I just laugh at guys who talk about universal or do-it-all bikes. Ride dedicated bikes for the terrain and objective. I live in Oregon and own a Guzzi for the road, KTM EXC350 for dual sport and a. husky TE150 for going fast on single track. I’m 73 years now and have raced (mx, enduro, hare scrambles and desert racing) and ridden for 51 years. Owned a LOT of bikes over these many years and the ones that stand out were focused on doing ONE THING REALLY WELL. And LIGHTER IS ALWAYS BETTER. Power is way over rated. 😊😊😊😊😊😊
I'm 43 and unexperienced rider. If I undestand well, road bike do one thing very well - comfort on straight flat road. And dual sport do one thing - transportation through almost any terrain without comfort.
It depends what you want to do. Lighter is of course better, but if I drive 2000 km to get to the nearest offroad section and it's not that hard to ride, why wouldn't I take the bigger bike? I have a massive Africa Twin Adventure Sports 1000L, straight from hell, 20.000 Euros + 10.000 Euros in upgrades. Because I love to ride TET but I want a little bit of comfort. I would love to add the 701 to my garage, but I do not have unlimited amounts of money and I think it's too similar to my Honda. And I don't want a KTM bike, I hope that Honda will do a nice TET bike for us, so we can buy good quality.
The best mods are the ones that add lightness. A heavy pig of a dualsport can become downright 'flickable' once you remove excess chain covers, bulky license plate brackets, fairings, heavy headlights, stock gauge clusters, mounts, brackets and whatnot in favor of lightweight LEDs and anything else that's not mission critical. The power to weight ratio is what matters, take 10-20% of the bike's weight away and the end result is similar to 10-20% more hp at the wheels assuming traction. On a dualsport it's from 3-10 extra hp depending on where you start and how naked it gets.
@@DieselpunkMachine I wouldn't say without comfort, we're not cavemen riding flintstones bikes lol. It's as comfortable as you make it with handlebar risers, seat options, proper control setup, and riding posture. A taxicab style beaded seat cover surprisingly can make a world of difference for long hauls on pavement, a cramp buster, and highway pegs as well as using the passenger pegs if you have some to change foot position. The only time it's really uncomfortable is this, long flat straight boring pavement, but that's not really dualsport riding either. If you're set up good actually riding a mix of dirt and non-interstate highway pavement isn't uncomfortable because you're always changing modes and positions, not just sitting in one place all day. People that complain about discomfort mainly just like to complain about discomfort if their soft tender bottoms are not constantly cradled in a heavenly cloud of soft fluff. Just accept that you'll be sitting on a hard plastic chair VS the plush cushy lazy boy recliner at home in exchange for a lot better view. Do you refuse to go see your favorite rock bands because the stadium seat is uncomfortable? No, because half the time you're standing up holding a lighter (or a phone flashlight these days? Kids are weird lol.). You refuse to go because Ticketmaster sucks and are a bunch of outright criminals who sell your data. Scalpers are more secure, they don't even ask for your name lol.
You are absolutely right. A lot of the time we get so hung up on choosing a bike we forget about the fun we will have even if we get a scooter with knobbies. Sure there needs to be some consideration but, just get out and have fun. Now, when choosing a second bike to add to the garage, yeah that should take some time. On the other hand, there are WAY more bikes to choose from nowadays than 5 years ago.
I'm not going to lie, researching and trying out different bikes is half the fun. Some days all I do is think about bike choice and how to improve/change my approach, other days all I want to do is ride whatever bike with my friends and just have a good time! They complement each other quite nice :)
@@JohannesDalenMC Oh yeah, that is fun no doubt for we who realize all the choices, but for the new riders it could be quite daunting to try and choose the "right bike". Around here we have group rides, but since we are just random people off of a FB group we don't get to test out other type of bikes. Test rides are almost nonexistant for us in the states.
Love to see Beshar in the house, the PR7 is really nice in the gnarly stuff and You are right, the bike that takes You out there is the best one for the moment. Happy Trails Johannes great to see You with this team of good guys.
Do you love the travel to a place, or the ride once you get to the place? That is a key to understanding if you prefer the comfort of a big bike, or the performance of a small bike. I use to think I had to love both to be a true ADV guy. I have accepted two things. A.) I love to get into sticky situations that challenge my skills. B.) I tend to brake things .... A + B = Small Bike with Car/Trailer.
A really good solution would be to convince KTM to fit a larger sump on the a 350 or 500 motor, so as to greatly extend the service interval, and slightly detune said 350 or 500 motor. Finish off this ultimate dual sport by fitting a rear cushion hub to the otherwise stock EXCF chassis.
There's aftermarket clutch covers that increases the oil capacity by 300ml for only 150$. If I ever get a 500 I'd do that, but at the same time doing oil changes on these bikes is a 5 min job.
We can tell … you really enjoyed yourself, just by your body language … relaxed, at peace, satisfied … very good to find that special place during your time off or away! Thanks for sharing!
Here in Europe, to me a +200kg bike does not make any sense offroad: we are not in australia or north Africa, here in Europe it rain 3 season out of 4, there aren't real deserts and it is plenty of mountains, so the only adv bike that make sense is an enduro bike with bigger fuel tank and a comfy seat. Even outside Europe many people that seriously travel the world mostly offroad, choose an enduro bike (Aaron Steinmann or rtwpaul, just 2 example). The issue with big bikes is not only the fatigue and the impracticability of many trails, but also the higher risk of very bad injuries: doesn't matter how strong you are, a +200kg bike that roll over you can easily crash your rib cage or break your neck. Moreover, in order to be able to tackle very rugged terrains, skills are not enough on a big bike, you also need narrow rims and enduro tyres (you don't think that Paul Tarres, in order to do the crazy stuff that he do on a t7, he use dual tyres?), but with enduro tyres and narrow rims the bike became more uncomfortable and unstable on tarmac at speed and also the mileage you can do with a set of tyres decrease a lot. Thats what i learned in my own experience, coming from a 701 and then downsizing my adv bike to a 500 exc with bigger fuel tank.
I've decided that I'm not going to be dual-sport or ADV riding any longer. After dabbling in those types of riding for the last few months I feel like there's too much compromise either toward road or off-road for my riding enjoyment. I learned I don't like my bike half-assed trying to fit into multiple disciplines. Besides, my buds are either strictly trail/enduro riders or road/touring riders. I bought a Suzuki DRz400s to straddle both worlds and it was a mistake... But luckily the DRz is very capable off-road machine at its heart and was easily converted to full trail/enduro use(I'm processing a video about this now). When I road ride/tour with my wife or road riding buds, I have a 6th gen Honda Goldwing. 😎
That's interesting, thanks for sharing buddy! I completely understand you, I often find myself thinking "why am I covering all this tarmac on this offroad built T7 with aggressive tires" or "I should be on an enduro bike for this stuff". But, the whole "what's around the next corner?" and "where does this trail lead?" part about a proper motorcycle adventure is what gets my juices flowing. Sure it's lots of fun to ride enduro on a track or ride a Harley on the twisty backroads into the countryside, but that not knowing what's next I often find when I take a 50/50 compromised bike on a big adventure is my kind of thing. One thing doesn't exclude the other though, so you can definitely have an adventure going trail riding on a DRZ or cross-country trip on your Goldwing with the wifey :)
@@JohannesDalenMC Maybe in Europe or some other parts of the US, "taking that unknown way to see where it goes" might work. But here in New England, everything is very closed off and the wrong dirt road could get a rider shot or arrested. Plus I like a purpose built machine for the type of riding I'm doing. The ultimate comfort and power of the Goldwing on road and the tackle anything guts of the DRz(for now) on the trails.
