2012 Adventure-Touring Shootout - Video

[Administrator]

Original Article:
2012 Adventure-Touring Shootout - Video

Please discuss the Motorcycle.com article 2012 Adventure-Touring Shootout - Video in our Motorcycle Forums below. Use the reply button to let others know your comments or feedback on the article. Constructive criticism is always appreciated, along with your thoughts and personal opinions on the bikes and products we have tested.

[The Spaceman]

Very nice work guys. I like the scorecard summary at the end; that's a good way to consolidate and report the results.

I can't help but wonder what the AT world would have been like if KTM had had the sense to give Charley and Ewan a couple of bikes for their movie when they asked them. Looking back at how it went for BMW, somebody at KTM's HQ must still have a foot up their ass.

[jmdonald]

I would never knowingly venture off road on a bike as heavy as these. Call it preference or maybe just a realistic knowledge of my skill set. The nice thing about bikes like these is you have a lot more flexibility regardless of your trip/adventure. I really like that Guzzi. Glad to hear you openly admitting beer consumption . It somehow makes your evaluations more credible. Keep up the good work you lucky bastards.

[sarnali2]

Good article, I've always had a soft spot for the Stelvio for just the reason you mentioned, it has that indefinable Character we all look for.. well I do anyway. You also mentioned the only real dislike I had for my GS which was the height. With my Russell Day Long on it it was like riding a step ladder and the stock seat was a forward slanting ball crusher. Much as I liked the bike and admired it's capabilities it ultimately didn't work for me because of the seat height. Cool bike though.

I'm surprised the Super Ten and the Explorer didn't do better however not really given their engine charecteristics and no surprise with the KTM off road, the only real dirt bike of the bunch. All in all I thought it was a good review and pretty spot on with the GS strengths and weakness's from my own ownership experiance.

[Kevin_Duke]

Great to get kudos from you guys! We continually strive to make our reviews and shootouts as high-level as possible within relatively tight budgets, so we're glad you are appreciating it!

[desertbilly]

So is the KTM (with better suspension and refinement) better or worse in the dirt than a G650GS Sertao, with ~60 less pounds? Assume the same tires, and the cost differential isn't a concern.

[rvfrules]

For reasons unknown, Yamaha chose to restrict power in the Super Tenere's first three gears, which significantly reduces performance. There are a number of companies offering ECU reflashing, which eliminates the restrictions and boosts performance significantly.

Power restriction in first 3 gears now lifted

There is also a MacGyver mod that can be done that removes the restrictions by unplugging a switch below the clutch and installing a jumper wire.

ADVrider - View Single Post - 2012 Yamaha Super Tenere XT1200Z

Better pics here:
ADVrider - View Single Post - 2012 Yamaha Super Tenere XT1200Z

[Kevin_Duke]

Originally Posted by desertbilly

So is the KTM (with better suspension and refinement) better or worse in the dirt than a G650GS Sertao, with ~60 less pounds? Assume the same tires, and the cost differential isn't a concern.

The KTM would be worse in tight single-track, but it would be better in more open dirt roads with higher speeds. The G650's lighter weight makes it easier to manhandle in confined areas and a slower speeds. Hope that helps!

[Sigster]

BMW $16,149
"Equipped with ESA II electronically adjustable suspension, the GS boasts one of the few 100% scores on our A-T ScoreCard with all testers giving its suspension a 10 out of 10 for adjustability, feedback, comfort, control and quality"

Where can you get a BMW with ESA II for $16,149 ?
I'd like to buy a few and resell them...

-S

[seruzawa]

Originally Posted by jmdonald

I would never knowingly venture off road on a bike as heavy as these. Call it preference or maybe just a realistic knowledge of my skill set. The nice thing about bikes like these is you have a lot more flexibility regardless of your trip/adventure. I really like that Guzzi. Glad to hear you openly admitting beer cosumption . It somehow makes your evaluations more credible. Keep up the good work you lucky bastards.

Well, virtually no one who buys these things ever takes them off road. I've been to Moab, the real mecca for ATs, several times and have seen loads of GSes traveling through but very seldom have I seen them on the myriad dirt roads around there. Seen some KTMs and loads of KLRs on dirt roads, but very very few GSes.

Now, all these ATs do make great touring bikes with their light weights compared to the luxo-touring wings and V-twins. And it's good that the testers at MO do these kinds of comparisons. But face it, these are used almost exclusively as pavement bikes. I'd bet my old departed GL1100 saw more dirt miles than any 10 GSes.

Actually the Explorer might be the bike that truly represents the way these bikes are actually used by the owners..... road bikes that look like dirt bikes for that rough-and-ready appearance that is in reality just a show. Few owners are willing to risk denting their 15+large investment.

But the mileage figures.... yikes. My Tiger gets around 50mpg on zero ethanol fuel. No way I'd "trade up" to get 35mpg on the Explorer.