Living Off the Slab: Buying a new Adventure Touring Bike

[@RobsMotovlogs]

I vote for the Super Tenere. great bike...reliable..and comfortable

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

+ShadowDPS Awesome, thanks!

[@motoprentice]

I'll add that I had a chance to spend a weekend (500 miles) on a Super Ten and absolutely fell in love. There's nothing like crawling up fire and dirt roads for a couple hours then hitting the slab and kicking on cruise. You can't really go wrong with any of these bikes. GS for performance and goodies Super Ten for reliability and affordability.

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

+Chris Kleiner Cool, Thanks for the input!

[@DazzleRebel]

Hey Chris there's a guy I know of in the UK who builds Goldwing 1500 engined Scramblers! Would that float your boat? ;-)

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

+Dazzle Rebel That sounds cool!!

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

Thomas, thanks for the input.Twisted Throttle is an excellent suggestion, they are a great resource. The stand over height is definitely a challenge for me. All of these bikes do have a lower seat height available--which I will use--and some have lowering kits available. I plan on taking it slow and making sure I learn the right way to do things. Great input, thanks and see you soon!

[@LONERANGERON2WHEELS]

Hey Craig, First, I have to say it is a HUGE relief to find someone on KZbin that actually has something useful to say (and has knowledge of what they are saying). I hope there are young riders on your subscription list so they can actually hear from someone who actually rides. But to the subject, I will admit, I am a bit prejudice but by far you can't go wrong with the GS. I have 2 BMWs and love them both. My 2006 R1200RT has about 43,000 miles on it and has had no problems. It would be the closest to the GS since it has the Boxer engine. (Of course, the new liquid cooled Boxers are getting rave reviews and claims to be a remarkable improvement to what many already consider perfection..) Another thing I like about BMWs is the fact that they are the ONLY MC manufacturer that offers a 3 year warranty included. (Note: Kawasaki also offers a 3 year but only on the Concourse.) The KTM is a great bike. You might want to check dealer availabiltiy for when you're on the road. That is the one thing that keeps me from buying a KTM. I think they are extremely well made motorcycles and have great style. You also can't go wrong with Yamaha and at that price, you could probably get an extended warranty if you wanted it. Lastly, I really like Ducatis but I'm not that sold on their reliability and from what I've heard, routine maintenance costs are high. I also believe it has a lot more power (150hp?) than you say you need. Anyway, that's my 2 cents! Keep up the good work Tom LONERANGERON2WHEELS

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

Thank you sir, I appreciate the kind words and great input. You reinforce everything I have been thinking about while looking at theses bikes. They are all great choices and no one would be making a bad choice with any of them. Thanks again!

[@fakeappellation7343]

Interesting. I'm 25, and I'm also looking at adventure bikes. I have never ridden a motorcycle before, and the reason why I want to start on such a bike bike is because I'm tall, and big (6''2', 110kg on good days). The bike I'm looking at right now is the Super Tenere, and just like you I want something that I can cruise on the highway all day long if I want to, and do easy off roading if I feel like doing so. Can't wait to see the series!

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

+Fake appellation Hopefully my experience will help out. Thanks!

[@halfazzhomesteader]

Best bang for the buck vstrom

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

+halfazzhomesteader The price is definitely right.

[@crosscountryroadcam2447]

Thanks Craig; great video. I look forward to the detailed reviews as I'm very interested in buying an Adventure Tour bike after watching "Long Way Round" and "Long Way Down".

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

+Cross Country Road Cam Hey I know that bike...Thanks, those videos are addicting. They scratch that travel itch.

[@stopper90004]

I owned the 2012 Tenere. It is an awesome long distance bike, but barely manageable off road if you go on anything more challenging than a forest road. You need to be very experienced on dirt bikes if you try anything remotely technical, because this beauty weighs a ton! I ended up trading mine in for a KTM 690 Enduro R so that I could ride the slab for 150 miles at 75mph, followed by two hours of fairly challenging off road exploring. The mid sized KTM has astonishing power to weight ratio and only weighs 305 pounds. the Tenere is incredibly cheap compared to the BMW GS1200, or the biggest KTMs, rides just as well on all surfaces. it is also amazingly reliable. it's biggest drawback is the wind buffeting over 70mph. Even with a taller screen, it was annoying.