I'm with you, mate. I love riding off-road; I've got a Beta 300 and a trailer for that. I like riding dirt and gravel roads, too; my DR650 works fine, as long as they are actual *roads*. I'm looking for big twin for interstate trips, but I will not be taking it off the tarmac much, or at all.
@@doghouseriley8696 One of my enduro buds(JR who rides a Beta 250Race) has a 2018 Africa Twin. He tagged along with me a few times on it when I took the Goldwing and he's always said how impressed he is with it for road riding. If my wife didn't tour with me, I'd probably ride a similar bike for road riding.
A lot of motorcycle preferences are really different going from rider to rider. What type of terrain or do we have access to great technical terrain? I have a 501 S and a 890 Adventure S model but just took possession of the T-7. The 890 is going to be sold and possibly the 501. There are other riders that would get much more out of those two bikes and I feel really confident when I ride the T-7. I'm 58 years old, 5'8" with a 30.5"-31" inseam.
It sure is. Congrats on a new T7, but I would strongly suggest you keep the 501 if you want to do anything offroad. T7 is a great bike, but quickly becomes a handful.
Hey there good friend :) I was smiling a lot while watching this video and I absolutely agree with your conclusions - let's ride more with great buddies, explore and have fun. A bike is just a tool and there are so many tools to choose from - let's just enjoy it :) all the best! (I have finally moved to 890R and... also bought a used 250L just to have a pure fun and trash around bike...)
Hey Rafal, nice to hear from you buddy! I know you swapped out your 701 for the mighty 890 - how are you liking it so far? As mentioned in the video, I LOVED the 790, such a great bike.
@@JohannesDalenMC 890R is fantastic, I just came from Morocco and KTM was flawless. Yet, while just exploring my close neighborhoods, I found myself missing the joy of riding a light bike. That's why when almost a brand new CRF showed up for sale near me, I was not thinking too long about it.
I have recently purchased a husky 701 after my previous bikes was a 890r / T7 so hearing your ownership of the various bikes has been interesting. The 890r was an amazing bike to travel and off road ventures and it gave me much so much more confidence off road with its well balanced low fuel tanks and suspension but I found myself getting more and more adventurous and thus getting stuck in places and the weight of the bike was an issue . Haven’t reached a 1000 miles on the husky yet but it’s night and day off road with the weight difference and do not mind the road miles as I am no Viking build like yourself 😁 so I’m good for the tank full miles . Enjoy your videos . Keep up the good work 👌
Hey buddy, thanks a lot for sharing your story! As you've discovered, weight is king for offroad riding, and my kind of fun is where there's mud, roots, sand, as technical as possible really, and for that a lighter bike is the way to go. I'm happy to lose some road comfort to have a lighter bike, especially now that we trailer our bikes. The 701 is a great bike, enjoy yours and let me know how you like it after some more testing. Ride safe!
Be honest there’s no right, there’s only wrong. All are not good enough to do all and everything and even keep up with changing approach to off-road riding. It’s the Rider! Not the Bike. You need multiple bikes, then you can do multiple things.Get a Van, a trailer and ship a bunch of EXC300 2T six days for all friends with a Backup Driver and ride on tour with an AfricaTwin19”DCT to your destination. Or just have the bikes shipped upfront for a year to a spot you gonna spend 2-3 vacations in that year and the year after to another destination and all ride your road-bikes to it, or - fly.
The unicorn does exist ! Perhaps a Husqvarna 701 with a Rade garage tower. TKC 80 tyres, Mosko Moto R40 bags. I can ride this on tarmac in absolute comfort ! (Not as comfortable as a Mercedes sprinter ! 😂)
Get better tires, TKC80s are trash, something like a D606 is half the price and hooks up way better. Hell those cheap $40 Kendas hook better than the '80.
It's still going to be much worse than a proper dual sport off road, and much worse than and adventure bike on road. It all depends on what your needs are - if you want/need to ride to the trails, then yes, a 701 may be the best bike. If you can haul a bike there, a lighter bike will double your fun.
I like the Japanese thumpers. I love my KLR but it’s not great off road. I rented a DR650 and plan to buy one. Other than wind protection it is just as good on the highway and better by every other measure. Maybe it’s not quite as comfortable for me and especially a pillion but I felt pretty comfortable on it even on the highway. I’ll probably keep both but the DR could possibly replace the KLR for most things. I can replace the KLR with a nicer touring bike if I end up spending a lot of time with a passenger.
I'd love a dr650 for 1/4th of the price of a new PR7, but they're never for sale in Norway, and the ones that are have huuuuge amount of miles on them.
@@JohannesDalenMC Here in the US they’re plentiful on the used market as well as new. Unfortunately the Euro standards probably leave you with an aging supply of whatever still runs.
I own a vstrom 800de and every one is to scared to buy one or think someone will hang shit on them because it's a vstrom not a ktm but vstrom 800de is not a vstrom it's a perfect mix of bike that is the best 50 50 to date following the Honda xr650r
I haven't ridden the 800de yet, but it looks very promising. I kinda feel Suzuki shouldn't have called it vstrom at all, that's not a very sexy word in the offroad world.
Cool vid. The PR7 was my unicorn bike, then I realized I live in a crowded city with little time for longer excursions… so I moved on. It can to long trips, but most comfortably on a trailer. (For me).
Another good video; thanks. You made an important point: The bike doesn't matter, that much; the main thing is to get out there, ideally with your buds. That said, studying, trying, and owning different bikes is part of the fun, isn't it? I know you get this. I currently have a Beta 300, a DR650, and an XR650R. I'm planning to sell the XR and replace it with a KTM 450 XCF-W, which is mapped to be much easier to ride than the usual 450. Try one if you get a chance!
Thanks! And you're absolutely right, trying out different bikes is half the fun. We usually just see the EXC versions on the road here in Norway, but as mentioned in the video, I'm very interested in the 500 platform. Let me know how it works out for you when you get some time with it. Impressive fleet of bikes, by the way. Three bikes and the heaviest you own is the DR? you're either all about offroad or don't like the big adv bikes (or both) 😁
@@JohannesDalenMC I'm currently enjoying the process of choosing an ADV bike to join my friends on summer trips to Idaho, Montana, etc. They typically stay in hotels (no camping gear!), ride asphalt, logging, and forest service roads, and they are on GS1250's, KTM 1190's, a Multistrada, a Tiger, and similar bikes. One gal who is also a motocrosser has a Desert Sled! (NOT a Desert X). She rips; I can barely keep her in sight on my XR. I won't ride to Montana on my DR, but just about any twin will work. Any suggestions?
Oh boy, summer trips to Idaho and Montana sounds like a dream - where do I sign up? Since your friends ride big bikes it would be wise to get something big and comfy yourself, but so many factors come in to play, like finance. Personally I wouldn't go with anything larger than a T7. Reason is because even when we agree to go for a laidback adventure ride, we always end up with bikes upside down in mud holes or stuck in sand pits. When we get together as a group we always seek the technical stuff and challenge each other. When it comes to the big adv bikes I'm not comfortable recommending a particular bike. I've ridden most of them, but they're not my kind of rides. A multistrada V4S would be awesome, but also hilariously overkill 😂
@@JohannesDalenMC I've ridden the 450 XCF-W a lot. It's a joy to ride. A friend of mine has a 2023, and we've made trips to Caineville and St. George, Utah and Cline Buttes, Oregon in recent months. I really like it, but part of the appeal is that we can easily make it street legal here in Washington. If I lived in California, I'd be shopping for a 500 EXC-F, instead. I've ridden two 500's, a fair bit, all on single-track. One was California-stock; it felt sluggish. The other was race-tuned with a Vortex ECU; it was a real handful-- WAY too much power for me, but it might be fine for you, coming off the 701. Sounds like you can map the fueling for torque, hit, top-end, or whatever you like. It definitely handles really well.
