Also the cost and value of the bike is a big one that can hold back progress, If you have a bike that is worth 10-20 000 Euro you will become more insecure and always worry to crash it. A cheaper and more forgiving bike like the DRZ are a perfect bike to learn to push a bit and become a better rider

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

That is an excellent point, Rasmus! Besides riding the DRZ for a year, the thing that helped me the most getting better at offroad riding was riding behind this mythical creature on a blue T7. I learn a lot by watching someone that’s much better, and he also teached me how to properly pinch the bike with my knees and that I shouldn’t hold on to the handlebars. I should make a video about this sometime 😁

@rasmusfagerlund6694

Жыл бұрын

@@JohannesDalen Kind words my friend, Its been an blast to see your progress. I hereby invite you to Skåne and a bootcamp, I show you how to throw the T7 around in the woods and you teach me lifting the dang thing out of the woods 🤣🤙😊

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

I will come, just tell me when and where! 😁

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Well, you just said where, so scratch that - When, and I’ll be there 😁

@rasmusfagerlund6694

Жыл бұрын

@@JohannesDalen when ever you can, my home is your home and I am always home, other than when I'm not home.

After 40 years of offroad riding, racing and traveling. The little crf300 rally has become my go to travel exploring machine . It does everything I asked of it. With reliability great fuel range . Light weight. Great video

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Thank you! Yeah the 300L/rally is very popular and I can't wait to ride one in Portugal. If I can, I'll add one to my own garage to explore the local trails. Ride safe!

@meinungsfreiheit2023

Жыл бұрын

What do you think about the 300L?

@BruceHoult

Жыл бұрын

IDEALLY for learning off-road something even smaller and lighter and lower seat height is good. The kind of thing they sell as farm bikes. Yamaha AG200F. Or XT250. Suzuki DR200. Kawasaki Stockman 250. They're all road legal (or can be made so) but the problem with them is they're not at all suitable for highway speeds or long distances. I've got a CRF250 Rally and it's perfectly happy cruising at 110 kmh for as long as needed -- and with the small windscreen and fairing it's *comfortable* at that speed. I don't hesitate to go out and ride 300-500 km in a day on it, exploring off road, gravel roads, beaches, and as much 2-lane highway as needed. With a 250/300 Rally you can go out riding with your friends on KTM 690s and BMW GS and (in my country with a 100 km/h speed limit) they're not going to spend a lot of time waiting for you on the highway sections. And none at all on gravel. Twisty tar sealed back roads with no traffic and no law enforcement are the place they will disappear into the distance though. Or with traffic that they can blast past on a short straight but you can't. I had a 1980 XR250 back in the early 80s and the CRF L or Rally is basically as off-road capable. A little heavier because of the battery, electric start, water cooling, ABS brakes etc. I had an XR600 from the late 80s to to around 2000. Awesome bike. Capable. But omg so tiring to ride, especially on the road, even when I was in my late 20s. Now I'm 60, and can ride the 250 Rally all day. I also have a BMW R1100RT that I've owned for 27 years this month. That's my true long distance bike.

My current combination is a T7 and a Wr250R and I very happy. Each bike gets me different sensations covering all my expectations. Thanks for sharing your experience.

Kudos moto-brother. I wish I stumbled upon your videos before I bought Husky Norden 901. One year and 50 drops later, I'm a much much better rider for sure but it took insane amount of energy, ambition, stubbornness and tears to get there. I also quickly understood that I enjoy off-road riding much more than on-road and will now be looking to grab KTM 890 Adventure R as my next all-round enduro focused bike and cheap enduro bike for hardcore, no regrets, off-road riding. Keep those videos coming. This no-bullshit type of content is much much more valuable than thousands (literally) of videos I watched on youtube so far from different kinds of channels simply because you're being considerate, transparent and down to earth.

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Hi there Lukasz, first of all thank you very much for your kind words. I applaud that you took the 901 out in the woods and was stubborn enough to learn on a big adventure bike - kudos! Ride safe and best of luck with the offroad riding 🙂

Great video, great explanation of your progress and why you did what you did. Thanks for sharing your experience.

Very good video Johannes, and thank you for the nice comments and mention 😊

Great content as always! I started my off-roading journey this year in a 2021 t7, only ridden street/sportbikes before and it sure took some time getting used to the loose surface and the rear wheel slides😅 now I’m about 7000km in on my learning curve and it’s so much fun! A bit heavy like you said as a beginner bike but since I’m 190cm tall the height hasn’t been a problem and riding forest trails is pure joy once you get the hang of it! And man that engine is built for full throttle 2-3 gear gravel road mayhem🤩

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Thank you very much! I very much agree, how fun isn’t the T7? Endless amount of useful and predictable torque - just lovely to ride offroad, excellent machine 😁

Thanks for documenting your journey for us! I went from street bikes to a Honda Africa Twin in 2016. Put on some crash bars and knobbies and went for it. I had one $600 gravel road low-side lesson early on (good thing I had the bars) but I figured it out and now get into stuff that I probably shouldn’t on a 520lbs bike. It’s just so fun!! I’ve been on the AT for 6 years, it’s my daily rider, and I’m still in the honeymoon phase. It turns out, I love big bikes off road. Glad to see you came full circle back to the T7. Beautiful machine.

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

And thank you for watching Dee! It makes me happy to hear that your AT is serving you well. Taking a big bike into places it probably wasn't made for is as you say, a lot of fun! Ride safe 😊

Very good and sound advice 👍🏻. I have a Honda Hunter Cub CT125 which is very light and very forgiving, but looking for a bigger adventure bike currently. So your advice has helped me not to go too big on that next bike. Thank you 😊

Great video Johannes, I definitely agree with the strategy to start or at least learn on. Enduro bikes are so fun to ride, perfect to have as a second bike. Keep it up!

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Thank you very much Mattias 😊

Very good advice Johannes, We had a long ride yesterday here in Norfolk, U.K., one T7 and a 701 rally. Both great bikes, the reality is the rider needs to get a small cheap enduro bike and get out to practice events to get some experience. All good riders have have lots of practice. This will prepare you for the bigger bikes.

Absolutely agree. I put a deposit down for a T7 and sold my 650 for a crf250l to hold me over till it arrived. Very happy I made that decision because now that I have my T7 I feel super confident on it. Dirt is harder than it looks lol

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Makes me happy to hear, the T7 is such a great bike. Enjoy it and ride safe!

Starting small is always a wise decision. Progress will come. And a lot of riders simply have more than one bike…

@robvanduren761

Жыл бұрын

That is really the only option wise man.

