Regular MSL readers will recall the account of last summer's highly rewarding off-road biking adventure, when Mikko and I explored the scenic beauty and riding challenges of the Peak District's wonderful byways.
Expertly guided by knowledgeable local Steve Hague, we rode a couple of very different adventure machines along narrow, twisting and undulating routes, constantly testing our mettle on the muddy and rocky terrain. The efforts were well worthwhile though, giving us the opportunity to see some of the more peaceful and remote parts of the spectacular region that you can't access on a road bike. The memorable outing, on a Honda CRF300L and KTM 890 Adventure R, was great fun, letting us learn plenty of new techniques to improve our bike handling while we were at it.
The story focused on our experiences away from the road, also serving as a basic how-to guide for anyone who fancies having a go at tackling rides on the rough stuff on their adventure bikes. This time round though, we're going to examine what the Honda and KTM are like to live with day to day in the environment where the vast majority of owners are likely to use them - on public roads.
KTM 890 ADVENTURE-R
I was looking forward to my 140-mile run up to the Peaks on the more off-road focused 890 Adventure-R. Having done several thousand very enjoyable miles on a variety of this model's derivatives, including road tours of Scotland and Austria on the more road-based, yet still dirt capable 790 and 890 Adventure versions, and some mixed riding on a standard 790 and 790 Adventure-R in Wales, there were plenty of reasons to be cheerful.
Denne historien er fra April 2023-utgaven av Motorcycle Sport & Leisure.
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Denne historien er fra April 2023-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.