@@JohannesDalenMC Thanks for responding! Yes, I'll probably end up with a T7, but I'm considering a Triumph Scrambler 900 with some suspension mods just to have something fun and different. Cheers!
Isn't it about finding your personal unicorn? For each person that will be different. Some find it on their first and only bike and others search endlessly. My search thus far: 2018 R 1200 GSA -> 2020 R1250 GSA -> 2021 KTM 890R + KTM 500 EXC-F -> 2023 KTM 890R + 2023 Husq 701E. Right now it is looking like the 701E is going to end up as my unicorn. Good luck. And no matter which bike you are on (Harley Road Glide or a 701 etc.), crossing the Great Plains of the United States on pavement/tarmac in 100 degree Fahrenheit is a struggle, yet I always look back fondly on it even though it may have sucked in the moment. Every journey will have its ups and downs regardless of the bike. Find one that lets you enjoy your favorite parts of the journey the most -- without the low the high never comes.
Tjeeena kompis ❤️ Thank you for an amazing trip, but thank you the most for being a big strong viking that gets me and my “big” bike out of trouble in the afternoon and being a great friend to talk to at the campfire at night ☺️✌🏻Can’t wait to switch bikes in the Balkan when the trails get really tough, power to weight ratio we are 50/50 when you ride my T7 and I ride your PR7 😂
Is there something about the 701 that you prefer to the PR7? I believe the weight is the same but the 701 has more electronics and power. Is one more comfortable than the other? Is the PR7 more linear in its power delivery? Agree that the bike you have is the best one, whichever that might be.
The fun factor of the engine. PR7 engine lugs better down low, but there's nothing up top, especially without the power up kit. Weight is lower on PR7 with the tank being underneath the middle mostly. PR7 is also more comfy, very good seat and bike feels less stressed. There's nuance to this and I plan to do a detailed comparison sometime in the future. There's differences, but they're also very similar and share many attributes, can't really go wrong with either.
Johannes, have fun and stay safe in the Balkans. I'm heading for Tuscany and riding there for the next two weeks. We'll compare PR7 riding adventures afterward!! Cheers, GSJack
790/890 is truly amazing Johaness, as long as it moves atleast 2kph you dont feel the weight really. Only issue is that when bike doesnt balance itself then you can fake the weight when its in the mud stuck, its stuck, still a 210kg :D
Don't recall ever jumping on a bike and feeling at home that fast. I'll probably never buy one, but I'm pretty comfortable saying it's the king of "middleweight" adv bikes, along with the Tuareg 660.
790/890 is an awesome platform, can't go wrong with it (as long as it's somewhat reliable). If it is your first bike and you intend to do some offroading I highly suggest getting something smaller to learn on.
@@JohannesDalenMC yes I plan to do some simple off-roading also, what would you recommend? I would like to do road/off-roading riding like 50/50 but I think in the UK it will be more like 75/25 in reality as there is not much off-roading available
Norway is similar, pretty much no offroad riding, and what we got is only easy gravel roads. Regardless, I still recommend starting out smaller, to learn the basics, and then move up from there. The 890 is super capable, but it is still a 200kg machine. Pretty much every "expert" recommends starting small. While it isn't as sexy as an 890, something like the Honda 300l would be a great place to start. A dual sport at around 150kg would be my pick. If you have the funds you could get both, a used 250/300l isn't that expensive. I started out on a T7 and man I got into so much trouble. Sold it after a year and bought a DRZ, best decision I've ever made, learned more on the DRZ in a month than a year on the T7.
Yes it's easy to go around in circles about "which bike is ideal" and change regularly ( ask me how I know...😂). I agree the 890 platform is ideal all round ( ask me how I know 😅). See you in Portugal
Oh no you didn't! Well, I'm honestly blown away by the 790/890 platform, it was such an easy bike to ride fast, and when things got technical it was so good! See you in October my friend :)
Bikes that ticks all the same boxes are getting rarer and rarer: no electronics, thumper with enough power for street, high ground clearance, good suspension, low weight. Are there any other bikes that fits this bill? DR650 is the only that comes to mind, but needs lots of mods.
@@JohannesDalenMC there are none that I can think of. Thinking about combining my ad bike and my dual sport into one to get the power I want at a much lighter weight. Just do not know where I will find the time to do it
That would have been interesting! It would be cool to know the weight of that engine, and the weight of the engine currently in the PR7. Besides the narrow ratioed gear box, I'm perfectly happy with the old husky engine!
It was a bit loose, measured and reshimmed now. Still a bit rattly, but airbox is literally right on top of cams, so I suspect it allows more sound come through than most other bikes.
Well, it's my unicorn 🎉 Great bike, does what I need with aplomb off-road - even with prudently loaded luggage and, with balance shaft and comfortable stock seat, highway miles, again prudently loaded, are no problem too. BTW, for those who missed it - long film here: ruclips.net/video/z3mDXbAr18Q/видео.htmlsi=S5fVPTLT-JkzHt6t
Happy to hear! Which luggage solution do you use with the PR7? Mosko Moto is sending me the R40 bags for test and review, based on how they look on similar bikes, it might be a very good solution. I don't want luggage to be too big as it affects handling etc.
@@JohannesDalenMC yes, that could work well - I can usually get by with my Reckless 10, considering crash bars to load extra up front tho will be breaking out my old reckless 80 for a longer (camping) trip. As you note - while everything is a compromise, the PR7 is the best bike for my current purposes: excellent off-road is .5km away from home & pretty much goes forever 😁
Great topic. I think you gotta try different bikes to work out what you really want and what suits you for your area. In past 6 years I’ve had Vstrom 650, WR250R, KTM 690, Husky FE501, TE300, Norden 901. I love them all for different reasons. As you say, just get out and ride on any bike you can. Cheers
Thanks Llel! Yeah Daniel is a talented photographer, luckily he's now a member of our riding group, so he'll do the filming so I can focus on having fun 😁 He's also a fantastic guy. Come visit and I'll arrange a weekend of shooting and riding, you need to test the PR7, right? ;)
It seems your journey of discovery is still going Johannes. Can I suggest you get one of your friends with a T7 that is already fitted with a few lightweight parts (ideally titanium pipe, lithium battery and Acerbis tank) to remove the headlight and rally tower, just to experiment with what it feels like to ride? This is how my bike is set up using the Unit Garage headlight, weighs around 190 kgs with 16 litres of fuel, and not top heavy. Another direction to investigate is the CF Moto 450 MT. It is also around 190 kgs (and capable of losing another 5-10kgs). Both the T7 and the 450MT are larger framed bikes, suitable for bigger guys like you and me.
The guy with the GYTR T7 world raid has a "enduro" setup for his bike for when we go enduro riding. Tower comes off, titanium headers, no extra stuff on the bike at all. WR is heavier than standard T7, but carries its weight better. My previous T7 was close to this as well, but still had the tower. Excellent bike, enjoyed it a lot, but the PR7 is another league when it comes to offroad prowess and playfulness :)
@@JohannesDalenMC With all due respect, I don't think either was close to 190. The weight reduction, especially off the top of the bike is a game changer, and possibly the World raid with no tower would be closer in that there is a good reduction of high weight. Did you ride it like that, and what does it weight? Oh, and something else that may add to the discussion, I also lowered my T7 by 18mm I think using the Camel ADV lowering links (despite being tall), and I think this contributes to better handling.
