^^^ This is the adventure riding I had in mind when I bought my DR650 (beside the chewed up gnarly back roads + dirt and gravel fire roads). I love it so much that I rode my FJR twice from May to Sept. The lighter the better in my book (for real offroad) and if I had a larger ADV bike, I would not need the FJR but would still need the DR for more serious trail work (and still be good on the street). The large ADV bike that gets me worked up is the new Honda Africa Twin... https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/723849-cycle-news-2016-issue-35-september-7 starting on pg. 96.Gaza, ain't nothing wrong with that road on an FJR. You don't need an adv bike for gravel roads, though it is nicer to ride. I thought you were thinking more like this:
Oh...I didn't know your SO was reading over your shoulder. ahem. That looks like a very bad road for an FJR, you need to get a new Adv bike before you crash and die on that POS FJR.
I'm thinking this comparison is more like what an R1 does on road. You guys shopping for the 450's must be better riders than most because the average guy (me included) cannot ride those bikes to their full potential (uncorked). My wife bought Aflac on me so I think she sees dirt riding as an investment.
Comparing large ADV bikes to those 450s is night and day. Highly skilled riders can take big ADV bikes where few dare tread but if a mere mortal wants to do more serious dirt riding the 250-500s are the tool. I'm with you, a 250 is more bike than my off road skill could fully tap.I'm thinking this comparison is more like what an R1 does on road. You guys shopping for the 450's must be better riders than most because the average guy (me included) cannot ride those bikes to their full potential (uncorked). My wife bought Aflac on me so I think she sees dirt riding as an investment.
I wouldn't say I am a highly skilled off road rider at all that's why I'm not looking for a large ADV bike. I do believe in having the right tool for the job.
