Posts: 1271
Joined: 8/15/2006
Location: Ventura, CA USA
Edited Date/Time:
Just wondering if any of you slackers have taken the plunge and bought an adventure bike. If so, what have you done to it as far as aftermarket stuff? It's a pretty tempting money pit. I'm hoping to get some bar-dragging berm shots on the 500 lb beast, once I get it dialed in.
Posts: 530
Joined: 8/21/2016
Location: Spring, TX USA
Posts: 419
Joined: 8/20/2006
Location: West Haven, UT USA
I don't have an Africa Twin, I do have a Moto Guzzi Stelvio (their version of Adventure Touring). I LOVE the thing!
It is certainly a way to burn through a bunch of cash, but it's glorious fun. One of my riding bud's just picked up a 2017 Africa Twin and we have done a couple of rides around here.
Last Friday we did what's called a "Loop of the Lake" around the Great Salt Lake. It was 272 total miles, and a 100 of dirt. He has a 690 KTM, and wanted a twin to be able to keep up on the highway stretches. He picked his up with 450 miles, and the Altrider catalog already thrown at it. He is very pleased with the bike so far, and planning to take it to Baja in November.
Took mine to Baja last Spring, with him on his 690. The big bikes struggle in the sand with 80/20 tires, however, with knobs they do fairly well.
Posts: 1372
Joined: 3/22/2014
Location: Garden City, ID USA
Posts: 8636
Joined: 10/31/2009
Location: CA, USA
I think ML512 has one, I am thinking of getting one to replace my ninja, yes yes a totally different bikes, but I like the adventure riding scene
Current rides: 2020 CRF450RWE and 2019 TC300
Occasional ride for VMX: 1985 CR500RF
Adventure/Road bike: CRF1000L
Posts: 765
Joined: 4/16/2014
Location: Little Rock, AR USA
Posts: 419
Joined: 8/20/2006
Location: West Haven, UT USA
Posts: 5409
Joined: 8/26/2007
Location: Denver, CO USA
I've got a KLR650 that has gotten me through some pretty intense adventures over the years!
Check out this video of me riding high in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.
Posts: 147
Joined: 11/16/2015
Location: Riverside, CA USA
I want one as well, how happy is everyone with the power? I'm 6'4" 200lbs and as badass is the ktm r is, I can't justify the extra money for a toy.
Posts: 300
Joined: 7/5/2009
Location: Newcastle, GBR
This is my weapon of choice and absolutely love it ! Really capable on the trail and comfortable on tarmac. Tall bike though for a shorty like me (5'8")
Posts: 4727
Joined: 4/19/2008
Location: Boulder, CO USA
I have one...
I have found that guys from a street background talk about how lightweight and capable it feels... I am from Moto, I pretty much think the opposite... It is ridiculously heavy for hard off-road or track use... And while it has loads of power, it is geared to the moon, which makes the gears much wider, and I mean Much wider, than what we r used to.... And that is something I am still not used to...
I use mine mostly for highway use and for riding around on gravel roads.... To me that is what it seems best at....
www.bettercallsaul.com
Die Antwoord
Posts: 807
Joined: 5/5/2011
Location: Virginia Beach, VA USA
If you want capable off road and decent comfort KTM 990, a friend owns one and we chased each other our local off-road park. We took that big thing everywhere we took my 250xc, from fast whooped out trail to handle bar tight single track. I was very impressed how it felt for it's size and weight. Rumor is KTM is working on an 800 to target bmw, that's what I'm waiting on.
Posts: 882
Joined: 9/15/2008
Location: Shelby, NC USA
I have a KTM 1290 Super adventure R.
Have had this type of streetbike (ADV) for years, previously had sportbikes, and everything under the sun really (aside from cruisers- I will never be that old)
If you are tall, once you get used to the generous ergos of ADV bikes, there is no going back. Even if you never ride off road- they are made to fit larger humans, rather than made for tiny jockeys , as sportbikes are these days
ride
Posts: 5258
Joined: 8/10/2009
Location: Frig Off, CAN
Posts: 24873
Joined: 7/22/2007
Location: Portland, OR USA
nytsmaC wrote: Africa Twin can fly
Cam....check your pm.
And there goes Jeffro. One of God's own prototypes. A super high-powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die.
Pimpin' Ho's , Rollin' fatty's......drinkin' beers , beers , beers!! ~ Ja
Posts: 1243
Joined: 3/19/2012
Location: Redford, MI USA
disbanded wrote:
I've got a KLR650 that has gotten me through some pretty intense adventures over the years!
Check out this video of me riding high in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.
I was afraid just watching that towards the top. Then a random dog decides to end it's life and run off a cliff!!!!
Nick
-2015 Grom grocery getter
-2011 Road King Classic
-2010 WR250X supermoto
Posts: 2487
Joined: 12/9/2006
Location: Ontario, CA USA
I have one for just over a year and love it.
