Who ARE these riders?

[@anthonyfox5337]

Spot on Keith. Ex Enduro rider here, The problem when riding my T7 is expecting enduro bike like handling and getting frustrated at having to ride so slow in technical or harder conditions. Frankly its just not fun on the T7 but that`s why I`ve got a 500 EXC and a 300 EXC for conditions that suit those bikes. Simple fact is, you need more than one bike if you plan on riding all types of terrain and conditions.

[@jamiewilkinsracing]

Former motorcycle journalist here, now a 500EXC owner. I agree about adv marketing. The problem isn't that owners won't be able to ride the same way, it's that the manufacturers are competing to have the most extreme marketing videos and photos and they're making the bikes look way more playful than they are. In reality, they're so heavy, as you point out, that they will get away from you very quickly if you try to get a bit loose. And you don't even have to crash to damage them - once on a magazine photoshoot I snapped the shock of a gen2 Triumph Tiger by jumping it about a metre high. The bikes in the manufacturer shoots are practically disposable. An odd contrast is that back in the day I remember the sports bike marketing couldn't show riders getting their knee down, even on a circuit. Thanks for the great content, Keith.

[@dlrmon1]

Being your typical average motorcycle rider most my life. I’ve always found it amazing that there are people out there that can handle big bikes like what you see in advertising. That being said, It has inspired me to do better just knowing it can be done, but I have no delusions of my capabilities. I could be in awe of the best fighters in the world but you couldn’t pay me enough to step into the ring with Mike Tyson...

[@dlrmon1]

Okay, maybe a zillion dollars...

[@adventureswithham2223]

@@dlrmon1ha ha that was good ❤

[@1BayGolden]

Totally agree. Celebrate their awesomeness and aspire to improve your own abilities!

[@andrewseeber1190]

It is only marketing. Have just bought a 500 as a light adv, have a 690, 300 two banger and a 950 Super Enduro amongst others. Had an 1190 with 150 horses. Whilst the big bikes can get you into trouble, especially solo and serious, I mean serious, single, mud and rocks should be avoided nothing puts a smile on my dial like riding a big bike fast in the bush. The Super Enduro is 17 years old now(they should have kept making them), has no abs, not TC and is an absolute beast. I don't think that to many are kidding themselves that they are going to ride like Birchy or Pol but they can be punted along quite quickly in surprisingly tough terrain.

[@MrEtnorb]

Couldn't agree more. Thanks for showing that valve check, saves me from doing mine for another year as I'm only at 6600km. I am also sick of seeing some YT reviewers showing that advertising bullshit in the background as they speculate as to what model is coming out, despite obviously having NO inkling of the truth. I'm closer to 70 than 60 now and still love my modified 500 even though I totally avoid any difficult terrain. I can't even stand moving heavy bikes around my garage and my weight limit is 150kg. I even find my 690 to be a lump but then I am comparing it to my 106kg 500. One final annoyance, i despise comments on the 500's supposed need for daily oil changes. So much ignorance out there but you have been doing your best to dispel those stupid tales. Keep up the good work. As for seeing those big bikes on the dirt, they aren't anywhere i ride. I regularly ride in an arc from central west to south of Sydney and in 8 years have never seen a single twin etc on the easy dirt roads I travel on. IF you go to Braidwood you will see lots of them passing through but they are always pristine.Same in Goulburn, Crookwell, Boorowa, Cooma etc.

[@Banditmanuk]

Advertisers are selling dreams. Everyone dreams of doing the big adventures, average Joe dreams of being able to to ride a big adventure bike off road. Honestly, I think most riders can see past the marketing. The reality is these big bikes will mostly just see hard trails or normal roads. Personally I enjoy watching skilled riders handle these big bikes off road. Their skills are hard won. At no time am I ever convinced I could do the same.

[@frankneikes]

Hi Keith so true about the adverst and size of the bike ! I ride a 500 around the world for 8 years now and it's a great bike get a neoprene sock for the forks best thing for your seals ! I like your videos keep it up !

