Honda X-ADV - off Road to Quattro Venti

[@marcofcat]

great video, soundtrack and editing. kudos for having done this solo. The video quality is a bit penalized by KZbin compressing algorithm I think, but the experience is so riveting that it's hardly a thing.

[@alistairbox]

I don't know about all that, but thanks for the positive feedback! I wish I had more time to give back to the community. Yeah, it is a pity about KZbin's compression, the original is 2.7K at 50 fps... If I had the time and talent I would like to post videos with audio commentary, to share my experience so that others may find useful information in the video, about the bike, gear or camera equipment; maybe later. I'm thinking about posting a video on my first experience with the Insta360 Go 2 I just bought to replace my GoPro Hero 5 Black... very happy with it!

[@andreygeiserman1191]

it's like a tank, capable of doing some off-road but its toooooo heavy for that. thanks for sharing. I love xadv, such a great piece of technology

[@alistairbox]

I know... it IS heavy and, although the very low center of gravity makes you forget about it most of the time, when you have to turn it around on a tight trail or an incline then you definitely DO feel it. What I believe is THE REAL Achilles' heel is the size of the wheels; I always knew that 15" in the back was little, but I figured 17" in the front would be enough. Turns out it isn't, not by a long shot. With a little experience I can tell even 19" would make you wish for a 21", so you can immagine how much more difficult it is to go over obstacles with a 17". Yeah, you can compensate a lot with riding skills (which I do not posses!) but I think this is just physics. For the rest, I do not regret one bit my choice, awesome piece of technology, like you said, it does everything well, within reason. Just like any other bike it is NO unicorn, but you'd be hard pressed in naming one as versatile, comfortable and capable as the X-ADV. When I think about my next bike (as one does!) I of course think about going to the top towards the GS, or going the other way towards light an nimble and proper off-road capable KTMs and whatnot. But in the end, I find the X-ADV striking my personal sweet spot, and I wouldn't like to give up some the features unique to this quite original concept.

[@teddysegil88]

@@alistairbox love everything you said about this little beast. To be honest this bike got thw speed, endurance and the technologies that other bike dont have. So, its fair for the price tag. I love fast bike but im not a fan of going fast. What xadv750 have more than enough for me. Mine still on irs way, coming soon. When everybody saying that this bike is overpriced it made me more eager to own one. Ahahah...😋😋

[@alistairbox]

The build quality and reliability alone are well worth the price tag, it is a Honda after all. Plus plenty of torque and speed, more than enough to do something stupid, but just perfect to put a huge smile on your face if you use it wisely; one up or two up with top and side hard cases, I never wanted for more.

[@joseantoniolobo7888]

Beautiful video Alistair. Thank you very much. I have the same motorcycle, same color, same year. It seemed strange to me that you didn't turn off the traction control. I see that you have already learned that you have to deactivate it on mud tracks. Greetings.

[@alistairbox]

Yeah, a rookie mistake 😅 It was my very first time off road, I also lacked an understanding of the limitation of this bike. Although it is very capable off road, I've decided to limit myself to simple gravel or fire roads, not because it couldn't cope with something a little more challenging, but because I really don't want to use it that way. anymore. I've chosen to treat this motorcycle more as an adventure tourer, and less as a dual sport, which it isn't. I'll probably get myself a dedicated bike for dirt, maybe a Honda CRF 300 Rally; one that I won't care about dropping and having a laugh while getting muddy!

[@kamneukhskhongsai1819]

Nice video... 👌 I really like Honda X ADV👍keep on uploading

[@alistairbox]

Thanks bro, I have a few videos in the works and I hope to have them up on the channel soon enough!

[@kamneukhskhongsai1819]

@@alistairbox I wish I had a bike like yours 😊

[@alistairbox]

@@kamneukhskhongsai1819 I've had it for a little over a year now, and I've learned a few things. I still believe is one of the most comfortable and versatile bikes available today, I have little doubt about that. It is however become evident that it is not an all-terrain vehicle and that it's weight and geometry limit it's ability to tackle serious off road trails; realistically, anything more than a dirt road is hard to manage, fatiguing and stressful at best. I'm considering to buy a second bike for the trails, a 2021 Honda CRF 300L Rally. 100 Kg lighter, 21-18" wheels, 10" travel, cheap and reliable. I write all this because you need to know that not everything you see on KZbin is as easy to do as it looks in the videos; in reality, even you get to the end of the trail, it doesn't mean you've had fun doing it, it doesn't mean you weren't constantly worried about dropping it, scratching it or getting stuck. Food for thoughts!