There is no all purpose bike as there is no all purpose tire. Sure you can ride a compromise that you can take everywhere or you get dedicated bikes for the full dedicated fun.
Jeg har vel så godt som bestemt meg for at jeg egentlig burde ha to sykler. En Honda CRF 300L (eller kanskje KTM 390 Enduro når den kommer?) til lokale eventyr og for å lære meg grovere kjøring og en Himalayan 450 til generell bruk og lengre turer. Til sammen koster jo begge de syklene det samme som en Tenere eller Tuareg så det burde være overkommelige som løsning egentlig.
Så absolutt, jeg har to sykler nå, en som dekker vei-delen og PR7 som dekker alt av adventure/offroad. Jeg kunne gjerne tenkt meg en tredje sykkel som er enda mer spisset mot enduro og. "Problemet" blir å ha råd, men også betale forsikring på tre sykler og alt av ekstra vedlikehold. Et skikkelig i-landsproblem, hehe.
Aw man, in the US it's offroad only. The unicorn evades again. Seriously though, why doesn't ktm put the 390 motor in the 500 exc frame and call it a day? Perfect dualsport/enduro/adventure bike all in one, just as soon as they design a working fuel pump...
That's a good suggestion. There's many manufacturers sitting on a nice small twin they could put in one of their mx/enduro frames. Kawasaki got the engine in the versys 300x, Honda got the engine in the cb500x etc.
this how hard it must be for regular-sized people to ride those T7's in your group!! :) Compared to them you are pretty dang big and strong and should have an easier time of it comparatively?
The Unicorn doesn't exist... But it could, and it should. I see no reason why you couldn't make a 550-600cc twin in the 160-180kg range. You might have to ditch luxuries like a battery/electric-start and pay for costly wheels/brakes etc to keep the weight down. But I feel like the ADV market has been slowly narrowing in on this very obvious gap in the bike range for a few years now.
You have both good points. The PR7 is 165 kg with windshield and very comfy seat and suspension - far from a unicorn regardless. Why? It's simply too light, affected by the wind on the road and I don't think a second cylinder would make a whole lot of difference.
@JohannesDalen I think unicorns exist, I just think they have to be built by the owner via mods. Its just really expensive. Personally I'm very happy with my 701. I don't want to be on the highway all day but if I had to I definitely could. I've done a 600 mile highway day on my old DR650. If that can do it then my 701 definitely can, especially if I decided to put a rally tower on. I can see how you weren't satisfied with it but I think it's about as good as it gets.
I also believe that there is a uincorn bike out there, but it may not be the same bike for everyone, but for sure, it's a bike that it does very well on it's intended purpose, some will offer good touring comfort, and some good off road comfort and some can do pretty decent on both, like the 790r or a tuareg 660, just to say a few, but at the end is almost always about the ride.😂
Hi Love your films and journey through different bikes as a normal sized human 😂 At 6,4 I also struggle getting the correct ergos for me My bike history is as follows CRF 250L KTM 690 CCM GP450 At the moment I have a ‘21 exc 500, which is amazing The guy I bought it off did a fair amount of mods to it which make a huge difference, my friends on the Beta’s (390&480) call mine the ‘cheat code’ because it’s so nice to ride Cheat code mods Upgraded WP PRO suspension for 100kg RIDER Raised bars Recluse clutch Recluse rear hand break Running tubeliss with Mich Trackers I think the seat is pretty comfortable to, it’s a KTM original but WAAAAY better than the Beta seats, all helps for long days Every time I get out on this set up I think YES 🙌 this is awesome Run 14/49 on the sprockets which is good for sitting at 60/65 but will easily hit 90 if I need I carry a 15 tooth front sprocket for longer trips to lengthen the gears On the UK TET at the moment and booked for PICOS in October 🤘🤘🤘
Thank you and thanks for sharing your own journey Shaun! My next bike will probably be a 500 exc, and do similar mods like you've done. The "issue" with those bikes now is all the tech they've added lately. Ride modes, tc, now I guess quickshifter will be standard as well? It's not that it is bad, I just don't want to pay for something I don't use. Do you ever feel like you're on a bike that is a bit overkill? Many of the miles we cover on these TET-trips are easy gravel roads, and that isn't where a 500 shines in my opinion, especially compared to PR7, T7s etc.
We have been riding for a similar amount of time I think, 4/5 years . More experienced riders raise an eyebrow when I say I’m on a 500 exc but it’s fine the power delivery is amazing. Although the Reckuse clutch maybe tames it down a little imo which is no bad thing. It’s just a very playful bike in this set up and the set up is critical True you may find it over kill on a fire road but it won’t lack in power vs bigger bikes and it will be my much more fun…..which is why we ride 😁 Recluse and rear hand brake are a game changer on descents, it’s just like a DH mountain bike.plus it won’t ever stall, so cool Mine is 2021 but never had a the TC etc fitted and I was thinking today I just don’t miss it, TC and ABS are just other things to faff about with, not needed for my type of riding…I love to lock up the rear wheel and get sideways 😂 Make it your new whip and keep us posted What’s your insta and I’ll ping ya some photos 👊
I'm with you on that one, although I like some street comfort when everyone else in my group is on T7s! Which mods have you done to your 500 to make it adv ready?
No, it's a race bike and would be awful, I own one and don't want all that pseudo-rally junk screwing it up. They make the 660 for people who want that sort of thing.
@@jimtitt3571 nah the 660 is still a midweight ADV, too heavy for really technical trails. However with low tanks like a Kove and redesigned cylinders that dont have that floating liner and the addition of either VVT/VVL or electric valvetrain like Camcon they can not only improve reliability but also get it to pass modern emissions with ease. It would likely need a stronger subframe to handle more fuel/luggage but you cannot deny that there's nothing in it's weight class that could compare. And btw any engine 2010 and up is quite reliable or earlier ones if rebuilt properly with new case sealant. The most issues people see outside of that are usually electrical due to poor wire insulation that cracks and causes shorts and the garbage starter motor that was never up to the task. Make those changes and the bike is as reliable as a the new Husky/Ktm machines. Obviously it's still a race hike so maintenance intervals are not going to let you tour Africa on it but for rides within the 800mi range this bike would be perfect 👌
I just laugh at guys who talk about universal or do-it-all bikes. Ride dedicated bikes for the terrain and objective. I live in Oregon and own a Guzzi for the road, KTM EXC350 for dual sport and a. husky TE150 for going fast on single track. I’m 73 years now and have raced (mx, enduro, hare scrambles and desert racing) and ridden for 51 years. Owned a LOT of bikes over these many years and the ones that stand out were focused on doing ONE THING REALLY WELL. And LIGHTER IS ALWAYS BETTER. Power is way over rated. 😊😊😊😊😊😊
I'm 43 and unexperienced rider. If I undestand well, road bike do one thing very well - comfort on straight flat road. And dual sport do one thing - transportation through almost any terrain without comfort.
It depends what you want to do. Lighter is of course better, but if I drive 2000 km to get to the nearest offroad section and it's not that hard to ride, why wouldn't I take the bigger bike? I have a massive Africa Twin Adventure Sports 1000L, straight from hell, 20.000 Euros + 10.000 Euros in upgrades. Because I love to ride TET but I want a little bit of comfort. I would love to add the 701 to my garage, but I do not have unlimited amounts of money and I think it's too similar to my Honda. And I don't want a KTM bike, I hope that Honda will do a nice TET bike for us, so we can buy good quality.
The best mods are the ones that add lightness. A heavy pig of a dualsport can become downright 'flickable' once you remove excess chain covers, bulky license plate brackets, fairings, heavy headlights, stock gauge clusters, mounts, brackets and whatnot in favor of lightweight LEDs and anything else that's not mission critical.