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

+stopper90004 Thanks, I really appreciate your input! That is just the kind of info I need.

[@DeepPurpleAreKings]

Great project. Can't wait to see all those reviews. Thanks man!

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

+DeepPurpleAreKings Thanks!

[@MrGus4440]

I have a '15 GSA with all the bells and whistles and Jessie bags. I love it. But it wasn't cheap. I only have about 11,000 miles on it since the end if Feb this year. I'm a long time BMW GS rider and have a 650 Sertaou too. I have worked my way through a bunch of other brands along the way while still riding my BMW's. KTM 950, Guzzi Quota, Triumph 955i Tiger and singles like DR650, KLR, KTM 525 Adventure. One thing to look at is maintenance. If cost us no object and you take it to the dealer they are all expensive to maintain. The BMW Boxer is still the easiest to work on doing routine maintenance. If you work on your own bike look at checking and adjusting the valves on any of the others. Hell, just look at changing the oil on the KTM. But my 950 KTM WAS A HOOT TO RIDE

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

+Gus Tinsley Thanks, I appreciate the feedback from someone with so much experience riding all those brands. You are right all bikes can be expensive to maintain. I do most of the routine stuff, but take it too the dealer for major service. For my Victory I spend about $100 per month on average for service. From the dealers I have talked to, the European brands could average $150 to $200 per month. In the end I will weigh initial cost and maintenence into the equation. Thanks again.

[@bigfootingermany]