[@rolandwheeler4842]

IMO you are 100% spot on. But lots of folks, even older folks, drinking that "Coolaid". I am a member of a Senior off road and adventure group, and I cannot tell you how many of these guys jump from a street bike to a huge GS or KTM etc. THEN, figure out it is too large to go "off road" solo after dropping it and unable to get it back up. Now looking for something "more manageable". I ride a WR250R and love it. But, long stretches at 60mph plus gets a bit tiring. But once off the beaten path there is nothing I'd rather be riding. Guess I'll get a 890 adventure and put a rack on the back to carry my 250....

[@davidricketts6985]

Completely agree Keith. And if the big bikes like 1250 BMW and 1290 KTM etc, are used like enduro bikes it's not long before things start to fail prematurely. Horses for courses..

[@MLeitao]

The problem it's not the marketing, since i remember it's always been there, the problem is the people that after watching some videos they think they can do the same, i've seen a lot of people first rides of road with big bikes, they don't have the school of small bikes, and that's were the problems start... These days you can even have a chance to do a test ride, not in the past.

[@Nerb1]

I disagree. Anyone can ride like birch or tarres and the like.... if you spend the same time on the bike as they do and start when you are 10. They are just normal people that did the work. That said, no one cares to see a 1300gsa on the open road. A goldwing can do that. Its fun to see the extreme. ;)

[@adventureswithham2223]

Exactly, I think there are horses for courses, pick your horse, and choose your course.

[@bertbroeder1832]

Yes and no! One kind I agree with him. He is talking about normal people riding motorcycles. These are the majority ob buyers. Opposite, I agree with you. We have these Birch/Tarres and others. I love to see what they can do. What we see here is a long time training for sure. My disagree here, not anyone can do this. This is talent, long time practice and a lot of money to do this. Long time practice isn't enough. This guys often start earlier than age 10. Pol Tarrés is the nephew of Jordi, seven times Trial World Champion. How many normal people have a seven time trial world champion as an oncle?

[@jaimemetcher388]

I think there's a misconception about what it means to ride "like birch or tarres". Unquestionably they are great riders, but those photoshoots are photoshoots. Very controlled conditions. Not even those guys ride like that all day. Tarres talks about injury risk, how important it is to manage fatigue and call it a day if it's not happening after a couple of attempts. If you want to be a stunt rider, those shoots are inspirational, sure. If you want to get out there on the trails for a few days to weeks at a time and bring yourself and your bike back in good enough shape to do it again - you're not going to be riding like that. I've seen the way world-class riders treat a bike they're relying on to get them home, and it looks nothing like the photoshoots.

[@danbrown3103]

I opened up comments to say i disagree totally. But nerb 1 you have already said it. Sorry keith. You dont get to tell people what bike they can do what on. Its exciting to try single trails on these bikes. And also exciting to see the marketing videos.

[@themotorguy]

Awesome explanation Keith. I completely agree, marketing has gone crazy with what they are showing these bikes doing. Great videos, this was a good format including some bike work with some bike talk.

[@jasondunn8894]

Some great points Keith. I ride a Teneré 660 and travelled up through southern Flinders a few months ago. I love it for touring graded back roads but for an average rider like me, it’s heavy and tall and awkward to handle (and pickup when you drop it!) I would love to have a 450 thats lighter. We need to not get swept up in all the marketing and buy a bike that is manageable for us personally and stop trying to ‘keep up with the Jones’👍

[@carls.2071]

Spot on with your comments and thoughts.

[@irideaz390]

Totally agree. Wish I would’ve skipped the Adv bike all together, but the marketing got me. Moved to a 500 and couldn’t be happier.

[@bk6271]

Me too. I had a GS1200 then bought a 701 thinking I was getting a plated dirt bike......wrong

[@glossblack1098]

Great topic for discussion. Some people seem to get sucked into the marketing and buy a huge ADV bike as their first "off-road" bike. Cheers

[@danarussell4246]

Totally agree so that why I have 3 motorcycles in the current stable and chose the proper steed for what I have planned for the day/weekend.

