ADV NEWS JAN 2024 | Himalayan 450 Rally | Kawasaki KLX230S | Ducati Desmo 450 | Pan America CVO 

I think its great to see the European brands like Ducati get more involved in the dual-sport/ADV market. After selling my Ducati and Triumph sport bikes 3 years ago and getting a 2021 Honda CRF300 Rally, I am still sitting on the proceeds of that sale because I want to add a middle-weight ADV bike for longer trips---but I'm patiently waiting because #1---the CRF300 Rally is so versatile and still entertaining after 10K+ miles --and #2, I am waiting for a refined middleweight that captures my imagination the same way my previous Triumph Speed Triple and Ducat Streetfigher848 did. The Trans-Alp is the current front runner, but we only have the matte-black model here in the States, and IMHO that bike is so screaming brilliant in the Ross-White livery, it is worth the wait to see if Honda adds that colorway to the lineup in 2025 for the U.S. market.

The 230 looks like a great entry-level trail bike...nice work by Kawi! Every glimpse of that new 390R gets me excited!!

My ten year old Honda nc700x still gets 75 mpg, can carry a weeks worth of groceries with its frunk and panniers. It's not fast or fancy, just everyday practical. Its good to see more lighter dual sport/adventure bikes coming out to attract new riders that are intimidated by big heavy adventure bikes. Why buy an electric car when you can get great mpg on a bike.

Versus the expectations people seem to have for Kawasaki, they are killing it. Imagine a DRZ with Bluetooth stats, navigation, lighter frame, etc. If you don’t want a T7 or transalp but want a reliable, affordable lighter weight bike the 300 is looking attractive. Suzuki, you’ve been served, almost.

I'd like to see Triumph drop the motor from their new Indian built 400s into their new MX bike. Is 120kg, road service intervals & £8k possible?? That would make a compelling dual sport!

A Pan America CVO Is a sign of a healthy Harley motorcycle company in my opinion. They should be making something like that for the American market at least. It reminds me of a BMW GS of yore with that red frame. The Triumph 900 GT Rally Pro is more my cup of tea size,weight and power wise.

Love the 230. A flickable fun bike.

Wellcome to the accurate comments of dualsport world. Thanks bro for your effort sharing with us.

Wouldn’t you achieve greater additional range carrying another 12kg of fuel versus carrying 12kg of hybrid motor and battery?

Love my PAm. It's a great long distance tourer and great on fire trails. Great job being able to turn off the ABS on the KLX230, especially given that this bike is high revving and really scary on gnarly steep down hills with the ABS on.

Good point on Ducati new monos! Their main disadvantage... The price... Let's see what comes! ✌

Just going off the images that KLX has got to have one of the longest header pipes going around. The power increase might be just a bump in torque lower in the rev range from that dangly long header pipe.

With Ducati having a 450cc bike, then you'd think a Rally Raid bike is the next step - Dakar is a big brand, and with their parent company Audi having just won the car class, who knows if that's where they go next.

I'm thinking Ducati putting their toe into the dirt arena may draw Aprilia back into it as well. . .Maybe a revival of their MXV450 & RXV 450/550's Here's to hoping !

Harley Davidson is completely missing out on the small moto market . In the 70's they imported small bikes, 90cc, 125, 250 and a 350 . They also had a cool looking dirt bike with a chrome fender. they were total POS. but the market was there. They could partner up with a reputable brand and really open up a new market for HD. Harley is a big name world wide. Why waste that opportunity on their cruisers and Pan American. Let's get an Asian/American 450 Dual sport/ADV. Anyone else have an opinion?

I hope you're right and Ducati does a big dual sport/adv with that new big single. 890 style tanks and a big seat at a weight no twin cylinder can achieve.

On the 230 Kawi, the exhaust looks to be very exposed, if that is what I'm seeing . No Honda NX 500 Baja Dominator in this report:]

The vector for the DS/ADV motor seems to be off-road for some. The RE 452 is a road motor. There doesn't seem to be a rally prepper for RE, but I have seen someone reducing weight. This one might have more aftermarket suspension support.

My only valid opinion about Harley Davidson is their customer service. I'm 22, although I do look a bit older. I walked into a Harley dealership by accident (it was the same building as Suzuki, KTM, and GasGas but there was a wall between the two dealerships) and they immediately greeted me, then asked if I wanted to look at anything in particular. I figured screw it, I'd look at a Pan America while I was there. They immediately grabbed the keys and pulled it from the line up, then asked me if I wanted a test ride. I passed my small bike license literally 40 minutes beforehand, and had ridden there on my 250cc Honda 😂. They still let me sit on it, and asked me all about what I wanted in a bike and told me some of the features. Meanwhile when I walked into the other dealership I was completely ignored, and wasn't given the opportunity to actually sit on any of the bikes there (let alone be offered a test ride).

Britain is going 100 % electric vehicle sales by 2030. Obviously, there are a lot of very unhappy Brits. Stuart Fillingham has got a video explaining the situation.

