Are ADVENTURE bikes getting heavier? 

I upgraded from a GS1200 to a T700 to a Vstrom 250. Im starting to enjoy riding again!!

As an engineer, here are my two cents: building light bikes is very much possible. Four stroke hard enduro bikes have been weighing about 108kg +-3kg for the last 25 years. Two strokes are about 3-5 kg lighter. But those bikes are very expensive and always have been. They not only use special steel and aluminum alloys, but also need a lot of very complex and precise engineering and development. And it is not cheaper to build a less performant motor than these hard enduro bikes have. If anything it would cost extra to have a motor in them that is engineered and validated to run for 200.000km instead of the ones that have to be rebuilt after 300 hours anyway. If you want a cheaper bike with more common materials the bike will inevitabily become heavier. Another very important point is that the demand for performance has significantly increased over time. Frames need to be stiffer than ever, same for forks and swingarms. People don't want a wollowy mess anymore, they expect a bike that rides well. This massively increases weight. Of course we could build an XT500 today, but it would ride just as poorly as the original XT500. If you actually want it to live up to todays standards, it will become much heavier. Add to that the stupid marketing value of things like double brake discs in the front and the weight is further increased. It's funny how for example the T7 has two discs in the front, yet the person who rides the T7 harder than anyone else on earth, Pol Tarres, only needs one brake disc on the T7. Another example is the Honda CB500X/NX500. It has less power and less weight than the T7 and yet it has two brake discs that are even larger than the ones on the T7. The amount and diameter of the discs on a bike are not what govern its braking performance. The only reason for big twin discs is heat dissipation on 1000ccm Superbikes that repeatedly brake from 300kph to nearly 0 on a racetrack. Of course legality equipment on bikes weighs something too. But exhausts have always been heavy. And I personally don't care, I'd rather carry around 1,5kg of more muffler than to annoy each and everyone I come across, myself included. Catalytic converters are a different but similar story. They haven't been on bikes of yesteryear, but they too only add about 2kg (mostly in a very low and central spot) and they improve emissions by a mindblowing amount. Lastly there is ABS, which again adds about 2kg and improves safety by an insane amount. Anyone who still thinks he can outbrake any ABS system from the last 10 years is simply delusional (on the road). EFI (electronic fuel injection) does not significantly increase a bikes weight however. So overall we have added about 4kg of mandatory legality equipment in comparison to older bikes. The tighter emissions standards (like Euro4 and Euro5) leading to heavier bikes is not really true either. Catalytic converters were mandatory from Euro3 onwards. The Yamaha CP2 motor for example was developed under this Euro3 regulation and was released in 2014 with 54kW. Today it still has 54kW in bikes under the Euro5 standard. Yes, Euro4 made the size of the catalytic converters increase in comparison to Euro3, but barely for Euro5, they mostly just moved closer to the exhaust valves. Many bikes using older engine designs have not had a decrease in engine power with newer regulations. Manufacturers increasing engine sizes is not because of regulations but because of the market demand. People want more power. These guys aren't stupid, these big companies do nothing without being sure that it works. They have plenty of market research into what people want. And what people have to understand is that we are in a bubble here on the internet. We gather here on Chronicles videos, united by a wish for a light weight adventure bike. But the reality is, we are a very small minority. There is a reason that the big BMW GS line of bikes is the most successfull line of bikes in the ADV sector. It delivers what a majority of people want. Big chunky looks, lots of power and lots of comfort. And it's not like there are no options for us out there: The T7 and the 890 are the lightest and most offroad capable twin cylinder bikes with 21" wheels, the Tiger 900 and the Transalp are the most comfortable bikes with 21" wheels, the 690/701 Enduro models are very light with incredible offroad capabilities and lots of power, the CRF300 line is cheap and light with great reliability, the CRF450RL is seriously underapreciated and needs way less maintanance than people say it does, the CB500X/NX500 is more capable than people give it credit, the Caballero 500 is often overlooked. No bike will ever be perfect for anyone out of the gate. A bit of customisation will always have to be done. Someone might need a suspension upgrade on one bike or a headlight improvement on another bike, but that's no problem, is it? Afterall, life is full of compromises, but I think there are still plenty of ways to enjoy it. Have a great weekend guys. Edit: changed NC500 to NX500, got Hondas nomenclature mixed up there.

