18 years ago, I gave up my motorcycle for the new baby, now I have six (bikes, not babies) You are making the right decision for the right reasons. Family first.
Well done for adjusting to your life without ego or pretense. I remember going through these exact stages when my girls were born. I am approaching 50 now, youngest kid 17 years old and I am finding the thirst for a bit more extreme adventures returning now. 😊 Enjoy the family!
I would keep the CRF for off road and buy whatever on road bike fancies you. It’s both practical and money wise over selling the CRF and buying two new bikes.
DR650 curb mass 166kg. Tons of available mods and improvements available. Can't kill it. Don't need to touch it, which frees up time for your family. Heck, don't even bother washing it. Only 7kg heavier than the Ktm390 and I suspect lighter than the himmy and cfmoto 450.
I've had all sorts of bikes - BMW GS, Africa Twin, Tenere, KLR, small CRF 250's etc. My current one is a CRF450L, and in all honesty, it's the one I love the most. It does everything. 450-500cc seems to be the sweet spot for the magical trinity: weight, power and ability. My CRF450L can comfortably cruise all day at 120-130km/h and then hit the dirt better than most. As I've got older (now in my 50's), I've deffo converted to the 'light is right' philosophy. Sure I liked my bigger bikes, but they were just too big to comfortably and safely venture into isolated rural areas alone. With a light bike, even if it lands on you from a spill, you could still probably get out from underneath it, and crucially, probably pick it up injured (depending on nature and severity of injury of course). But for me, this is a huge factor. Because of this, I am more comfortable going out alone, and so I actually ride more. I really doubt I'll be changing from my 450 anytime soon.
Great to see a genuine human post . Life happens, you adjust. Appreciate you sharing ! In regards to next bike, my 2 cents is the new Himalayan 450 is close enough to 'adventure' and 'classic scrambler' that it should tick both boxes, especially if your time is limited.
Don't worry Solid, another 30 years and you'll be back in the dirt again. From a 64 yr old. I pretty much only rode on my sister farm when my kids were growing up. I now own a T7 and 300 rally and love them both.
Its never a mistake to follow your gut! Seasons change and so should we. Its sad to say goodbye to one stage of life you've enjoyed but the thing is to take what you've learned from it and look forward to what joy the next stage can bring. Grabbing a street classic while testing the waters on the light ADV's sounds like a lot of fun!
I understand your situation Solid. Up till I turned 50 it was XR250R and CRF250X for a couple of hours riding, then came the XR650L all loaded up for overnight camping trips or longer, followed by a T7 the last couple of years. I'm now 65 and have had to face the fact that the T7 was just becoming too much bike for me in some tight/steep situations. Test rode a CFMoto 450MT recently and put down a deposit, due in a couple of weeks 🤞Enjoy being a Dad, before you know it you'll be buying a peewee 50, bought bikes for all my kids back in the day, only my eldest son stuck with it, he now owns an MT07, cheers 🍻
It makes perfect sense to me. Over twenty years ago I had to sell my Suzuki DR350, my "Unicorn bike" at the time. Because, "You can't put a baby seat on your bike, it has to go". Now, family grown up and I'm on a 2001 BMW F650 GS GD (Dakar) and a 2016 Royal Enfield Classic 500 with trail tyres. Spend as much time as you can with your daughter, she will grow up so fast, it's frightening..
Fully support your evolution as a rider and adjusting your priorities. Glad to see your honesty in regard to the use case of what you ride. At 69 with a Beta 390 RRS, my main factor in keeping that bike is the fact that it’s light enough for an old fart like me to push up the ramp into my van and I’m perfectly content with sticking to fire roads.
Well done Solid, it’s called maturity and a lot of blokes never wake up to it until the wife has taken the kids and left them. Never say never though, I’m 59 and have a body full of racing injuries and still like to get technical and go fast on gravel and off road, I just don’t take dumb risks anymore. I’m thinking exactly along the lines you are except I’d still have to keep my WR250R as it’s part of me now 😉
Recently switched up my garage a bit too. 2024 Svartpilen 401 for daily commuting and weekend road riding, 2023 KTM 500 EXC for the days where I can get out into the dirt.
I hear you Brother. I've been riding street for 30 years now and I just picked up a new 2024 XR650L. And I found out just how tall it is by losing my footing in the yard with 2 miles on the bike. And at 65, you fall harder than when you were 35. So selling the 2013 VT750RS and lowering the XR a little so I can ride with more confidence. Cheers mate. Hope you feel better soon. 👍💪🖖🙏
I'm 65 this year so I'm now in the comfort zone but still hitting the jeep trails . I went with a 2013 bmw g 650 gs sertao . The Sertao is the off road version of the regular g 650 gs line . It has 21 inch front spoke rims with longer forks for more ground clearance and longer spring travel . It has a rear shock adjustment knob that can be adjusted on the move . The tank is under the seat which makes it handle like a dream of single trails . Because the gas weight is under the seat it handles like a 300cc bike on tight trails . You can't feel the extra weight of the 650cc . The seat is so comfortable you can ride all day . I'm not kidding all day . Its fuel injected and gets 70 mpg . Sounds crazy I know but I think it has to do with the 2 spark plugs in the same single cylinder engine . You can ask any one that owns a g650gs the engines are bullet proof . So far out of I would say out of my 30 or more dual sport bikes this is the best one so far . It has abs on or off and heated grips standard . Look around , I got a like new sertao without a scratch on it with only 4,000 miles for 6,000 . It included 2 metal side panniers and rack system , a rear luggage bag ,a tank bag ,tiltable over size foot pegs , center stand , skid plate. front engine guard and headlight guard . Just do this before you buy another bike ,just get on one and give it a ride . The sertao ran from 2012 to 2016 . Some regular G650gs bikes have the spoke rims but they are a little smaller I think they are 17 inch . If you are not going to be going crazy off road the 17 inch rims will be fine so take the regular g 650gs out for a ride as well .
I am a fellow Perthie and enjoy your channel. I think the first step, that you correctly addressed, is an honest review of your intended use. I had a 650 Vstrom for a while, thinking I would like to do some mild off road touring. It was a heavy bike off road, particularly two up with gear, and my off road skill set isn't great. My Road King was a far better bike for the on-road portion of any trip. Something like the CRF300L would have made me more comfortable off road but moved further from a suitable bike for long trips on road. I took the Vstrom and Road King to Exmouth on separate occasions, which made the decision to sell the Vstrom very easy.
I get it. Good for for trusting your gut and changing things up accordingly. I don't do much off road anymore either, mostly motivated by my age (74). I'm not keen on getting injured in an 'off' that can happen easily enough if you're having fun in the dirt. Injuries take longer to heal at my age, and that would interfere with my love of working out 6 days a week, boxing and such. I still have my crf300l and my cb650f, but the 300l now wears Shinko 705 shoes 🙂
Congrats, fellow geezers, I’m gonna be 80 in February…have a dr650…still dreaming of a 50+ hp Japanese single under 370 lbs with a 6 speed tranny…best I’ve done so far with the DR is exhaust, pumper carb, and bigger countershaft sprocket.
Good man for getting a 300 rally at 71 years young, congrats👏 My daughter just got her 300 rally a few weeks ago. Man! I just was blown away by this little beauty of a 300 rally, its so light and easy to handle and does more than enough to tick all of the boxes. I decided to order myself one for my 60th birthday.
At 69 have considered one as well. However want to ride RE Himalayan. Just take it and ride it. Had money down on 300 Rally. Lot of extra money to bring it up to spec about 3000 dollars.
"The motorcycles change with the stage of life that I'm in, and I'm in a new stage of life so I need a new motorcycle to represent that change". This is the way. Cheers mate
I absolutely get it... when child #1 came along I sold up and it was the first time in my life I'd been without a bike. But 4-5 years later and I was taking him riding with me. So things change! Enjoy your family now, there will be plenty of time later for more bikes!