[@flyovercounty1427]

New to your channel. I enjoy the content for everyday riders. Started riding on a new red frame CZ 250, plus a new RD350… now have XT250, Tiger 800XCa, R1200RT. Looking to add a couple more to the stable… vintage trials looks like fun…

[@NomadSweden]

You have a great, calm "TV personality" I like to watch and listen to :) Great tempo in editing and relevant content. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@Texastoo2]

I understand what you are saying. However, It’s like watching Jordan play basket ball. I know the shoes will not make me jump better but I like watching people that can do the amazing things. For me, I will keep my Fe and Norden close to the earth

[@squid148]

Great job and take on what bike to pick. I had a GSA 1200 and ended up with a KTM 500 excf for when I want to ride off-road and a BMW 1250 RT for my road trips.

[@WhatTimeIsIt369]

Marketing exists for a reason and it works. I have seen so so so so so many people buy bikes that they can barely ride on gravel let alone do the fancy stuff. But more than that people's ego takes over even after they know they made a mistake. The don't want to ride a small bike because the perception is that they either don't have enough money to buy a big bike or they don't have enough skill to ride a big bike. Meanwhile with people who have their ego in check, and probably bigger banks accounts, they have a great time on a logical purchase.

[@BlueAlgon]

Spot on. That's how I've been seeing it too. Marketing has nothing to do with intelligence or common sense. It tries to capture the innate naivete of people, and it must be working on enough of people, as the manufacturers keep using it.

[@bigals.ktms.9937]

Totally agree , not everyone rides like Chris birch on big bikes.

[@JetCityHooligan]

Totally agree about the absurd marketing where they take the top 1% riders/ex pro racers and show them doing stuff none of us normies can or should do on those huge behemoth bikes. It's almost inviting injury to the people who buy those bikes, damage to the bikes and disappointment that they don't live up to the hype. That being said, everyone should be realistic about their skills/abilities and wants/needs when it comes to what bike they chose to purchase.

[@johnstaring3210]

Could not agree more with your summary.

[@powertrip1050]

as happens a lot in oz, you forgot the Tuareg...lighter and lower COG than the T7....its the twin cylinder that is closest to the large single (like yours)....anyway, good for you to highlight to peeps that aspirational marketing is something to be aware of when choosing a bike...good job!

[@houjous5131]

What I'm hearing; "big bikes are too hard for me, so no one should be riding it offroad!" I bet you I could find a dozen videos saying you're 500cc is too heavy, you really need a 300 2t. And another video saying no one could possibly use a 300cc 2t to its full potential except pros, you really need a 350 4t or 250 2t. I enjoy doing both fast flow-y gravel roads & hard enduro-esk stuff on my 890. It's a totally different experience from dirtbikes as the riding lines will be totally different.

[@mrzclips]

The Average rider is not 6ft 5 so it kinda makes sense. To handle a bike with 220kg offroad like a 120kg it needs a big Person to equalize the Bike..Of course there are exceptions but those exceptions are very rare so to speak i rather have a small bike that i can operate effortless than vice versa. IT is Marketing tricking riders into thinking bigger is always better...

[@c3h4organic97]

You are 100% right. With the big market, there comes the money and with it comes Marketing. These are usually idiots with the only focus to blow up things that are not real. A word to Tarres: This individuum is without a dougth capable, but what Yamaha is doing there is unbearable. This guy is riding a highly modified Shit7 with approx. less than 160kg and "compeetes" as a pro rider in events like Erzberg in the Bronce Class with amateurs! Then most people recognise this as "hej look, you can do it with a Shit7 in Erzberg!" We are now at a point in time, where people stopped looking at the details and accepting all of this marketing BS. Went the same route a you and ended up with a F850 for touring and and a HuskyFE501 for the solo adventures. Keep up thinking straight. Thanks.