I blame Ewan and Charlie, if they'd used a DR350's then that's what we'd be demanding

I suspect that most adventure bikes will never be ridden off road and they are more for show than anything else. When I saw the Africa twin, my first thought was that it is clownishly oversized. Itchy boots on her 300 is literally riding all over the world and showing people that bigger doesn't equal better.

Light is right! 😁

Getting older and found my T7 got just too heavy. Sold it and waiting for Beta Alp 4. If not, will likely get Suzuki SX250. Low weight is now priority 1.

For my riding style, the Husqvarna 701 is the perfect bike. Heavy enough to stay planted on the road, but light enough to toss about. Add a rally screen for road riding and it's all day comfortable.

As illustrated by the popularity of the new Honda Transalp, I think that the majority of Western riders really just want a street bike with upright riding position and 60/40 tires that will allow them to do reasonable dirt road riding. The appeal of riding a bike that is called an, "adventure" bike, has to connect with our view of ourselves as an adventurer. We end up with features however that may not be best suited to our riding style. For example how many transalp riders would be better off with cast wheels and tubeless tires if their riding style will be limited to street and gravel roads.

I was a Harley guy and just had to have the Pan America when it came out. A couple of regrets: First model year has been a horrible bike, and the bike is too heavy for me off pavement. I bought a dual sport KLX 300 and at 300 pounds, it’s much more fun off pavement.

It's ridiculous and depressing that the original Honda XL500 or Yamaha XT 500 weighed less than 135kg, compare that with the latest rave +200kg single cylinder 500 ADV/Trail bike now.

Suzuki should start manufactoring the Dr350 again

Cue the sudden rise in adventure Grom's 😍😂

I'm really just waiting for the Tuareg 440 at this point.

Well done overview of all of the factors the cons and some pros. One of the reasons I got my Scram 411 was because it was heavy enough to stay planted when riding in wind and traffic, but a couple of hundred pounds lighter than the 1150GS I was riding.

Hi Solid, I live in the west too, my bike of choice is a honda ct110 postie, I have been riding for 50 years, and have so much fun in the dirt with it, it is what ever blows your hair back. 😊

The thing about enduro bikes is that they are probably double the price of a 'similar' dual sport. Everyone wants the lightest and most advanced, but then cry at the prices. Personally I'd love if Honda gave the 450 RL the Rally treatment. Maybe if Kove gets popular enough we'll see something similar, since right now Honda is at the top in Rally Raid.

It is what you want to do with your bike that matters. If your adventure is to head off into the sunset on long, straight roads, then clearly low weight is low priority. But those big bikers have little to do with another category of adventure riding - those who want the curvy roads and trails, the hills and mountains, the single track. For them, weight is an issue. It is a completely different category of adventure and perhaps we should not lump the two together.

Thanks for sharing these new lower cc bikes. I didn't know about the CF moto 450 or the beta alps 4.0. These are two sweet-looking bikes. They all are. I like all of them. Hope they all come to the US.

Weight reduction is not only related to off-road troubles. Driving an heavy bike in the city is challenging too. At low-speed (i.e. while parking) you have to be very careful because you know that if the bike fall you will not be able to hold it, and you can damage a near car or other urban stuff. One example: some days ago I parked my fat adv-bike on a not perfectly horizontal spot... getting out the bike from there was a muscolar challenge! I know many guys that are no more using their big-adv in the city for the same reason. Think to an italian scenario: many historical/medievall little cities on hills/mountains with narrow roads going up and down. You want make a U-turn because of a wrong way? Good luck! 😂

I have noticed that in some cases in the used market that middle weight adventure bikes are fetching more used than the flagship machines.