For someone critical of heavy adventure bikes in general this is a surprise. I'm 51 and my kids are grown up enough so yes fully understand your stage in life . I ride a middleweight adv bike vstrom 800de and am enjoying it on graded fire trails for now and plenty of poke for the long roads to get there.
Good decision when starting a family! I found myself in the same situation about thirty years ago. Unfortunately, I was persuaded to drop the ride altogether. Now I'm solo and retired and after a couple of years of armchair adventure I want to take up motorcycling again.
You missed your window. A lot of old people think they can just hop on a bike again like when they were young, forgetting that their reaction-time, eyesight, sense of balance, etc have all degraded. That's why they all get Road kings or Goldwings or those three-wheeled monstrosities.
@@erikbarkefors2441 You ever see an old guy try snowboarding? Or worse, try to skateboard? It's so cringe. Bikes are for the young and reckless. Have you thought about starting a garden maybe? Or carpentry! That's what I'm going to do when I get old: hand-crafted tobacco pipes.
This is life Solid, natural stage you’re going through so just flow with it. I would take my DR650 over any of those options you listed, I have customised it so that it is my unicorn to do the riding you will be doing over the next few years.
As a father of a beautiful daughter I completely understand your situation,being at the far end of my career and my daughter in her senior year of high school I have been riding my KLX 300R on basic solo rides keep up with the videos
Versys-X 300 should be on the list to be considered. It's a great little machine, completely road worthy, and capable of light to moderate off-road. Lighter than the CFMoto 450 by something like 50 pounds. Less torque, and off road you have to ride it differently, but it's as close to a unicorn as I've found.
Welcome to fatherhood! You never realize how much you can love someone until you have a child and how much that changes your perspective on everything! Great video!
Being a dad should always be the very first thing. Kudos for not being shy to put it out there. Life brings changes and family is probably the biggest one. And adjusting to it should be natural and not seen as “sacrifice” (even though - let’s be honest - there are moments when it may feel that way). I myself am father of two who are far from standing on their own feet. So I need to be here for them for many years to come. So while I do plan to start riding next year, I am very conscious about it and decided to do my best to keep myself safe and have the riding as occasional ‘time off’ rather than “focusing more on myself”. Take care and enjoy your lit girl. She will grow up faster than you can keep up with .
I think the CRF300L would be best retained as the second bike, but that’s just my 2 cents. I get the riding alone thing, however I’d take my chances off road alone than doing more street riding personally. New bikes are fun and exciting and ultimately introduce opportunities for new content if that’s your thing too. I can see you on a RE Bear 650 and the new KTM 390 Adventure? Keep up the vids! I’m along for the ride whatever you decide.
I think you are a realist and this is what happens in life , different priorities for different stages of life I always enjoy your honesty and critical thinking , I would love to know how you came up with the name of your channel , it is very unique , ride safe ,ride often , keep it shiny side up 😎
It’s a reference to a book series called The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. Bit of lesser known Fantasy series’s I was reading at the time. A touch weird and left of field enough to suit me just fine 😅 Solid is a longer story for another time.
Makes sense to you and that is all that matters! Looking forward to seeing what bike(s) you choose. I had a himi 411 and will be stepping into a triumph t120 for next season.
Totally get it! I usually change it up every few years based on my lifestyle. I’ve gone sport touring bike adventure bike 4 times and about to go sport touring again 😆
I agree 100% with your theory that in different times of your life, your unicorn bike changes too. I've had many unicorn bikes over my 64 years. My current unicorn is the 300L. My riding is evolving, so it makes sense our unicorns evolve too. I'm selling my 300L and my next bike will be the Honda XL750 Transalp. I'm finding I am doing more back roads of NSW and the occasional fire trails and 4WD dirt trails. I wish you all the best in your new phase of life in finding your new unicorn.
Fellow dadrider here. I am in the same state as you, i got a Triumph Street Twin 900 as my road bike and i love it. Going to look at the 450s in the spring for my 2nd bike like the Aprilia and Himalayan
All bikes you mention sound great - partner and I went exactly the same route, we bought CFMoto 450MT and are extremely happy with them. But the KTM looks good as well. Aprilia is not reliable for us (we trust CFMoto more than Aprilia) so wasn't for us, but it may work for you. Life happens whilst you make other plans :D
I used to have a Ninja 650 as a one bike solution to commute daily & enjoy some spirited rides on mountain roads on the weekend. I didn't realize how much I was compromising until I decided I wanted to give the dirt a bit of a go. Now I have an Aprilia Shiver 750 for the twisties & a Svartpilen 401 for the commute & some lightweight off road action. Riding is so much more enjoyable now & it makes perfect sense for you to want to do the same thing. And, with the lightweight adventure & scrambler bike market being hot right now, it's the perfect time to dip into something new.
I think you’re setting a good example by maintaining your passion for riding, but prioritizing your family. I’m in the same boat. Best of luck on your choice. If I were choosing, it’d be between the new 390 adventure, or the new drz 4!!!!
Enjoyed reading thru the comments! I agree,there is a few really good bikes hopefully coming out soon in that unicorn category. Whether they come with a tail,a halo of rainbow colored glitter and a long white horn on the front we’ll have to see!
Good on you for your priorities. Back in '92 when we found out our youngest was on the way, I had just purchased a brand new Sportster Deluxe and unfortunately that and our new cars had to go to afford the cost of another child. A couple years later I bought a very inexpensive, used 1978 SR500 to fill the gap until I could get something more to my liking. Eventually in 2001 I bought my dream bike at the time, a standard Road King. Well, a couple years ago I signed it over to my son when I bought my 2006 Springer so I have a picture of him sitting on it as a kid and then later on sitting on it as his bike. No regrets. I have the Springer in the US and I have a Honda XR 150 in the Philippines.
Back in the mid 2000s through about 2012, there were about 8 people in my circle of riding buddies. We rode together a lot, we all had DRZs by about 2008. We had a lot of great times. One by one, they gave up riding. By 2013, I moved 300 miles away and found myself cutting back on my riding, and doing nearly all solo riding. I still have my DRZ. I had a T7 for a year, but I sold it after breaking my wrist (on another bike) and deciding a big heavy bike just isn't right for me any longer. I've contemplated the 450 MT (Ibex 450 in the US market) but the leaking engine cradles has me concerned, so does the weight. I'm keeping an eye on what Suzuki does with the 2025 DRZ that people are talking about.
Totally agree with you. Life changes and we have to learn to adapt as we go. My kids came along, sold my Harley, now here I am 30+years later riding KTM Dukes and looking at the new 2025 KTM390 ADV for next years trade in. At 62 I`m kind of going through my second youthhood. I love kTm😁.
Keep the CRF for fun off-road weekends, it'll be your light do-it-all single track bike. Get the CFMoto 450MT as your daily driver adventure touring bike, comfortable and safe on the road, can tackle all dual track trails if need be, and will keep the Mrs happy on the back. In my humble opinion that'd the most versatile two-bike quiver you can have, taking into consideration your situation and needs.
Good for you man. I think it's also a positive idea for the channel. You created some great content centered around the CRF300L, doing mods and so on. Now you can do that again with different bikes. I hope things settle down with your daughter soon and you can get to sleeping through the night.
90/10 road/off road, my triumph tiger 800 xrx 10/90 road/off road, my CRF 300l rally 50/50 recently purchased Yamaha XT 660 r This bike is a great underrated all rounder, with mods (work in progress) can be a real weapon in the dirt & great fun on road, worth a look. Bulletproof, easy to fix, cheap,comfy, light, etc... mine is at 55bhp & tops out at just over a ton (closed circuit) for a duel sport/trail/bike, ample! Like you,I ride solo, it is hazardous, recent trip to hospital proves that point. Good luck & happy shopping. 😁
BMW F450GS very likely hitting the market this year and it could also be a good option to consider. The concept looks awesome (as most of the concepts always do)!