@forestmotoadventures

Жыл бұрын

I put 6000 miles on roads and forest trails with a CSC TT250 before adding a 2021 Africa Twin AS ES DCT. I ride both, but only deep explore solo (with my Garmin SOS 😂) on the TT250.

@drorz6727

Жыл бұрын

If adding another bike to the T7, I found that a 300 2 strokes was best for me. Learning many necessary techniques while enjoying a very different experience. Almost can call it both opposite ends of the range and they over lap more than you might think..:)

Time to get out hit the trail and have some fun. Enjoyed the video Ride safe!

Hi Johannes, again a good Video for beginners i guess. And it`s very good to see you happy on the T7. Well done. God helg min venn, Alfred

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Alfred, god helg til deg og!

Definitely. Couldn't agree more. I think the Pol Tarres promos for the T7 caused a lot to be bought and then sold fairly quickly once us mere mortals realised we weren't Pol. There's a lot for sale second hand and I think that's exactly why ; The reality isn't what people are expecting.

@OgreMoto

Жыл бұрын

Their marketing team knows what they’re doing, that’s for sure!

@HeyAddieImTojo

Жыл бұрын

Yea people buy them for all the wrong reasons. It is a great gravel bike and very light enduro, that you can tour quite a distance on as well. It all depends on use case for most regular guys n gals

Hey Johannes, if you want to talk to beginning riders, I think one of the first things you should talk about, is the safety equipment you need to have from the very beginning. Helmet, protection gear, boots, etc, because a lot of new riders have stupid accidents where good braces save life and limb. To me, it is THE mst important issue to start with and get, even before you get the bike. Ride safely!

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Hello Steiner, thanks for the suggestion, I very much agree with you. Perhaps I should make a video about this again (I have in the past). I hope as many as possible reads your comment and dresses accordingly 😊 Ride safe!

Johannes, my experience parallels yours but 30 years ago with a Kawasaki Tengai 650 (KLR 650 in a pretty frock). I was promised that it was relatively light (yeah, compared to a road bike). I bought and road 250cc four strokes for decades improving my bike control skills immensely. I have now settled on confidently riding a Suzuki V-Strom 650 for the past 15 years. Cheers, from Australia.

I've had a klr650 and a 1972 Honda cb250. I'm really digging the Ktm 390 adventure. I think it will be perfect for commuting to work all week and dipping into the mountains on the weekends.

Exactly my experience. Good message to put out there.

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Paul!

Good advice I started the same way but I added a KLX300 to my garage and it’s helping me get experience I will use on my T7

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Clever to add a dual sport alongside the T7 for practice, way to go! Ride safe 😊

Smart advice on buying a dual sport platform! Starting of small and work your way up to the main adv motorcycle is the right way!! Thank you for advice !! From a beginner adv rider !!

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Happy to hear you found it helpful Thomas! Starting small is the best way to go when it comes to offroad riding. Now that my skills are better than what they were a few years back, I own a T7 for long adventure rides and a Husky FE350 for enduro practices 😊

The weight isn't a problem until you've had to pick it up multiple times during a long hard ride. Picking up even a light bike saps your energy and quickly turns riding from fun into torture.

liked and subscribed. Ha! Hello from a fellow forest rider who owns a GS1250 but dreams about a T7 but sadly no mid level adv bikes in India. I agree with your suggestion for those who have never had a DS, its cheaper to develop the skill on a smaller one. Though one advantage of a Bison of a bike is that one doesn't need to lift weights at the gym- the trail will give a good workout when you drop the bike on a solo ride specially in an uphill technical turn- best workout ever... Keep up the good work J

This feels like the story of my life , but didn’t go back to the T7 , but a CRF450L

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Hehe - how are you liking the 450l?

spot on, thank you :)

You have a nice channel here, I like your down to earth, real world, normal rider approach to all of this. At 53, life long rider (last 15 years in Asia on 150-250cc bikes) I like small, light, reliable bikes. For my "European vacations" bike I wanted the T7, your "selling" the original T7 vid convinced me that even in Europe I don't need 700cc.. You are a "big", fit guy, you being stuck in mud for hours, admitting the simple facts of physics, has created a lasting impression in my mind. I also like that you bring up the reliability question, to me reliability of a bike is almost the number one buying decision factor, I am willing to give up performance gains for reliability. This goes hand in hand with warranty issues, dealer concerns, parts availability, so few guys talk about these things. While watching your vids, I was able to finally clarify in my brain what I actually want, and what to call it The whole ADV vs dual sport, I want an omelet of the two, the CRF300 Rally. I have made a full 360, originally the Rally was my pick, then I started to watch too much utube, got confused, thought I needed more for Europe, but now I know I don't. Anyways good channel, happy and safe riding.

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Thank you very much for your kind words Pawel 😊 While I do think that a T7 would be great for Europe (a continent with lots of tarmac to be covered, especially compared to how I imagine Asia is), I also think the 300 Rally is an awesome adventure platform. It’s simpe, reliable, light, and still powerful enough to tackle highway riding - what more could we ask for in a bike? Oh I forgot, it’s cheap too! I’m looking to add the 300L non rally to my stable as a trails bike because I honestly think it’s such a great deal and value. Thank you for your support, happy and safe rides to you too!

@pawelwolski1316

Жыл бұрын

@@JohannesDalenLast summer I took GS800 to Romania. We used side roads to get there, did not need 800cc. Once on some epic off road trails my 800 and my friend's 1150 became the limiting factor. the bikes made us turn around few times, just when it was getting good. The Rally is my unicorn.

Very good advise

Very well explained and absolutely correct. I tell everyone to learn on a small dual sport, Yamaha XT 225/250, Yamaha TW 200, Honda CRF 230/250, Kawasaki KLR 250, etc. Buy a good used one and learn to ride off paved roads before investing in a big, heavy bike. Many of us keep the small bike as a buddy bike and a trainer. For learning and/or just fun riding: Light is RIGHT!

Hi.. Liked you video. My personal experience is with starting out on a mid weight adventure bike as a 52 yr old new rider, a Kawasaki KlR 650. Due to its price and availability used. I think my skills on and off road have vastly improved over the past 2 1/2 years riding the klr. I don't thing i would have developed as quickly on a lighter dual sport. I am now at a place where i can confidentially ride some of the easier single track trails here on Vancouver Island. One thing i have done tho is destroyed all the plastics, original hand protectors', skid plate, shifters, turn signals and radiator (twice) from numerous wipeouts and drops. I am ready to go to the next level and plan on buying a new KLR 650. At my age im not interested in going fast i find the 45 hp adequate. I am also ready to tackle some multi day adventures and find the KLR's range and comfort appealing. So for me i thing starting out on a second hand mid-size adventure bike was right. But i also think everyone has individual preferences . So my approach may not work for others

@katherinesilvas5735

Жыл бұрын

Well done. KLR fits many ADV requirements including adequate but sedate performance. Johannes you seem to have a lot of money to spend- a KLR may have been the better beginner bike rather than poster boy T700.

