Adventure bike advice....

[Obiwan Kenobi]

'Ey up.

I am seriously looking at getting an 'adventure' type bike for more touring, as the new missus seems to like it up the pillion seat

Got about £3k to spend. Needs to be a road-biased big 'trailie' of about 1,000 cc

Options I like the look of are:

Ducati Multistrada
Triumph Tiger
KTM Adventure
Aprilia Caponord


The BMW GS and the Moto Guzzi Stelvio are out of the price range.

I don't want Japanese.

The best value for money seems to be the Aprilia which I'm pleased about as the Falco has been nowt but fun so far.

Interestingly, the age/mileage Tiger for this dosh is much older/higher, and the KTM really needs £4k+ for a good one.

So:
Any advice? You owned any of these?
Any others I've missed?
Any inherent problems with the Caponord?
Any one give a rats ass?



Dave

[flatlander]

Owned a triumph in the past lousy customer service mine had 11 faults including peeling paint which was a recall but they still said it was because I rode it in winter. It was bought new when I had money :( wouldn't touch one again due to customer service and faults which were never rectified. In the end they offered to underwrite avtrade in on a Suzuki bandit which I did loads of touring on and loved completely
Brilliant all round bike had several all carb pre 2005 loads of fun

[HisNibbs]

A friend had a capo for a number of years and it is a very good all rounder. Much like the Falco only high and wide...

[MartDude]

Capo shares a lot of its electrics with the Futura. I had my Fut for 6 1/2 years with no electrical problems; however, I did carry out the recommended preventative upgrades/replacements early in my ownership - regulator/rectifier, starter solenoid, ditching the alternator connectors. Everyone I've met who's owned a Capo regards them highly. I'm told the forks can feel a little on the soft side for some tastes. never ridden one, sat on a couple - they feel big and comfy.

[Willopotomas]

A friend of mine had the Tiger for a while. Nothing but trouble. The Bloorumphs seem to come out the factory in two modes. Either brilliant and never a problem, or flat unreliable and nothing but trouble no matter what you do to it.

I'll throw my mark in the Cap box.. If it's likely to sway your decision.

[lazarus]

In amongst a string of BMW GS I had a KTM Adventure for a year. I never gelled with it but that easily could be me rather than the bike. It seemed to be well built - at least as well as the BMW, not that that is saying too much these days. It had a stupid dual fuel tank arrangement with two filler caps and the need to lean the bike to one side or another to move fuel about when it was getting low. But the worst point was the engine and its fuelling.

Basically it was a detuned sports bike engine with too light a flywheel for off road IMO . This was made worse by bad fuelling in part the result of bad gearing on the throttle control. Result was that when the front suspension dived over a pothole, your hand tended to rotate a bit on the throttle, the engine responded and you went down the road in a series of jerks. It was quite a difficult bike to ride in town and there was lots of chat about this issue and how to make it better. But no total solution.

So summary - well built bike, not bad for a first effort but flawed. I replaced it with a GS.

I have heard well of the Tiger and in particular of good finish and reliability. Cant comment on the Aprillia but the Ducati isnt an Adventure bike other than in styling.

P.S. Dont know your height but dont do what a lot of people do and buy a bike that leaves you on tip toe at the lights etc. Becomes a PITA quickly.

[Dusty]

I had a Triumph RS955i which has a lot in common with, I presume, the Tiger that you are considering. It was a wonderful bike; reliable, economical and fast enough if we're all honest. The motor, while not in the same league as the 1050, is pretty impressive. Reasonably smooth, linear power and quite torquey low down. Tigers are reputed to be great two-up and many owners keep their bikes for ever, piling on big miles.

I've also, like most on here, had a Falco, so I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Caponord. Always fancied one.

I wouldn't consider the other two at all to be honest. The MS, at £3k vintage is, in my opinion, fugly and so is the KTM. Yeah, I know, so are the other two but I quite like their ugliness. Also, whether it's justified or not, I'd always feel that the Duc and KTM would be less reliable.
Good luck with your choice,

[D-Rider]

I think Davshill has a Tiger as well as his Falco and rates it.
Search on here and I'm sure you will find things he's posted up.

[Obiwan Kenobi]

Thanks for the input. I'm 6'2" so can handle any one of these barges ok.

I don't think I am going to get a KTM for this money, unless its a 690 or something, and having owned a MZ Baghira 660 supermoto, that's nowhere near enough power for me.

Also, whilst I actually quite like the Multistrada looks, I think it may be more of an 'image' bike than some others. Doesn't look that great for two-up either.

I am surprised at how the Tigers hold their value. My money gets me something of early 2000's vintage with 40k on it.

May keep an eye out for a good Caponord to come along, I'm not in a big rush. They don't seem that common so may be waiting a while...

[DavShill]

Yep I've got a 2009 Tiger 1050 and I really rate it. Very comfortable and capable fast tourer. It is not an Adventure off road bike though. It's firmly set in the sports tourer category. Solo, I can ride like a sports bike but the advantage is that it's very comfy upright riding position. Reliability has been great (spent nothing other than a few subtle mods and the usual consumables and the triumph dealer at A1 Moto York are very good.

The previous 900/955cc versions were more of a true off-roader and good ones are still available in your price range.

[DavShill]

https://www.ridersite.com/viewtopic.php?t=11682