Yes KTM is by far the best off road motorcycle if you can afford it. Me, I'm going to trade in my 2013 VT 750 RS on a new 24 XR650L. I have a pipe and a 6 gallon tank, just hav2 get a jet kit and emissions block off kit and that's good enough for almost 50 bhp on a 330 lbs Enduro motorcycle. Cheers mate. 🍻 Tanks for all the great information.🙏💪🖖

On engine sizes between places like the USA (my home) and markets with smaller displacement averages, when I was in the Azores of Portugal, I rented a Benelli BN125 and felt that was 75% as good as the area needed given I took the small bits of freeway they had. I actually really liked that bike. Here in the USA though, especially on the interior of the west coast, my Honda CB500X feels like the ~90% as much as I need level. A 125 just isn’t enough where I am.

It’s interesting solid. I have the build of front rower in league plus the late 40’s paunch to match. I need an adventure bike because of my riding type and location. My mate had a T7. Rode it for few weeks as trial. With my fat arse it was underdone. Brakes, suspension, engine all to weak for my weight. Went for the CRF1100l. We both had bash plates and crash bars. Same weigh bridge, same day I had about 17 litres and he had about 11. 4 kg weight difference. Weird but that’s what happened. Another friend on a GS310 came in 46 kgs lighter still. I so wish I was small and could ride the little stuff! Another friend with Africa twin adventure sport came in 52 kgs heavier than my model with a full tank. Point is, horses for courses. The AT feels light to me!

Excellent content on each category. Been trying to figure out why so many here in US want the expensive "Ginormous pigs" (as you called them) LOL, when the majority cannot handle them off road because of the weight and too much power gets them in trouble and hurt. As someone else commented perhaps most won't be taken off road but is that because of bike weight that they are afraid knowing they can't handle it. I do think as you mentioned the tide is slowly turning and have noticed more smaller bikes on the road here in eastern US (maybe driven by high gas prices I don't know) but the big bores overwhelming still rule. My best attempts at trying to convince big cc lovers how capable, cheap, low maintenance, easy handling, and fun the Honda 300 Rally is they just look at me like I'm from another planet. The indoctrination is deep rooted from years of marketing that bigger, more power, faster is always better and of course the driving force from this marketing is more money!!! Thanks for the video!

IMO shouldn't a true adventure bike be light and simple so that it's easy to handle in difficult situations and easy to fix if it breaks down in areas where you wont have a authorised mechanic around?

Really waiting for KTM 390R. I think the market would sell out a 701 Adventure. KTM is going to let ducati 698 and KOVE beat them at lightweight market. 701LRseemed like a good idea.

Hi, I'm one of those older riders, I first started riding at 16 years old, on a 650 Thunderbird. That's 56 years riding legally on the road, not just in the UK, but all over the world. My present bikes are a Honda st1100 I bought new in November 1999, also a KTM 1290superduk gt I bought new in 2017 I swapped my KTM 1190 Adventure because I found it too tall, I know people say you can slide to one side and all that but two up with camping gear on narrow roads gets too much. Especially after a long day. My st1100 pan's petrol tank is lowdown, this makes a big difference, some of the new KTM's have the petrol tank lowdown brilliant. More manufacturers should do the same. The new BMW with its lowering system is a win for me, it's additional weight is worth it, if the gs had lowered it's petrol tank it would have been a big bonus, Generally the the less weight the better, That my thoughts unqualified I might be, but that's my thinking.

I have in a few short years since I took my license in 2018 done quite a journey... I went from a Honda Deuville 650 to a BMW F750 GS to a BMW R1200 GSA to a BMW R1250 GSA to a BMW G310 GS.... Guess wich is my favorite? The 310 is an absolute blast to ride, easy to handle on the road, on gravel AND from the ground! And I don't get kneepains driving it long distances either like I did with the others. I will never regret selling the big one and downsizing to a 310. I have almost built a mini GSA so far, adding crashbars, tankbars, pannierholders and panniers, a GPS-unit and upgraded my tires to Dunlop Trailmax Mission front and back (in spite of being told they would be "too heavy" for my light bike which weighs 175 kg), etcetera. I absolutely LOVE my bike! It handles so well, it's nimble, fun and it just feels safe. I use it for commuting, touring and an occasional gnarly gravelroad excursion, with or without luggage. And it looks so good, on top of everything else.

