BWM R1250 GS, Harley-Davidson Pan America, Ducati Multistrada V4 S, KTM 1290 Super Adventure S
Although adventure heavyweights sell well, they also divide opinion. Do you need all that bulk, power and tech? And will you really use your bike for ‘adventure’ riding?
Both are valid questions. However, at the end of the day, even if you only ride on blacktop, and if you are happy with the equipment, you’re probably having too much fun to worry about what anyone else thinks about it. They are questions that matter to whoever asks the question, not to the one they are trying to get the answer from.
Whatever the case, we thought it would be a good idea to see how the top bikes in this category go. So, we took them down to Dartmoor and Exmoor for a good long run on Tarmac, and a little off-road detour, too. Here’s what we thought about the bikes…
KTM 1290 SUPER ADVENTURE S Cruise missile in adventure clothes
WORDS: Dave Manning
With adventure bikes seemingly becoming very alike when it comes to styling, the KTM Super Adventure S stands out with that insectoid ‘face’ looking even more aggressive with the addition of the centrally mounted Bosch radar for the adaptive cruise control.
Those racy good looks were enhanced even more when we slid on a pair of Bridgestone AX41 hoops, adding an aggressive off-road edge to a bike that already looks ready to take on the world.
Denne historien er fra March 2022-utgaven av Motorcycle Sport & Leisure.
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Denne historien er fra March 2022-utgaven av Motorcycle Sport & Leisure.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Honda CRF1100L ES Africa Twin
Without panniers he was adventuring nowhere - so at least Bertie's got something sorted now
BMW R 12 nineT
Chad gets a track day surprise when BMW's R 12 nineT turns out to be surprisingly fun on track
Test fleet: VOGE 525 DSX
After testing the Voge's abilities on a long ride, it was time to take it to the Cotswolds and see how it would manage on the rougher stuff
Portuguese Perambulations
Nearly over before it had begun, a brief workshop stint allows Spain and Portugal to be explored
Highway to Heaven
Three friends take on the challenge of riding the length of Canada, from Vancouver in the southwest to Inuvik in the north. The road is long, the conditions merciless, and wildfires are tearing through the country. To top it all off, the final leg of the journey is the ultimate test of gravel riding skills, nerves, and courage - it's the legendary Dempster Highway...
Battlaxes at the ready!
We tend to take tyres for granted, never really looking at them in any detail, or at how they work, just hoping that they keep us shiny side up at all times. Even in the wet
Ducati Riding Experience
When I rode the Ducati DesertX to France last year, I did have a bit of an explore on some easy fire roads and gentle green lanes in the wilds of the Médoc area, but was left with the feeling that, had I the experience, the DesertX would have been capable of taking me along some more extreme trails to some even more exciting places. If only there was a way of finding out just how well the Italian adventure bike could cope with some more extreme terrain...
Four pot flyer
Many said that sports bikes, and particularly bikes in the traditional Supersports class that was populated by 600cc inline fours, were dead. Maybe they spoke too soon?...
Eastern adventurer
With an increasing interest in smaller capacity adventure bikes, the market expands with a new entry
First Time Lucky?
It's ironic that the first all-new MV Agusta model to hit the marketplace right after Italy's No.1 trophy brand was acquired by Austrian giant Pierer Mobility, owner of off-road titans KTM, should be the company's first dual-purpose model of the modern era, powered by MV's all-new 931cc three-cylinder engine that's destined to form the basis of a whole series of new models in coming months and years.