[@geonaute8119]

Bravo, se mi permetti qualke suggerimento: 1) togliere il bauletto se sai di andare in off road; 2) metti il comando marce in manuale; 3) attivare tasto G; 4) togliere il tracktion control; 5) abbassare il parabrezza; Pedane off road molto utili anke in guida su strada....👍👍

[@alistairbox]

Assolutamente. Per la prossima escursione userò, al posto del bauletto, una Drybag 260 della SW-MOTECH.

[@antonnarnickis6675]

What a trip 👍🏻

[@alistairbox]

Just in my backyard, really. With the right bike, and this isn't quite (a dual sport would be better, lighter), there's so much to discover here in Tuscany you wouldn't believe! Stay tuned, there's a new 360 video coming up in a few days, through the forest and finally back to pure engine sound! 😀

[@antonnarnickis6675]

@@alistairbox I been exploring Toscana for a last 5 years during my holiday. Love it and it’s still surprising me. 👌🏻

[@alistairbox]

@@antonnarnickis6675 That's amazing, maybe we could find a way to exchange routes: what area of Tuscany have you been exploring?

[@simonmurphy5119]

Hi there,great film,can i ask what exhaust you have? Is this standard as it produces a great tone.👍😁

[@alistairbox]

Yes, you heard it right, it is the stock exhaust. In every other bike I've owned, I've always invested in a 'performance' exhaust. The X-ADV is the first bike where I didn't feel the need to change anything from stock, including the exhaust. I love the look and the sound; to me the only reason to dish out the money would be to lose some weight, but to me this isn't reason enough, by itself, to invest; as I said, to me it looks and sounds great as is.

[@jaroslavsvec4416]

Nice video, super trip. Just a little advice.👌👍😁 The next time you go offroad, turn off traction. You will do much better.

[@alistairbox]

Boy I wish someone would have told me earlier! Now I turn it off all the time when I'm off road but, back then, I didn't know better 😁

[@alistairbox]

I've watched most of your X-ADV videos and I've since subscribed to your channel, good work!

[@jaroslavsvec4416]

@@alistairbox Your videos are great. You ride what I like. Keep it up. I wish you a lot of great miles. 👍😁

[@alistairbox]

@@jaroslavsvec4416 Same to you my friend!

[@Okke-j2n]

​​@@alistairbox on the model like x adv pre 2021, the accelerator is with cable. No ride by wire..and the traction control is only an uneseful gadget. When it attack the bike goes in a stupid way for 30 meters....so turn always off on the bike with cable accelerator. On x adv 2017 2020 was the worst traction i have never riden. But is easy to understand

[@obanjose1402]

Porque sale una Luz amarilla cuando vas por terrenos con baches ?

[@alistairbox]

La luz amarilla que ves es el control de tracción. Siendo en ese momento un piloto todoterreno muy inexperto, lo dejé activo en el nivel 2. Entonces, cuando la rueda trasera experimentó una pérdida de tracción, intervino el control de tracción; el tablero me avisó de esta intervención a través de la luz amarilla del control de tracción. En la esquina superior derecha del tablero, puede ver que el nivel de control de tracción tiene tres configuraciones: 2 barras que significan alto, 1 barra que significa bajo o ninguna barra que significa apagado. Ese día se puso en el nivel 2. Además, tenga en cuenta que el control de tracción de la X-ADV no es un control de tracción todoterreno, lo que significa que solo puede reaccionar ante una pérdida de tracción simplemente cortando electrónicamente el acelerador hasta que se restablece la tracción. Un control de tracción todoterreno completo como el que tengo en mi Norden ahora, tiene grados de intervención en los que no corta la potencia, sino que la modula.

[@obanjose1402]

Muchas gracias por su rápida respuesta. Esa luz se me enciende en mi coche cuando no encuentra tracción. Lo he entendido perfectamente. Me gusta su moto, me gusta como a conduce y me gusta muchísimo su país. Enhorabuena!!!!!