[@wicko2363]

Best part about all those marketing shots, no luggage, that’s right it’s in the makeup truck.

[@easy4steve]

i have bought a 2022 ktm 690 enduro R it has great long legs and lots of power , with full control of the power with ride modes , i have had the 500 exc , i have not done to much off road with it yet , its no 250 cc two stroke or 500 exc , but i think may be a good long term bike , as i have nearly turned 65 years old , its seems a fun and easy bike to manage , i do need to changed out the tyres to a more off road style , but yes i do see these adds and it sure does make you wonder who these riders are . good video ,cheers

[@bk6271]

grammer much?

[@stitchjones7134]

My 1290 SAS was a great tourer, but i downsized to a 690 for more options. I'm in very good shape for 42, but the little 690 is so much less demanding when out in the rough stuff and, importantly, easy to pick up, I do miss 160hp on the road though.

[@cdjonesus]

That's what I was thinking when I bought my 2021 Honda Africa Twin Adventure sport ES, 1100 cc. I saw all of these videos with everyone riding them and doing technical stuff, and was thinking, thats cool, I should get one. What happens? I go out riding and go down lots of times. The bike is to top heavy, and is in the mid to high 500 lb range. I have 15,600 miles on it since I bought it, but most of it now is on the pavement. Don't really want to even take it out on a gravel road without being paranoid since I have crashed it several times.

[@maraudermitchelli]

True so true. It’s not good marketing for new riders. Good video great topic 😊

[@jimh2061]

I'm a newer rider age 60 and originally I had this idea of getting an adventure bike and doing some jeep trails and exploring from state to state. Well I went down and had the bike land on my leg. Lucky I had good boots. Than lifting the bike when your already tired is not easy. Its down right dangerous fooling around on slick clay. I've made a decision to just stick to roads and enjoy it. I'm too inexperienced and old to go through the growing pains of crashing off road.

[@TwoTubesADV]

Totally agree Keith, it’s aspirational marketing.

[@nickg2431]

I went on a ride with some guys on the the big ADV bikes ,they can really struggle on the trickier stuff for the average rider

[@ferkuzuel]

I agree, marketing it's always been like that, and when it comes to food is even worse, it's combination of desire and excitement after all it is a desire that make us buy a bike, and we get some sort of excitement when we get it.

[@skippynj1979]

I sport tour on my r1250gsa... tarmac with graded gravel dirt and some easy of roading... I like to live off my bike for weeks at a time... I'm thinking of a street legal beta to do more off roading.. the Aprilia 660 is on my list..

[@williamhudson3208]

Totally agree. I just stay with second hand.

[@HartyBiker]

I recently saw a video of a guy riding a goldwing through some pretty average rocky offroad tracks, and there were a few shots of him power sliding through some gravel corners. Ok the bike was destroyed by the end of it, but the point is that a great rider who doesn't care about the bike he's riding can get through some crazy stuff on the wrong bike. But that is not at all representative of your average rider or even what a bike is actually capable of long term. So I'm sure those big adventure bikes can do some of that stuff, for a while, but pretty soon either the rider or the bike will break

[@bertbroeder1832]

This market has changed a lot since they put the XT500 out. One of the biggest industry fail these days that not even one company is in will to put out a new motorcycles meet this old idea of enduro bike. They are gone. F.e.: - Honda CRF300 to heavy, few cheap parts to change for real dirt, low power - Suzuki DRz400 old concept of bike - KTM EXC500 is made for competition. You have to change a few things to make it for your use. - KTM 690 or Husqvarna or GasGas: don't need that much power, it is kinda overdesigned. - All bigger as you said. Tried the new Yamaha Ténéré 700 world raid lately, no thanks, much way to heavy. Will stay with the KTM LC4 640 for a while. Comes close to the XT500 times...

