Thinking about dual sport/ ADV bike

[MattR302]

Over the summer: NEBDR motocamping


Last week: Thompson TTD


Side note: couldn’t seem to find NHBubba’s old “650 Thumpers” thread…

[breakdirt916]

Ah, love the versatility of these platforms

[Gixxer]

https://www.throttleroll.com/this-is...mbler-1200-xe/

[OreoGaborio]

https://www.throttleroll.com/this-is...mbler-1200-xe/

"GOOD MORNING DICKHEAD"

[Gixxer]

"GOOD MORNING DICKHEAD"

I was unaware of that function

[Gixxer]

Barton’s Motorsports has a blue Tenere 700 coming in in a week, $11,250.

If the XE sold I would buy it, but one of you should!

[MattR302]

[SwiftTone]

Sold my Husky FE250 and my BMW S1000XR, and replaced it with a farkled out Husky 701 Enduro. Been having a blast on this this. Rode the NEBDR, most of the Flatlander, Freetown single tracks, and some street rides. Most fun I've had in a while!

Sent from my SM-S928U1 using Tapatalk

[MattR302]

I need to find a friend with a 690/701 who will let me ride it, I’ve been real tempted to upgrade my DR650 into one.
Also equally tempted to get a Duke 690 as a track toy instead; need to find a friend with one of those too.

[Crconnor18]

I know a guy with an 890 you can ride if you’re feeling spicey!

[breakdirt916]

Don’t do it Matt!!

Just rent one for a weekend

[TheIglu]

I need to find a friend with a 690/701 who will let me ride it, I’ve been real tempted to upgrade my DR650 into one.
Also equally tempted to get a Duke 690 as a track toy instead; need to find a friend with one of those too.

The 701 is the droid you are looking for.

[feralchimp]

Someone should buy mine. My lad is getting braces and I have a spicy aircraft maintenance bill coming up.

[RandyO]

Kymco's now making an adventure scooter

[Gixxer]

That’s for the speed bumps in 55+ communities

[RandyO]

That’s for the speed bumps in 55+ communities

they haven't said yet whether it will be a 400cc thumper, or the same 550cc twin that is in my AK550. either will be capable of a ton

[dankatz]

Personally, in my biased opinion, this is the best ADV bike
https://www.aprilia.com/en_EN/models/tuareg-660/

Wet weight about the same as a T7 but carrier 2 more liters of gas. The fuel tank is built so that it sits lower. The suspension is terrific stock. You can change to offroad setting on the fly and back to road mode without stopping. It is great on the highway, something that I couldn't say of the T7 in my limited experience. It is just lower than the T7 by a noticeable amount, yet has more ground clearance and suspension travel. It has cruise control. I get 56 mpg if I ride at 70mph with a range over 200 miles. The gearing is perfect - short enough for offraod, but smooth at 6k rpm at 80mph. The quick shifter is sublime. I have only owned mine for 2000 miles and almost 1.5 years but I think Aprilia nailed it. BigRockMoto agrees!

[SRTie4k]

Personally, in my biased opinion, this is the best ADV bike
https://www.aprilia.com/en_EN/models/tuareg-660/

Wet weight about the same as a T7 but carrier 2 more liters of gas. The fuel tank is built so that it sits lower. The suspension is terrific stock. You can change to offroad setting on the fly and back to road mode without stopping. It is great on the highway, something that I couldn't say of the T7 in my limited experience. It is just lower than the T7 by a noticeable amount, yet has more ground clearance and suspension travel. It has cruise control. I get 56 mpg if I ride at 70mph with a range over 200 miles. The gearing is perfect - short enough for offraod, but smooth at 6k rpm at 80mph. The quick shifter is sublime. I have only owned mine for 2000 miles and almost 1.5 years but I think Aprilia nailed it. BigRockMoto agrees!

That was #2 on my list behind the 890R, but once KTM released the new body style it sealed the deal for me. The Tuareg is still the undisputed bargain king, although with KTM's financial woes and the reputation of the 790/890's it makes shopping around for a cheap 890R or 901E pretty easy.

I am really curious how the Tuareg will do at 20k, 40k, 60k+ miles. A decent percentage of adventure riders crank out big miles on their bikes. I did 40k miles in the first 4 years on my 1290.

