Excellent review.  I would have liked to see more single lane and dirt roads.  And as Suzuki seems to have dropped the DL1000 for 2008, I would have preferred to see how the DL650 compares.

An alternative to consider for next year would be comparing these bikes with some common farkles.  I haven't ruled out a DL650 as my next bike.  I'd love to know how it would compare against the competition with gold valves and perhaps another common upgrade.

Love the site and thanks for the excellent reports.

I would have liked to see how the Ulysses stacks up against the others, since they've made significant improvements on it for '08.  I rode an '07 and I didn't like the seat height and the handlebar lock, but it was so much fun to pull wheelies on and surprisingly comfortable. 

The upcoming 650 comparo will be interesting.  I hope you aren't planning to go long distance on the 650L.  I doubt anyone could last over an hour or two on the freeway on that one (you'll be out of gas by then anyway).  It's not really much of a dirt bike either.  My experience has been that it'll do some of both, but you'll be disappointed on either type of ride unless you casually meander on fire roads.  It doesn't help that it's about 2 decades outdated. 

Will you include the KTM 525 EXC?  It's expensive but street legal and it might really be a decent dirt bike.  It might even be livable on the street.

Nobody builds a true adventure tourer.

Holmes said...

louemc said...
I don't get it? Was there anyplace you got off the pavement? (other than getting into the parking area for the Washougal MX race), anyway a Gold wing tricycle could do the same route, so where is the "adventure" bike getting any test? Did you find any places to get out of sight, and camp for the night, or was every night on a bed with sheets, and a hot shower?

Well, they did state at the beginning of the article that:

 

"It seems to us that the vast majority of people who will buy these machines don't intend to really use them for off-highway purposes anyway. For that reason we opted to utilize only paved surfaces for evaluation in this test."

 

I wonder if part of the reasoning here was simply not wanting to trash these loaner bikes? Didn't they have a couple of drops during last years test while they were playing in the dirt?

 

Still, I'll agree with Lou here - it would have been nice to include a *little* dirt action in this test. IMHO part of what defines the 'adventure touring' class of bikes is being able to enjoy mild dirt roads and have more options for exploring when the pavement ends. My wife is ready to sell her Z750S for something a little more comfy on dirt roads after getting bounced around on some fire roads on our last road trip.

 

Also, how about a 'budget' adventure touring test this coming year that includes the new KLR650, DL650, Versys and an F650GS? Maybe do a long weekend trip in Oregon where you spend some time on fire roads, maybe loaded up for an overnight camping trip.

Post Edited (louemc) : 9/19/2007 12:40:51 AM GMT

After reading the '06 test report, and intending to buy my first bike in 20 years, I went out and test rode all of the bikes tested except the Caponord. Then I re-read the article again, twice. Then, having ruled out only the Uly, I test rode the bikes I likes a second time. They are ALL good bikes and I had a hard time deciding. I ended up riding the BMW, KTM, and Duc 3 times each and the Suzi twice. I ended up with the GS, but wish it was as flickable as the Multistrada.

Tall ST? Yeah, more or less. But the extra suspension travel really helps on rough roads. And at speed on rough roads the GS kept it's composure the best by far with the Suzi being dead last. The Duc (without ohlins) could take the bumps, or avoid them at the last second better than the rest, but no long hual comfort. The KTM was like a dirt bike in the twisties, but surprisingly planted on the highway.

And I have absolutely no idea what people are complaining about concerning the BM transmission??? It don't care if I use the clutch or not. The Duc and KTM might have been marginally better....or not.

Ok, this little mob mentality certainly has swelled in the few days I've been away. For those of you who offered props, thanks, and for the rest of you haters, check it out...

The Dirt Issue - The fact that we did have some spills last year, including one by our best dirt rider on the best off-roader of the bunch, KTM, you can bet your digital butts we were leery of tanking any of these beasts again. Speaking of tanks, T.Jed makes a good point (aside from his awesome 675 Cub idea), 500 pounds is a lot to have sliding around, and it seems like that should make a smidgeon of sense to anyone who has ever thrown a leg over two wheels. Did we take heat from "The Man," hell yeah we did, but you know what, Holmes, I catch heat for banged up motocrossers and full-blown enduros so what do you expect with a Multistrada s-model? We had four MotoUSA Editors involved at some point in the discussion about how these bikes would be ridden and what they can/cannot do. So, Dualsportz, as it turns out we do have a grip, and fairly good one in our opinion.

Motorcycle Terminology 101 - There's a reason we called this the Adventure Touring test and not the Dual-sport Shootout. I see a lot 650-this and 650-that. Take some Xanax and chill out because that test is coming. Then you can all bitch about how a lack of wind protection on 2-of-3 machines is the greatest calamity in motojournalism history.

BMW-K - FYI, our numbers are correct, 437 pounds for the GS is preposterous. We weigh all the machines topped off and then subtract the weight of the fuel. The same method proved that a HP2 weighs 420.

Lou - You piss in my cheerios on every article I write, but it's nice to know you're still reading...

Flickmeister - You're right about the omissions, I didn't feel the scorecards were that critical as an addendum, but I misjudged them. The popular For My Money should have been included. I have that information and it will be posted as soon as I have four spare minutes, my apologies.