50+ and back on the saddle, i did my sacrifice for my kids for 20+ years without a bike. Now it's the other way around, KLR650 can't go deep enough and will add a lighter bike shortly. Life is just a big cycle.
I can relate to this in a couple of ways: two bikes being better than one and moving on from a bike you love, when circumstances change. At one point, I thought that my BMW F800GS Adventure would give me the best of both worlds - on and off road. In reality, it was too big and heavy for me for the trails and it wasn't the best on the road. I replaced that with two bikes - the CRF300L for the trails and a Goldwing GL1800 for road touring, so I had two bikes that were perfect for the two types of riding that I was doing . I loved the Goldwing for its comfort and long distance touring capabilities. But I reached a point in life where we were no longer doing the long multi-day rides and the Goldwing was not ideally suited to the one-day rides that I'd gravitated to. As much as I loved the Goldwing, I sold it and replaced it with a Kawasaki Versys 1000 SE GT which is better suited to my current riding preferences. I still have the CRF300L for riding the trails. So your decision makes perfect sense to me. I look forward to seeing which bikes you end up with.
I have my deposit down on the CF450 for next year. Like you, the weight concerns me, but having ridden a 790 at the off road training facility at Sweet Lamb in Wales, I think that a longer, heavier bike can actually be better where it isn’t too technical. I rode the 790 back to back with a CRF 300 and the 790 was easier to ride faster. I had considered the option of getting rid of my brand new Tuono 660 and the little XT 250 and getting an 890 as it’s a bike that will probably do it all, but once you’ve fitted 80/20 tyres you really can’t use that performance on road anyway and it’s also an expensive bike to crash. The 390 I think will be too tall for me, I don’t like the top heavy feel of the Himmy and the 450 Tuareg isn’t going to appear before 2026, so that only leaves the CF450. As you already know, suspension matters and that 890 adventure R is stunning.
The Triumph scrambler and 450MT would look great together. I think it's a good move to change up bikes, both for you and the channel too. I look forward to following your next chapter of motorcycling 🙂
My daughter was born 17 years ago and my riding evolved and morphed as friends aged and I had to make best use of time available. I am moving toward the same category as you after a final big dirt trip next year.
my setup: road bike - 2001 triumph thunderbird 900 (cheap on the used market but a VERY solid fun bike) off road bike - 1996 suzuki DR650 (slightly modded for comfort and lighter weight)
Yeah I also bought an ADV (Norden 901 Expedition) after buying my CRF300L BUT I will never sell it as it will do anything and it’s worth so much more than what I’d get selling it. But I get your choice and wish you good luck. I see you on the 390 ADV. The Tuareg 450 is even more intriguing. My suggestion…enjoy whatever you get. Or course you will. Mainly, congrats on making the only decision that really matters. Knowing that it’s family first. Always family first. Praying you don’t get too sick! Cheers from the blue ridge mountains of North Carolina. 🇺🇸 🏍️💨
Greetings; You have my full support and understanding; As we experienced our life journey, we need to change and adapt to what is happening in our lives. Two bikes are a good idea, it gives you balance for what you need now. I am biased and the Triumph Scrambler 900 would be fun for you as the CF450 is another good bike to undertake off road travels. Whatever you choose I will respect your choice, it's your life and the family is a part of that. So thanks for sharing, some times we need to hear this need to change from others. Doing the same thing forever is not practical and it's limiting. I have had Scooter, and over 20 odd bikes over the years as I have changed. David...Adelaide....Triumph Scramblers 1200X and 900......
😯 WOW, You said Z all by itself! Without extra letters. The little things in life can be so gratifying. Thank You!! Keep up the good work Solid. And best of luck!!!!
You know the MT & Himmy are the same weight. Do them side by side. I have the Himmy great for long loaded trips but until I get decent tyres I have shied away from any wet dirt. I hope the upcoming KTM will be lighter. There are other exotic, pricey options out of my reach. I too went through the "Dirt riding is my life" to, I now have family & a business to run. DT400 (1977) then lived in the shed. But now have returned after three decades, just wish I was healthier.
Completely understand and support you on this one mate. Family first always. All the bikes you mention are exciting and will work well for the channel.
Just tossed K tech and Race tech bits, plus a tune and air box mods, crash bars, handguards, rack, Rotopax, on me Criffie, bought in Feb., new. I do ride it nearly daily. Right on for family first!
450MT will be a great choice. Some friend and I drove from 40masl to 3800 masl (Lima) in a day. The bike was quite great; we went true initially asphalt (you can do 140 km/h with no issues), then went up via hard trails. Quite comfortable for touring and enough power for offroading.
I like your thinking. I'm planning to sell my CRF250L to be able to do more distance and highway, and I've put a deposit down on a RE 450. The other bikes also check the right boxes, but it might be a while before we see them at dealerships here in Canada.
depends what "street" is to you. if you are commuting in heavy traffic, something a bit skinnier and easier to manage in traffic. personally I have a Z400 that does work as a commuter, and i'm looking for something to replace my DR650 for my offroad use.
Im sort of in the change too. But, im not going that far away fron dirt. I'll be keeping my highly modded DRZ400 and adding one of those same ADV bikes you mentioned. Im short at 5'8" tall with 30 inch inseam. I need low seat height. Yes, I have lowered the DRZ to fit. So the CFMoto right now is a 90% sure thing...but when you dropped your last video about that Aprillia 457, well thats an eye catcher. Im the kind of guy when he buys a bike, i keep it for 20 years or bust. So im willing to wait to get more info on that bike before buying the CFMoto 450. But we still do not have them here in the USA. They recently gave us a 90 day delay for deliveries to the USA. They were already supposed to have been delivered. Saddly not. But more info coming out so now i may weight. The KTM 390 is not on my radar. Too tall. So its between the CFMoto and Aprillia. Not buying a street only bike, not yet. If i do, it wil be a cruiser of some kind for sure. Relaxing on a Lazy Boy while riding is the bees knees if you know what I mean. Time will tell and price seat height and options will determine which one i buy. As our Boeing strike here in Washington is probably going to be over next week, been a nice 5 weeks off. We have been offered a food contract, I plann on buying my new bike cash out with the signing bonus of $12K USD. Plus a massive raise helps too. Well both of us will be waiting and watching. So let me know like u usually do, post any updates you get.
I was without a bike for over 12 years due to family commitments and I didn’t even have kids so I fully understand why, you have a very understanding partner, I currently have a Harley (yes I still have it 883 Iron 2017) I plan on getting the triumph x400 or the Enfield 650 Bear not sure which one yet and that won’t happen until next year.
I am 55 years old and have a new 24 crf 300 L EU (halogen front light 👀) and I have never enjoyed driving like this, I really enjoy it, a fantastic motorcycle for everyone.
Wait for the Tuareg 450. A Touno 660 for the road that weighs only 185 kg wet, and everyone is in agreement that it is best in the 600/700cc naked class. Imagine how light the Tuareg 450 will be. As for a modern classic Royal Enfield is the way to go for quality and price. The Himalayan is so top heavy, even to just get it off the side stand. The Tuareg is a twin, the Himalayan Is a single. I would not rush. You have a good bike, take your time. Cheers! 10:16
I'm stoked about the Tuareg 450 but one of the criticisms I've read is that it's not going to be much lighter (or cheaper) than the Tuareg 660. I think 450 cc is the sweet spot, but manufacturers need to do more to reduce weight for road performance and off road capability/safety.
