Reasons Why You Should Not Get a Big Adventure Bike

Adventure or ADV bikes are among the most popular motorbike segments around the world. They have something very unique and vibrant about them. They ensure a lively and versatile performance, whether on the road or off-road.

ADV bikes are the best machines for exploring the beauty of nature in depth. Unlike cruisers and touring bikes, adventure bikes are capable of taking you to places that you may have never seen or heard about. ADV bikes are gaining popularity and are likely to dominate the motorcycle industry.

Despite all the good things about ADV bikes, there are some valid reasons why you should not get a big adventure bike. They are usually not suitable for all riders. To some experts, adventure bikes don’t make sense. Some bike experts also term ADV bikes as a Scam! Let’s get to know the various reasons why you should not get a big adventure bike and whether they are worth it or not.

Whether buying an ADV bike is a good decision or not it depends on your purpose of riding. Almost everyone loves how ADV bikes look. Also, the way these bikes are shown in the videos can make anyone go for ADV bikes. They somehow look the most beautiful and attractive machines on earth. It seems like there is nothing that can match the level of fun, adventure, and thrill as you get on an adventure bike.

In this article, we will be listing some of the major reasons why getting a big adventure bike can be a big mistake. They may not always be practical for all sorts of adventure riding. Let’s get into the real reasons in depth, explaining why big ADV bikes are not for you.

The big and fully-equipped adventure bikes are way too big for most riders. Some bikers may argue that most cruiser and touring bikes are also way too heavy for most riders. So, why only ADV bikes? It is true to a certain extent. Most of the big cruisers, touring bikes, and big ADV bikes are tailor-made for a special class of riders who can afford, handle, or manage heavyweight, large bikes. Only expert riders with years of experience can handle or manage their weight in most riding conditions.

One thing to note here is that the big cruisers and touring bikes are only made for paved road travel. They are only better for linear performance. Meanwhile, the big ADV bikes are marketed as one of the most versatile bikes for both paved roads and dirt tracks. Big adventure motorbikes and better off-roading performance don’t go well together. The size of the bike does matter when it comes to true dirt riding.

Big adventure motorcycles are way heavier than most motorbikes. We all know that a motorcycle that is too big and heavy can’t have superior maneuverability, agility, and cornering performance. A big and heavy bike is not a suitable option for off-roading. Yet, many of us still consider big adventure bikes as one of the best-suited for extreme off-road adventures.

The heavyweight of big ADV motorbikes restricts beginner riders and even intermediate riders from using them. Even if they attempt to perform different maneuvers on these bikes, they are most likely to fail. They will either drop them or cause them damage while performing a certain maneuver, or even on a light dirt or gravel road.

Another downside of adventure bikes, which makes them less suited for most riders, is their tall seat height. The taller seat height compared to cruisers and touring bikes makes them less suited for road travel. Riding such ADV bikes in city streets or in busy traffic may be your most challenging ride experience ever. Riding a full-sized, top-end ADV bike is not a joke.

ADV motorcycles have taller seat heights to make them suitable for off-roading. The taller the seat height is, the greater the ground clearance of these bikes. As you must have seen, the professional dirt bikes and dual sport bikes that are primarily built for dirt tracks have much higher ground clearance and taller seat height. However, they are very lightweight and are not meant for road travel.

On the other hand, ADV bikes are more oriented towards better on-roading as compared to off-roading. However, with the much taller seat height, they are not as good as standard bikes and cruiser motorcycles on the road. Urban commuting on an ADV bike is a much bigger challenge for riders.

Adventure motorbikes are marketed as the most versatile bikes on this planet. There is nothing that an ADV bike cannot do. Whether cruising down highways, long-distance touring, or off-roading, adventure bikes are your all-in-one, all-rounder motorcycles. They are widely considered to be the jack of all trades.

Unfortunately, ADV bikes may be the jack of all trades, but they are the master of none. It is true in the case of adventure bikes or anything that is produced in the world with the ability to do it all. There is no specific domain or thing that you can claim to be the best about ADV bikes.

They are not the ideal highway cruiser, long-distance tourer, or off-road dirt bike. If you like to do it all on a single bike, ADV bikes are for you. But, if you are looking for a specialized motorbike for either highway cruising, motorcycle touring, or off-roading, you must go for cruiser bikes, baggers, touring bikes, or dirt bikes.