Id be more excited if kawasaki made the klx 300 road registrable like it is overseas

Hi Solid. What do you think? Is the Suzuki TS 700 Apache the replacement for the DR 650?

that ducati was flying was that the doctor riding it

Hello 😊 sir What do you know about KLR 700 baja Thank you Nick the Great From Los Angeles Los Angeles

I’m torn between going for a classic 70 dirt bike or new dual sport. The classic bikes need trailer. I already ride 15 R6 I love and have a trailer and all trails are 30+ minutes away

I LOVE the NEW KAWASAKI.. I'm VERY INTERESTED in the 300 S and even the 230 S dual sports, they make so many versions for their dirt bikes... I WISH HD would do a 650 ADV like the 600cc they sell in Australia, they don't sell the smaller CCs even in the US.. it's pathetic... I have had my 05 1200 custom Sportster and she's MINT.. i love HS, but I'm a Cali girl.. and Biased ... I Want to see BMW BRING BACK an UPDATED LIGHTER DAKAR.. I am obsessed with my 03... but a new one would fit just fine in between the 310gs to the now 900gs

Is there any reason kawasaki offers the 230 here instead of the 300 in the states ?

For motorcycles, the best use of electric is as a lightweight low cost commuter or trail bike. Unfortunately, not many manufacturers can see the obvious & keep pumping out big, heavy, expensive bikes with tiny ranges. Hydrogen is our best option for the future, but how do you carry spare fuel for that long ride through remote areas? So Hybrid becomes the least worst option, so let's hope Kawasaki can make a Hybrid Versys that has proper off road credentials.

Why so tall in the rear for the Kwaka? There’s no need if the suspension ain’t there.. nothing like an easy leg over!

It's interesting to observe the various sales strategies in the Adventure & Dual sport segments....even though we are making only guesses. Suzuki started with the V-Strom 800DE before revealing the RE/SE version and they do have this very long haul strategy to sell both models for quite a period. On the other hand we have Honda with their upgrades on the models in periods from 2 to 4 years. Yamaha did a bestseller with the T7 slowly adding some extras over time. KTM bets on the fastest innovations on the market but they still have to fix the QC. RE honestly su*ks in keeping secrets which can bring the Osborne effect to their new Himalayan 450. Ducati starts with SM and MX due to some strange Italian logic (it's a strange move but we don't know what the sales forecasts are per particular model). Aprilia...still refuses to fix the minor issues with the amazing Tuareg but again Italian style - they gave us new colors However, the most peculiar behavior is this of Kawasaki...their 2023 sales increased in Europe but still they reuse to put simple ABS in the KLX 300 and create real competition of the CRF 300. At the same time their business is so complicated that we might never understand what really drives Kawasaki when they promote a motorcycle. At least we can hope that equipping a KLX 230 with ABS could eventually lead to seeing the KLX300 in the European and Australian markets. There are some rumors that the MX version - KLR 300 or similar needs to reach the European market in 2025. We shall just wait and see.

All the mnfrs are using the same engine with minor mods in different market segments, makes sense Ducati will do the same with their new 450 and 690

Can you sell a disc brake bike in Australia 🇦🇺 without ABS?

KLX is awesome! Weak suspension though. But it's a Thai bike

the klx is beautifull. I dont think it will be available in Europe.

On electric bike possibilities…I follow the YT channel Marc,s travels and after thousands of mile in EU he is now in India(via Iran,Pakistan)on a electric bike…..Would not sell my Honda,s anytime soon but he is managing quit well without any company support.

At first I thought you were joking about a CVO Pan American. But no, its real. I guess Harley is pulling a joke on us.

We are seeing battery fires increasing at a higher rate as electric sales increase. This technology is not as safe as they make out. More R&D is needed in componentry before they are safe. Hybrid is the go.

Any plans on making riding videos anytime soon? I used to enjoy them but now you're just talking about bikes instead of riding one! I like the talks too, but still ;)

They increase the seat height for the KLX230S??? That is simply stupid. What different does it make then???? Isn't that the purpose for low seat height??? If you need clearance, get the regular one.

Harleys are tractors with 2 wheels missing.

I just installed and started my trial on iPhone while I wait for the Vision Pro experience. Question: do you have any plans to log time in the app as “mindful minutes” in Apple Health?

I personally dislike everything EV. But on a Motorcycle platform,, the Hybrid concept is,, Yes,, a fair compromise. I can see the benefits of both power systems. But will be benefits outweigh the cost??

I’d sooner push a Dyson,than ride a Pan America

Nice! Good round update again Solid. But, PLEASE stop pronoucning KawaSAki as KawaZAki... it is 100% wrong. I know, I have lived here 29 out of the past 34 years. Whisky brand is YamaZAki... , yes ZA,,, but it not swapable with KawaSAki and the SA It is like pronoucing Vegimite... VeeGee-eye-me-te..

Well I do like barley's and their CVO line up. But for a bike youre taking off road? Nope, I really dont see it making big sales numbers. When you get that heavy, its time to throw on two wheels in the back and make it a trike. But there will be those diehards that will spend the extra money. But I'm betting that those people will not be taking it off road. Yeah, glad to see ducati getting into MX and DS. More bikes to choose from keeps every manufacturer trying to stop it up and offer what we want.....again.....are you listening KTM? We want a light weight, "none A2" requirements adventure bike. As in the USA. There is one motorcycle license for all bike not matter the HP.

pan am a big fail and its ugly

I think that the Harley is a waste of space.. with the amount of money they have spent they could go back to the drawing board and build a good one....

To many personal opinions and hypothesis to call this a "News video" why not calling it "opinions" or similar?

Pan America is a bundle of beautiful pieces. Putting it all together makes the ugliest motorcycle available.