Agreed, start smaller develope skills the try thr adventure bike. I did it backwards myself. One of each is definitely ideal if possible..Thanks for another great video

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

And thank you for watching Michael 😊

Great video as usual Johannes! and i couldnt agree more! i its the number 1 mistake "everyone" does is to buy the "best" adventure bike in the showroom. be humble, begin with something under 160kg and you wont regret it ;)

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Diogo!

Great video topic. I would even go one step further. In order to become a better Dual Sport rider, you can build up skills on an really light Enduro bike. I do a lot of training and drills on my Husky TE 300, then apply those skills to my KTM 690. I’ll get a bigger ADV one day? Cheers

I’m a new rider and I just bought a KLR 650. I plan to get dual sport also. I almost started with a dual sport but want to take longer trips and develop my street and highway skills before I work on off-road skills. I’ll probably hit some dirt and gravel roads to find camping spots but harder trails I’ll try to wait until I get a dual sport.

Good points, Johannes. Another consideration for my own "getting back into biking" quest is the Kawasaki Versys-x 300, which seems to be a very capable lightweight ADV bike. Great on the road, capable of some decent off-road, lightweight, smooth 2 cylinder, fuel efficient, and spoked wheels. Hopefully, the supply chain problems will slowly be rectified and we'll see some available within the next year here in my part of Canada.

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Derrick! The «little» Versys is a bike I always forget, probably because it isn’t sold here in Norway. It is a very interesting bike that can do a bit of everything. I hope you get one and if not the 300l Rally can be a good option too. Best of luck and ride safe!

I've got a husky te610. I absolutely love that machine

awesome video brother!

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Thank you real brother!

I had my T7 for 2 years & 20,000 kms. I liked it as an adventure road bike but just couldn't get on with it off road. For me I don't think it was so much the weight but I found it very top heavy or high centre of gravity & when you reached that tipping point it went down very quick. I now have a Husky 701 which I much prefer.

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing Gary, those 200kg comes down fast, that’s for sure. I have long legs so I might struggle less with that than others. I’m happy to hear that you’re satisfied with the 701, it’s a great bike!

Great video Johannes. Very good advice. My 3 year old DR650 now has over 15,000 kms. I will keep it a few years more before getting a T7 or something else. It is a great option as an all rounder, just a bit sucky at over 110 kph, especially on a big open highway. Faster = more vibration on the DR.

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Thank you John! I actually forgot to mention the DR650, that’s definitely a bike that it’s better to learn on vs. the heavier adv bikes. I’m sure you’ll enjoy the T7 when you decide to ‘upgrade’. Ride safe my friend!

@johnjaques342

Жыл бұрын

@@JohannesDalen The DR650 is certainly "yesterday's news" as far as technology goes and now not available in many countries as a new bike due to no ABS and carburetor vs efi. At 57 years old, ts my 7th bike, and perhaps the slowest, but my first dirt capable machine. Can't beat it for dirt roads and bush on Vancouver Island where I live. Thanks for the effort on your fine channel and good luck. Look forward to learning more about your personalized T7!

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

«Yesterday’s news» - nice way of describing the mighty DR. I don’t think that’s a negative at all, a carb is easy to fix and no electronics to ruin your day 😊 Thank you for your support John, I appreciate it!

Nice and instructive video. Even if i drive a Zuzuki GSXs 1000 gt i get some inspiration to try the T 7 👍

You have taken a very reasonable path after starting out on the wrong foot. I have always said that to ride bikes in the T700 class in any serious off road terrain you need to be the following… 1. A strong rider 2. A strong person in good shape. 3. A tall person 6’ plus A DR 650 is a far superior bike for off road that also performs surprisingly well on road. The DRZ 400 is quite a bit better yet than the DR 650 off road but comes up a bit short for longer on road rides.

I love this thinking and I truly think it’s the answer most people are looking for when they are first starting out. Your being so open and honest about your journey will probably help tons of people, so thank you Johannes. I say this is probably the best advice for most people having recently obtained my motorcycle operator’s license and after spending 6 or more months looking at and temporarily falling in love with lots of different options (I have literally checked out and considered almost every realistic option at this point from adventure bikes, to dual sports, to scramblers). After all of that, I say you precisely hit the nail on the head for the ideal approach because nothing else made financial sense or felt safe to me. I also loved the dual sports you referenced. The only bike I would add to the mix is actually from the ADV side and it’s the KTM 390 Adventure. It’s also lighter weight and easy to manage but with less off road capability than the pure dual sports. My favorite starter bikes after it was all said and done? The Honda CRF300L and Kawasaki KLX300. They have more than enough power to train, solid suspension for dual sporting, and are relatively affordable. I am actually just waiting for one of the two to become available in my area.

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Thank you very much for your kind words my friend, and your continued support! The 390, excellent addition to the list, completely forgot about it! Both 300l and KLX300 are great ‘learner’ bikes for sure. I put quotation marks around ‘learner’ because while I think they’re good for beginners, I think they can work well for more experienced riders too, you’ll just have to approch it a bit different. I don’t consider myself a beginner anymore, and I’m still going to buy a 300l if I can get my hands on one. Thanks for sharing and have a great evening sir!

@paulmullany7147

Жыл бұрын

Literally just got home after doing Swedish/Norwegian TET up to Nordkap on a 390adv. Awesome, awesome bike. Although I have been riding for over 20 years it is my first adventure bike and I am so glad I went for smaller lighter bike to learn off road skills on. Its light and low enough to be forgiving but close enough to a proper size adventure bike to reflect that kind of riding. I will however say that if your really tall it may be more difficult to set up than for the average sized rider. My partner has a crf250l which is good but is very limited by its poor suspension and lack of power. In hindsight I wish we had bought something like a Ajp spr 250 or a second hand ktm/husqvarna 250 4 stroke . Its cheaper to change a seat and a tank than to sort forks and shocks. Johannes, if you have not already go check out Llel Paveys journey with a T7 over at brake magazine on YT. Cheers Paul

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Hello there Paul, that makes me so happy to hear, sounds like an awesome trip! The 390 is a great package, but as you say it isn’t a very big bike. I’ve sat on one and I had my knees at the same height as the handlebars. Thanks for the tip, I’m probably Llels biggest fan, so I’ve watched all his videos probably five times each 😁 I’m putting on at least one item that he also used on his T7. Looking forward to showing you guys the build, some really cool manufacturers have sponsored the build with their great products. Cheers!

