Getting Old I suppose

[Hen99]

Must say the baby KTM does look a smart machine. But as one or two have said...its all a compromise. I thnk a useable top speed of 90-100 would be ample  so maybe a shade more power.How about a decent 600 twin with 65-70 hp should be easy enough all with in 170 kilos .and the name Triumph Lynx   please send your royalties  to ......

[julianhj]

Originally Posted by Paulhere

This looks like it could be fun for us oldies.

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/new-bikes/ktm-390-adventure/

That looks great. I wonder when Triumph are going to start rolling out their Bajaj-built rival.

https://www.visordown.com/news/industry/what-could-triumph-bajaj-deal-mean-bikers

[Djairouks]

The KTM sure is tempting for it's low weight, at least in Switzerland they are more expensive to maintain than Triumphs.

For a lower weight, cheap and reliable option you might want to check the Tracer 700, just 1kg heavier than the CB500X but 28hp more.
Honda's quality on bikes sure has lowered, Yamahas are not exceptional but no bad surprises either.

[NORTY]

I ended up going with a Husqvarna 701, along with my 800XC. 2 different bikes with different jobs.

[Britigerider]

Originally Posted by Hen99

Anyway for those of us that are getting on a bit,  how about  a much smaller , lighter  baby tiger maybe a 450 twin 170 kilos,  it would be fine for solo touring   would probably be better offload as well
 

A lighter bike would NOT suit me because of my adopted (keep falling off offroad, bones aren't flexible anymore, bad back, bad knee, hip needs replacing & wrists & elbows hurt!) riding style which is mainly tight to sweeping bends in almost deserted country roads (perfect tarmac) and also travelling long freeway miles a couple of times a year to get to places like Canada or Mexico.
My Tiger as l have it set up now with cushioned seat, windscreen with extenders top & sides, bar risers, padded & heated grips, & a $1000 splash out on Hyperpro suspension front & rear have turned it into "my" ideal machine.
The only reason l would go with a smaller engined bike would be for pure offroading, like when l had the DRZ 400.

[coddy]

[quote author=Djairouks

For a lower weight, cheap and reliable option you might want to check the Tracer 700, just 1kg heavier than the CB500X but 28hp more.
Honda's quality on bikes sure has lowered, Yamahas are not exceptional but no bad surprises either.
[/quote]


At 196kg and 835mm seat height it's still too tall and heavy for a lot of people.

[Britigerider]

Originally Posted by Djairouks

The KTM sure is tempting for it's low weight, at least in Switzerland they are more expensive to maintain than Triumphs.

For a lower weight, cheap and reliable option you might want to check the Tracer 700, just 1kg heavier than the CB500X but 28hp more.
Honda's quality on bikes sure has lowered, Yamahas are not exceptional but no bad surprises either.

Interesting post for 2 reasons......
1/That Tracer looks interesting.
2/ This is a Triumph forum, so why promote other brands?

[Djairouks]

Originally Posted by Britigerider

Interesting post for 2 reasons......
1/That Tracer looks interesting.
2/ This is a Triumph forum, so why promote other brands?

The OP asks for solutions I gave one, others said Honda or KTM, I don't see the issue and I'm
a 10 years owner of different Yamahas, still have a "good old" Fazer 8 gen 2 limited edition
65th anniversary, none ever let me down !

Originally Posted by coddy

At 196kg and 835mm seat height it's still too tall and heavy for a lot of people.

Yeah well I tend to forget this detail, as I'm blessed with long legs (89cm inseem), there's only
one bike I ever tried that I could not touch the floor, a first gen Versys 1000, with it's huge engine
spreading the legs, those yami 2 cylinder engines are crazy thin, so it might help as well.

Another contender could be the BMW 310 GS, I heard good things about it, even if BMWs are crazy
expensive to maintain and not always bullet proof, worth a look !
https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/bmw/BMW_G310GS_17.htm

[K1W1]

Originally Posted by Britigerider

2/ This is a Triumph forum, so why promote other brands?

That is a bit harsh. This is the "On Two wheels" section of the forum so there is not any implied restriction here (or any other part of the forum that I know of) not to talk about other brands. Motorcycling is a broad church and that needs to be understood and accepted. Are you maybe suggesting that the Admins impose North Korean like rules on the forum?

[Djairouks]

Originally Posted by K1W1

That is a bit harsh. This is the "On Two wheels" section of the forum so there is not any implied restriction here (or any other part of the forum that I know of) not to talk about other brands. Motorcycling is a broad church and that needs to be understood and accepted. Are you maybe suggesting that the Admins impose North Korean like rules on the forum?

  north Korean rules, ahhh you killed me buddy !

Yeah so much for the biker mentality, we're all a big familly regardless of brands, if 2 wheels
bring you joy, be they Japanese, austrian or British, what's the problem !