The power to weight ratio is what matters, take 10-20% of the bike's weight away and the end result is similar to 10-20% more hp at the wheels assuming traction. On a dualsport it's from 3-10 extra hp depending on where you start and how naked it gets.
@@DieselpunkMachine I wouldn't say without comfort, we're not cavemen riding flintstones bikes lol. It's as comfortable as you make it with handlebar risers, seat options, proper control setup, and riding posture. A taxicab style beaded seat cover surprisingly can make a world of difference for long hauls on pavement, a cramp buster, and highway pegs as well as using the passenger pegs if you have some to change foot position. The only time it's really uncomfortable is this, long flat straight boring pavement, but that's not really dualsport riding either. If you're set up good actually riding a mix of dirt and non-interstate highway pavement isn't uncomfortable because you're always changing modes and positions, not just sitting in one place all day.
People that complain about discomfort mainly just like to complain about discomfort if their soft tender bottoms are not constantly cradled in a heavenly cloud of soft fluff. Just accept that you'll be sitting on a hard plastic chair VS the plush cushy lazy boy recliner at home in exchange for a lot better view. Do you refuse to go see your favorite rock bands because the stadium seat is uncomfortable? No, because half the time you're standing up holding a lighter (or a phone flashlight these days? Kids are weird lol.). You refuse to go because Ticketmaster sucks and are a bunch of outright criminals who sell your data. Scalpers are more secure, they don't even ask for your name lol.
You are absolutely right. A lot of the time we get so hung up on choosing a bike we forget about the fun we will have even if we get a scooter with knobbies. Sure there needs to be some consideration but, just get out and have fun. Now, when choosing a second bike to add to the garage, yeah that should take some time.
On the other hand, there are WAY more bikes to choose from nowadays than 5 years ago.
I'm not going to lie, researching and trying out different bikes is half the fun. Some days all I do is think about bike choice and how to improve/change my approach, other days all I want to do is ride whatever bike with my friends and just have a good time! They complement each other quite nice :)
@@JohannesDalenMC Oh yeah, that is fun no doubt for we who realize all the choices, but for the new riders it could be quite daunting to try and choose the "right bike".
Around here we have group rides, but since we are just random people off of a FB group we don't get to test out other type of bikes. Test rides are almost nonexistant for us in the states.
Love to see Beshar in the house, the PR7 is really nice in the gnarly stuff and You are right, the bike that takes You out there is the best one for the moment. Happy Trails Johannes great to see You with this team of good guys.
"Introvert Adventure Riders" sure is an amazing team :D
Do you love the travel to a place, or the ride once you get to the place? That is a key to understanding if you prefer the comfort of a big bike, or the performance of a small bike. I use to think I had to love both to be a true ADV guy. I have accepted two things. A.) I love to get into sticky situations that challenge my skills. B.) I tend to brake things .... A + B = Small Bike with Car/Trailer.
Sums up my motorcycle journey so far, very accurate!
A really good solution would be to convince KTM to fit a larger sump on the a 350 or 500 motor, so as to greatly extend the service interval, and slightly detune said 350 or 500 motor. Finish off this ultimate dual sport by fitting a rear cushion hub to the otherwise stock EXCF chassis.
There's aftermarket clutch covers that increases the oil capacity by 300ml for only 150$. If I ever get a 500 I'd do that, but at the same time doing oil changes on these bikes is a 5 min job.
We can tell … you really enjoyed yourself, just by your body language … relaxed, at peace, satisfied … very good to find that special place during your time off or away! Thanks for sharing!
And thank you for watching :)
Here in Europe, to me a +200kg bike does not make any sense offroad: we are not in australia or north Africa, here in Europe it rain 3 season out of 4, there aren't real deserts and it is plenty of mountains, so the only adv bike that make sense is an enduro bike with bigger fuel tank and a comfy seat. Even outside Europe many people that seriously travel the world mostly offroad, choose an enduro bike (Aaron Steinmann or rtwpaul, just 2 example). The issue with big bikes is not only the fatigue and the impracticability of many trails, but also the higher risk of very bad injuries: doesn't matter how strong you are, a +200kg bike that roll over you can easily crash your rib cage or break your neck. Moreover, in order to be able to tackle very rugged terrains, skills are not enough on a big bike, you also need narrow rims and enduro tyres (you don't think that Paul Tarres, in order to do the crazy stuff that he do on a t7, he use dual tyres?), but with enduro tyres and narrow rims the bike became more uncomfortable and unstable on tarmac at speed and also the mileage you can do with a set of tyres decrease a lot. Thats what i learned in my own experience, coming from a 701 and then downsizing my adv bike to a 500 exc with bigger fuel tank.
I've decided that I'm not going to be dual-sport or ADV riding any longer. After dabbling in those types of riding for the last few months I feel like there's too much compromise either toward road or off-road for my riding enjoyment. I learned I don't like my bike half-assed trying to fit into multiple disciplines. Besides, my buds are either strictly trail/enduro riders or road/touring riders. I bought a Suzuki DRz400s to straddle both worlds and it was a mistake... But luckily the DRz is very capable off-road machine at its heart and was easily converted to full trail/enduro use(I'm processing a video about this now). When I road ride/tour with my wife or road riding buds, I have a 6th gen Honda Goldwing. 😎
That's interesting, thanks for sharing buddy!
I completely understand you, I often find myself thinking "why am I covering all this tarmac on this offroad built T7 with aggressive tires" or "I should be on an enduro bike for this stuff".
But, the whole "what's around the next corner?" and "where does this trail lead?" part about a proper motorcycle adventure is what gets my juices flowing. Sure it's lots of fun to ride enduro on a track or ride a Harley on the twisty backroads into the countryside, but that not knowing what's next I often find when I take a 50/50 compromised bike on a big adventure is my kind of thing.
One thing doesn't exclude the other though, so you can definitely have an adventure going trail riding on a DRZ or cross-country trip on your Goldwing with the wifey :)
@@JohannesDalenMC Maybe in Europe or some other parts of the US, "taking that unknown way to see where it goes" might work. But here in New England, everything is very closed off and the wrong dirt road could get a rider shot or arrested. Plus I like a purpose built machine for the type of riding I'm doing. The ultimate comfort and power of the Goldwing on road and the tackle anything guts of the DRz(for now) on the trails.
I'm with you, mate. I love riding off-road; I've got a Beta 300 and a trailer for that. I like riding dirt and gravel roads, too; my DR650 works fine, as long as they are actual *roads*. I'm looking for big twin for interstate trips, but I will not be taking it off the tarmac much, or at all.
@@doghouseriley8696 One of my enduro buds(JR who rides a Beta 250Race) has a 2018 Africa Twin. He tagged along with me a few times on it when I took the Goldwing and he's always said how impressed he is with it for road riding. If my wife didn't tour with me, I'd probably ride a similar bike for road riding.
A lot of motorcycle preferences are really different going from rider to rider. What type of terrain or do we have access to great technical terrain?
I have a 501 S and a 890 Adventure S model but just took possession of the T-7. The 890 is going to be sold and possibly the 501.
There are other riders that would get much more out of those two bikes and I feel really confident when I ride the T-7.
I'm 58 years old, 5'8" with a 30.5"-31" inseam.
It sure is. Congrats on a new T7, but I would strongly suggest you keep the 501 if you want to do anything offroad. T7 is a great bike, but quickly becomes a handful.
Hey there good friend :)
I was smiling a lot while watching this video and I absolutely agree with your conclusions - let's ride more with great buddies, explore and have fun. A bike is just a tool and there are so many tools to choose from - let's just enjoy it :) all the best!