I'm a new sub, just ran across your channel. Going to be interesting to see what you end up picking. As a long distance tour rider myself, This was a question I had to deal with myself. Much of your criteria, is exactly the same as mine. And based on what you want in a ADV, it really only left two choices. First one, definitely the BMW 1200GS. It has everything you could want. Handles fantastic, great torque and will absolutely get out of it's own way!! Dealer support as well as aftermarket support is fantastic, all over the country. And being an R series motor, they are ridiculously easy to work on whether repairs or services. The other choice, is the Triumph. Great power for it's size, weighs less than the BMW but are very comfortable. Dealer support isn't as good as the BMW, but aftermarket is getting better every year as they become quite popular. The downside, while they are somewhat decent off road, it isn't the best of the bunch. Lack of suspension travel being the biggest drawback. My buddy in Colorado has one, and swears by it. But he's 6'2" and I'm only 5'8". And in order to get the suspension travel to make it a much better off road bike, he had to go with an aftermarket suspension. I couldn't even touch my toes on his bike. Of all of them, the KTM is by far the best off road. But many have basically called it a street legal dirt bike. I've ridden the 1190, and nearly chose it myself. It was the lack of cruise control that stopped me. It's not uncommon for me to do 5-600 miles a day. Without cruise, I just couldn't accept that. The Super Tenere, is a great bike, but not so much for off road. It was almost like something they threw together to try and capture a piece of market share. Can they do it? Absolutely. But unless you don't expect to go anything rougher than a 2 track, well it's basically just a street bike with extra suspension and knobby tires. Dealer support is available just about anywhere. And the cost is much less than the others. So a real question you need to ask yourself, how much off road, and how radical do I plan on getting? If it's an occasional fire break or the dirt roads that criss cross all over the country, but nothing too crazy, it might work out pretty good for you. You'd definitely save a few thousand bucks. As for the multistrada... ummmm, nope. I'll just leave it at that. It's a great looking bike, and has more horsepower than you could ever want, but there are so many other things stacked against it, it's just not worth it. I'm sure there are folks that have them and love them. But it's one thing to take it out on the weekend and rip up the asphalt and some fire roads, compared to long distance tour riding out of your local area. Parts availability and cost, and lack of dealer support compared to the other choices... Nah. It would be the bottom of the stack. I started riding dirt, just like most of us here. I've been pulling clutches for just shy of 50 years. When I first started looking at the ADV class, it was because too many times I would be riding my HD across the desert, and see that lone dirt road going off into the distance, and wondering where it went. There was no way my Electra-Glide Ultra was gonna handle that. Missing my dirt riding days, I ended up buying a second hand KLR650. It was ok on the 2 tracks, and occasionally on a half way smooth single track, but it was slow, and heavy, especially up top. Ultimately I ended up hating that bike and sold it for a R1200R naked bike that I slapped the hard side bags to and a small top box. Great bike for the twists, and actually quite comfortable on trips up to about 400 miles a day. You just have to set your stock suspension right. Great bikes. But there I was again, unable to go see where that dirt road went... Ultimately for me, it came down to a choice between 2. The 1200GS or the KTM 1190. Both were available second hand, from people that only went from coffee shop to coffeeshop, and for a damn good discount over brand new. I forgot who it was, but some company made a throttle lock for the KTM which took care of the cruise control issue. But after riding a few friends bikes, I had to ask myself an even more important question. At my age, how radical was I really willing to get off road? I miss the dirt. But at my age, going down on rough terrain, especially rocks, there was a real possibility of getting majorly damaged! While the KTM is definitely much more capable of doing the dirt thing, really! They are amazing off pavement!! The fact of the matter was, I didn't have the skills I once had as a young man. My choice ended up being a 2018 R1200GS low with the Rallye package. It was bone stock and had less than 8000 miles on it. I swapped the seat for a low seat and put the under seat adjuster also on low. Added fold back highway pegs, and it was perfect. The TFT screen I could give a crap less about, and honestly actually prefer analog speedo and tach. But 3 riding modes, suspension that adjusts 9 ways from Sunday, and hard luggage all the way around. It is a great bike. It really is. The only thing missing was a great sound system. I usually ride alone, because I'm retired military, and most of my friends still are working. So while they are grinding out their work weeks, I'm out doing my own thing. But without friends along for the ride, having tunes on board while you enjoy the scenery is a great way to pass the miles. Whether I'm cruising down a backroad, or interstate, or some dirt road to an old ghost town, it has handled every thing I have tried to throw at it, and all in 100% reliability. The few times when I did have something break, it still never once left me stranded on the side of the road or out in the middle of the desert where there was no cell service. That bike is now sitting in my storage unit back in Reno, Nv while I came to Germany for awhile. I am heading back home in a few weeks and am looking forward to getting back on it! However, while I was over here, I bought (and just recently sold because I am moving back to the US) a 2018 R1200RT. What an outstanding highway bike and great handling through the twists and turns of the Alps! So I just purchased a brand new 2020 R1250RT exclusive package from BMW Motorcycles of Western Oregon in Tigard, Oregon. $1000 off from the factory, $750 off from the factory because of military service, and a free color matched 49 liter top box, and the Nav 6 GPS system. It has every option available on a "regular" RT that isn't a 719 option bike. I can't wait to pick it up! It will be my normal cruise across the country and go see friends still stuck in California, while the GS will be my "desert" bike. Yes, I'm gonna keep them both. And I guess in the winter, I'll pick up some little crap box of a car to get me through the few months that are just too cold or icy. So that is my choice, I am excited to see what you ultimately picked out! Bob in Germany

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

Thanks for sharing your story!

[@jimtomstimpson1477]

I was at Riders Hill in Dahlonega,GA last week and they sale Moto Guzzi among other things. I didn't even know before that visit , that Guzzi offered an adventure bike. I have never ridden one but LOVE the transverse V-Twin. Most visually enjoyable engine of all the adventures. I have ridden a KTM 1190 and it was great but I couldn't reach the ground on it, ridiculously tall. I could however, reach on the Guzzi Stelvio1200 NTX which by the way holds 2.5 gallons more of gasoline than our Visions! Yep, class leading 8.5 gallons. A qoute from a Scott Brady evaluation " The Stelvio is also a fantastic value, retailing at less than $16,000 with all of the goodies. That is almost $9,000 less than a similarly equipped GS Adventure (with premium package)" Scott is the publisher and founder of Expedition Portal and the co-founder of Overland Journal. expeditionportal.com/the-2014-moto-guzzi-stelvio/ I don't know anything more about , just that it looked good and had a more acceptable seat height for me. i also ride a Vision. 2008 with 121,200 miles on it. Ride on brother.