I’m not entirely sure I understand the logic of the road bike in addition to the adventure bike, all of those small ADV bikes you mentioned will be perfectly good for on road riding too. But if you insist on the 2-bike option, here’s my thoughts. For the modern classic road bike you can’t go wrong with a Kawasaki W650 or 800 (as budget allows). These are a great classic looking bike, with bulletproof reliability. For the small ADV bike you’ve already picked the best of what’s out there right now, and with the bike shows round the corner, we’ll have some idea of what’s coming next year. As for myself, I have a 2021 Kawasaki W800 and I love it, and I’m almost finished my small ADV bike build which is a stripped back and modified 90’s Kawasaki KLE 500. So I have in my garage almost exactly what you’re looking for.
Welcome to being an adventure rider! We all go through the same evolution. I also have a family and only bought an air bag vest for them. I have also swapped my Tuareg for something lighter, the 701 as I want to get my boys into dirt bikes. I plan to get a cheaper road bike too, something like the Triumph Scrambler 900. We’ll see. Anyways, good luck with your next phases. Love the channel.
Motorcycles are mass production units - they can be replaced. Children are one of a kind. I totally understand where you are at. I am retiring my enduro machine as we get our third child going - and the adventurised 701 will have to do. Get yourself one of those - man, what a machine! Greetings from cold, dark Denmark!
We evolve over time so do our bikes. You’ve got your adventure bike choices narrowed down. For your street bike at this point in your life you need the following: Character, a bike that dances with you in the curves, and brings a smile to your face when you twist the grip to go up and down rolling hills in the 10:09 country side. A bike that is simple and intuitive to maintain. Engineering that is mechanically satisfying to own, understand and in plain view to appreciate. Lastly, a bike that looks good and 10:09 keeps you looking back as you leave the garage…. Moto Guzzi V7
Hello Solid. A very good bike for your purpose that can also tackle serious offroad is Kove 450 Rally and the lightest twin cylinder ADV bike is another Kove, the 800X, a little bit lighter than 450MT but about twice the power.
I would keep the CRF , very light , good bike, and you really love it. I would buy another bike next to it at the moment and after a 6-12 months you will see which bike you are using more often.
I feel your pain. Father of 3 kids, a full time job + freelance work. My free time is super precious and interesting offroad areas are too far away from Perth metro. Riding these lightweight dual sports on the open road for hours is not fun at all.
I've owned a T7, BMW 750GS, & Triumph Tiger 800XCX. Those bikes were WAY too much for me as my riding style/priority changed. Yes, my style changed with age. I don't need the adrenaline rush anymore. I now own DR650 that is so fun to ride trails & back roads. It can also handle technical"stuff", but that's not what I'm looking for. I just bought the new Himalayan 452 (2 bike garage now) and i absolutely LOVE it. Believe the hype - it truly is a great motorcycle. If i were looking for a cruiser type, I'd look at the Honda NC750X (with or without DCT). Looks like a great bike to me.
What’s so bad about the under-engine exhaust of the upcoming 390 Adv? It gives the bike a nice slim rear and makes it easy to strap on luggage, without melting straps and soft bags!
@jonomasonILoveU too heavy ? Not for me, I'm 180cm and 94 kg, I own a Honda CB500X, and the Himalayan was faster and lighter in feeling off-road. The KTM 2025 doesn't exist on the market yet and is not a classic looker at all, KTM has a lot of financial issues and is becoming CF Moto, and I was not impressed by the MT450
COS go the MT450 mate! It been a long journey thru dual sports (XL's, XR's, KDX's, KLX's, CRF's) but I'm over thumpers but still want the a small ADV with 21/18 wheel (80dirt/20street). The IBEX 450 (released but EPA delayed in the States} in my 🦄. From NSW to USA I do enjoy seeing your WA journey!
I applaud your excellent priorities. I'm many more years down the road from DADventure and well into GEEEZERventure. I've always ridden small displacement dual sport bikes but bought myself a G310GS for my 60th birthday, four years ago. It's been a great bike for mostly rural back roads, some larger secondary roads if I need to get home faster, rare interstates if I need to get home damn fast, and the reason I bought it... off road moto camping including a bit of slow gnarly trails. As for your current replacement bike dilemma, I'll repeat my comment on your last video. BMW needs to make a *G310GS Adventure* with a 4+ gallon fuel tank, good fully adjustable suspension, aluminum bash plate and engine guards and tubeless spoke wheels. Maybe a pretty TFT display, a couple of ride modes, etc.
That makes absolute sense and is ultimately the only rational decision you can make if you don't want to ride technical routes more or less often. From a purely opportunistic perspective, if you're buying two motorcycles anyway, I'd definitely choose one that generates a lot of interest from the RUclips side. Whether that's really the MT remains to be seen; personally, I find the KTM more exciting. However, it’s still a KTM, and the running costs... In the end, whatever you decide to do, will still follow your chanel. Your videos were always great to see and once you made the crucial difference for me regarding buying a CRF or not. Never regretted buying that thing, but it has to go now as well - for me it is too underpowered.
18 years ago, I gave up my motorcycle for the new baby, now I have six (bikes, not babies) You are making the right decision for the right reasons. Family first.
Cheers Chad 👍
Well done for adjusting to your life without ego or pretense. I remember going through these exact stages when my girls were born. I am approaching 50 now, youngest kid 17 years old and I am finding the thirst for a bit more extreme adventures returning now. 😊
Enjoy the family!
I got married and she had 4 kids already...stopped racing mx after about a year...
Thanks mate 👍
Family is priority 👍
Agreed 👍
That’s what Dom says !
True
buncha women here
@@salazam agree this poor guy is the perfect example why you should never get married
I would keep the CRF for off road and buy whatever on road bike fancies you. It’s both practical and money wise over selling the CRF and buying two new bikes.
I agree. I don’t think the other light-weight adventure bike options would be any better off-road, and the swap will cost you money.
or buy a proper off road bike and an ADV or keep the CRF.I have both and it works well
DR650 curb mass 166kg. Tons of available mods and improvements available. Can't kill it. Don't need to touch it, which frees up time for your family. Heck, don't even bother washing it. Only 7kg heavier than the Ktm390 and I suspect lighter than the himmy and cfmoto 450.
😎🧐
Brilliant bike. +1 on that one
About 38kg lighter than the cfmoto and the himi
@@ericweber1969 they're no slouch on the road either, I rode my 2006 model to Adelaide and back from Melbourne several times.
Go a 500 exc
I've had all sorts of bikes - BMW GS, Africa Twin, Tenere, KLR, small CRF 250's etc. My current one is a CRF450L, and in all honesty, it's the one I love the most. It does everything. 450-500cc seems to be the sweet spot for the magical trinity: weight, power and ability. My CRF450L can comfortably cruise all day at 120-130km/h and then hit the dirt better than most. As I've got older (now in my 50's), I've deffo converted to the 'light is right' philosophy. Sure I liked my bigger bikes, but they were just too big to comfortably and safely venture into isolated rural areas alone. With a light bike, even if it lands on you from a spill, you could still probably get out from underneath it, and crucially, probably pick it up injured (depending on nature and severity of injury of course). But for me, this is a huge factor. Because of this, I am more comfortable going out alone, and so I actually ride more. I really doubt I'll be changing from my 450 anytime soon.
It s a very nice bike i got the 300 only for long distance trip
My story is the same as yours. Sold my FE501 and got a 2020 450L, best move ever.
Shame so many mods required on it if new. Still thinking about getting one though...
@@andrew390 what mods? It’s just fine right out of the showroom.
@@sandrider1406 fix for known low rev stalling issue + comfy seat
Great to see a genuine human post . Life happens, you adjust. Appreciate you sharing ! In regards to next bike, my 2 cents is the new Himalayan 450 is close enough to 'adventure' and 'classic scrambler' that it should tick both boxes, especially if your time is limited.
Thanks mate 👍
Don't worry Solid, another 30 years and you'll be back in the dirt again. From a 64 yr old. I pretty much only rode on my sister farm when my kids were growing up.
I now own a T7 and 300 rally and love them both.