Checks all the boxes for me.
I wanted something that could cruise two up at socal highway speeds.
My wife and I like to run up to Big Bear for breakfast.
Ride to work when weather is nice, forty miles each way.
Handles fire roads really well.
Thrifty gas mileage.
Although it is the lightest in its segment it still weighs 500 pounds.
Not fun to pickup by yourself.
Mods
Went to heavier springs and re-valved shock.
I weigh 185 with gear.
Mitos Eo7 tires
Seat Concepts rally seat (the stocker has a weird shape that makes you slide forward to the tank).
Taller Honda windscreen.
Future mods
Hard ano the fork sliders (the stock coating started to wear in less than 5K miles. Honda says normal wear so you will need to address that on your own)
Or I may swap the forks for KYB sss.
You will love it. you can even get a big tail bag so you can fit all of your Bernie Sanders and Sierra club stickers 
Posts: 1392
Joined: 5/31/2017
Location: Grass Valley, CA USA
geordieshaft wrote:
This is my weapon of choice and absolutely love it ! Really capable on the trail and comfortable on tarmac. Tall bike though for a shorty like me (5'8")
Eye-popping CR! How does that end up in the pic? Someone riding it to the Pub? 
It's impossible for a corporation or government to love you or care about you.
Posts: 5409
Joined: 8/26/2007
Location: Denver, CO USA
Posts: 279
Joined: 12/2/2009
Location: Aromas, CA USA
No AT for me but am very happy with the KTM 990 ADV bike and platform. Started riding these big bikes 5 years ago after a life of moto and offroad. Been a great move and experience traveling far far away on these Time Traveling machines.
Posts: 1013
Joined: 9/1/2011
Location: FIN
Posts: 891
Joined: 4/1/2008
Location: Draper, UT USA
Is that the same as a Caribbean Queen?
Please use the comments to demonstrate your own ignorance, unfamiliarity with empirical data and lack of respect for scientific knowledge. Be sure to create straw men and argue against things I have neither said nor implied. If you could repeat previously discredited memes or steer the conversation into irrelevant, off topic discussions, it would be appreciated. Lastly, kindly forgo all civility in your discourse . . . you are, after all, anonymous. Checkout; ABetterStockMarket.com
Posts: 5409
Joined: 8/26/2007
Location: Denver, CO USA
Posts: 207
Joined: 3/10/2016
Location: Renton, WA USA
I have the 250L Rally and love it. Such a capable bike. My sad and brother both have AT and our other buddy has the 1190 and all are great bikes. Dad has his suspension done at race tech and a steering stabilizer, the thing handles so well.
Posts: 378
Joined: 1/5/2009
Location: FL, USA
My dad has an older grey market ATwin, and he's wanting to get a new one. I've seen 2 people ride the new ATwin like it's a dirt bike, even in deep sand. They are not as flashy or powerful as 1190R, but seem to get the job done and as usual, has that Honda fit and finish. I do like the tank-seat juncture better.
Me personally, I added an 04 KTM 950 back to the stable after having one many years ago. Still has carbs, no electronic gadgets, and maybe not the best fit and finish compared to newer 1190/1090s, but it hauls 85+mph down the road, including a 75 mile round trip twice a week to work, and still scoots along in two track dirt roads.
Posts: 1271
Joined: 8/15/2006
Location: Ventura, CA USA
tunedlength wrote:
I have one for just over a year and love it.
Checks all the boxes for me.
I wanted something that could cruise two up at socal highway speeds.
My wife and I like to run up to Big Bear for breakfast.
Ride to work when weather is nice, forty miles each way.
Handles fire roads really well.
Thrifty gas mileage.
Although it is the lightest in its segment it still weighs 500 pounds.
Not fun to pickup by yourself.
Mods
Went to heavier springs and re-valved shock.
I weigh 185 with gear.
Mitos Eo7 tires
Seat Concepts rally seat (the stocker has a weird shape that makes you slide forward to the tank).
Taller Honda windscreen.
Future mods
Hard ano the fork sliders (the stock coating started to wear in less than 5K miles. Honda says normal wear so you will need to address that on your own)
Or I may swap the forks for KYB sss.
You will love it. you can even get a big tail bag so you can fit all of your Bernie Sanders and Sierra club stickers
I already have one, had it for a few months, but haven't had much chance to do anything to it because I've been working out of town. I've got about 600 miles on it, all street. I cannot believe you haven't put crash bars on it...I think that's going to be one of the first things I do. Here's my plan:
- Crash bars, maybe touratec or similar
- Raise front fender
- Tires...not sure which kind, I'm open to suggestions.
- 12v phone charger
- Centerstand
- Taller wind screen
- Giant Loop tank and saddlebags
- Suspension done
I'd like to get some of the cool stuff these guys have for it