[@alistairbox]

@@obanjose1402 Me alegra que encuentres mis videos útiles o entretenidos. Para mí, son solo una forma de compartir mis aventuras de fin de semana con familiares y amigos, una especie de diario para recordar los lugares que he disfrutado en mis motocicletas. La Toscana es realmente un país hermoso, y tengo la suerte de haber nacido aquí, aunque he vivido la mayor parte de mi vida en los Estados Unidos, también un lugar muy hermoso para los motociclistas. No dude en escribir de nuevo si tiene alguna pregunta, curiosidad o comentario para compartir. Pronto publicaré un nuevo video corto, filmado en la carretera y a través de las colinas del sur de la Toscana; ¡nos vemos pronto!

[@obanjose1402]

Perché si accede una luce gialla quando si Guida su un terreno accidentato ?

[@alistairbox]

La luce avvisa che il controllo di trazione sta intervenendo. Non avendo esperienza fuori strada e credendo che il controllo di trazione dellìHonda X-ADV fosse capace anche di gestire il fuori strada, in questo video lo avevo lasciato al massimo. In realtà, ho poi scoperto che l'X-ADV è in grado di gestire la perdita trazione solo chiudendo elettronicamente l'acceleratore, ma non è+ in grado di gestire e modulare la potenza per mantenere la trazione disponibile fuori strada, come invece è in grado di fare la mia Norden.

[@Okke-j2n]

​@@alistairboxyour norden has ride by wire. Like my 890 adv r...this honda had not ride by wire.The problem was that

[@alistairbox]

@@Okke-j2n Yeah, agreed; in fact it's a whole different story on my Norden now!

[@MS-ji6oj]

Can you use bigger wheels on this bike?

[@alistairbox]

It can be done, but not without serious modification to the front and rear suspensions, as done by Roberto Zocchi winner with the X-ADV of the Gibraltar Race, Class 2. Look it up!

[@MS-ji6oj]

@@alistairbox 🙏👍

[@EagleBiker]

TOP VIDEO BRO NAME OF APPLICTION

[@alistairbox]

Thanks buddy, to which application are you referring to? The one I used to edit the video? That would be Luma Fusion on my 12.9" iPad Pro

[@gorthaur83]

what tyre were you using?

[@alistairbox]

The original Bridgestone that came with the bike. After 4K Km they're still very good, so I'll use them for this summer as well, but I plan to switch to the Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR next season, to get better performance off road. My mechanic at Honda says that the Pirelli not only perform better off road, but are actually stickier on the pavement! The downside is that they last about half the mileage, 6K rather than the 12K easy of the originals.

[@alistairbox]

I forgot to add, to be fair, that these tires performed admirably off road, meaning dirt, small rocks, larger rocks and pushing up a relatively heavy bike even when the trails got steep... damp and muddy flat ground where also not an issue. It gave up, however, when encountering wet clay on a steep incline; there it pushed for a bit but then it gave up completely.

[@lydtv6270]

잼있겠다 나도 한번 타볼까나

[@alistairbox]

X-ADV는 항상 재미있고, 쉽고, 편리하고, 다재다능합니다!

[@lydtv6270]

@@alistairbox 감사합니다 저도 타고 있습니다🤗

[@alistairbox]

@@lydtv6270 와! 나는 당신이 아름다운 흰색 X-ADV를 가지고 있는 것을 보았습니다. 우리의 우수한 오토바이에 대한 더 많은 비디오를 게시하면 알려주세요! 🤗

[@lydtv6270]

@@alistairbox 네 알겠습니다 행복한날 되세요🤗

[@elin2732]

강원도 같네요 멋져요

[@alistairbox]

안녕 Elin Carpe, 나는 당신의 의견을 큰 칭찬으로 받아들입니다. 강원도를 직접 본 적은 없지만 정말 아름다운 곳인 것 같습니다. 언젠가 한국을 방문하고 싶습니다! Hi Elin Carpe, I take your comment as a great compliment. I've never seen Gangwon-do in person, but it seems a really beautiful place. I would like to visit South Korea one day!