@paulmullany7147

Жыл бұрын

@@JohannesDalen Llels stuff really is great. The mini tip mondays are my go to for instruction. What a beast of a t7 he built. Good luck with your own build. Cheers Paul

@Crust2013

Жыл бұрын

Yawn......

Here in the States you have to be close somewhat to an off road area, then you have to have enough gas to get there and back after your “play time”. Reason I have a GS but truly I fear every time that I might break it like a kid with a new toy would feel 😂😂. Great video Johannes!!👍👍👏👏

Couldn't agree more, except if finances permit, hang on to the T7 while you learn. I bought a T7 5 or 6 weeks ago and rode it to The Long Mynd, near Church Stretton in the Shropshire AONB to do part of a TET trail. Absolutely stunning scenery but I had to stop every now and then to take it in because all the time I kept saying to myself 'I must not drop this bike" over and over again. I've since ridden it exclusively on the road, while waiting for collection next weekend of an older Gas Gas EC250F Cami which is how I intend to learn the basics of off-roading. It can take the knocks, not the T7 which incidentally I hope to be proficient enough to take it to Morocco in December. Can't say I'm looking forward to the journey to Portsmouth then the length of France and Spain before it gets warmer!

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

I'm with you there, at the end of the video I suggested that to those who have an adventure bike and is looking to improve their offroad game. Hold on to the ADV, and see if it's possible to add a cheaper dual sport to practice on, just like you did. Best of luck with your offroad journey!

I went from 17 years whith Goldwing too GSA and after 3 seasons whith the Bmw i went too the Norden 901. Now i feel at home. I just love that bike. 👍

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

The Norden is a great handling bike, and I’m happy to hear you’re happy with yours Eivind 😊 ride safe kompis!

Yup. If you start big and go to the trails you quickly realize that you either save your bike (cosmetically) and take to ohv trails, or take it through the ringer on single track (this is obviously the more awesome option) but be prepared to have your bike resale value drop each time you and your bike drop haha. I just started riding last year but only started off-road riding this year. I just delved into single track this past month with my previously mint klr650. I’ve punched holes in the plastic by crashing into trees, broken foot pegs, dented the heck out of my low engine skid plate on trees (big logs across the path can be punishing if you don’t hit ‘‘em right), stumps, rocks, and crunched off turn signal lights, handle bar guards and mirrors, bent the chassis and handle bars. But finding creative ways to fix your bike is part of the fun, not many people have taken crowbars, drills, and grinders to their bikes 😂.

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

A well used adventure bike, like it sounds your KLR is, is a beautiful thing. The dents, bends and holes is just patina :D

My very first bikes were very heavy dual sports, a DR 650, and a Africa Twin, and I struggled learning to ride off-road with them, even deep sand. Eventually I got tired of picking them up, because if you go off road, you WILL take a spill sooner or later, it's just the law of nature. Now I have DRZ400S, with some engine mods (50+ hp), and it's like night and day difference in what you can do. I even take it to MX tracks, without it feeling sketchy🙂 So yes, all I knew was heavy dual sports and dirt riding from day one, but if you are an experienced street rider, that want to go into off-road, get a LIGHT bike. Even the DRZ is borderline heavy by todays standards, so I would look at a 250 to 350 4-stroke if I was an off-road "noob" today.

I found the perfect solution. DRZ and a Tenere. I bought a rough DRZ and fixed it up while learning offroad. Then bought the T7 but since the DRZ was cheap I could afford to keep both. Now I have the best of both worlds.

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

That’s a great combo, I loved my DRZ and I’m looking to buy a 300l as its replacement. Ride safe!

Your experience mirrors mine exactly. Bought a KLR last year after a few decades away from two wheels, liked it but without offroad skills it was a real pig and I constantly worried about getting in over my head. Then I got a CRF300L Rally this spring and the difference is huge in terms of offroad skill development and not having to worry about weight. Now I'm feeling the lack of range given that the CRF is not a highway bike. I'll ride the CRF for another season only because T7 availability is terrible at the moment. I'll do a few courses next summer and I'm betting that eventually the T7 will feel much more manageable than it would have two years ago. Thank you for a great video. It helped my wife understand where I'm coming from (she's been on the same riding path - CB500X -> CRF300L Rally -> ??)

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Hi there and thanks for sharing your story. The 300L/Rally is a very popular bike and for good reason. I can definitely understand what you mean when you say the CRF isn't a highway bike, and as a motorcyclist, I personally value the possibility of traveling far on my bike if I want to. That's why I sold my 701 as it just didn't cut it for those kinds of rides. What is it exactly about the 300 rally that makes it not suited for the highway, weight? A few courses and another season with the 300l and you'll be more than ready for the T7. It's such a great bike, couldn't be happier with it. Good luck and safe rides to both you and your wife!

@LongPondNH

Жыл бұрын

@@JohannesDalen What makes the 300 a poor highway bike is weight and power. It's so light that it gets jittery at 120k, and you get blown around easily. It does the job, but it's tiring. I also need to downshift to 5th to get up highway hills.

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Okay thanks. Same issues I had with my 701, besides not having lack of power.

Funny, I’m in the opposite process. Started on a full on dirt bike, replaced with a dual sport, and in the future, looking to get an adv to accompany it. Just going to give my obligatory recommendation for the wr250r as a dual sport. It’s heavier than the dirt bike, but you only really feel it when you have to pick it up. Feels very light when it’s moving.

Johannes I completely agree! My wife and I made the same mistake. Coming from streetbikes (BMW RS) we decided a few years ago to turn more into offroad. My wifeI bought a F 700GS and I bought a R 1200 GS. But very soon we discovered that these bikes were fantastic but also that we weren't able to manage them in the dirt. So, we bought two second hand BMS G 310 GS bikes, upgraded suspension, added bar risers and MIchelin Anakee Wild. And that was the right decision. We learned how to handle bikes in the dirt, weren't afraid of dropping a bike and we got more confidence. It made is better offroand riders and now we are travelling with our big adventure bikes without fear to go into remote places.

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Thanks a lot for sharing Bob, you did the right thing buying the lighter and cheaper 310s while keeping your bigges adv bikes. Best of luck to you both, ride safe 😊

Yes totally agree,light is good.Happy to have done a course one on one with Diogo in Portugal.I would not have gained that much skills with my own cb 500 x.I will do a bit more training this year and then get a light dual sport but keep my cb 500 x too! Perhaps for you the t 7 is a unicorn now but at my age and health it is wiser to do off roading on a light bike.

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

I should have mentioned professional training too, that’s a very good tip for getting better. Keep your CB, so you have a bike that you can ride further on. Any dual sports in mind that you want to add?