Regarding weight of small adventure bikes. How do they make them so heavy? I've got a 701 and it's lighter than these bikes

Hi Solid. Well summed up. Thanks for that.

Great video.

About to tick over 10k on my 300 Rally (if it will just get into double digits freedomheight). Li battery and exhaust dropped 11 lbs, I dropped 20 more for free, it's the best bike I've owned in almost 50 years (not sure how long years are in metric countries) of riding. I could ride it to the moon.

Very nice video, thank you. You say, "heavy is good." Indeed. I'd like to see a comparison between the Suzuki DR650 and the new KLR 650. Same size motor, similar horsepower. Some mechanical differences yet the KLR weighs more than 40Kgs more! My guess is we underestimate the engineering requirements for long-distance, heavy load bearing ADV bikes. A heavier bike in this case seems to be designed for the long haul, bearing lots of weight. The DR's and other dual sports have done this, as many will attest, yet they do seem to have issues as the bikes approach high mileage. I think Itchy Boots is illustrating the sort of problems one can have if pushing a dual sport too hard and too long. What say ye?

Interesting video. In Europe at least motorcycle manufacturers are becoming finance companies and so as people generally don't buy the bikes, but lease them, the prices have increased. Forcing the manufacturers to fill them with features to justify the higher prices.

I think a great case can be made that the big adventure bike segment has essentially taken over the touring segment. Unfortunately it seems to be a miscommunication between customers and manufacturers, where manufacturers are building these machines as a replacement for smaller adventure bikes. Hopefully manufacturers really are recognising what adventure riders actually want and are making lighter bikes.

Hello and Yes they are, In fact I sold my Triumph Tiger 900GT because it became too bloody heavy for me, yes I am an older rider and I had that bike for 3 years, fantastic bike, but time to get something that allows me to do my tours in comfort .... David....Adelaide.....Triumph Scrambler 900 & MG V7

Lower CC ADV style bikes in the UK is for A1 and A2 license so there making sure the cover this with full range of bikes but think its a great idea for the younger people out there

Two bikes is the go, One big adv bike for long hauls and pillion and another for day rides and gnarly tracks. Bring on the 25 KTM390 ADV R

My fear has always been that bikes are getting equipped with all the safety features, additional computers and utilities I don't even have at home. If you want to prevent motorcycle accidents you have to train the drivers and riders, not the machine.

I'm going to question your assumption that a modern computer dash weighs more than a classical twin clock speedo and tach. They had two tin cans that the guts lived in, add in cables (typically heavier than data lines - but I offer no proof - oops). A couple years ago I was wrenching on the instruments of my CB1100 - 2014 and it was much lighter than the old school dials. Dish those for a "smart phone" dash and I can see the weight going lower.

My vstrom 650 is my highway cruiser. The Honda Grom gets the nod for anything non highway. I do wonder sometimes if I should replace the Grom with something that can go on the highway when needed.

10 thousand mile round trip? Drz250cc or 1250 gs trophy? The right tool for the job bro. Tour vs trail ride vs desert race.

Great analysis as always. While BMW deserves some praise for dropping some weight even as they added another 50 cc to their mid and full size GS bikes, that's a bit like congratulating a 350 pound girl who is now under 300 pounds. I'm still convinced that the big moto companies won't sell us a lightweight off road oriented 50 HP thumper ADV bike that's good on and off road because that would destroy their precious high margin mid and full size ADV bike sales. Instead, they reluctantly sell us beginner ADV bikes that are too heavy to perform well off road but not powerful enough for comfortable sustained highway cruising. I look forward to China and India forcing the big bike companies to make a proper off road 450 cc to 500 cc ADV thumper.

Solid - what is on your shirt, are those little desk microphones?