(I have finally moved to 890R and... also bought a used 250L just to have a pure fun and trash around bike...)
Hey Rafal, nice to hear from you buddy! I know you swapped out your 701 for the mighty 890 - how are you liking it so far? As mentioned in the video, I LOVED the 790, such a great bike.
@@JohannesDalenMC 890R is fantastic, I just came from Morocco and KTM was flawless. Yet, while just exploring my close neighborhoods, I found myself missing the joy of riding a light bike. That's why when almost a brand new CRF showed up for sale near me, I was not thinking too long about it.
That sounds like a good combination!
I have recently purchased a husky 701 after my previous bikes was a 890r / T7 so hearing your ownership of the various bikes has been interesting. The 890r was an amazing bike to travel and off road ventures and it gave me much so much more confidence off road with its well balanced low fuel tanks and suspension but I found myself getting more and more adventurous and thus getting stuck in places and the weight of the bike was an issue . Haven’t reached a 1000 miles on the husky yet but it’s night and day off road with the weight difference and do not mind the road miles as I am no Viking build like yourself 😁 so I’m good for the tank full miles . Enjoy your videos . Keep up the good work 👌
Hey buddy, thanks a lot for sharing your story! As you've discovered, weight is king for offroad riding, and my kind of fun is where there's mud, roots, sand, as technical as possible really, and for that a lighter bike is the way to go. I'm happy to lose some road comfort to have a lighter bike, especially now that we trailer our bikes.
The 701 is a great bike, enjoy yours and let me know how you like it after some more testing. Ride safe!
Be honest there’s no right, there’s only wrong. All are not good enough to do all and everything and even keep up with changing approach to off-road riding. It’s the Rider! Not the Bike.
You need multiple bikes, then you can do multiple things.Get a Van, a trailer and ship a bunch of EXC300 2T six days for all friends with a Backup Driver and ride on tour with an AfricaTwin19”DCT to your destination. Or just have the bikes shipped upfront for a year to a spot you gonna spend 2-3 vacations in that year and the year after to another destination and all ride your road-bikes to it, or - fly.
The unicorn does exist !
Perhaps a Husqvarna 701 with a Rade garage tower. TKC 80 tyres, Mosko Moto R40 bags. I can ride this on tarmac in absolute comfort !
(Not as comfortable as a Mercedes sprinter ! 😂)
Get better tires, TKC80s are trash, something like a D606 is half the price and hooks up way better. Hell those cheap $40 Kendas hook better than the '80.
It's still going to be much worse than a proper dual sport off road, and much worse than and adventure bike on road. It all depends on what your needs are - if you want/need to ride to the trails, then yes, a 701 may be the best bike. If you can haul a bike there, a lighter bike will double your fun.
Great to see you out there making videos Johannes :) I told you that the 790 / 890 was an interesting platform !
You sure did my friend! How's life with the new bike? :D
I like the Japanese thumpers.
I love my KLR but it’s not great off road. I rented a DR650 and plan to buy one. Other than wind protection it is just as good on the highway and better by every other measure. Maybe it’s not quite as comfortable for me and especially a pillion but I felt pretty comfortable on it even on the highway. I’ll probably keep both but the DR could possibly replace the KLR for most things. I can replace the KLR with a nicer touring bike if I end up spending a lot of time with a passenger.
I'd love a dr650 for 1/4th of the price of a new PR7, but they're never for sale in Norway, and the ones that are have huuuuge amount of miles on them.
@@JohannesDalenMC Here in the US they’re plentiful on the used market as well as new. Unfortunately the Euro standards probably leave you with an aging supply of whatever still runs.
I own a vstrom 800de and every one is to scared to buy one or think someone will hang shit on them because it's a vstrom not a ktm but vstrom 800de is not a vstrom it's a perfect mix of bike that is the best 50 50 to date following the Honda xr650r
I haven't ridden the 800de yet, but it looks very promising. I kinda feel Suzuki shouldn't have called it vstrom at all, that's not a very sexy word in the offroad world.
Enjoying your thoughts on your evolution as you progress to find what you are looking for :)
Have fun out there!
Thank you Brian!
Cool vid. The PR7 was my unicorn bike, then I realized I live in a crowded city with little time for longer excursions… so I moved on. It can to long trips, but most comfortably on a trailer. (For me).
Another good video; thanks. You made an important point: The bike doesn't matter, that much; the main thing is to get out there, ideally with your buds. That said, studying, trying, and owning different bikes is part of the fun, isn't it? I know you get this. I currently have a Beta 300, a DR650, and an XR650R. I'm planning to sell the XR and replace it with a KTM 450 XCF-W, which is mapped to be much easier to ride than the usual 450. Try one if you get a chance!
Thanks! And you're absolutely right, trying out different bikes is half the fun. We usually just see the EXC versions on the road here in Norway, but as mentioned in the video, I'm very interested in the 500 platform. Let me know how it works out for you when you get some time with it. Impressive fleet of bikes, by the way. Three bikes and the heaviest you own is the DR? you're either all about offroad or don't like the big adv bikes (or both) 😁
@@JohannesDalenMC I'm currently enjoying the process of choosing
an ADV bike to join my friends on summer trips to Idaho, Montana, etc. They typically stay in hotels (no camping gear!), ride asphalt, logging, and forest service roads, and they are on GS1250's, KTM 1190's, a Multistrada, a Tiger, and similar bikes. One gal who is also a motocrosser has a Desert Sled! (NOT a Desert X). She rips; I can barely keep her in sight on my XR. I won't ride to Montana on my DR, but just about any twin will work. Any suggestions?
Oh boy, summer trips to Idaho and Montana sounds like a dream - where do I sign up?
Since your friends ride big bikes it would be wise to get something big and comfy yourself, but so many factors come in to play, like finance.
Personally I wouldn't go with anything larger than a T7. Reason is because even when we agree to go for a laidback adventure ride, we always end up with bikes upside down in mud holes or stuck in sand pits. When we get together as a group we always seek the technical stuff and challenge each other.
When it comes to the big adv bikes I'm not comfortable recommending a particular bike. I've ridden most of them, but they're not my kind of rides. A multistrada V4S would be awesome, but also hilariously overkill 😂
@@JohannesDalenMC I've ridden the 450 XCF-W a lot. It's a joy to ride. A friend of mine has a 2023, and we've made trips to Caineville and St. George, Utah and Cline Buttes, Oregon in recent months. I really like it, but part of the appeal is that we can easily make it street legal here in Washington. If I lived in California, I'd be shopping for a 500 EXC-F, instead. I've ridden two 500's, a fair bit, all on single-track. One was California-stock; it felt sluggish. The other was race-tuned with a Vortex ECU; it was a real handful-- WAY too much power for me, but it might be fine for you, coming off the 701. Sounds like you can map the fueling for torque, hit, top-end, or whatever you like. It definitely handles really well.
@@JohannesDalenMC Thanks for responding! Yes, I'll probably end up with a T7, but I'm considering a Triumph Scrambler 900 with some suspension mods just to have something fun and different. Cheers!
Isn't it about finding your personal unicorn? For each person that will be different. Some find it on their first and only bike and others search endlessly. My search thus far: 2018 R 1200 GSA -> 2020 R1250 GSA -> 2021 KTM 890R + KTM 500 EXC-F -> 2023 KTM 890R + 2023 Husq 701E. Right now it is looking like the 701E is going to end up as my unicorn. Good luck.