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

+Jim Tom Stimpson 121K, nice! I will get there some day. I really like the Guzzi engines too. I have not ridden one, but they do look cool.

[@Thomas-qk7wf]

Several things to consider during your purchase. The first being I would take a ride over to Twisted Throttle and have a chat with more than one staffer there to get their thoughts on what you're looking for and what you plan to do with it. They're going to be the least biased as they sell accessories for every model available and I'm sure they have a lot of anecdotal, as well as practical, evidence of what's working, lasting and providing the most bang for the buck. I would also consider your inseam. Adventure bikes, by their very design, are quite tall and flat footing one if you have less than a 32" inseam may be a challenge. While that may not seem like a problem in the showroom, or on the street, it's a whole other animal when you take a bike off road, even fire roads, as the terrain is not always flat and when you go to put a foot down you could find yourself in a position where you could lose balance quite easy. That being said, Twisted Throttle will be able to recommend the model that's going to give you the most options for lowering one if that's the route you have to go. You've picked a great group of bikes to consider. The top of the food chain obviously being the BMW. Anything you could possibly want is available for the BMW. Definitely ride a standard GS as well as the Adventure model. They both can be had with cruise control. I also wouldn't rule out a Triumph Tiger 800. At 100+ horsepower they're no slouch when it comes to performance and I think can be had with cruise on the 2015+ models. I could be wrong on that though. It also may be lighter than the others. All that being said, I don't think you could go wrong with any of them. The Ducati may prove to be the one to keep an eye on as there are reports of reliability issues. If you decide to go BMW, as a customer, I can tell you from my experience MAX BMW has a good reputation for a reason. Lastly, as I'm sure you're aware, the ADVRider.com forum is your best friend here. Anything you could ever want to know about ANY of the models you're considering will be found there. The folks on ADVRider are the real deal and they put LOTS of miles on every bike imaginable and they spend LOTS of money on every option/accessory you could think of. Good luck in your search, I have every confidence you're going to have a blast in the process of selecting your new ride. See you in a couple of weeks in Vermont..

[@mar1video]

Nice review, great video !

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

Thanks!

[@Weaselbeak75]

Cool you're looking to try something new!. IMO these all are bikes with tall seat heights which may be quite a bit different than what you're used to. I only saw one that appears to come with bags-so you may have to tack that on the price if you have to buy side cases. If I wanted a bike that was reliable because i was taking it far from home i would probably avoid any "completely redesigned" bikes. Let other people find the inherent flaws on a bike. One thing I don't know is your location. Are there dealers close by that could service whatever type of bike you buy? it's about 70mi to get my BMW to the nearest dealer for service here and you may not want that hassle-although if you're traveling all over with it you may want to consider what kind of dealer network KTM has should you run into issues with that bike on the road. Good luck with whatever you choose and i look forward to more vids from you.

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

+Weaselbeak75 You are right, this new bike is going to be different, but that is the point, to experience different things and see new places etc... You also echo many of my dealer/service concerns when choosing any new bike.

[@jvabsher]

Craig, I faced the same dilemma as you. But being somewhat of a speed freak, I quickly narrowed it down to the KTM or Ducati. And since I can't imagine EVER taking a $20k motorcycle into the woods, I opted for the Duc. It's very comfortable, reliable, and INCREDIBLY fast! It's also by far the best looking bike of the bunch, and a blast to ride. The downside of the Ducati is parts are expensive, come from Italy, and GOOD dealers can be rather scarce.

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

+J. Vance Absher I think you hit the nail on the head. The Duc and the KTM are great street bikes and super fast, but they are more expensive and are not really off-road bikes even though they have enduro modes. In the end it gets down to what type of riding do I intend to do with this bike? Truthfully, I think I want one of each...but that is not going to happen, so I will eventually have to make a decision. Thanks for the input!