Depends what you’re doing with it. If you’re doing highways and gravel at worst, big bikes are the way to go.

I have certainly downsized to a V85TT for adventure touring, still heavish but much lighter feeling than the 1200+ category. For anything decently rough off-road I ride a sub-500cc dual sport still do long distance (at a slow but comfortable speed), that way my 7 decades can still cope and not slow me down. Thinking of even smaller for playing, something in the 300cc bracket and preferable 2 stroke for zap and light weight, but that would not be adventure riding. Over the years I have downsized my enduro bike from 500cc to 250cc and now 200cc is quite adequate.

What's the lightest bike with tubeless tyres for all road purposes? Have you reviewed it yet?

I've just gone from a 2018 1200gs te to a 1150GSA for the simple reason of low tech and easy to service an it's more fun with less power, I'd love to see BMW Produce a R500G/S which is simple and easy to self service like the original R80G/S was designed. That comes with a Service Manual an service tools. They seem to be all chasing down the services framework of adding features that take away from the tasks we can do so they get added value through servicing or tasks we can't do

Blind apoy protection? Where the hell can you find a blind spot on a bike. Other than the oil drainplug or inside the fuel tank.

Love, love love small light bikes!!!! Having said that 250cc is about as low as you can go on the highway for any real distance at all. Have a CRF230l and a CRF300L. Only 60cc difference but I would happily ride the 300 ( 286) all day and have, but the 230(226 I think) is just a struggle. It will do the speed and pass, but just not happy. With the 300 the great gearbox spread AND the reflashed ECU , I am completely happy at highway speeds ( NOTE: I do not exceed the speed limit on bitumen roads). I wish Voge would bring their 300 to australia

BMW owns the weight gain game! More stuff equals more weight. But in my case I need a bike that does a wide range of things comfortably so cruise, heated grips, crash protection etc.

I love my husky 701 but i like to do hill climbs and its awful for that. Easy to stall on a steep hill. Even a 701 feels very heavy after the 5th time picking it up on a hill. I likely need 2 bigs instead of this one but i love the thrill of the 701

I'm not complaining about weight. I can do gravel and forest roads along with double track and mild single track with ease. All while riding huge miles in total comfort.

No, we don’t “want all those luxury & comforts,” ‘They’ pile them on for additional profit! Same as the automotive world.. We want basic ..but there’s less profit in ‘basic.’

3 : harley bois moveing over to adventure bikes... if the adventure bike is smaller CC or KG then a harley it wont pass the wife

I think emissions standards are the driving factor making bikes heavier. The engines are not designed to make maximum power. They’re designed to create minimal pollution. Most people want a decent amount of power, and the bigger engine doesn’t have to work as hard to deliver the amount of power needed for an acceptable power to weight ratio. Air cooling is pretty much a thing of the past & water cooling adds weight as well. The popularity of “do it all” bikes means lightweight performance is compromised considerably.

Little young'uns will do that. Or more. Weight. I've been around now a long time motorcycling. In '83 I bought a new BMW R100RS with full fiberglass heavy fairing, steel frame and gas tank, cast heavy wheels and drive shaft. Steel seat pan. Twin shocks. Dual steel brakes up front. Dual steel exhaust. Fully mechanical. Damn battery weighed 20 lbs. But it weighed 505 lbs dry. These days it's almost impossible to find a bike that size for near that weight. It's made of plastic and aluminum, carbon fiber and light weight wheels. Sad. Good vid. Check out the Dakar results, not necessarily the finish but a couple stages before. Yeap, china and India were right up there.

This is the reason I have and like KTM bikes. They have the traditional KTM reliability problems but they are or feel much lighter than they are on the scale. For example, I have an old Kawa Versys 650 which comes in at 186 dry and a KTM 990 SMT which weighs about 196 dry. Fueled up, the KTM feels far lighter than the Kawa.

Exhaust systems are heavy because of the catalytic converter, nothing else. Motorbikes sold in Asia are lighter because of no Euro norm. There are no lighter version bikes yet; just compare recent models with compatible ones from 15-20 years ago.