And no matter which bike you are on (Harley Road Glide or a 701 etc.), crossing the Great Plains of the United States on pavement/tarmac in 100 degree Fahrenheit is a struggle, yet I always look back fondly on it even though it may have sucked in the moment. Every journey will have its ups and downs regardless of the bike. Find one that lets you enjoy your favorite parts of the journey the most -- without the low the high never comes.
Tjeeena kompis ❤️ Thank you for an amazing trip, but thank you the most for being a big strong viking that gets me and my “big” bike out of trouble in the afternoon and being a great friend to talk to at the campfire at night ☺️✌🏻Can’t wait to switch bikes in the Balkan when the trails get really tough, power to weight ratio we are 50/50 when you ride my T7 and I ride your PR7 😂
Is there something about the 701 that you prefer to the PR7? I believe the weight is the same but the 701 has more electronics and power. Is one more comfortable than the other? Is the PR7 more linear in its power delivery? Agree that the bike you have is the best one, whichever that might be.
The fun factor of the engine. PR7 engine lugs better down low, but there's nothing up top, especially without the power up kit. Weight is lower on PR7 with the tank being underneath the middle mostly. PR7 is also more comfy, very good seat and bike feels less stressed. There's nuance to this and I plan to do a detailed comparison sometime in the future. There's differences, but they're also very similar and share many attributes, can't really go wrong with either.
@@JohannesDalenMC Thank you for your reply. I very much appreciate your time and perspective.
Johannes, have fun and stay safe in the Balkans. I'm heading for Tuscany and riding there for the next two weeks. We'll compare PR7 riding adventures afterward!! Cheers, GSJack
Enjoy Tuscany my friend! Give me a post-Tuscany ride report, will ya?
790/890 is truly amazing Johaness, as long as it moves atleast 2kph you dont feel the weight really. Only issue is that when bike doesnt balance itself then you can fake the weight when its in the mud stuck, its stuck, still a 210kg :D
Don't recall ever jumping on a bike and feeling at home that fast. I'll probably never buy one, but I'm pretty comfortable saying it's the king of "middleweight" adv bikes, along with the Tuareg 660.
Great advice! Thank you for the video. I am looking for my first bike, I am thinking of the KTM adventure 790 or 890
790/890 is an awesome platform, can't go wrong with it (as long as it's somewhat reliable). If it is your first bike and you intend to do some offroading I highly suggest getting something smaller to learn on.
@@JohannesDalenMC yes I plan to do some simple off-roading also, what would you recommend? I would like to do road/off-roading riding like 50/50 but I think in the UK it will be more like 75/25 in reality as there is not much off-roading available
Norway is similar, pretty much no offroad riding, and what we got is only easy gravel roads. Regardless, I still recommend starting out smaller, to learn the basics, and then move up from there. The 890 is super capable, but it is still a 200kg machine. Pretty much every "expert" recommends starting small. While it isn't as sexy as an 890, something like the Honda 300l would be a great place to start. A dual sport at around 150kg would be my pick. If you have the funds you could get both, a used 250/300l isn't that expensive.
I started out on a T7 and man I got into so much trouble. Sold it after a year and bought a DRZ, best decision I've ever made, learned more on the DRZ in a month than a year on the T7.
@@JohannesDalenMC thank you for the great feedback! I really appreciate it
Best of luck Eddie, regardless of bike choice, try to get some offroad training, well worth the money! Ride safe!
Funny video. 😅 I hope I can ride with you guys one time! Please answer my questions in the how to pack light video! ❤
That PR7 looks like an excellent bike for North America. Too bad they're not available here.
Yes it's easy to go around in circles about "which bike is ideal" and change regularly ( ask me how I know...😂). I agree the 890 platform is ideal all round ( ask me how I know 😅). See you in Portugal
Oh no you didn't! Well, I'm honestly blown away by the 790/890 platform, it was such an easy bike to ride fast, and when things got technical it was so good! See you in October my friend :)
I wish more like the PR7 was available in the US, It is more like what I look for when wanting a bike
Bikes that ticks all the same boxes are getting rarer and rarer: no electronics, thumper with enough power for street, high ground clearance, good suspension, low weight. Are there any other bikes that fits this bill? DR650 is the only that comes to mind, but needs lots of mods.
@@JohannesDalenMC there are none that I can think of. Thinking about combining my ad bike and my dual sport into one to get the power I want at a much lighter weight. Just do not know where I will find the time to do it
As i've told you before, you need multiple bikes.
Dude...i loved this video! Daniel is a genious and your narration and humor were just on point! congrats man! We need to talk!
You have my number amigo ;)
@@JohannesDalenMC how? 😮
we need pr7 with 450 twin 270% from the cf moto
That would have been interesting! It would be cool to know the weight of that engine, and the weight of the engine currently in the PR7. Besides the narrow ratioed gear box, I'm perfectly happy with the old husky engine!
@@JohannesDalenMC sounds bit rattly to me noise valve train
It was a bit loose, measured and reshimmed now. Still a bit rattly, but airbox is literally right on top of cams, so I suspect it allows more sound come through than most other bikes.
Well, it's my unicorn 🎉
Great bike, does what I need with aplomb off-road - even with prudently loaded luggage and, with balance shaft and comfortable stock seat, highway miles, again prudently loaded, are no problem too.
BTW, for those who missed it - long film here:
ruclips.net/video/z3mDXbAr18Q/видео.htmlsi=S5fVPTLT-JkzHt6t
Happy to hear! Which luggage solution do you use with the PR7? Mosko Moto is sending me the R40 bags for test and review, based on how they look on similar bikes, it might be a very good solution. I don't want luggage to be too big as it affects handling etc.
@@JohannesDalenMC yes, that could work well - I can usually get by with my Reckless 10, considering crash bars to load extra up front tho will be breaking out my old reckless 80 for a longer (camping) trip.
As you note - while everything is a compromise, the PR7 is the best bike for my current purposes: excellent off-road is .5km away from home & pretty much goes forever 😁
Great topic. I think you gotta try different bikes to work out what you really want and what suits you for your area. In past 6 years I’ve had Vstrom 650, WR250R, KTM 690, Husky FE501, TE300, Norden 901. I love them all for different reasons. As you say, just get out and ride on any bike you can. Cheers
Hey man, I don't recall you owning a Norden - newly acquired?
Yes mate I traded the 690 in for a Norden Expedition a few months ago. I did 22,000 km on the 690 and it was time to try something different. Cheers
My guy. I'm so on board. You two need to film together more.
Thanks Llel! Yeah Daniel is a talented photographer, luckily he's now a member of our riding group, so he'll do the filming so I can focus on having fun 😁 He's also a fantastic guy.
Come visit and I'll arrange a weekend of shooting and riding, you need to test the PR7, right? ;)
It seems your journey of discovery is still going Johannes. Can I suggest you get one of your friends with a T7 that is already fitted with a few lightweight parts (ideally titanium pipe, lithium battery and Acerbis tank) to remove the headlight and rally tower, just to experiment with what it feels like to ride? This is how my bike is set up using the Unit Garage headlight, weighs around 190 kgs with 16 litres of fuel, and not top heavy.
Another direction to investigate is the CF Moto 450 MT. It is also around 190 kgs (and capable of losing another 5-10kgs). Both the T7 and the 450MT are larger framed bikes, suitable for bigger guys like you and me.
The guy with the GYTR T7 world raid has a "enduro" setup for his bike for when we go enduro riding. Tower comes off, titanium headers, no extra stuff on the bike at all. WR is heavier than standard T7, but carries its weight better. My previous T7 was close to this as well, but still had the tower. Excellent bike, enjoyed it a lot, but the PR7 is another league when it comes to offroad prowess and playfulness :)
@@JohannesDalenMC With all due respect, I don't think either was close to 190. The weight reduction, especially off the top of the bike is a game changer, and possibly the World raid with no tower would be closer in that there is a good reduction of high weight. Did you ride it like that, and what does it weight? Oh, and something else that may add to the discussion, I also lowered my T7 by 18mm I think using the Camel ADV lowering links (despite being tall), and I think this contributes to better handling.