[SwiftTone]

Personally, in my biased opinion, this is the best ADV bike
https://www.aprilia.com/en_EN/models/tuareg-660/

Wet weight about the same as a T7 but carrier 2 more liters of gas. The fuel tank is built so that it sits lower. The suspension is terrific stock. You can change to offroad setting on the fly and back to road mode without stopping. It is great on the highway, something that I couldn't say of the T7 in my limited experience. It is just lower than the T7 by a noticeable amount, yet has more ground clearance and suspension travel. It has cruise control. I get 56 mpg if I ride at 70mph with a range over 200 miles. The gearing is perfect - short enough for offraod, but smooth at 6k rpm at 80mph. The quick shifter is sublime. I have only owned mine for 2000 miles and almost 1.5 years but I think Aprilia nailed it. BigRockMoto agrees!

That looks fun. The Toureg looks hasn't grown on me yet. Did you cross shop the 890 or Desert X?

[dankatz]

I have ridden both the 890 and the DesertX. They are both slightly bigger and more powerful. In practice, the power of the Tuareg is plenty given its gearing is shorter and the engine is smooth. Plus, there is an airbox howl at 6k+ rpm which is intoxicating :-)

As for looks, I agree. It took me a while to enjoy the face of the Tuareg. It actually did grow on me quite a bit. The automatic LED lights are cool. It is very well appointed and the workmanship has been great. On the FB forum we do have people with thousands of miles without major issues thus far, but time will tell. I expect an Africa Twin to be more reliable, but it is more boring. I have ridden it as well. And, it feels massive.

Having ridden the T7 and Transalp at DirtDaze I am very happy I picked the Tuareg. It is all minutia at the end. All are good bikes.

Personally, I like the looks of the DesertX the most. I also like the 950 engine. The Tuarge feels much smaller with a lower center of gravity due to the fuel being held lower compared to the DesertX. The 890 I did not like. I am not sure why. I felt it was a bit bland compared to the Tuareg. I know the engine people rave about. I may not have pushed it enough to appreciate it. I know taste is personal.

[SRTie4k]

The 890 is not a screamer like my 1290 was. When you add heavy tires and a load, you notice it pretty much immediately. It gets fantastic fuel mileage at 55mph (55mpg), but at 70+ it's atrocious (~37mpg). And it vibrates a noticeable amount more at 5k+ RPM. That said the chassis is very playful and well balanced, it's still a wheelie monster like it's bigger brother.

One of these days I'd love to test out a Tuareg. We had a chat with a guy on one last year on the NEBDR, and wow that bike sounds absolutely phenomenal with an exhaust.

[OreoGaborio]

Personally, in my biased opinion, this is the best ADV bike
https://www.aprilia.com/en_EN/models/tuareg-660/

... says the guy who says he's considering selling it!

Sylwia and I love ours. I just wish accessories were cheaper, it had a LITTLE more punch, and a quickshifter. If you do ever sell yours, I'll take the QS off your hands if it's an option.

I'd love to have this AND a T7.... The Tuareg for the 60/40 street/dirt trips and a T7 for 40/60 street/dirt (and beat on in the woods... the Aprilia is too nice looking to thrash about in the dirt).

[dankatz]

... says the guy who says he's considering selling it!

Sylwia and I love ours. I just wish accessories were cheaper, it had a LITTLE more punch, and a quickshifter. If you do ever sell yours, I'll take the QS off your hands if it's an option.

I'd love to have this AND a T7.... The Tuareg for the 60/40 street/dirt trips and a T7 for 40/60 street/dirt (and beat on in the woods... the Aprilia is too nice looking to thrash about in the dirt).

:-)
I've reconsidered, I think, selling it. It is not the bike - it is more of am I fit for ADV riding or not. I have zero offroad experience and an ADV bike is not really the way to learn. My friends like to take me ADV riding and sometimes it gets really rough and that's when I am scared shitless I'll break something - me, not the bike. ;-) It is interesting to think that the T7 is better for the dirt, or you don't feel bad beating it. I am not so sure that it is better.

@srtie4k you are welcome to try mine some time

[OreoGaborio]

I suspect the down low "POP" of the T7 is primarily what makes me think it's so much more suited for the dirt. The power application of Tuareg is a whole lot softer across the band including that very bottom end which makes me think it's just not quite as adept at getting the front tire up off the ground and over obstacles.

That said, that's REALLY just my gut impression with little to minimal time on either one actually spent riding in the dirt.

I may just bring the Tuareg over to Hodges Village Dam for a true test.

[dankatz]

BTW, I agree. I think the CP2 engine has more torque under 5k rpm and only after 6k rpm the Aprilia's power is stronger. The shorter gearing on the Aprilia helps compensate for this.