Solid, have you seen the 2025 Honda Nx 500 T Baja Dominator popping up on the Internet Web?

I went from a Tiger12 to a crf300l. No pigs in my stable ever again.

ABS only adds 3lbs/1.3kg, modern units are very small and light

Catalytic converters, Lead acid battery, extra pieces bolted on to the bike - these usually total between 7 to 15 KG on a motorbike. The remaining weight is the irrational increase of power and engine size. 9 out of 10 riders neither need or can really handle 100 horsepower in any meaningful way. You can have really light motorcycles like the KTM 390 - and making it say a 590 cc engine would not really make it that much heavier.

Perhaps if you do more than 8 ,700 km trips per day it makes some sense .But on my crf 300 l I do 3 to 4 of those trips a year and it is perfectly ok for this.Most other trips are less than 4 hours so for me at 65 years old I do not see the point.The appr 155 kg loaded is just doable to lift up off road ….i know it is done also with heavier bikes but it’s no fun anymore!…plus everything is cheaper from day one.

It's remarkable how the global market aligns. Some of the 'Small Bikes' just got fuel injection. The 'Big Bikes' are getting ADAS. The middle gets switchable safety.

The biggest driving factor for big bikes is the size of the rider. You are never gunna see a 130+ kilo rider on a crf300. They will always buy the bike that suits their size. In a world where credit is so easy to obtain, buying the bigger bike is much easier than limiting what you eat. Manufacturers know this and cater to it. It's business 101.

When I hop off my KTM 1190 and hop onto my KTM 640 Adv, the 640 feels like a 250 motocross bike.

This is all just fundamental..in the US we have advertisement all day 24/7 about hair care stuff that will reverse balding, we have ads for testosterone products telling old guys feeling like high school is a few capsules away.. and motorcycle dealers selling guys 500+pound bikes that they can afford but can't ride or pick up off the ground if they tip over. See all these middle aged warriors in thousands of dollars worth of gear but no training of any kind.. manufacturers afraid to put warning labels on motorcycles saying that adventure is defined, dirt road and not a very rough dirt road at that. T7 great example..in the US, @200 pound rider, some gear and the motorcycle you are 700+ pounds in many cases.. there is no such thing as an off road motorcycle that weighs 500, 600, 700+ pounds..been sold a bill of goods. Glad to read that people are going the other way, don't have the road manners on a smaller bike but you get abilities that are impossible on big bore beasts.. technical riding, can pick the bike up, more control, less fatigue, and better overall safety..no push from the industry and manufacturers when sticker prices and aftermarket, service all have serious price dives on smaller bikes.. and very few wives and girlfriends really wanted to ride on the back so why all the pretend and bother..

And, add panniers, a top boxes, and tank bag, then fill them to the brim with stuff, most of which is never used. Its not all the manufactures fault that ADV bikes are the size of SUV's.

In Europe you usually drive on normal country roads and motorways, or mountain passes. Often with a passenger and perhaps with luggage. So people need something with a lot of torque and power, sitting upright with safety and comfort (electronic chassis, permissible total weight, traction control, perhaps with shaft drive, etc.). Unfortunately, off-road is hardly allowed, at best a gravel road. That's why SUV bikes have become popular. If you were allowed to ride off-road, lighter bikes would sell a lot more. At the latest when the block is on its side. Then there are the strict emissions regulations, which, for example, prevent a CRF450L from having more than 25 hp, terrible...

I rode around the world on a 650 single over 8 years and I'm currently living in NZ. Big bikes rule here because a 60cc - 649cc bike cost $411 a year rego where as a +650cc bike is $500. So why ride a smaller bike. Thankfully I adventure ride old Cubs and CTs registered under 50cc as they are only $48 a year rego but have to older than 40 years old to do this. SBBA for the win

Adding more and more electronics on the bikes day by day. Really needed?

Most of the buyers and most of the big advs rolls around on tarmac. If you want to ride offroad big advs are waayyy to heavy.