@robertkoper3039

Жыл бұрын

@@JohannesDalen yes a crf 300 l but if the silly long delivery times stay i will get an older drz 400 for a year or so...i am 1.90 m so combined with the standard great suspesion it will be a good 2 nd best

you mentioned scenarios : Here is mine, never rode any motorcycle ever, until one day got an idea since I am not getting any younger how about adventure motorcycle?!? Long story short got mine very veeeery first motorcycle ever at my 52 birthday, it was KTM 790 adventure R and I love it, be honest off road felt more natural for me since I was racing MTB and also was athlete for long period of my life which helped much specially with balance and mostly mentally not freaking out on single tracks with beast of bike. Year and half after I purchased Husqvarna TE 300e for of season riding in the woods or very technical rides in high country of Colorado..... am I any good? Hell no but I have lot of fun and that's the most important. The funny part is I am doing it with my wife she is only 5-2 tall and 110 lbs, she started with me first on(very first motorcycle ever) BMW 310R ( she had it for 4 months) she sold that sweet machine and she bought BMW 750 GS for travel and off roads and for enduro she just bought Husqvarna TE 150e and we looooove it, nothing better when your wife is yours best buddy what does everything with you...... my scenario guess approved its never late to start new life, hobby or life style in any age, cheers V!

My first bike is the T7 this year. soon drove almost 10K this year. I'm no expert, whatsoever. Very happy with the bike both on road and off-road. The most important thing is safety equipment and the willingness to learn all the time to improve

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Very good point, safety gear is mandatory. If there's a chance that I'm riding offroad, I'll wear my MX boots, at least!

Hey my friend, excellent channel for an off-road rider. I agree with you in the weight zone. A very begginer like me needs a lighter bike to sharpen my skills and then move on. I got my eyes on 850 tiger sport and in the long run going in my first adventure trip. It got everything, from power to off riding capabilities. But also on a Suzuki DR650, like them both. What can you suggest me.

Totally agree a lighter bike will make tye learning process faster and easier. But the other thing that can help a new to off road rider learn faster on a bigger Adv bike is frequency. I used to live in Australia. Had a xtz660 tenere and then a 950 Adventure. I only got off-road once a year becasue i had to ride about 800km just to get to dirt (I wasn’t confident enough to tackle fire trails closer to Sydney and I didn’t have the money then for extra wheels or to be swapping to off road tyres and used the bikes for commuting). Anyway, now I live near Ålesund in norway. Bought a 1090R in 2020. I can be on gravel/traktor roads within 3 hours and love doing really long days (15hrs is pure fun!) so can practice off road skills much more often. I started actively trying to learn what I “should be doing” and how to control and use body weight etc. I’m now pretty competent and far more confident. Now it’s me waiting for everyone else to catch up when the roads and trails get rough…assuming they aren’t on dirt bikes. Frequency really helps imo. Something it seems you got a lot on in that year between tenres

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

That is a very good point. Offroad riding is like any skill, you have to do it a lot and often. The times I feel my offroad riding is at its best is during a week long offroad trip. Consecutive days works wonders. Thanks for chiming in, if you ever find yourself in the southern parts of Norway let me know! 😊

@Advcrazy

Жыл бұрын

@@JohannesDalen likewise if your ever up this way or want someone to ride with out around Grimsbu or joutenheim areas. im always up for riding where its drier than the west coast! lol!

Excellent common sense stuff Johannes ...which is why I enjoy watching your vids. For a new rider looking to combine on and off road riding I definitely agree with getting a dual sport to start with. I got back into riding after a 30+ year hiatus. Did my research. Looked at ADV bikes and saw (the ones in my budget) were nothing but street bikes with dirt bling. They all weighed ~500+lbs (~200+kgs) and all had street bike suspension travel. Better suspension meant more money and more weight. Hit the reset button, looked at dual sport bikes. Went old school and bought a 2012 DR650SE ($3000USD). New they run ~$7000USD. I realize some of these bikes may not be available in the European market; my ideas being based on the US market. I would recommend looking at the DR650, KLR650, XR650 and some of the sub 500cc dual sport bikes; with a few exceptions all are very affordable on the used market. The 650 bikes have good road speed capability and more comfort for longer rides than sub-500 bikes. The 650's all weight in at ~370 lbs (170kgs). Besides weight, seat height should be considered when looking at dual sport bikes, especially for beginners (and not of Scandinavian descent 😉); they have suspension travel/ground clearance more akin to dirt bikes resulting in higher saddle heights than most ADV or street bikes. Some dual sport bikes can be lowered slightly (DR650) and you can possibly score a lower (and more comfortable) after market seat. I'm 5'8", with a 32' inseam and the lowered DR works well for me while still having more clearance and suspension travel than most ADV bikes. Purchase prices of these dual sport 650's are relatively cheap on the used market (at least in the US), but they are popular so finding a used bike might take some time. The upside is if you decide to sell one, they will go quickly.

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Thanks a lot Mike, appreciate your kind words! You raise several good points here. The DR650 is a bike I’ve been looking at for a long time. I think it strikes the ‘perfect’ balance between road and dirt (like a less performance oriented 701). But they are impossible to find in Norway - they stopped selling them in Europe back in 2008 I think. Best of luck and ride safe my friend!

@Mikado463

Жыл бұрын

@@JohannesDalen You're welcome! I had a feeling the "Bush Pig" was not being sold anymore in many parts of Europe. It has a big following in Australia (not surprising) but the government there just mandated all new motorcycles sold in Aussie Land have ABS ...and sounded the death knell for any new versions of the big DR. The bike is basically unchanged from it's last update in 1996.

Great advice; and if anyone out there could pick up a heavy ish adventure bike, it will be you, so your advice will hopefully be read by less strong people and they take note. I am returning to off road and still SO unsure if I can enjoy a dual sport bike here in the U.K. when we have so much road to ride compared to trails. I think you, in Norway, have a lot more trails than most countries (Sweden seems to have a lot too) - so maybe it isn’t as easy to choose between Dual or Adv. We have more roads, less trails as a %.

I feel like I'm taking the same route as you Johannes just much slower. I need to become a better rider off road and I believe the 300 will help me get there. Good smart video as always.

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

The 300 will be pefect for that I think. Can’t wait to ride with you one day Charlie!

@charliem5332

Жыл бұрын

@@JohannesDalen yes some day soon Johannes definitely 👍

I am very interested in your journey with offroad. I have raced mx and enduro and decided against getting any type of adv/dual sport due to the never ending compromises of tyres/weight/engine/wind protection/buffeting/etc etc etc. I have a cheap Ninja 400 i ride everywhere including dirt and gravel roads.

