. To be fair we both know google and Wikipedia aren’t always right. But I will do more digging 😊

[@gasdive]

The use of the Ducati engine by the Cagiva wasn't really a "masterstroke". Ducati brand was planned to be ended by the owners of Ducati at the time, Cagiva. All new bikes and some old ones carried the Cagiva branding on the tank. So it was no more of a "masterstroke" to put a Cagiva (Ducati) engine in a Cagiva, than it is for Honda to put a Honda engine in a Honda. Cagiva decided in the end to retain the Ducati name. Had that decision been taken a few months earlier the Elefant would have had a Ducati logo on the tank

[@barebonesmc]

I know all the history of the Castiglioni brothers well. You seem to forget that without them Ducati was dead in the water. The reason I used the word master stroke was because it was the right engine for the job. They bought Ducati for the engine tech just as they bought husky for their off road chassis building knowledge. They might not be everyone’s cup of tea. But the castiglioni brothers reshaped the European bike industry when everyone else was dying. Without them Ducati and husqvarna would not have survived so I for one say thank you to them

[@gasdive]

@@barebonesmc never a truer word spoken. Ducati was done by the time they swept in and turned out around. The few models they had were lovely, but hardly anyone wanted one.

[@justme4262]

Never mentioned yamaha XTZ 750 .WTF THAT ABOUT????

[@barebonesmc]

Great bikes but as always I have to stop somewhere. And I like to look at bikes people forget 😊

[@cainbeeping8480]

👍

[@barebonesmc]

🙂Cheers for watching . Ride Free 🙂

[@valpacey5759]

CCM 450 engine is not a Rotax

[@barebonesmc]

as far as i was aware it was the Rotax 450 built for BMW ? is that not right?

[@rethinking-h8k]

Kymco ​@@barebonesmc

[@barebonesmc]

@@rethinking-h8k really? Do you have any links to anything where I can confirm that? If anything I would have thought keeway with the bmw connection

[@rethinking-h8k]

@barebonesmc en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_G450X. The x650 line, is the Chinese build rotax. Xcountry/Xchallenge/xmoto

[@G58]

@@barebonesmc According to the Adventure revue on mad or nomad: “What engine is in ccm gp450? It's fitted with a Kymco designed enduro racing engine as used by BMW, Husqvarna and Husaberg.22 Jan 2024” So I guess you’re both right. Does anyone else feel less secure reading names of engine manufactures you’ve never heard of? When even top expensive marques can churn out motors with dodgy cams etc., anything from left field tends to shake my confidence. ROTAX always sounded solid. Then BMW’s later 650 singles and 800 twins started to be built in China. I always remember the way Trump explained why he called the Coof: ‘the Chinese flu’ - “Because it came from CHAYNA!” Now apparently T@/\/\p@>< Tim Walz is a Chinese asset - allegedly. Ride safe Peace 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@BreezyRider66]

Woohoo I have a Pegaso! Quota is just about the worst name for a bike ever...

[@barebonesmc]

great bikes, i have the 650 Cube :-) i was pleasantly surprised by the Quota when i rode one too, it is a heavy beast though 🙂 Cheers for watching mate. Ride Free 🙂

[@KurttankT]

Had the Ktm 640r new in 04, terrible bike, vibes so bad would turn your blood into fizzy pop😬

[@barebonesmc]

the early LC4 took work to get it right but when it was sorted was a good engine, it would have been nice if KTM did the sorting out and not just left it for customers to deal with 🙂Cheers for watching and for the comment mate. Ride Free 🙂

[@KurttankT]

690smcr did all the bits, was ok , still have ccm644 that I built in lock down , is the same tbh😉

[@barebonesmc]

@@KurttankT I think the ccm would get my vote there to be honest. But I’m not a racer so the extra power of the ktm would be almost irrelevant 😊

[@DavyTracy-l7i]

Clark William Smith Ronald Moore Jessica

[@barebonesmc]

?

[@eb-pe8xg]

This video could have been titles '"15 of the fuggliest motorcycles ever made." I'll let you decide which three aren't God awful ridiculously, vomit inducing, ugly.

[@barebonesmc]

if we all thought the same it would be a boring world mate, personally i think the Elefant and RC600 and the other Cagiva's are dar from ugly, but its all about choice, and fitting a 36ltr tank to anything will make it look bulky, but it means less stops so ill put up with that 🙂Cheers for watching. Ride Free 🙂