I disagree in terms of weight of the tech and display. A tft has got to be a lot lighter then a mechanical system, especially when you include all the mechanical sensors. A digital system uses very lightweight sensors. An analogue display has got to weigh more then a tft display?

Small bikes rule around the world, particularly in Asia and Latin America because THEY ARE CHEAP. Most people in the developing world can't afford a car, let alone a medium to large motorcycle. Secondarily, they are lightweight and easy to manuever through the very heavy, chaotic traffic that exists in the big cities in those areas and they're also able to be driven during the very wet, very muddy rainy season where a larger, heavier bike wold get stuck and would be too heavy to pick up after a fall.

I think manufacturers want to sell bigger bikes. In the 70s and 80s adventure bikes were much smaller like 250cc and 500cc was considered big

One answer comes from your own video. Just look at those promotion videos you have been used in the background. Pro riders do things with those big bikes, which the majority of us can‘t even do with lighter bikes. But many fall for this marketing hype. I have just downgraded from a 901 to a 701 - what a relevation! And yes, with a few extras you can travel with a light bike. I tool a 690 from Stockholm to Lofoten and this summer the 701 will take me to southern Italy.

The simple answer is yes .

#10....seems like 97.5 % of the images/video footage shown in the breakdown you gave show BIG PIG bikes in the hands of "Professional Riders" that actually do have the ability....unlike 97.5 % of buyers of said BIG PIG bike....so local Non-Pro Rider see images and video footage and think they can do the same....but that is "marketing".

Let's not go crazy, all computers and TFT screens are not heavier than 1-2kg in total, it is not 1950s when computers were heavy. Weight fight is being lost somewhere else.

My "2 cents "..... I own a 2017 BMW GSA(80,000 miles)...an amazing bike that can do most anything.....BUT....it's NOT an off road specific bike....it's a bike that can be ridden off AND on road...it's a comprise...it does nothing at 100%....why people are buying a 600 plus pound large motorcycles for mostly off road riding is beyond me. I have a 2022 Husky 501s that does the off road stuff better and safer.....ever have a 600 lb motorcycle fall on you off road?....and let's not forget the cost to fix costly bike damage....my advice stop trying to buy 1 motorcycle to do EVERYTHING.....buy used and get 2 bikes.....I love both bikes....but they are built for different purposes...sure ride the GSA off road.... but stop expecting the performance of a 250lb off road specific bike....remember the off road Dakar Rally bikes weigh...280lbs at most.

Kove450 is gonna blow the fat bikes outta the water imho.

Thanks WOW THAT'S AWESOME 😎

Bigger is better, except when it isn't.

Its cause I’m getting heavier and heavier and need a bigger bike to haul my fat ass down the road

Manufacteruers should give the finger to the EU rules

Kove 450 on the Dakar podium. KTM where? Yep times are a changin'. Love your work Solid.

Weight that isn‘t by choice, is total BS! As you say, only some are, not all, not most, just 2 core items, ABS and EFI, the rest is added by choice, absolutely, by influenced „must have“ choice. Going for cheap material, is for Margin increase, not for price-lowering. Same with non-service provided. LOL „buffeting“ as a counter-argument, how cheap. Yes the bike stance is better on the weighty side. Hahaha and finally argueing that change is coming with smaller lighter bikes. Look at them, they‘re too heavy, as much too heavy in their classes as the bigger ones in theirs. Too much cheap crap on them. No, that is no change, that‘s just expanding the market and finding more or a continuation of the customer milking schemes, selling them upgrades, then downgrades, then right-sizing, then tune-ups, then upgrades, then big ones again, … LOL capitalism at its best and fools or smarties supporting the industry tricks playing naive news oultets with video.

wow we have a guy here that is obsessed with small bikes ..... he must have mussels like knots in cotton

The bigger the CC the bigger the profit. I'm with most riders, 498cc twin with 45 to 50 hp and 30 to 40 lb torque with 4.5 gal fuel at under 400 lbs. Very simple to do. Come on Japan