Thanks mate 👍
Best combination. I have a CRF300L and my brother has T7 and I can say that while I love CRF off-road, T7 is better for longer trips we do together.
With the small ADV bikes you have in mind I don't see the need for a road bike. Good luck for your future and your family.
Welcome to parenthood! Everything changes and keeps changing. I made the same decisions but always stayed with motorcycles and you will too.
👍
Its never a mistake to follow your gut! Seasons change and so should we. Its sad to say goodbye to one stage of life you've enjoyed but the thing is to take what you've learned from it and look forward to what joy the next stage can bring. Grabbing a street classic while testing the waters on the light ADV's sounds like a lot of fun!
Love to hear family first!!Eat more oranges! Lol! Keep up the great work. 👍
I understand your situation Solid. Up till I turned 50 it was XR250R and CRF250X for a couple of hours riding, then came the XR650L all loaded up for overnight camping trips or longer, followed by a T7 the last couple of years. I'm now 65 and have had to face the fact that the T7 was just becoming too much bike for me in some tight/steep situations. Test rode a CFMoto 450MT recently and put down a deposit, due in a couple of weeks 🤞Enjoy being a Dad, before you know it you'll be buying a peewee 50, bought bikes for all my kids back in the day, only my eldest son stuck with it, he now owns an MT07, cheers 🍻
Saving up for my CFMoto 450MT
It makes perfect sense to me. Over twenty years ago I had to sell my Suzuki DR350, my "Unicorn bike" at the time. Because, "You can't put a baby seat on your bike, it has to go". Now, family grown up and I'm on a 2001 BMW F650 GS GD (Dakar) and a 2016 Royal Enfield Classic 500 with trail tyres. Spend as much time as you can with your daughter, she will grow up so fast, it's frightening..
the old 350 was suprisingly nimble on the trails ,shame it never had an electric foot!
@@nickg2431 post 1995? ‘SE’ versions are electric start. I have a ‘97. Every time I look at newer bikes I realize how special it truly is.
Good on you. I sold my motorcycle when my first daughter was born. I started buying them back on her graduation day. 😊
Fully support your evolution as a rider and adjusting your priorities. Glad to see your honesty in regard to the use case of what you ride. At 69 with a Beta 390 RRS, my main factor in keeping that bike is the fact that it’s light enough for an old fart like me to push up the ramp into my van and I’m perfectly content with sticking to fire roads.
Well done Solid, it’s called maturity and a lot of blokes never wake up to it until the wife has taken the kids and left them. Never say never though, I’m 59 and have a body full of racing injuries and still like to get technical and go fast on gravel and off road, I just don’t take dumb risks anymore. I’m thinking exactly along the lines you are except I’d still have to keep my WR250R as it’s part of me now 😉
Brilliant bikes, love mine! Never sell!
If your wife makes you choose between her and motorcycles, she never loved you in the first place.
@@salazamtrue 😂 but family must come first or you won’t have any kids around to teach how to ride in the future 😊
@@NZCycletherapy I'm sorry I thought you were a man. I didn't know I was talking to a woman.
@@salazamoh you so funny, if your gauge of being a man is to ignore your wife and kids then I can only assume you are gay 😂
Recently switched up my garage a bit too. 2024 Svartpilen 401 for daily commuting and weekend road riding, 2023 KTM 500 EXC for the days where I can get out into the dirt.
I hear you Brother. I've been riding street for 30 years now and I just picked up a new 2024 XR650L. And I found out just how tall it is by losing my footing in the yard with 2 miles on the bike. And at 65, you fall harder than when you were 35. So selling the 2013 VT750RS and lowering the XR a little so I can ride with more confidence. Cheers mate. Hope you feel better soon. 👍💪🖖🙏
I'm 65 this year so I'm now in the comfort zone but still hitting the jeep trails . I went with a 2013 bmw g 650 gs sertao . The Sertao is the off road version of the regular g 650 gs line . It has 21 inch front spoke rims with longer forks for more ground clearance and longer spring travel . It has a rear shock adjustment knob that can be adjusted on the move . The tank is under the seat which makes it handle like a dream of single trails . Because the gas weight is under the seat it handles like a 300cc bike on tight trails . You can't feel the extra weight of the 650cc . The seat is so comfortable you can ride all day . I'm not kidding all day . Its fuel injected and gets 70 mpg . Sounds crazy I know but I think it has to do with the 2 spark plugs in the same single cylinder engine . You can ask any one that owns a g650gs the engines are bullet proof . So far out of I would say out of my 30 or more dual sport bikes this is the best one so far . It has abs on or off and heated grips standard . Look around , I got a like new sertao without a scratch on it with only 4,000 miles for 6,000 . It included 2 metal side panniers and rack system , a rear luggage bag ,a tank bag ,tiltable over size foot pegs , center stand , skid plate. front engine guard and headlight guard . Just do this before you buy another bike ,just get on one and give it a ride . The sertao ran from 2012 to 2016 . Some regular G650gs bikes have the spoke rims but they are a little smaller I think they are 17 inch . If you are not going to be going crazy off road the 17 inch rims will be fine so take the regular g 650gs out for a ride as well .
I am a fellow Perthie and enjoy your channel. I think the first step, that you correctly addressed, is an honest review of your intended use. I had a 650 Vstrom for a while, thinking I would like to do some mild off road touring. It was a heavy bike off road, particularly two up with gear, and my off road skill set isn't great. My Road King was a far better bike for the on-road portion of any trip. Something like the CRF300L would have made me more comfortable off road but moved further from a suitable bike for long trips on road. I took the Vstrom and Road King to Exmouth on separate occasions, which made the decision to sell the Vstrom very easy.
Road King would be a lovely on those big rides😎 Closest I got was an Iron 1200. Long story short I should have saved the extra 5k for a softail😅
Happy for you mate! Life is happening. Sad that going this route with bikes I have one less channel to follow. Wish you all the best!
I get it. Good for for trusting your gut and changing things up accordingly. I don't do much off road anymore either, mostly motivated by my age (74). I'm not keen on getting injured in an 'off' that can happen easily enough if you're having fun in the dirt. Injuries take longer to heal at my age, and that would interfere with my love of working out 6 days a week, boxing and such. I still have my crf300l and my cb650f, but the 300l now wears Shinko 705 shoes 🙂
At 71, I've just bought a 300 rally 🤔
Man, nice I'm 70 and just sold my 2022 KLR 650 just to heavy anymore !
Congrats, fellow geezers, I’m gonna be 80 in February…have a dr650…still dreaming of a 50+ hp Japanese single under 370 lbs with a 6 speed tranny…best I’ve done so far with the DR is exhaust, pumper carb, and bigger countershaft sprocket.
Good man for getting a 300 rally at 71 years young, congrats👏
My daughter just got her 300 rally a few weeks ago.
Man! I just was blown away by this little beauty of a 300 rally, its so light and easy to handle and does more than enough to tick all of the boxes. I decided to order myself one for my 60th birthday.
At 69 have considered one as well. However want to ride RE Himalayan. Just take it and ride it. Had money down on 300 Rally. Lot of extra money to bring it up to spec about 3000 dollars.
He ain't heavy..he's my brother 👌
Sorry to hear about the CRF300L.
Anyhow, best wishes and good luck !!
On ya, mate. I had the exact same transition a year ago with my 250L Rally which I thought was my forever bike. Having kids really does change things.
"The motorcycles change with the stage of life that I'm in, and I'm in a new stage of life so I need a new motorcycle to represent that change". This is the way. Cheers mate
i.e. His wife told him to get rid of it.
I absolutely get it... when child #1 came along I sold up and it was the first time in my life I'd been without a bike. But 4-5 years later and I was taking him riding with me. So things change! Enjoy your family now, there will be plenty of time later for more bikes!