[@drkatt191]

Nice but very slow ☺️

[@alistairbox]

Absolutely crawling, you’re right. Partly because it was my second ever time off road, on this bike, AND in total 😅 Partly because, at least to me, going faster than that makes the bike rattle and shake in a way that doesn’t seem right to me… it feels like I’m shaking it to pieces… Maybe it’s just my impression, or maybe the bike is meant to tackle these routes but very gently… I don’t know. But I’ve chosen to take it easy, just to be safe and, if you look at my latest videos, I still tackle off road slowly and carefully. But, personally, I like it that way with this big heavy bike. It feels appropriate. I’m on the other end THIS CLOSE to buy a Honda CRF 300 Rally, exactly so that I can hit rocks and bumps freely, knowing that the bike is designed to take it. And not worried if I drop it 😉

[@drkatt191]

@@alistairbox Rather slow and safe than fast and dead! 😅😅🙏🙏

[@piotrmaecki641]

You drive like a grandpa

[@alistairbox]

Fair enough 😅

[@Propelled]

I have put a few orthopedic surgeon’s kids through college, is this a bad thing?

[@luciano76464]

Il nuovo 2021 e meno brusco al comando dell'acceleratore...si guida meglio

[@alistairbox]

Io il nuovo non l'ho mai guidato, quindi non ti posso confermare ma mi fido ☺ immagino non sia l'unica miglioria apportata. Personalmente non ho mai trovato problemi a regolare con precisione quanto 'aprire'. Ho avuto problemi fuori strada invece, per non aver tolto il TC, allora si c'erano aperture e chiusure brusche quando il sistema riacquistava per un attimo trazione solo per riperderla immediatamente... ma quello è la mia inesperienza 😁

[@luciano76464]

@@alistairbox Mi riferivo alla partenza e nel traffico non appena tocchi l'acceleratore scatta bruscamente il vecchio modello

[@alistairbox]

@@luciano76464 Ricevuto e grazie per il feedback ☺ Personalmente sarà che ci ho fatto l'abitudine... ma ripeto, non avendo provato il nuovo, è interamente possibile che, a confronto, il vecchio mi risulterebbe scattoso esattamente come lo descrivi tu; dopotutto, questo è proprio una delle migliorie che ci si aspetta dal ride-by-wire. Piuttosto, tu che li hai provati entrambi, cosa ne pensi dell'ergonomia? In particolare, la sella è più o meno comoda? E' più o meno facile raggiungere il suolo con i piedi?

[@luciano76464]

@@alistairbox Comodo ma non tantissimo...io sono alto 1.68 lo trovo un po' Altino

[@alistairbox]

@@luciano76464 Io sono 1.78 ma anche io vorrei poter poggiare la suola completa del piede... tutto bene quando ci si ferma sul pari ma appena c'è un dislivello diventa difficile, è vero. Chiaramente questo è il prezzo da pagare per la sella larga (e quindi comoda) e per avere un ADV, altrimenti era un stradale no? 😁

[@chrisng2615]

Slower than riding mountain bike

[@alistairbox]

Sorry, I didn't realize I was being timed... on an X-ADV no less ;-)) But seriously, thanks for your comment but if you're looking for racing videos, you're never going to find them here I'm afraid; for me, it's all about exploring out of the way places, relax and enjoy the view.

[@nirhaber6149]

@@alistairbox same with me! I like going slow and enjoying the view

[@alistairbox]

@@nirhaber6149 To each his own. There was a time in my life when I enjoyed the speed and sound of a powerful racing bike. Now I want to travel in safety and comfort, often with my wife, and I feel blessed every time I do. Plus there's no point in having a bike that can handle some light off road if you don't slow down and appreciate nature and the view, right?

[@nirhaber6149]

@@alistairbox you are absolutely right. I feel you, my friend

[@alistairbox]

@@nirhaber6149 By moving from a sports bike to an adventure bike, I've replaced excitement and adrenaline with comfort and freedom. Plus, I'm no longer confined to the few fast and smooth roads that a street bike requires to be ridden fast, but I can literally go anywhere, anytime under any weather knowing that I'll get through safely and having experienced views that very few vehicles can allow you to. When you're no longer looking for a road that looks like a racing track, you'd be surprised how many beautiful roads, places and views are sitting just around the corner from your house, just waiting to be discovered.

[@poppycat]

Questa strada è fantastica Sono a Taiwan e ho anche un X-ADV Puoi anche guardare il mio youtube se sei interessato

[@alistairbox]

Hi and thanks for your comment. I especially liked your video in Pinglin District, New Taipei City and I've immediately subscribed to your channel, great work!