Dual Sport Riding
It's no secret that the iconic motorcycle brand has been moving in a new direction. They can be ridden anywhere, these bikes, on the road and off it. The idea of adventure (or allroad, roadplus and enduroad as some people are calling this style of bike) is also finding fans, with the ability to dart down a bridleway or over the plain or along a fireroad to mix up a regular road ride appealing to cyclists keen to get away from the congested streets and into the wide open countryside.
PhilWestNew Former Editor of Bike, ex-Road Test Editor of MCN, ridden more bikes than he can remember. The wait is almost over, for at the Eicma 2017, KTM proudly presents the prototype of such a super lightweight adventure bike designed all around the brand new 2-cylinder LC8c engine.
If you're looking for a good all-rounder that can tackle both woodland paths and tarmac roads, adventure road bikes are perfect. The new Tiger 800 XC and XR adventure motorcycle range represents a major update in rider technology. The terms "dual-sport" and dualie†were quickly adopted by riders and the motorcycle press.
We don't need to wax lyrical about how good KTM's adventure motorcycles are, because the company's trophy cabinet can do all the talking. Most of today's large displacement ADV bikes come standard with a host of performance altering bell and whistles, including traction control, ABS, and riding modes for various terrains or weather.
The ride was over 3 days and included some of the Battlefields monuments where Adventure Bike Safaris really knows his history. For us, it's about offering motorbikes that are suited for the purpose - that of touring and relaxing. The heavier machines were less popular with real†dirt riders, who began modifying them to create lighter and more competent trail machines.
State-of-the-art adventure motorcycles with thrilling signature Triple engines, innovative progressive technology and equipment, commanding rider ergonomics, and agile neutral handling; every Tiger is built with maximum capability to take you everywhere in style, comfort and control.
But for us mere mortals, standing on a big bike takes a lot more bravery, mainly because if the bike starts to motocross topple, by the time you've sat down and put your legs out to steady the bike, it will be already heading to the ground and you are not going to stop 200kg with a dab.
PhilWestNew Former Editor of Bike, ex-Road Test Editor of MCN, ridden more bikes than he can remember. The wait is almost over, for at the Eicma 2017, KTM proudly presents the prototype of such a super lightweight adventure bike designed all around the brand new 2-cylinder LC8c engine.
The qualities of modern adventure bikes make them a tempting alternative to other road bikes, especially for touring, with the promise of some off-road capability a bonus. There are no electronic rider aids to speak of - no traction control, no ride-by-wire, and no riding modes.
I bought these for adventure riding after dirt biking in my Tech 8's for years. The same keys to success in long distance racing pay off for riders looking to tackle off-road at any skill level. Components appear to be of good quality—radial brakes, spoked wheels with tubeless tires, upside down forks—but the bike also appears to sit decidedly on the touring side of the broad adventure-touring spectrum.
If the seat height of a potential bike is far too high for you (eg 4 inches or more) it may be a case of that bike not being suitable as there is a limit to the amount some bikes can be lowered before the suspension is affected to the point it becomes a pig.