[@craigduffield3963]

I see you averaged 76 kms @ hr on the 500 since last valve check,that’s a high average speed for a dirt bike,good video mate

[@andrecosta9e]

This time i totally disagree with the thesis. First reason i see your videos is because i share the ktm 525 lightness compared to my Lc8 950 Adventure. On the 525 i can more freely put myself in troubles with a super higher possibility to have fun instead of drama. But the amount of big smiles i had under the helmet with the heavy twin in serious offroad situations, well you can say is wrong but i know it's not 😁

[@criticalmass181]

I'm so glad I didn't get sucked in to the marketing hype, when I bought my new bike. I almost did...along with my wife daring me to get a DesertX. I live in the Snowy Mountains and have endless fire roads, trails, and plain old bush, to get lost in. I'd have wasted 35K, if i'd fallen for the bullshit. Long live the King of all things dirt....the KTM 500 EXC-F. I did spoil myself and get a six days France. You only get to borrow this particular set of atoms once......

[@marcospeguero5354]

One other big thing is that much of those bikes have at least full suspension done...

[@thomasgrenon5343]

Hey Keith, enjoy your videos! I also agree, the bike manufacurers advertising images showing their latest / greatest overweight super adventure bike effortlessly riding through highly technical terrain! Highly misleading! To the point of being a cast of false advertising!... On another note, it was interesting that your valve clearances are getting wider/bigger. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but most of the ware I have seen around valve clearances have been the valve either pounding itself into the valve seat or the the valve itself will burn or disfigure /mushroom out, which creates Less valve clearance. If you are getting more valve clearance is there a possibility you are getting ware either on the cam or the follower or the pivot points? I live with a 500 exc with 250 hr, so I wonder... Thanks Big Time for your sharing your experiences.

[@bazza8947]

I tried some of the tricks Pol Tarres does and I did a pretty awesome job. When I get discharged from the spinal ward of this hospital, I will give it another go!

[@dlrmon1]

Lol!

[@ryanmalone2681]

I just want a 200lb bike with long travel suspension that’s as comfy and has the same range as my R1250 GS Adventure, so every weekend the 500 motorway miles there back to the good stuff is tolerable and still fun when I get there. Is that too much to ask??? 😉

[@billclose9710]

Hi Keith, Have followed you for a while , have enjoyed alot of what you share, alot of commonsense. I ride a big bike ktm 1190 and a light bike Drz 400 at the moment for exactly that reason. I have accidently jumped my big bike and it jumps well. but not always by choice :) but love the lighter bike for doing the really knarly tracks etc. I have taken my fair share of advice off you over the years. I thought this time I would get the DRZ for the tighter riding and thinking lower maintinance shedules etc. But I have realized that is a myth, I think there is as much maintinance on the Drz as there was on the Ktm just different. but the Ktm it handles whole lot better, better brakes, better power and if you shop around you can buy close to same price near new second hand. But I have found a big differance going back to the Drz is noticing the handling, braking , etc need to throw some money at them to get anywhere near the ktm so I will be heading back that way next time around.

[@markg7834]

Excellent vid! Thank you.

[@tankslapmoto9999]

I respectfully disagree on the big bike thing, sure an EXC500 is better off Road than a 1290 but that’s kinda missing the point I think. Enjoyable video all the same, and impressive valve clearance numbers (the 500 exc is solid, I recall early 250f motocross engines that were ridden hard going out of spec as early as 30 hours).

[@elobiretv]

The problem is it tricks those that know nothing about off road riding into thinking a GS is a good option. I have a mate that has a Africa Twin and was insistent he's be able to off road it fine because everyone in the videos seem to manage. Once he tried a lighter bike he quickly gave up on the idea and bought a 250.

[@volvogt21]

So much has been made of the weight savings on the 1300gs. What they don't tell you is that it is still 12 kg MORE than an early 1200gs.