I had the BMW F650 GS (the original one) as my first bike in 2006. I drove it for a year and changed for a... R1200RT as I never had time for off-road. After 3 years and over 30'000 km on the R1200RT I sold it and pushed the funds into a Saab 900 Cabrio, to fulfil my old dream. Now I'm looking for a very light off-road bike to start again. The CRF300L seems to be the perfect one.

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Hi there Radek - I think the 300L is a great bike for you. I haven’t ridden it myself, but I will get to ride it when I travel to Portugal in November. I’ll make a video about it too.

Жыл бұрын

@@JohannesDalen - looking forward to watch it!

I have a 2020 Africa Twin that I can't really ride in very rough terrain yet. Jeep roads all day. 4 wheeler trails...not so much. But I have a long way to ride to get offroad and I love the street and travel manners of this bike so I put up with the compromise.

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Hi there Andrew, sounds like you have a great bike for your situation. If you bought something more offroad capable you’d not enjoy the way to the trails, which is primarily why I sold my 701. Ride safe!

The Beta 500 RR-SS is an amazing road legal 4stroke dual sport as choices go at 47 horse power

I think an important point is that you’re a big strong guy, if you had trouble with the T7 I really can’t see myself with one. I have a small Honda XR 150L that I’m using to travel around Panama and I’ve been in some serious steep trails and have struggled lifting or keeping the bike from falling, sure I get blown by the wind like nothing but being alone in the middle of nowhere without service and struggling with the bike is very humbling. I’ll go next to do some of the TET and will get a CRF 300L, your videos have been really helpful. thanks

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

That’s very true Javi. For remote riding on your own in places like Panama and different TETs, I wouldn’t recommend a T7 (or any big adv bike) really. You’d have to be really careful and check out the different sections off the bike before riding etc. A 300L sounds like a great choice that a lot of people are happy with. I think it’s a great ‘little’ bike that’s pretty affordable as well. Happy to hear my videos are helpful, safe and happy riding amigo!

I took a similar path. First bike (ever) F800GS, and 2 years later I got an XR650R. I struggled a bit with the GS off road in the begining, but I persisted and got good. When I got the XR, it felt a lot different. Less planted at speed, but also less top-heavy and the fatigue was less when trying single track ‐ which it is too big to have fun. My advice is don't sell your adv bike yet. The three things that helped me the most off road were: technique learned from videos, confidence, and adjusting the controls to fit me well.

@monrow11

Жыл бұрын

I have a xr650r and a KTM 1090 ADV R. The Honda feels like a piece of paper off-road compared to the Honda. If I going on allot of trails I take the Honda. Long ride on gravel and pavement with some trails….the KTM. It’s never going to be a motocross bike. The Honda is frankly amazing off and on the road.

Thank you for the great video Johannes. I agree with you in everything. I own a T7 and love to ride it, but since a few moths I am getting more and more the idea to buy a DRZ or CRF250L, not to struggle sometimes with the weight of the T7. But the T7 stays in my garage :D

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Thank you! A lighter bike to accompany thr T7 is a good idea for sure. I’d go with the DRZ over the 250l, but I’d go with the 300l over the DRZ again. 300l is hard to find used though. Oh yeah, don’t get rid of your T7, you’ll regret it - I know all about that 😁 Best of luck!

I like this Helmet cam view. 👍

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Good to hear Mario, I figured a way to mount it on my chin and reduced the amount of frames per second 😊

I am new to motorcycle and learned a few months ago. So I got a used KLR to get experience on and off road.

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

The KLR is a great place to start. I highly suggest attending an offroad course as well if you can. Good luck!

Sage advice Johannes. Also, dual sport/enduro bikes tend to survive crashes better. You can drop them a few times without flushing your resale value down the toilet! ADV bikes nowadays seem to have so much more breakable stuff on them!

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Kym! That’s a good point I should have added, my DRZ was crashed into a tree, brought on both enduro and mx tracks, and I didn’t lose a penny when I sold it 😁

I'm not a beginner or an expert, had a DR650 and then DRZ400 and rode 50/50 on/off-road for about 5 years. I took about 6 years break from riding (not because I wanted to!) and when I decided to get back into it, I knew immediately the KLX 300 would be just about perfect for me. I've had it for 2 months and it's been everything I could've asked for. I guess I'm lucky that I only weight 150lbs (68kg) and the suspension can handle everything that I can throw at it so far. I'm building it out to be a mini-ADV bike. I think about 18-24 months with it will be enough time for me to graduate to something like an Aprilla Tuareg 660 or an AJP PR7.

@jimperry4420

Жыл бұрын

Do you like it better than your Drz400?

@inrptn

Жыл бұрын

@@jimperry4420 Overall for sure. DRZ definitely has more power and maybe a bit better suspension, but it's also far more vibey, uncomfortable and taxing to ride long distance. KLX lighter weight, 6 gears and EFI makes a big difference and I like the balance and ergonomics much better than the DRZ. Better aftermarket support for the DRZ but the KLX is not poorly supported or anything, I've got loads of mods already and more on the way.

I am looking in to getting back to riding a motorcycle. I have, IMO, decent experience in touring riding, but almost no experience driving off road. I have been researching like crazy the last couple of months and it has come to the point where I feel it is almost useless getting a motorcycle again because I can't find the right bike. I want to tour, commute and get myself out on gravel roads and maybe once in a while on more advanced dirt roads/single track or whatever you want to call it. The Tenere has been on my list for a long time but I feel that it might lack in the touring department since I am used to be on bigger bikes like the Tracer 9 and Triumph Tiger Explorer. I am afraid it might be a little bit underpowered. On the other hand the Tenere is, like you say, a heavy bike so it might be a bit too advanced in that department. So then two bikes a dual and a touring would be a sensible choice. It's just that my budget doesn't stretch that far.. Sorry for the rambling... The

Hi Johannes, you forgot to mention one option. It's a short cut to fast learning. Join a class on a rented, light bike. For ex. the Portugal trip you are going to in November. /Chris

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Hi Chris, a very good point. I thought about adding it when I was editing, but felt I could say this was only about bike selection 😁 thanks for pointing it out, it’s a very good tip. Ride safe Chris!

