Every self-respecting brand has at least one big-bore adventure bike in its lineup. Still, it’s the middleweights that fly out of showrooms the fastest. Honda sells more Transalps than Africa Twins, Triumph can’t build enough Tiger 900s while the 1200 gathers dust, and KTM’s 890 dominates their sales charts. Even Suzuki moves more V-Strom 800s than 1050s.
At BMW, it’s a different story. The smaller GS has spent generations living in the pitch-black shadow of its big brother. And while mid-size adventure bikes have become increasingly off-road capable in recent years, the F 850 GS – and its predecessors – just didn’t deliver as soon as the asphalt stopped.
Enter the BMW F 900 GS. In Bavaria, they’ve flipped the script completely and gone all-in on a more hardcore approach. I notice it right away when hopping off Continue reading →
SMT. Supermoto Touring. Or in other words: a playful long-distance bike. Sounds good, right? And yet, the KTM 890 SMT is currently the only bike in the SMT segment. Ducati has its Hypermotards, but those only check the “SM” box, no “T” in sight. Whether that means the other brands don’t see value in the category or avoid it for other reasons, I can’t say. But it sure made me curious to find out how KTM defines those three letters.
So here’s the question: should you look at the SMT as a sport-touring machine (like the ones we see plenty of these days, think of the recently tested Suzuki GSX-S1000GX, the Triumph Tiger Sport 800 or the more adventure-styled Ducati Multistrada V4 S)? Or is the SMT simply in a class of its own?
If it’s up to KTM to decide on that matter, it’s definitely the latter. Unlike the trio I just mentioned, KTM’s focus is a lot less on the “T” and much more on the “SM.” The sporty Michelin PowerGP tires and the chopped windscreen make that clear instantly. Add the white beak to the mix and the 890 SMT ends up with a pretty “different” look. It’s a bit of an odd bird. And as we all know, whether you fall for a bike often comes down to looks.
At first glance the 890 SMT might look like an 890 Adventure on street tires, but it’s actually quite different. The SMT rolls on 17-inch wheels, has a shorter suspension travel and swaps Continue reading →
Three years ago, I tested the Harley Street Bob and I have to say, I was pretty smitten with its cruiser vibe. At the same time, it left me itching to try a Harley with more long-distance DNA (read: fairing and saddlebags), without having to climb aboard one of their weighty Touring models.
Enter the Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST, the fairing-and-bagged version of the Low Rider S and a proud member of the Cruiser lineup. The ST doesn’t hide where it got its looks. It borrows a hefty scoop of design sauce from the iconic FXRT of the eighties. Retro vibes galore! In fact, with those red letters on gray paint, my test bike looked like it could cameo in Stranger Things.
One walkaround of the ST and I’m already nodding in approval. The fit and finish are solid (with a special mention for that classic yet beautifully designed taillight) and in this blacked-out trim, the bike just looks plain cool. Worth noting: the ST comes standard in chrome (starting at $24,199), and if you want it murdered out, that’ll cost you an extra $1,100. Most paint options also come with a surcharge.
Not exactly cheap, but the ST isn’t some bare-bones, tech-free entry model either. Harley-Davidson is (finally) rolling out Continue reading →
It’s already been five years since I attended the Belgian launch of the Yamaha Ténéré 700. In a short time, the T7 established itself as the reference within the mid-range adventure segment. The most common criticisms of the standard model were its somewhat limited range and the suspension, which was considered too soft for more serious off-road work. Yamaha addressed this by introducing four additional Ténéré models, offering something for everyone.
The Ténéré 700 Extreme has longer suspension travel and lightweight components, while the Ténéré 700 Explore offers shorter suspension travel and more comfort than the standard model. The World Raid is a T7 with a 23-liter tank and better suspension, and the latest addition to the line-up is the World Rally: a World Raid with a nice retro color scheme and goodies like an Akrapovic exhaust.
Electronics
When it comes to the equipment of the T7 models, we can be brief. The World Raid was the first one to feature a Continue reading →
2023 must have been a very anticipatory year for BMW Motorrad. Because when you replace the most popular steed in your stable, you obviously don’t want to make a poor impression. Moreover, BMW didn’t settle for a cautious facelift and a few small technical tweaks, but pushed itself to a major makeover. I had the opportunity to test the new 2024 BMW R 1300 GS for a week during a trip to Spain with two friends. The report of that trip will follow. For now: my findings of the GS after 4300 km in the seat.
To illustrate the importance of the GS for BMW’s business figures: in 2023, BMW sold a little more than 209,000 motorcycles worldwide. More than 60,000 of those were accounted for by the ‘big GS club,’ namely the 1250 GS, the 1250 GS Adventure, and the new 1300 GS (which has been on the market since the fall of 2023). You can safely say it’s BMW Motorrad’s cash cow.
I also want to mention upfront that I’m not a member of the GS Haters Club. Okay, it seems like everyone has a GS, making it feel somewhat ubiquitous. But after testing the 1200 GS Rallye and “needing” a new motorcycle myself, I almost bought a second-hand blue 1200 Rallye. Yes, I chose Continue reading →
Despite a preference for adventure bikes here at the editorial office, we hadn’t yet tested the KTM 890 Adventure. A change was in order, especially now that KTM has given this adventure bike an update for 2023. I took the 890 for a week-long journey to Trentino, specifically to the Dolomites and the region around Lake Garda.
The updates for 2023 may appear subtle at first glance, but they do make the 890 a better motorcycle. The most noticeable change is the new front end: it has been redesigned, including a peculiar hole in the middle of the screen, aimed at reducing turbulence. Thanks to the new side panels, the 890 looks sleeker than its predecessor and also directs the wind away from the rider more effectively. Additionally, the 5″ TFT dashboard stands out: modern graphics replace the previously modest design. Suspension has also been revamped for easier adjustment, and the redesigned seat offers improved comfort.
For this journey, KTM had equipped the 890 with panniers and the tank bag from the Powerparts catalog. The KTM branded Touratech panniers are incredibly spacious (45 + 31 L), and the top lid opens both forward and backward with the ignition key. The locking mechanism requires some force and practice, but once they are in place, the panniers are securely attached. Despite its 16-liter capacity and tall design, the tank bag never gets in the way, and attaching it with the Quick Lock ring takes just seconds.
My trip began with two days on the highway. With the cruise control on, eating up the miles is a breeze. From southern Germany to northern Italy, I was treated to hours of constant rain and heavy downpours. It wasn’t the most enjoyable experience, but it was perfect for testing the wind protection and comfort.
Highest position
With the seat in the lowest position, I quickly found Continue reading →
You don’t need a thermometer to see that the adventure segment is still the hottest around. Not because everyone has to plow through deserts or wants to ride from the North to the South Cape, but simply because these bikes are so comfortable. And because they look nice and cool of course. And at the same time they give you the feeling that you can just pack your bags and go on an adventure.
So it’s quite logical that Husqvarna came up with an adventure bike too. After all, they have plenty of experience in motocross and enduro, and since they’ve been partnering up with KTM, they don’t have to beg hard to borrow some parts.
The result: the Husqvarna Norden 901. Look at the engine, the frame, the swingarm, the tank, the buttons … Isn’t this just a KTM 890 Adventure turned into a Swedish design object? I took the Norden and my tent for an eight-day trip to Continue reading →
Team Throttle 