[@danghita4386]

I don't think anyone disagrees with you mate, but if all you have it's a hammer.. Anyways, the big bikes are pretty capable and some more than others, I was able (..ish) to do the Billy Goat Track and a few similar others here in Vic, on a GSA 1250 (google the Dargo area). Wished a 250 between my legs in a couple of corners, for sure! But I can't afford another bike, big bikes are hard on the budget.. I'd need a trailer too, to tow it near the tracks. So if I skip few sections - but not that many as you'd think - of the hardcode single tracks and with a bit of planning, I can ride my cow in the bush and on the trails, happily. This country has enough offroad for us all. Marketing sucks, I'm with you. but when there's a will, there's a way! Improvise, adapt, overcome :-)

[@jjjjrrr678]

It wouldn't be so bad if most people could have more than one bike... Reality is most can only afford one bike (either due to money or space or time) and tarmac is always part of the equation one way or another (again not everyone can have a trailer/van or whatever). People then end up offroad with horribly heavy bikes with zero offroad skills. It's only going to hurt adventure biking in the long term. What OEMs should be focusing as hard as possible was on something like the Honda's 300 but better looking and more capable in every possible way. Or even a proper rally kit for the 500. They should focus more on making the offroad bikes comfortable to use on the road and by short people as well.

[@silverdale3207]

Not sure your weights are correct , I think you may have quoted dry weight for the Tiger 900 and KTM 890 and a wet weight for the T7. My T7 is about 205 kg wet , pretty sure the Tiger is heavier than that wet.

[@veetwotls]

totally agree , i call them magazine show ponies & take no interest in the bullshit sales jargen. NOT real day use the bikes & durability as a buyer is looking for. i'm past 500Mxer , done 12/24hr enduros , desert/adventure , speedway , swinging roadrace outfits , also have family raced bikes in speedway , wynnes safari multiple winner & dakar winner. so racing (nephews branched out into off road truggy racing) been in family blood all my life.

[@stefanhansen5882]

This was great! Newbie question: Why not change the shim which is soon to be out of range?

[@keithjob]

Basically because it's not out of range. I'd rather leave it a bit longer than start pulling stuff apart in there, until I need to.

[@TheKernables]

Being somebody who has owned and jumped a 1290SAR. NO WAY anybody would huck there own bike off a river bank in to a river like Chris Byrch did in the promo, especially acting like that’s a repeatable act that the bike is designed to handle is absolutely ridiculous. Even a stock 500s suspension would HATE that landing😅

[@frankenpixel]

I agree, I laugh every time I see marketing them big bikes like that and it wouldn’t even be properly aiming it towards the people who actually would buy them

[@timsbike4887]

I have a R1250gs and a Husky 501 because of every thing you say.

[@WRW9751]

I concur!

[@billcotton1551]

I feel that I could jump any bike. It's what happens after that scares me.

[@lesterroberts4787]

I get a kick out of these guys think they have to have a 1290 to go adventure riding, I roll a KLR650 and guess what, we all do less then 50MPH when we're playing and the over powered bikes are constantly breaking loose and hard to control, it's all hype in my book.

[@howardbarker7768]

Great utube so true. I have a 2022 Africa twin for shingle roads and black top just the job for killing kilometres. For off road adventure I have a 2022 CRF 300 rally modified exhaust suspension 550 performance Ecu pegs bark busters leavers good off-road tyres and luggage. It goes anywhere and I can pick it up cheers

[@1962clarky]

You know Keith, I've never really thought about it, but you're dead right. Marketing, but for whom.. Maybe they should be a little more realistic.. Your rant is warranted...

[@brucekendall52]

Agree with your sentiments about the marketing hype.Cheers.

[@srizzle-e8w]

I like to call them long travel sport touring bikes.

[@jimtitt3571]

Anyone who has the 20,000 to buy aa luxury item and doesn't realise advertising images are aspirational must live in another universe, it's been like that for over a century. I was a magazine test rider in the UK for the launch of the original GS, the R80G/S and had a days fun pulling wheelies, doing double jumps on an MX track and even a session on a speedway track. Sure you need to be a good rider but that's also an aspiration that is being sold, there is a Walter Mitty in every rider.