[@motoprentice]

If you have the money, get the GS Adventure. It's got the bigger gas tank (longer range) and comes already kitted-out with the crash guards. If I had the money, that's what I'd go for. With that said, I will probably go with a Super Tenere for two reasons; it's more affordable for me and generally the most bullet-proof. Another contender worth considering is the V-Strom 1000. But....if you have the money......get the GS and let me live vicariously through you. :)

[@DazzleRebel]

V-Strom 1000 another great machine but again no cruise control. You do get a lot of bike for your money though and that V-twin engine is a peach.

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

+Dazzle Rebel I thought about both V-Stroms as well as the Kawai Versys models--although they are very street oriented. And like you mentioned they don't have cruise control.

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

+Chris Kleiner I have read different things about the Tenere's ABS. Hard cored folks says that not being able to turn off the ABS is a big deal and other say that it works just fine for the type of off-road riding that most of us do. I have also seen posts and videos where people have put switches in line to turn off the ABS. As a novice ADV rider, I have no idea, so I think I would leave it alone at least until I had more experience.

[@LorenDavis]

Craig, I like (and own) the DL650A as well. Came from an VT1100C. It doesn't have CC but a cramp buster works well for me. It has ample power, you won't get to 120 on it but it is faster than my 1100 and passes with authority. It's also lighter than most of the bikes on your list and cheaper. The negative for me is the chain.

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

+Loren Davis Thanks, I thought about the middle weights like the V-Strom and the KLR650. They are definitely much lighter and less expensive. Good options!

[@KrazyKoolNYer]

I vote for the super tenere! Great bike and trouble free!

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

+Krazy Kool NYer Thanks!

[@MrGus4440]

Craig, I think you are going to find the Victory is the least maintenance intensive bike you can own. That said the BMW Boxer is easy to maintain at home with minimal cost. Order one of Jim Von Badon's maintenance videos. He is on the ADV Rider forum. And BMW has the easiest wheel removal for tire changes.

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

+Gus Tinsley Thanks I will check it out.

[@ppeaster]

Hey Craig. I tried the 2015 bmw GS last week - very easy to ride and comfy. Not the most exciting bike out there but I felt like I could ride it all day.

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

+ppeaster Appreciate the feedback!

[@GTFiorano]

I really enjoy the channel, as far as the choice in bike goes-ack! what choices. I like the super ten. I like the gs12, the ktm while great still doesn't have the dealer network. some one mentioned moto guzzi stelvio? it has shaft drive very cool. can you wait for the Honda Africa Twin? it is out soon. the new vstrom1000 is flat out great to ride. superten and gs should be going head to head

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

+GTFiorano Thanks, you echo some of the thoughts going through my head. The Guzzis are cool, but the closest dealer is 2 hours away, so I did not include it in my list. But, I would still love to ride it.

[@andyandreson3989]

The KTM was a fantastic ride to me. I'm considering trading my Vic in for one possibly. The Ducati I've ridden as well and I much preferred the KTM. The Ducati is really just a road bike now in my opinion. From other adventure riders I've talked to though, they say the chain drive on the KTM is its biggest detractor to them. Looking forward to seeing some more on this, good luck.

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

+Andy Andreson I got to ride the KTM as well and I will be posting my video in the next week or so...working on my Ducati review now.

[@benmyers4650]

Thanks For the reply Sir that is what I kind of figured after 50 or 60 thousand on a bike it might be better to sale to someone, I was told that some dealerships have a limit on trade in mileage, thanks for the help,,,,,

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

+Ben Myers As a rule of thumb you are correct, but it will depend on the dealer, what you are trading for and your relationship with them. A friend of mine just traded is Vision with 84K on it for a left over 2013 Vision and he got a good price for his trade.

[@danaclark1304]

Craig, I love your new series... I have been considering a second bike to complement my 2011 Victory Cross Country. I started my mental process with the idea that a small dedicated off road bike would be a great way to develop off road skills and, enhance my street riding. I was considering Honda, Suzuki and the Kawasaki bikes in the 400 cc too 650 cc range. I haven't moved forward with this because upon closer inspection the specifications are disappointing - compared to my Victory. Ever since I watched 'Long Way Around' I have been thinking about adventure bikes. Unlike you my spending limit for a new bike is $10,000. Also, I want a bike that I can drop and not feel bad about it for a week. The only bike I had been considering up to this point is the 2016 Honda Africa CRF1000L($12,999 to $13,699). I don't believe these bikes are on the market yet so I can't ask you to add it to your list. I was going to wait until 2017 and buy a used one... In the meanwhile your series should be very informative. Thanks for taking the time and extreme effort to do this.