There is no all purpose bike as there is no all purpose tire. Sure you can ride a compromise that you can take everywhere or you get dedicated bikes for the full dedicated fun.
Looks like heaven to me!
Jeg har vel så godt som bestemt meg for at jeg egentlig burde ha to sykler. En Honda CRF 300L (eller kanskje KTM 390 Enduro når den kommer?) til lokale eventyr og for å lære meg grovere kjøring og en Himalayan 450 til generell bruk og lengre turer. Til sammen koster jo begge de syklene det samme som en Tenere eller Tuareg så det burde være overkommelige som løsning egentlig.
Så absolutt, jeg har to sykler nå, en som dekker vei-delen og PR7 som dekker alt av adventure/offroad. Jeg kunne gjerne tenkt meg en tredje sykkel som er enda mer spisset mot enduro og. "Problemet" blir å ha råd, men også betale forsikring på tre sykler og alt av ekstra vedlikehold. Et skikkelig i-landsproblem, hehe.
Aw man, in the US it's offroad only. The unicorn evades again.
Seriously though, why doesn't ktm put the 390 motor in the 500 exc frame and call it a day? Perfect dualsport/enduro/adventure bike all in one, just as soon as they design a working fuel pump...
That's a good suggestion. There's many manufacturers sitting on a nice small twin they could put in one of their mx/enduro frames. Kawasaki got the engine in the versys 300x, Honda got the engine in the cb500x etc.
Enjoying this in the Philippines 💯
Salamat!
this how hard it must be for regular-sized people to ride those T7's in your group!! :) Compared to them you are pretty dang big and strong and should have an easier time of it comparatively?
The Unicorn doesn't exist... But it could, and it should. I see no reason why you couldn't make a 550-600cc twin in the 160-180kg range. You might have to ditch luxuries like a battery/electric-start and pay for costly wheels/brakes etc to keep the weight down. But I feel like the ADV market has been slowly narrowing in on this very obvious gap in the bike range for a few years now.
Honestly I think manufacturers just don't want to cannibalize sales on their flagship bikes
You have both good points. The PR7 is 165 kg with windshield and very comfy seat and suspension - far from a unicorn regardless. Why? It's simply too light, affected by the wind on the road and I don't think a second cylinder would make a whole lot of difference.
@JohannesDalen I think unicorns exist, I just think they have to be built by the owner via mods. Its just really expensive. Personally I'm very happy with my 701. I don't want to be on the highway all day but if I had to I definitely could. I've done a 600 mile highway day on my old DR650. If that can do it then my 701 definitely can, especially if I decided to put a rally tower on. I can see how you weren't satisfied with it but I think it's about as good as it gets.
I also believe that there is a uincorn bike out there, but it may not be the same bike for everyone, but for sure, it's a bike that it does very well on it's intended purpose, some will offer good touring comfort, and some good off road comfort and some can do pretty decent on both, like the 790r or a tuareg 660, just to say a few, but at the end is almost always about the ride.😂
The unicorn existed but KTM screwed people out of it. Husaberg 570.
Hi
Love your films and journey through different bikes as a normal sized human 😂 At 6,4 I also struggle getting the correct ergos for me
My bike history is as follows
CRF 250L
KTM 690
CCM GP450
At the moment I have a ‘21 exc 500, which is amazing
The guy I bought it off did a fair amount of mods to it which make a huge difference, my friends on the Beta’s (390&480) call mine the ‘cheat code’ because it’s so nice to ride
Cheat code mods
Upgraded WP PRO suspension for 100kg RIDER
Raised bars
Recluse clutch
Recluse rear hand break
Running tubeliss with Mich Trackers
I think the seat is pretty comfortable to, it’s a KTM original but WAAAAY better than the Beta seats, all helps for long days
Every time I get out on this set up I think YES 🙌 this is awesome
Run 14/49 on the sprockets which is good for sitting at 60/65 but will easily hit 90 if I need
I carry a 15 tooth front sprocket for longer trips to lengthen the gears
On the UK TET at the moment and booked for PICOS in October
🤘🤘🤘
Thank you and thanks for sharing your own journey Shaun!
My next bike will probably be a 500 exc, and do similar mods like you've done. The "issue" with those bikes now is all the tech they've added lately. Ride modes, tc, now I guess quickshifter will be standard as well? It's not that it is bad, I just don't want to pay for something I don't use.
Do you ever feel like you're on a bike that is a bit overkill? Many of the miles we cover on these TET-trips are easy gravel roads, and that isn't where a 500 shines in my opinion, especially compared to PR7, T7s etc.
We have been riding for a similar amount of time I think, 4/5 years . More experienced riders raise an eyebrow when I say I’m on a 500 exc but it’s fine the power delivery is amazing. Although the Reckuse clutch maybe tames it down a little imo which is no bad thing.
It’s just a very playful bike in this set up and the set up is critical
True you may find it over kill on a fire road but it won’t lack in power vs bigger bikes and it will be my much more fun…..which is why we ride 😁
Recluse and rear hand brake are a game changer on descents, it’s just like a DH mountain bike.plus it won’t ever stall, so cool
Mine is 2021 but never had a the TC etc fitted and I was thinking today I just don’t miss it, TC and ABS are just other things to faff about with, not needed for my type of riding…I love to lock up the rear wheel and get sideways 😂
Make it your new whip and keep us posted
What’s your insta and I’ll ping ya some photos
👊
I dont care about road comfort. Its all about the off road sections for me so I suffer the road to revel in the dirt on my 500 light adv!
I'm with you on that one, although I like some street comfort when everyone else in my group is on T7s!
Which mods have you done to your 500 to make it adv ready?
SO GOOD!
Soo, tell me do you ride like that in Norway? Or is it that you feel like you don't have to care about laws in Sweden?
Aprilia really need to revive the RXV550 as a rally style adv ffs!
No, it's a race bike and would be awful, I own one and don't want all that pseudo-rally junk screwing it up. They make the 660 for people who want that sort of thing.
@@jimtitt3571 nah the 660 is still a midweight ADV, too heavy for really technical trails. However with low tanks like a Kove and redesigned cylinders that dont have that floating liner and the addition of either VVT/VVL or electric valvetrain like Camcon they can not only improve reliability but also get it to pass modern emissions with ease. It would likely need a stronger subframe to handle more fuel/luggage but you cannot deny that there's nothing in it's weight class that could compare. And btw any engine 2010 and up is quite reliable or earlier ones if rebuilt properly with new case sealant. The most issues people see outside of that are usually electrical due to poor wire insulation that cracks and causes shorts and the garbage starter motor that was never up to the task. Make those changes and the bike is as reliable as a the new Husky/Ktm machines. Obviously it's still a race hike so maintenance intervals are not going to let you tour Africa on it but for rides within the 800mi range this bike would be perfect 👌
Nobody needs old stuff made for a niche. Unless collecting.
I’m the only person I know that eats 12 or more eggs in one meal. Health and strength to your brother!
Insatiable mind and insatiable body, brother!!
Unicorns or rhinos but we all want a Pegassus
A pegasus is next level - what about the griffin?
@@JohannesDalenMC griffin is yst a light plane
@JohannesDalen I like adventurebikes to 200 kg feel like I like the momentum they cary
Mud mud mud.
My favorite ;)