For someone critical of heavy adventure bikes in general this is a surprise. I'm 51 and my kids are grown up enough so yes fully understand your stage in life . I ride a middleweight adv bike vstrom 800de and am enjoying it on graded fire trails for now and plenty of poke for the long roads to get there.
I hate that we don't have the LED light on CRF 300L in Europe. It looks so great.
We don't get it in the United states either, doesn't make any sense
for the next year it will be in EU with LED light and indicators (and new stickers too :-) )
@@tomas5164 so the 2025 model year? How do you know? Hopefully that happens in the states as well.
Good decision when starting a family!
I found myself in the same situation about thirty years ago. Unfortunately, I was persuaded to drop the ride altogether. Now I'm solo and retired and after a couple of years of armchair adventure I want to take up motorcycling again.
You missed your window. A lot of old people think they can just hop on a bike again like when they were young, forgetting that their reaction-time, eyesight, sense of balance, etc have all degraded. That's why they all get Road kings or Goldwings or those three-wheeled monstrosities.
@@salazam Maybe I can find "a window" in a Beta Alp X or a Himalayan 450? Those big Road Kings are not for me.
@@erikbarkefors2441 You ever see an old guy try snowboarding? Or worse, try to skateboard? It's so cringe. Bikes are for the young and reckless. Have you thought about starting a garden maybe? Or carpentry! That's what I'm going to do when I get old: hand-crafted tobacco pipes.
This is life Solid, natural stage you’re going through so just flow with it. I would take my DR650 over any of those options you listed, I have customised it so that it is my unicorn to do the riding you will be doing over the next few years.
Never owned one, always a temptation 2nd as a bargain
65 here. Beta 500RS baby! Plenty of power, none of the weight! Great BDR bike. The most uncorked dual sport out there. Highly recommended brother.
As a father of a beautiful daughter I completely understand your situation,being at the far end of my career and my daughter in her senior year of high school I have been riding my KLX 300R on basic solo rides keep up with the videos
Cheers mate and happy trails 👍
Versys-X 300 should be on the list to be considered. It's a great little machine, completely road worthy, and capable of light to moderate off-road. Lighter than the CFMoto 450 by something like 50 pounds. Less torque, and off road you have to ride it differently, but it's as close to a unicorn as I've found.
Welcome to fatherhood! You never realize how much you can love someone until you have a child and how much that changes your perspective on everything! Great video!
*motherhood. Real men never stop riding.
No shock. So many new, better, bikes coming out.
Good problem to have 😎
Being a dad should always be the very first thing. Kudos for not being shy to put it out there. Life brings changes and family is probably the biggest one. And adjusting to it should be natural and not seen as “sacrifice” (even though - let’s be honest - there are moments when it may feel that way). I myself am father of two who are far from standing on their own feet. So I need to be here for them for many years to come. So while I do plan to start riding next year, I am very conscious about it and decided to do my best to keep myself safe and have the riding as occasional ‘time off’ rather than “focusing more on myself”. Take care and enjoy your lit girl. She will grow up faster than you can keep up with .
Thanks for the kind words 👍
I think the CRF300L would be best retained as the second bike, but that’s just my 2 cents. I get the riding alone thing, however I’d take my chances off road alone than doing more street riding personally.
New bikes are fun and exciting and ultimately introduce opportunities for new content if that’s your thing too. I can see you on a RE Bear 650 and the new KTM 390 Adventure? Keep up the vids! I’m along for the ride whatever you decide.
I think you are a realist and this is what happens in life , different priorities for different stages of life I always enjoy your honesty and critical thinking , I would love to know how you came up with the name of your channel , it is very unique , ride safe ,ride often , keep it shiny side up 😎
It’s a reference to a book series called The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. Bit of lesser known Fantasy series’s I was reading at the time. A touch weird and left of field enough to suit me just fine 😅 Solid is a longer story for another time.
Makes sense to you and that is all that matters! Looking forward to seeing what bike(s) you choose. I had a himi 411 and will be stepping into a triumph t120 for next season.
Just sold my T7….. too(top) heavy. Got a 701 and man what difference.Looking forward to a camping trip. Good luck
Totally get it! I usually change it up every few years based on my lifestyle. I’ve gone sport touring bike adventure bike 4 times and about to go sport touring again 😆
I agree 100% with your theory that in different times of your life, your unicorn bike changes too. I've had many unicorn bikes over my 64 years. My current unicorn is the 300L. My riding is evolving, so it makes sense our unicorns evolve too. I'm selling my 300L and my next bike will be the Honda XL750 Transalp. I'm finding I am doing more back roads of NSW and the occasional fire trails and 4WD dirt trails. I wish you all the best in your new phase of life in finding your new unicorn.
"unicorn" is this a pride thing? I wasn't aware how big the LGBTQ community was into riding. (well... riding anything besides dicks).
Fellow dadrider here. I am in the same state as you, i got a Triumph Street Twin 900 as my road bike and i love it. Going to look at the 450s in the spring for my 2nd bike like the Aprilia and Himalayan
All bikes you mention sound great - partner and I went exactly the same route, we bought CFMoto 450MT and are extremely happy with them. But the KTM looks good as well. Aprilia is not reliable for us (we trust CFMoto more than Aprilia) so wasn't for us, but it may work for you. Life happens whilst you make other plans :D
There are definitely stages to life. Family is very important. I completely understand your decision to sale your 300L.
I used to have a Ninja 650 as a one bike solution to commute daily & enjoy some spirited rides on mountain roads on the weekend. I didn't realize how much I was compromising until I decided I wanted to give the dirt a bit of a go. Now I have an Aprilia Shiver 750 for the twisties & a Svartpilen 401 for the commute & some lightweight off road action. Riding is so much more enjoyable now & it makes perfect sense for you to want to do the same thing. And, with the lightweight adventure & scrambler bike market being hot right now, it's the perfect time to dip into something new.
I think you’re setting a good example by maintaining your passion for riding, but prioritizing your family. I’m in the same boat. Best of luck on your choice. If I were choosing, it’d be between the new 390 adventure, or the new drz 4!!!!
Enjoyed reading thru the comments! I agree,there is a few really good bikes hopefully coming out soon in that unicorn category. Whether they come with a tail,a halo of rainbow colored glitter and a long white horn on the front we’ll have to see!
Good on you for your priorities. Back in '92 when we found out our youngest was on the way, I had just purchased a brand new Sportster Deluxe and unfortunately that and our new cars had to go to afford the cost of another child. A couple years later I bought a very inexpensive, used 1978 SR500 to fill the gap until I could get something more to my liking. Eventually in 2001 I bought my dream bike at the time, a standard Road King. Well, a couple years ago I signed it over to my son when I bought my 2006 Springer so I have a picture of him sitting on it as a kid and then later on sitting on it as his bike. No regrets. I have the Springer in the US and I have a Honda XR 150 in the Philippines.
Love that it’s continuing on through the family 👍
Back in the mid 2000s through about 2012, there were about 8 people in my circle of riding buddies. We rode together a lot, we all had DRZs by about 2008. We had a lot of great times. One by one, they gave up riding. By 2013, I moved 300 miles away and found myself cutting back on my riding, and doing nearly all solo riding.
I still have my DRZ. I had a T7 for a year, but I sold it after breaking my wrist (on another bike) and deciding a big heavy bike just isn't right for me any longer.
I've contemplated the 450 MT (Ibex 450 in the US market) but the leaking engine cradles has me concerned, so does the weight.
I'm keeping an eye on what Suzuki does with the 2025 DRZ that people are talking about.
Totally agree with you. Life changes and we have to learn to adapt as we go. My kids came along, sold my Harley, now here I am 30+years later riding KTM Dukes and looking at the new 2025 KTM390 ADV for next years trade in. At 62 I`m kind of going through my second youthhood. I love kTm😁.
Keep the CRF for fun off-road weekends, it'll be your light do-it-all single track bike.