As a lifelong dual sport and adventure rider I have owned dozens of bikes. In general I have had more fun on lighter weight bikes. They are cheaper to run and go more places. If you can afford it I recommend the KTM/ Husqvarna 500 platform. These are the lightest, best handling, and best performing dirt bikes with license plates. You will crash less and progress the fastest as a rider because the bike is so good and won’t tire you out as fast. While expensive compared to others, they have the best retained value of any dual sport and are extremely reliable. Buy a spare rear wheel and fit it with a harder tire for dual sport, and put an aggressive knobby on the other for maximum dirt traction. It just takes a couple minutes to swap wheels for the desired terrain. Buy a couple different size counter sprockets so you can quickly adjust the gearing to suit. I expect 700 hours out of the top end with an oil change interval of every 20 hours. Another strategy is to own both a lightweight dirt bike and a heavier adventure bike. This costs more and is more complicated but there will be less compromise. I currently own a 2021 KTM 500 XCF-W and a 2017 Honda Africa Twin and these two bikes replaced 5 others and simplified my life. I ride 3-4 days a week year round and always have the appropriate tool for the challenge at hand. There is no substitute for experience. Ride as much as you can but make avoiding injury your number one priority. You can’t ride ( or go to work) when injured. Ride with others better than yourself, and seek out their knowledge. Most accomplished riders are willing to mentor someone who seriously wants to learn and progress.

I have pretty flat landscapes over here, so even a dual sport bike like KTM 890 Adventure S will be enough. In terms of ownership of two bikes like you, I would choose Naked KTM 890 and something like CRF 300 Rally.

I have been thinking about getting a 250cc as a dual sport as a second bike for a while now (something like a Honda xr) after doing a testride with the T7

Good video. I bought my very first motorcycle ever at the age of 48 just three years ago. I bought a Honda CRF 250L Rally that I owned for only a few months before selling it and buying a Husqvarna FE250. The Husky was a much lighter bike and much easier to learn off-road riding on. Neither of those 250cc bikes were good on the highway. Too dangerously slow. I bought my first adventure bike this year which is the KTM 890 Adventure. I chose it over the Tenere because of the low-slung gas tanks which gives the bike a very low center of gravity. The Tenere was too too heavy for a light rider like myself. I’ve been loving the KTM 890 but can say I am certainly glad I didn’t try to learn dirt riding on that bike. Learn on a light weight bike first both for confidence building and safety.

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Thank you - that is a hilarious name by the way! 😁 The 890 is a great bike and I’m happy to hear you’re satisfied with yours. Starting out on a lighter bike is so much easier, that’s exactly the message I’m trying to get across 😊 ride safe Greg!

Walked same way as author, but my T7 still with me as a bad roads machine and long distance travelling. And a CRF 300 L for a dirt. I Approve all words spoken in this video.

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing Evgeney, a T7 and a 300L is a great combo. Ride safe!

Good video man! It took me 7000km to draw the same conclusion😁 Back to 250 dual sport, again, 😅 and maybe GS1250 for touring👍

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Thank you my friend, best of luck on both bikes, ride safe 😊

I'm hoping to go to Wales or Salisbury this year or both and can anyone tell me what's the off road riding like in Scotland because there's no mapping on the glass or TRF maps thanks

I'm 80 yrs. old. I've been looking at a lot of bikes from Harleys to a Honda 300L / Rally and everything in between. I've decided that the Honda is the best option for me - weight! I need to be able to pick it if I am alone. It's not my 1st choice, but perhaps my best option. :-)

Since the times get more expensive and fuel prices likely to rise from january on, since our monetary system is starting to fall apart, it is maybe wise for a beginner to consider a first bike also as a means for comuting, to reduce expenditures compared to a car for example. A low cc would maybe be a good choice. Like KLR 200-300, Honda CRF 250-300 and the like.

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Excellent point, another added bonus with the smaller, cheaper dual sports. Easier to maintain and much cheaper to run and insure!

Hey this ia Alex from Costa Rica 🇨🇷 World Rider.Saludos.

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Saludos Alex! World rider, that’s awesome! Where are you currently? 😁

Great video Johannes. New sub from me 😎

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Joakim and welcome aboard my friend 😊

As an avid enduro \ trail rider looking to get into ADV, I'm not concerned about skill development but I am concerned about weight and bulk of any ADV bike I might decide to use. On the other hand, as life long road rider I also want a certain level of power and comfort from a bike I'll be riding some distances on. Currently I'm still looking at all the possible choices and weighing out the pros & cons.

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Interesting. I didn’t realize this until pretty recently, but if you want comfort on the highway, you need a bike that weighs a bit. If it’s too light it will be thrown around too much by the wind etc. My 701 is a perfect example, enough power for anything, but since the whole bike was 150kg, it quickly became too light on the highway stretches. On the other hand, weight and bulk of a bike is obviously a bad thing for offroad riding. So there must be a compromise here, and in my experience the best weight between the two seems to be around 180-200kg. Which bike(s) do you see most suitable for your needs?

This principle applies to all types of riding. From naked bikes, crotch rockets, cruisers, racers. etc. Start small build up skill set, , but as you know that is really not how most people do it. People also invest in all kinds of accessories but forget to invest in taking riding classes to improve their riding skills.

Before i got the t7 I had a Harley. Looking back, i should probably bought something lighter. But today i won´t trade my bike. Just got home from a 2 nighter, 600km 🙂 Love the t7!

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

I know you love your T7 and I understand why too 😁 as I said one can definitely get better on a big bike too, it just takes more time and energy. I hope to meet you at Skog next year too!

@McPappan

Жыл бұрын

@@JohannesDalen I booked the same tent spot 😉 will try to get a ticket for next year aswell 👍

This guys looks and sounds 100% like a "Johannes"! All kidding aside, I, and most of the riding experts agree with him, for a beginner, getting and learning how to ride on a dirt bike is a smart and safer way to develop great skills before jumping on a bike to ride on the street regardless of the style. Riding light, durable bikes off-road, without the presence of other vehicles and traffic is a luxury I didn't have but wished I did. I am skilled enough to handle most any bike in most any conditions now but If you don't have or want to wait X many years to get there, go get a dirt bike and ride it off-road as much as you can. Have the proper gear from feet to head, be ready for dropping or crashing the bike as you most likely will while pushing the boundaries of your skills....and, of course, have fun!

Good vid Johannes - I'm curious tho as you had so much done to your 701 with the tower etc.. - is the T7 that much better at longer distance travel than your adventurised 701? Surprised you replaced it and would love to know why - thx

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Brendan! Yes the T7 is a lot better at long distance travelling. I used to think that it was the screen who made the biggest difference, but weight seems to be an important factor as well. The 701 was so light that I was constantly being thrown around by winds. The T7 is much more stable and is less affected. I have recently made a video explaining why I made the switch too 😊

Trying to ignore the very overconfident urge to start with a 450-500 lb bike and wing it, and instead get something like the DR650 instead. In my brighter moments, I can keep in mind theres no rush and progress is the goal. Now if I could just get comfortable with dealing carbs...