[@aganatra7419]

Thoughts on the Kove 450 rally?...you shud get one

[@silexdebris]

You didn’t answer the question. I’m guessing the riders are the cream of the crop globally in the rally world

[@krazed0451]

"If you're on a 1290 jumping it through the air, you're on the wrong bike"... I beg to differ. ... Yes, the marketing is effing dumb ;-)

[@ericdawson3425]

Well said 😊

[@brianmartindale2221]

What? You mean not all of us can be Chris Birch? That's not fair :-(

[@bertbroeder1832]

😁😂 funny one!

[@howlinhog]

Yes, marketing can be very misleading, especially amongst those who are delusional and not in touch with their own capabilities. Is the KTM 1290 too big to do "as advertised"? No, it is not. It can do everything Chris Burch, with proof, says it can. But I'm not Chris Burch and the vast majority of riders aren't at that level either. So each person needs to make an honest assessment of their own capabilities. When I dropped my 901 with the top of the bike pointing downhill and the front pointing uphill, I was really missing my 690. I did get it back up with the help of a recovery tool and I did ride away still loving the 901. In regard to large ADVs I find the highway capabilities and comfort are not something I want to give up. The 901 is absolutely fantastic on and off road, but if you're going to ride off road and especially alone, have a way to deal with it. I plan on bringing to market a small diameter sectional post with a lightweight chain-fall type mechanism on the top that will lift a bike back upright with no real effort. I built it in my head while lifting my 901. LOL.

[@1BayGolden]

I really like those ads. They're great entertainment and give you something interesting to watch rather than an old guy pottering along a country lane. Thinking you can do the same is just dumb unless you're a pro level rider. If you watch Roger Federer advertise a tennis racket do you think you will play like him with that racket? Of course not. Lots of other real world reviews on youtube to get more info and you should also test ride. Buying a bike is also an emotional thing so you may want a bike you know is potentially badass and is ridden by a favourite rider. When it comes to passionate hobbies, practicality can be overrated.

[@adventureswithham2223]

Couldn’t agree more 👍🏼 I bought an 890R because it’s a KTM , it looks mint in my eyes, does everything I want it to do, and has plenty of the “right” bits on it, and room for me to grow as a rider….. oh , plus I saw Chris birch caning the guts out of one.

[@atlas_au]

An extra 70kg and only tracks that caravans can get down? No thanks... 500 for me!🎉 I always ask people who don't like my choice of bike if they can pick up a GS.. invariably they say yes.... but can you pick it up when its handlebar down a steep slope in the dark and rain and can you do it 20 times in an hour on your own because there's no trailer coming and you have no other way to get out? No? So ride it to the coffee shop like everybody else.

[@jaimemetcher388]

Seriously, everybody should tip their bike into a ditch and get it out again, *before* heading off into the wild. Work out exactly how many of their mates they'll need to take with them to help. If it's a big bike and they're in the usual ADV age bracket, they might not have enough mates.

[@balladofbalfe8914]

I agree, ìt's somewhere on the spectrum of "you don't need...", "less is more" and "you're never going to actually do that". I'm looking at the Kove 450, looks like it might be a nice mid point. Ive an old XR250R that is road legal but not really road suitable IYKWIM, and a V Strom 650XT, which is kinda capable but chunky, top heavy, and no fun to pick up... but is great to munch miles. The VStrom 800 DE (or RE) look great, same offroad issues as 650, but unless you are 2up I'm not sure why you'd need more. 1300 looks total overkill - #dickmeasurement

[@whitedrguy6503]

Take into account with the marketing video clips that they don’t just do one shot at some spectacular riding, the pro riders don’t always get it right first time they have many goes at getting it just right, Chris Birch once said that not all the stunts go to plan, sometimes they do crash so what chance does a part time rider have ? If you work on the principal that you take the best bike for the worst part of the trip you could almost automatically rule out an adventure bike because of the unknown, this dirt road looks easy but what happens to it if it gets wet. Adventure is about exploring the unknown, so prepare for the worst. 😂😂😂😂

[@graemesydney38]

You can't blame the advertisers or the marketers - it works, it sells bikes - and that's their job. What is surprising (kinda) is that the middle aged target audience being taken in by the 'aspirational' imagery. It never ceases to amaze me that adult humans can show extraordinary good judgement in one aspect of their life and sheer self-destructive stupidity in other parts of their life. Go figure.