Get the CFMoto 450MT as your daily driver adventure touring bike, comfortable and safe on the road, can tackle all dual track trails if need be, and will keep the Mrs happy on the back.
In my humble opinion that'd the most versatile two-bike quiver you can have, taking into consideration your situation and needs.
Good for you man. I think it's also a positive idea for the channel. You created some great content centered around the CRF300L, doing mods and so on. Now you can do that again with different bikes. I hope things settle down with your daughter soon and you can get to sleeping through the night.
Mate grow your beard and come to the realisation that the Dr650se with mods is always going to be the goat
90/10 road/off road, my triumph tiger 800 xrx
10/90 road/off road, my CRF 300l rally
50/50 recently purchased Yamaha XT 660 r
This bike is a great underrated all rounder, with mods (work in progress) can be a real weapon in the dirt & great fun on road, worth a look. Bulletproof, easy to fix, cheap,comfy, light, etc... mine is at 55bhp & tops out at just over a ton (closed circuit) for a duel sport/trail/bike, ample! Like you,I ride solo, it is hazardous, recent trip to hospital proves that point. Good luck & happy shopping. 😁
BMW F450GS very likely hitting the market this year and it could also be a good option to consider. The concept looks awesome (as most of the concepts always do)!
50+ and back on the saddle, i did my sacrifice for my kids for 20+ years without a bike. Now it's the other way around, KLR650 can't go deep enough and will add a lighter bike shortly. Life is just a big cycle.
Himalayan 450, ride one! I did and was shocked how good it was, likely to change my T7 for one 😊
I can relate to this in a couple of ways: two bikes being better than one and moving on from a bike you love, when circumstances change. At one point, I thought that my BMW F800GS Adventure would give me the best of both worlds - on and off road. In reality, it was too big and heavy for me for the trails and it wasn't the best on the road. I replaced that with two bikes - the CRF300L for the trails and a Goldwing GL1800 for road touring, so I had two bikes that were perfect for the two types of riding that I was doing . I loved the Goldwing for its comfort and long distance touring capabilities. But I reached a point in life where we were no longer doing the long multi-day rides and the Goldwing was not ideally suited to the one-day rides that I'd gravitated to. As much as I loved the Goldwing, I sold it and replaced it with a Kawasaki Versys 1000 SE GT which is better suited to my current riding preferences. I still have the CRF300L for riding the trails. So your decision makes perfect sense to me. I look forward to seeing which bikes you end up with.
Sounds just like me, same bikes and all! I’m gonna sell the Goldwing and buy an Africa Twin, if the election goes my way.
I have my deposit down on the CF450 for next year. Like you, the weight concerns me, but having ridden a 790 at the off road training facility at Sweet Lamb in Wales, I think that a longer, heavier bike can actually be better where it isn’t too technical. I rode the 790 back to back with a CRF 300 and the 790 was easier to ride faster. I had considered the option of getting rid of my brand new Tuono 660 and the little XT 250 and getting an 890 as it’s a bike that will probably do it all, but once you’ve fitted 80/20 tyres you really can’t use that performance on road anyway and it’s also an expensive bike to crash. The 390 I think will be too tall for me, I don’t like the top heavy feel of the Himmy and the 450 Tuareg isn’t going to appear before 2026, so that only leaves the CF450. As you already know, suspension matters and that 890 adventure R is stunning.
The Triumph scrambler and 450MT would look great together.
I think it's a good move to change up bikes, both for you and the channel too. I look forward to following your next chapter of motorcycling 🙂
My daughter was born 17 years ago and my riding evolved and morphed as friends aged and I had to make best use of time available. I am moving toward the same category as you after a final big dirt trip next year.
Hi solid great idea retro bike & small ADV (want another bike to keep my honda cb1000r company) 👌👍👍
my setup:
road bike - 2001 triumph thunderbird 900 (cheap on the used market but a VERY solid fun bike)
off road bike - 1996 suzuki DR650 (slightly modded for comfort and lighter weight)
That’s a good combo and might be close to what I eventually go with 👍
Great, great video mate. I hear ya completely! You have a way with words mate. Good luck with the new rides!
Cheers 👍
Yeah I also bought an ADV (Norden 901 Expedition) after buying my CRF300L BUT I will never sell it as it will do anything and it’s worth so much more than what I’d get selling it.
But I get your choice and wish you good luck.
I see you on the 390 ADV.
The Tuareg 450 is even more intriguing.
My suggestion…enjoy whatever you get.
Or course you will.
Mainly, congrats on making the only decision that really matters.
Knowing that it’s family first.
Always family first.
Praying you don’t get too sick!
Cheers from the blue ridge mountains of North Carolina. 🇺🇸
🏍️💨
Greetings; You have my full support and understanding; As we experienced our life journey, we need to change and adapt to what is happening in our lives. Two bikes are a good idea, it gives you balance for what you need now. I am biased and the Triumph Scrambler 900 would be fun for you as the CF450 is another good bike to undertake off road travels. Whatever you choose I will respect your choice, it's your life and the family is a part of that. So thanks for sharing, some times we need to hear this need to change from others. Doing the same thing forever is not practical and it's limiting. I have had Scooter, and over 20 odd bikes over the years as I have changed. David...Adelaide....Triumph Scramblers 1200X and 900......
Thanks David, appreciate it 👍
😯 WOW, You said Z all by itself! Without extra letters. The little things in life can be so gratifying. Thank You!!
Keep up the good work Solid. And best of luck!!!!
I was expecting ZED and he said ZEE. I thought, "Is Solid simping for his American viewers?" 😀
You know the MT & Himmy are the same weight. Do them side by side. I have the Himmy great for long loaded trips but until I get decent tyres I have shied away from any wet dirt. I hope the upcoming KTM will be lighter. There are other exotic, pricey options out of my reach.
I too went through the "Dirt riding is my life" to, I now have family & a business to run. DT400 (1977) then lived in the shed. But now have returned after three decades, just wish I was healthier.
Completely understand and support you on this one mate. Family first always. All the bikes you mention are exciting and will work well for the channel.
Thanks Eddie 😂
Maybe a 701/690 with a rally fairing could be your true unicorn!🦄
Just tossed K tech and Race tech bits, plus a tune and air box mods, crash bars, handguards, rack, Rotopax, on me Criffie, bought in Feb., new. I do ride it nearly daily. Right on for family first!
450MT will be a great choice. Some friend and I drove from 40masl to 3800 masl (Lima) in a day. The bike was quite great; we went true initially asphalt (you can do 140 km/h with no issues), then went up via hard trails. Quite comfortable for touring and enough power for offroading.
I like your thinking. I'm planning to sell my CRF250L to be able to do more distance and highway, and I've put a deposit down on a RE 450. The other bikes also check the right boxes, but it might be a while before we see them at dealerships here in Canada.
If I personally had a KTM 390 Adv "R" with stock cruise control and tubeless tires, I don't see a need for a street-focused bike.
depends what "street" is to you. if you are commuting in heavy traffic, something a bit skinnier and easier to manage in traffic. personally I have a Z400 that does work as a commuter, and i'm looking for something to replace my DR650 for my offroad use.
If you had a 390 Adv you would be hating yourself for buying such a crappy bike.
@@SuperOrcy DR-Z4S?
Im sort of in the change too. But, im not going that far away fron dirt. I'll be keeping my highly modded DRZ400 and adding one of those same ADV bikes you mentioned. Im short at 5'8" tall with 30 inch inseam. I need low seat height. Yes, I have lowered the DRZ to fit. So the CFMoto right now is a 90% sure thing...but when you dropped your last video about that Aprillia 457, well thats an eye catcher. Im the kind of guy when he buys a bike, i keep it for 20 years or bust. So im willing to wait to get more info on that bike before buying the CFMoto 450. But we still do not have them here in the USA. They recently gave us a 90 day delay for deliveries to the USA. They were already supposed to have been delivered. Saddly not. But more info coming out so now i may weight. The KTM 390 is not on my radar. Too tall. So its between the CFMoto and Aprillia. Not buying a street only bike, not yet. If i do, it wil be a cruiser of some kind for sure. Relaxing on a Lazy Boy while riding is the bees knees if you know what I mean. Time will tell and price seat height and options will determine which one i buy. As our Boeing strike here in Washington is probably going to be over next week, been a nice 5 weeks off. We have been offered a food contract, I plann on buying my new bike cash out with the signing bonus of $12K USD. Plus a massive raise helps too. Well both of us will be waiting and watching. So let me know like u usually do, post any updates you get.