The golden rule is: what an small bike teaches, you can't learn it on a big bike. If you want to slow down your progress/learning curve, start on a big bike, but if you want to speed it up, go step by step from smaller to bigger bikes. When I decided to practice enduro, I started with an enduro pit-bike, you can't imagine how much I learned with it, how to brake on dirt, how to turn, how to drift, even how to jump. Then I decided moving to an standard size 125, then to a 250, continued in a 350 cc. And nowadays I am an advanced level enduro rider in a Yamaha YZ 450 FX. Is the same for Adventure Bikes, I began with a Honda 400 NX, and after some two years I moved to a Yamaha Tenere.

I’ve own Tenere 700 for the past 5 months. I started riding dirt nearly 2 years ago on a dual sport Yamaha XT250 which is a fantastic bike to learn on - light, right amount of power and great fun. I’ve put on it nearly 2,000 miles (3,200 km), 90% off-road with a good portion quite technical. I feel pretty competent riding the 250. Tenere was a revelation to me and not in a good way. I felt completely unnerved when I started riding it off-road, especially more technical stuff. It’s as though it robbed me of my confidence. The bike is very heavy and what’s worse it’s top heavy. In rough and slow stuff, it has a tendency to pull you down when you get off balance. Whereas 250 you can jerk into shape, Tenere is just too heavy for such corrections. Tenere is also awfully tall bike. At 5’10” (178 cm), 155 pounds (70 kg) and 32” (81 cm) inseam, it feels very tall, especially in dirt. For taller and larger people such as Johannes, this is of course less of an issue, but for an average guy, it’s more than a handful. Nevertheless, I persisted learning since I invested so much money buying it sight unseen (long wait list) and have gotten much more competent in the rough stuff. I’ve put on it over 1,800 miles (3,000 km), 50% off-road so far. But I now feel that Tenere is unlikely to ever be easy going and fun in the rough stuff they way 250 is. It’s certainly a competent off road machine, but it’s stressful and unnerving when the going gets tough - at least for me. Most of us haven’t spent most of our life riding dirt and unless you have, you should be aware that heavy motorcycles are very difficult in the rough stuff. Tenere is a great motorcycle for those that need to travel long distances at high speed and still need a competent off-road performer. However, the off-road part needs to to be understood as having some significant downsides in a motorcycle of this size. For those that can have 2 motorcycles, a 250/300 dual sports are much more enjoyable off-road. I kept my XT250 and am glad I did. I’ll continue riding the Tenere off-road but will avoid the more technical stuff to avoid damaging the bike and preserve my peace of mind. If I was going on a around-the-world tour with focus on trail riding, I would not take the Tenere and would likely opt for Honda CRF300 Rally. Itchy Boots was wise in her selection.

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Hi there, thanks a lot for sharing your experience. Happy to read it turned out for the better, but you do raise an important point. The T7 is tall and heavy, and when those 200kg comes crashing down, it's hard to stop it from tipping over. Ride safe and good luck!

Hello Johannes, great video. Wanted a T7 for my first bike but prices were very inflated so I got a KLR650 instead. The KLR is heavier than the T7 iirc (and much slower), but it fits me great at 190cm tall and I've gotten used to the weight and am comfortable riding on and off road.

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Hi there! I’m sure the KLR (haven’t ridden the newest one) is a great bike as well. Isn’t it half the price of the T7 too?

@smartstupidman

Жыл бұрын

@@JohannesDalen yup! much more affordable.

The T7 felt to me like an old school 90’s traillie rather than an adventure bike, carried its weight well and was fun in a way typical adv bike could never be. It kinda encouraged me to get a bit drifty and hit every kicker going leaving me giggling like a schoolgirl. I’d love to build a 170kg T7 rally bike and hit up all the euro events, I think it would be more than competitive. In terms of skill building, from experience spending some time riding trials, motocross and downhill mountain bikes massively improved all aspects of what I ride from racing on circuits to road and trail riding. It does get expensive unless you can find friends across disciplines willing to lend bikes and kit😊

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

I’d absolutely love to see that build. Pol Tarres’ T7 got down to 180 kg I think, but I’m sure it can be made even lighter. GPMucci also made a rally T7 that looks the part but I don’t know about the weight.

@rickybobby7660

Жыл бұрын

@@JohannesDalen yeah it would need a frame up rebuild with as much motocross bike in there as possible but it should be possible to get it down to 160/170kgs

@chrishart8548

Жыл бұрын

At the point a T7 was 170kg it would be more like a xt660 with a mt-07 engine. Most of the weight could be removed with a modified alloy sub frame without the strength for cases etc. And remove the whole front fairing and screen and just bolt up a headlight loose a front brake disk and caliper. Lithium battery.

I started out on a v strom 1000 to learn off road riding , sold it and bought a KTM 690 Enduro R , more manageable for off road riding.

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing, I like the V Stroms but can’t really compete with a 690/701 for offroad riding!

Kommer du gå full cirkel. Skaffa en 250 enduro att åka till enduro klubbar träna och en äventyrs mc att använda vad du lär dig inom enduro :) man behöver minst 3st mc :D

please forgive the strangeness of a basketball analogy here when discussing motorbikes, but it's what came to mind watching the video. It's like learning to shoot and hit 3-pointers by starting from the 3 point line. It's much easier to start with a layup, than a close range shot, and keep practising those while slowly extending your range until you end up at the 3 point line. You can of course start at the 3 point line, but i'd bet on the guy who started with the layup to be a better 3 point shooter because he practiced and perfected all those short range shots before he got to the outside line.

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Hey that's a really cool analogy, and it makes perfect sense! I'm no basketball guy, but I love sports of all kind 😁

I really like my drz400s On pavement and Off. Anything more than 100-200 miles and the seat will make your butt sore though lol and the knobbies are loud gotta wear ear plugs.

regardless of bike choice just get suspension set for weight, ensure the tyres suit the purpose too - i have raced MX for 3 decades - SUSPENSION 1st - it allows you to go faster , easier and safer , the rest happens naturally

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

That’s a very good point. I’m dedicating a whole episode to talk about suspension in the T7 bike build series. Suspension is very important and so is tires - thanks for pointing it out!

I have to laugh a little.... You are 6'5" and probable 110 kilos. I am 5'11" and 80 kilos. If you had problems and thought the Yamaha T7 was a bit heavy for you, its dashed my hopes of mastering it...Great review! Very honest. Subscribed..

@JohannesDalen

Жыл бұрын

Hehe, when it comes to the physical part, my long body absolutely helps! Thanks for the kind words and welcome aboard Marc 😊

Hi there. So ive watched a couple of your videos and my takeaway from them is that you swap and change bikes quicker than I change my underwear (about once a month).. (but to be fair its a tough life up north). Is there a video where your really happy with a bike you might keep for maybe a year ? 🙂