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

Hey Dana, glad you enjoying this series of videos and it is interesting to see just how many folks are thinking about this type of bike. I saw the videos for the Africa twin and it does look interesting. I would love to test it out. Not sure when we will see one here in the US, I would think next spring. Othere bikes in your price range would include the Suzuki V-Strom 650 and the Triumph Tiger 800. Both come in off-road equiped versions. The Kawasaki Verys 650 is supposed to be a great bike, but it is not really off-road capable. However the Kawasaki KLR650 is, and it is known as a no frills work-horse. That is of course if you dont want to wait to find a used Africa Twin. See you soon!

[@rex4x4]

650 vstrom man ...... Smooth v twin and not pricey

[@DazzleRebel]

650 V-STROM is a great bike at a good price point but it doesn't have cruise control. If this can be overlooked and/or cruise control can be fitted after market then it's a great solo adventure touring bike with 250 mile + tank range and plenty of luggage options. Go for the XT version with spoked wheels.

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

+Rex4x4 Good suggestion. I kept going back and forth on looking for a smaller bike in the 650-800cc range or a bigger bike in the 1200cc range.In the end I decided to go for the bigger bike for long distance comfort...at least that is my thought. Also I really want the cruise control.

[@DazzleRebel]

+Craig Ripley (Living Off The Slab) many find the V-Strom 650 more comfortable than the 1000. The seat is very comfy as is the riding position but that killer of no cruise control. Actually I don't think Suzuki have a motorcycle model with cruise control?

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

+Dazzle Rebel Yeah, I don't get it. Touring bikes should have cruise control...at least as an option.

[@chowhound33ify]

The one that will give you the most reliability and best bang for the buck is the super tenere,hands down...

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

+chowhound33ify Thanks!

[@coreybeaty8528]

I think every bike you chose is capable of doing well over that 150 mph mark you said was over kill. and way to heavy and wide for off road. BMW f800gs 120mph good acceleration. power for the weight of gear great off road. save the money and buy headed adv touring great and light weight camping set up.

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

+Corey Beaty I picked the 1200cc range because I wanted something that is large enough to be comfortable on the highway as well as off-road. Well see if I am right...thanks for the advice, I appreciate it!

[@coreybeaty8528]

+Craig Ripley That 1200 gs i bet you don't ride your victory too much any more. your going to fall in Love.

[@benmyers4650]

Really enjoy your channel very informative on all things bike and touring related, was wondering if you know you are going to trade your Victory for a newer bike would you not trade now before the extra mileage, or once you reach a certain level of mileage on a motorcycle for trade in does it make a difference on the trade in value, thanks for the help,,,,

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

+Ben Myers If Victory comes out with another model or upgraded Vision, I would consider trading up. But at this point the bike is still running very well and it does everything I need a large touring bike to do. The new Visions have no significant upgrades--new transmission and ABS is just not enough to make me take on another payment--mine is paid off. With that said, once I get over 60K I will take a substantial hit on the trade in value, but again, that is not enough to make me trade in.

[@orangecrush1976]

Moto Guzzi Sterlvio!!!!??? It has a wonderful engine that is stone reliable, has that small block chevy sound and is as unique as they come. The aprilia caponord looks incredible as well and a hold over model can be purchased at an affordable price for both bikes.

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

+orangecrush1976 As I mentioned above, I think the Guzzis are cool but for me I would be hesitant to buy either the Guzzi or the Aprilia because of dealer availability in my area. But if I had a larger garage and more money...I would own a Guzzi Eldorado.

[@jonatansteven4905]

How much pension you get?

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

What's a pension?

[@coreybeaty8528]

go explore gost towns

[@LivingOffTheSlab]

+Corey Beaty Ghost Towns...I would have to go out West. Sounds good...