Highly anticipating Solid’s response to the DRZ4S in 3…2….
Does the crf 300l have the lowest/best hill climb torque of the dual sport class? If not, which bike is the best out of box slow torque?
Thanks
I’m 70 and bought Crf300L because my Harley got to heavy. There’s no forward controls, but with a few upgrades it puts a smile on my face.
I was without a bike for over 12 years due to family commitments and I didn’t even have kids so I fully understand why, you have a very understanding partner, I currently have a Harley (yes I still have it 883 Iron 2017) I plan on getting the triumph x400 or the Enfield 650 Bear not sure which one yet and that won’t happen until next year.
Makes total sense, Solid! If the Aprilla is real, that might be able to solve both needs.
I am 55 years old and have a new 24 crf 300 L EU (halogen front light 👀) and I have never enjoyed driving like this, I really enjoy it, a fantastic motorcycle for everyone.
Wait for the Tuareg 450. A Touno 660 for the road that weighs only 185 kg wet, and everyone is in agreement that it is best in the 600/700cc naked class. Imagine how light the Tuareg 450 will be. As for a modern classic Royal Enfield is the way to go for quality and price. The Himalayan is so top heavy, even to just get it off the side stand. The Tuareg is a twin, the Himalayan Is a single. I would not rush. You have a good bike, take your time. Cheers! 10:16
I couldn't even pull the Himalayan off the sidestand. 🤢 I said to salesman "Right, well, that one's out. " 🤣
@garyoneill8868 Same here.
@garyoneill8868 it's like a 450 that's heavier than a 650
Is there going to be a Tuareg 450 ?
I'm stoked about the Tuareg 450 but one of the criticisms I've read is that it's not going to be much lighter (or cheaper) than the Tuareg 660. I think 450 cc is the sweet spot, but manufacturers need to do more to reduce weight for road performance and off road capability/safety.
I’m not entirely sure I understand the logic of the road bike in addition to the adventure bike, all of those small ADV bikes you mentioned will be perfectly good for on road riding too. But if you insist on the 2-bike option, here’s my thoughts. For the modern classic road bike you can’t go wrong with a Kawasaki W650 or 800 (as budget allows). These are a great classic looking bike, with bulletproof reliability. For the small ADV bike you’ve already picked the best of what’s out there right now, and with the bike shows round the corner, we’ll have some idea of what’s coming next year. As for myself, I have a 2021 Kawasaki W800 and I love it, and I’m almost finished my small ADV bike build which is a stripped back and modified 90’s Kawasaki KLE 500. So I have in my garage almost exactly what you’re looking for.
The engine on the W800 is pure art 😎
Welcome to being an adventure rider! We all go through the same evolution. I also have a family and only bought an air bag vest for them. I have also swapped my Tuareg for something lighter, the 701 as I want to get my boys into dirt bikes. I plan to get a cheaper road bike too, something like the Triumph Scrambler 900. We’ll see. Anyways, good luck with your next phases. Love the channel.
I think the new 390 will be the next big splash in dual sport and would bring in the most attention for your channel. Just like the 300L did.
Noted 👍
Motorcycles are mass production units - they can be replaced. Children are one of a kind.
I totally understand where you are at. I am retiring my enduro machine as we get our third child going - and the adventurised 701 will have to do. Get yourself one of those - man, what a machine!
Greetings from cold, dark Denmark!
Well said 👍
We evolve over time so do our bikes. You’ve got your adventure bike choices narrowed down.
For your street bike at this point in your life you need the following: Character, a bike that dances with you in the curves, and brings a smile to your face when you twist the grip to go up and down rolling hills in the 10:09 country side. A bike that is simple and intuitive to maintain. Engineering that is mechanically satisfying to own, understand and in plain view to appreciate.
Lastly, a bike that looks good and 10:09 keeps you looking back as you leave the garage….
Moto Guzzi V7
Hello Solid. A very good bike for your purpose that can also tackle serious offroad is Kove 450 Rally and the lightest twin cylinder ADV bike is another Kove, the 800X, a little bit lighter than 450MT but about twice the power.
I would keep the CRF , very light , good bike, and you really love it. I would buy another bike next to it at the moment and after a 6-12 months you will see which bike you are using more often.
I feel your pain. Father of 3 kids, a full time job + freelance work. My free time is super precious and interesting offroad areas are too far away from Perth metro. Riding these lightweight dual sports on the open road for hours is not fun at all.
I've owned a T7, BMW 750GS, & Triumph Tiger 800XCX. Those bikes were WAY too much for me as my riding style/priority changed. Yes, my style changed with age. I don't need the adrenaline rush anymore. I now own DR650 that is so fun to ride trails & back roads. It can also handle technical"stuff", but that's not what I'm looking for. I just bought the new Himalayan 452 (2 bike garage now) and i absolutely LOVE it. Believe the hype - it truly is a great motorcycle.
If i were looking for a cruiser type, I'd look at the Honda NC750X (with or without DCT). Looks like a great bike to me.
What’s so bad about the under-engine exhaust of the upcoming 390 Adv? It gives the bike a nice slim rear and makes it easy to strap on luggage, without melting straps and soft bags!
The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 will be fine, classic look, yet very modern and off-road capable
Too heavy and gutless-2025KTM is the best option.
@jonomasonILoveU too heavy ? Not for me, I'm 180cm and 94 kg, I own a Honda CB500X, and the Himalayan was faster and lighter in feeling off-road. The KTM 2025 doesn't exist on the market yet and is not a classic looker at all, KTM has a lot of financial issues and is becoming CF Moto, and I was not impressed by the MT450
COS go the MT450 mate! It been a long journey thru dual sports (XL's, XR's, KDX's, KLX's, CRF's) but I'm over thumpers but still want the a small ADV with 21/18 wheel (80dirt/20street). The IBEX 450 (released but EPA delayed in the States} in my 🦄. From NSW to USA I do enjoy seeing your WA journey!
It’s high on the list 👍
I applaud your excellent priorities. I'm many more years down the road from DADventure and well into GEEEZERventure. I've always ridden small displacement dual sport bikes but bought myself a G310GS for my 60th birthday, four years ago. It's been a great bike for mostly rural back roads, some larger secondary roads if I need to get home faster, rare interstates if I need to get home damn fast, and the reason I bought it... off road moto camping including a bit of slow gnarly trails.
As for your current replacement bike dilemma, I'll repeat my comment on your last video. BMW needs to make a *G310GS Adventure* with a 4+ gallon fuel tank, good fully adjustable suspension, aluminum bash plate and engine guards and tubeless spoke wheels. Maybe a pretty TFT display, a couple of ride modes, etc.
I’d be in line if the did 👍
That makes absolute sense and is ultimately the only rational decision you can make if you don't want to ride technical routes more or less often. From a purely opportunistic perspective, if you're buying two motorcycles anyway, I'd definitely choose one that generates a lot of interest from the RUclips side. Whether that's really the MT remains to be seen; personally, I find the KTM more exciting. However, it’s still a KTM, and the running costs...
In the end, whatever you decide to do, will still follow your chanel. Your videos were always great to see and once you made the crucial difference for me regarding buying a CRF or not. Never regretted buying that thing, but it has to go now as well - for me it is too underpowered.