[@DCV65]

Yeah, it would be a pretty boring advertising campaign to see the bikes being ridden by Joe average. The whole point is to get people excited about the product and the riders are already contracted to the company, so using what you have that was probably part of the pre production feedback to promote there potential capabilities makes sense. If you get sucked into the hype and think that is you when it's not is pretty gullible. Using your own common sense when purchasing a bike you think can and will suit your riding ability and purpose is still key, manufacturers can't be blamed for peoples choices, they just put candy on the table, its up to you to decide if you want to eat it.

[@Rust_valley_adventures]

The marketing shows what the bikes are capable of doing With the right riders on them, You shouldnt judge by your level of riding because you don't or can't do it , you can't say the same of other owners who are more capable of riding big adventure bikes offroad in anger and jumping them if they choose too, everyone is different and everyone rides at different skill levels,and alot of riders ride mx and enduro and ride adv bikes , if you a good rider you be good on anything with 2 wheels , most mx riders make great onroad racers.. fact

[@ogasi1798]

True but it has always been this way, they sell you a dream and people just need to acknowledge that, hopefully they can be honest with themselves and recognise the pitfalls and if not, let them support the machine that creates the desires. Flipside is the hard fact that we need people that buy into the marketing to encourage manufacturers not to be TOO lazy - some of them are downright lazy - pretty sure i dont need to name names, others push the boat and ultimately create better machines that will benefit all. Looking at the weights though, scary, imagine a 260kg bike on your leg with a rock the other side, i can hear peoples femur and tib moaning at the sight of the surgeon

[@martonlerant5672]

Well... you missed an important point about ADVs. ...not everyone has garage space, extra trcuk (to carry it to dirt) for a second bike just for dirt. Assuming that everyone has money for and place to put a stable of bikes is delusional. Touring enduros / ADVs are the best compromise bike. Need to go shopping for groceries? Sure, have equivalent trunk space to a small car! Want to go on a weekend trip? No issue! Want to do some offroad? If you got skills its fine - yes it will be slower than offroad racebikes, due to worse suspension, but they chug along fine, if you have the cirrect rubber on the wheels. Want to go offriading in a nice location far from you? Fine! Imho. the real issue is that people need to: - pick one approlriate for you size (if you are an 80 pounds youtuber from netherlands, honda crfl 500 is better than max sized adv. If you are a huge bloke, then poor crfl bottoms out if you sit on it) - realize that offroading is a physically DEMANDING activity. Even on small bikes. Get fit. - realize that its a sport that has a very high skill ceiling. Practice makes perfect.

[@robsonenduro3316]

man you're wasting your time, mine 500 exc-f has 600 hours never been opened, still runs great. Regarding marketing I agree, they're silly. I've seen big bike jumping in the air and how they break doing that, you cannot fool the physics.

[@beretgascon]

Marketing is marketing and it's always been marketing. It can annoy you till you're blue in the face but these people have a mission to sell their bikes. "There's one born every minute" has been around since the first caveman sold a square wheel to another caveman and expecting honesty from the marketing people is like expecting honesty from a Ukrainian politician - it ain't gonna happen. Anybody who buys a bike based on the kind of marketing you're talking about is his own worst enemy and probably has a garage full of bikes, lawnmowers, chainsaws and other power tools he will neve use. His problem, not mine. The rest of use use discernment and hope we got it right. Some you win, some you lose, caveat emptor.

[@eduardfitis9419]

Fantastisch! You are right in all stuff.