The marketing done for the adventure bikes is one major reason why these bikes are so in trend. It serves as a major reason behind their success. If you have seen the ADV bikes ads from different companies, they must have urged you to buy one of these big adventure bikes. These ads are made very appealing and spark the curiosity in riders to try one of these.

The design, shape, vibrant colors, and the technology installed in ADV bikes already make them very fascinating. When enhanced further in an ad campaign, it makes most of us willing to pay any amount to buy these big adventure bikes.

If you have seen most of these ADV bikes' marketing and ads, they project these bikes as one of the toughest off-roading machines. It is like you can take ADV bikes almost anywhere you want to. According to the brand and marketing teams, these big adventure bikes can help you overcome any terrain, including uphill, downhill, gravel roads, mud, puddles, rocks, and whatnot. All you need to do is stand on the pegs, and you can do anything with these big adventure bikes.

This is not the reality. The reality is quite different from what is shown in such marketing advertisements. There are certain limitations attached to adventure bikes.

• They are not some sort of super bikes that can be ridden anywhere, especially in most off-roading conditions.

• The limitations, such as the top-end weight and giant size of these big adventure bikes, limit their off-road ability.

• Also, considering the tall seat height and longer wheel travel suspensions make them less suitable for long-distance road travel, especially on twisty roads.

Companies, brands, and marketing managers don’t tell you this, but adventure bikes, especially the big ones, are not the best-suited for off-roading. They are not ideally designed for dirt riding. Most big adventure bikes are termed as Adventure Tourers as they are not at all suitable for off-road adventures. At the same time, most ADV bikes are only capable of light off-roading.

If you love to do extreme off-roading, ADV bikes aren’t for you. Go for a dual-sport bike or a pure dirt bike. Only if you are a beginner rider can you opt for a lightweight, small-capacity ADV motorbike. There are some rally-style adventure bikes that are more off-road-biased, such as the Yamaha Tenere 700 or the Honda Transalp. These bikes are built with pure off-roading in mind.

The biggest problem with large adventure bikes while off-roading is their excessive weight. Even if you are a trained off-road rider, big ADV bikes tend to fall. You ask any ADV off-road rider about how many times they have dropped their bike while performing an off-road maneuver, and they will tell you the truth.

The weight of large adventure bikes makes them less practical on dirt tracks. You will consume all your energy in picking up a big adventure bike, in case you drop, which is likely to happen. In most cases, you cannot pick up a large ADV bike single-handedly. You will require support from another rider to pick the bike up.

True Off-road bikes like dirt bikes, enduro, or even motocross (MX) bikes are made to fall. However, they are lightweight enough to be picked up easily and continue riding.

On top of being big, muscular, heavy, and fully loaded with top-end features and tech, adventure motorbikes are expensive, too. Considering all these aspects, it is natural for these bikes to be expensive.

Another major reason why ADV bikes are expensive is that they are the most versatile bikes. As said, adventure bikes are all-in-one bikes. Riders don’t need to buy multiple bikes for different purposes. They can save their money by having a do-it-all ADV bike and ride anywhere they like.

Nonetheless, we know that ADV bikes may be the most versatile, but they aren’t a specialized bike for either on-roading or off-roading. They are a mix of both bikes, and to build such bikes, you have to make some compromises.

Being expensive is another major flaw in these big, premium-class ADV bikes. How? You cannot afford to drop this bike while off-roading. However, while you are off-roading, it happens quite frequently.

If you don’t have the budget, it is better to go with an affordable small adventure bike or a dual-sport bike. A dual-sport bike is very much capable of off-roading, and it can also prove to be a decent on-road bike.

Most riders find big adventure bikes impractical because their rugged appearance cannot compensate for inadequate performance metrics. Its large dimensions combined with high weight and elevated seat height make the bike difficult to maneuver, particularly for starters and individuals who are vertically challenged. These motorcycles compromise on-road performance and off-road functionality because they try to handle both environments but do not achieve ideal results in either.

The marketing strategies that tempt consumers tend to conceal actual product deficiencies. All the drawbacks and sacrifices associated with purchasing a big adventure bike require individuals to assess their specific needs before making a purchase. The needs of riders who want authentic off-road adventures together with high-performance capabilities may require specialized small motorcycles like dirt bikes and dual sport bikes because these rides better fulfill their functional needs.

You should pick a bike that matches your individual needs, together with your style of riding methods and financial capability. Big adventure bikes do not represent a solution for everyone, yet they maintain a specific position within the riding community when riders properly assess their capabilities.