117hp, 206kg wet
190hp, 196kg wet
The specs on paper have got worse and worse
for ADVs. For comparison, mid-capacity adventure
bikes only gained 2hp on average and gained a
massive 31kg in kerb weight (from the sample of
popular models I chose). That is going backwards
in anyone’s language. Here are the figures on the
small sample of adventure bikes I chose, dating just
prior to 1990 through to late and current models:
Suzuki DR600
44hp, 150kg wet DR650SE 2018
43hp, 162kg wet
Yamaha XT600
46hp, 154kg wet XTZ660 Tenere
48hp, 206kg wet
Kawasaki KLR
42hp, 190kg wet KLR 2018
42hp, 194kg wet
Honda 650 Transalp
55hp, 175kg wet 700 Transalp 2010
59hp, 232kg wet
If any of the engineering and design gains made
by the factories were useable on the ADV market
(and there is no reason to believe otherwise)
we should be looking at some improvements.
We should expect our modern mid-weights to
be superior to older models in both reliability
and ergonomics, to carry their weight in a more
manageable way and for suspension to have
improved suitably to perform well on and off road.
In hard, on paper improvements, we should expect
our new ADVs to, at best, be making over 60hp and
have wet weights down near 145kg. At worst they
should be making in excess of 50hp and weigh less
than 170kgs wet.
Additionally, I would question why current ADVs
are so ugly. There are a ton of funky looks to choose
from, Dakar styling, classic styling, scrambler
styling etc. But so far, no manufacturers have really
attempted this since the mid-80s. And where some
bikes have pretty cool ‘off-road’ styling they have
NO off-road ability. There is literally no reason for
this that I can see. Current exceptions being the
Himalayan, the much anticipated, and I’d say likely
super disappointing, Yamaha T7, and arguably
KTM’s 700 Adventure.
Ultimately, I’m pretty pissed off. It is frustrating
that only a few people have identified how this
sector has been woefully developed. And it is
annoying that there are always some numpties
who are determined to back the manufacturers
and say it isn’t their fault, or that ADV bikes have
improved, when comparatively they haven’t. Every
time a new ADV model comes out, it is like watching
the emperor walk down the street naked, whilst
everyone congratulates him on his new clothes.
CAMPBELL ROUSSELLE
Tired from testing, Campbell
ponders the performance/
weight dilemma
KIWI RIDER 19