Nathan, not Simon. Simon was tragically killed in Mali in 2003.

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I've read about Simon, but I own Nate's book ... so should have known better as it's sat here in front of me.


Nate's famous Postie bike

"For me, ‘Light is Might’. And the lighter, the better."

I agree with him 100% on this.

"Until Yamaha give us a WR450R, I’m eyeing up the new CCM GP450. If the engine proves to be reliable, then for me we might be getting closer to the mythical perfect adventure bike."

The first company to make a 450 enduro with about 45 hp and a 7,500 km service interval (comparable to the 690) with good suspension is going to have my money.

I don't care if it has a fairing, I'd rather build my own. I don't care if its a Honda CRF, Yamaha WR, KTM. Just give me a reliable 450 thumper enduro with good suspension. The gap between DRZ 400 and KTM 690 is HUGE. Close to 40 hp. Why why why why hasn't any company filled this gap? For adventurers and weekend enduro riders alike, it would truly be an amazing bike. And please, try to keep it under 130 kilo

I met a australian guy in Laos last winter on a Royal Enfield. I didnt ask his age but he must have been around 55-60. He had a huge beard, a huge belly and a huge smile. He was absoulutely a happy go lucky type of person. He had shipped his bike from Darwin to Indonesia some place and had been riding through Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia and were then in Laos. He wore a leather coat - not designed for motorbiking at all, some pair of working gloves (not motorbike gloves) and half face helmet and a pair of jeans. And just a pair of light boots. On the back on his Royal Enfield he had a cheap looking duffel bag medium size strapped to the bike. That was all he brought for a 5-6 mounds tour around southeastasia. He hang up with my group of bikers for 3-4 days and he was truly and honestly the coolest bike I ever have met.

And the best item he had was a T-shirt with a huge print on the chest who said this:

"ADVENTURE BEFORE DEMENTIA"

Now this ozzi guy definetively had the right attitude. The best attitude I ever saw at least.....

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

Very interesting discussion and makes you classify yourself, and decide in which box of riding you belong. It also gives you perspective on others as well, which clears up the different perspectives on the bikes people choose.

The travel thing has wore off so these days it is more about the bike, so now my trips look like endurance runs of 450+ km per day. It is about the ride, not so much the destination. For this reason, the bigger bikes are more my preference. I do my weekend and day trips on gravel as well, totally about the road. 3000 km for me is a 1 week trip. I don't like groups. I have no interest in group dynamics, the social aspects etc, and it is about riding most of the day, eat, sleep, reset. Alone is best. With another rider, 2 to 3 days is enough. Smokers want to stop every 30 minutes, and those with small bladders every hour. Some get tired of gravel. Some only want gravel. Sometimes I'm happy to ride tar, other times gravel. Sand I don't like. Why compromise my ride just to ride with others?


I despise places where plenty of bikes gather, including breakfast run venues, tourist locations and check list 'must do' rides. Some of the rides I hated the most are what others say is great riding. Look on internet for great rides, and to me they are awful. To me it is just regularly seeing other bikes, clouds of dust, and the usual BS conversations with group riders. I prefer to get away from that.

Naturally once you can put classify your riding style, you can choose your bike. Perhaps it is about the trip and destinations, and the bike is only a form of transport. Then if it is just a form of transport small and cheap is better. I want a bike that puts a grin on my face. Like something in orange I don't mind spending money on the bike. Money isn't a limiting factor for me. It just must be a ride I enjoy, preferably to a place without other bikes. For me, I like bikes and riding. I don't necessarily like the bike scene and don't associate with it. If I did I guess I would have a different view of the starbucks/group ride/breakfast run/MC scene.

Great story! Love it! Being happy out on the road is not always easy! Some of us bring our nightmares along in our panniers!

No question there is a gap in this segment. KTM seems to be doing the best at filling that gap. Husky and Husaberg were also doing a good job heading in that direction before their demise.

The Japanese companies have mostly been asleep the last 10 or 15 years.
Lots of reasons WHY ... but I predict a change is in the works ... from ALL of the big four.

KTM's 450EXC street legal race bike has great potential, IMO.
KTM also make a cool Dakar Rally version you can buy, not a good travel bike, and probably costs .. what? ... $25K to $30K?

I'd like to see KTM build a 450 version of the KTM 690. What do you think? More dual sport biased, real sub frame for luggage, reduced HP for long term reliability, longer maint. intervals. Will we see this? Dunno?

I've heard rumors KTM are working on a smaller twin ... something 650 to 800cc ADV twin, light weight, perhaps inspired by the 950 SE? Rumor!

For the time being I think the "ancient" DRZ400S is not a bad choice. Sure, it's down on power ... but how much do you need on a travel bike?

DRZ wet weight is around 300 lbs. (136 kgs.). Heavy but not outrageous for a 100% street legal 400cc dual sport. The DRZ offers a real subframe, bullet proof proven engine with 14 years of history among tens of thousands of examples worldwide, many still on the road/trail.

The KTM 690 is about 320 lbs. wet (145 kgs. wet) Fantastic for a 650 class bike!

But once you add lots of extras and luggage for travel to either bike, weight goes UP sharply. Not sure how you get round that in an elegant way?

You could take a 300cc Two Stroke Trials bike RTW (under 200 lbs) ... but once you load it up for travel ... it would get heavy quick and it's total character would change.

The other problem with loading up a very light weight race bike is that it changes it's character dynamic, which can affect handling.

The traveler has to sort of "re-design" his bike, adapt suspension and geometry to maintain proper handling whilst carrying luggage. Luggage must be arranged carefully to make it all work.

I would hope a bike built from the ground up to carry a luggage load would have an advantage? Hopefully CCM has thought about this with their new bike?

I like the idea of a 450 class bike in that not only will going off road on tougher tracts be more fun, but a 450 class bike forces us to pack lighter and smarter ... and just plain get along with LESS.
I'm thinking this could be a challenge to riders coming off a R12GS-A!

The "Biker" vs. "Traveler" discussion will never stop, and continue until the universe will end...

The right bike is the one which makes you happy, not the one which make the next person over happy.

Never forget that happiness cannot be bought, only satisfaction can, and they are not the same things.

This is a philosophical discussion, and in general does not have anything to do with physical things...

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I think it's BOTH ...
It's philosophical ... and physical. Check the title of the thread again ... then go back and read Paul's original essay.

Paul writes as much about "Which Bike" as he does about travel attitude and philosophy. So it's clearly BOTH ... and nothing is out of bounds, both are relevant ... but working out a proper "ratio" between attitude and the bike is tricky and very personal.

Your comments about "happiness" are entirely valid and important to be aware of too! I think a delicate balance much be maintained. (at least for me!) I devote a lot of energy and attention to my bike ... but it is not the center of the universe and does not dictate the parameters of a trip, but if my heart is not in the trip ... I can always fall back onto the bike for solace!

(yes, I'm crazy!)

I did read it, and found it immensely interesting.

I just spend the better part of 8 months trying to build the "perfect" travel bike, and then discovered that it's not possible, is not what I wanted. So I'm going to pull the plug and sell it.

So yes, we chase perfection, but perfection is not equal happiness, and at the end of the day we want to be happy.

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1.) Something about creative young engineers getting told "the way we do things here" and getting frustrated and leaving.

2.) RallyRaid UK and Torque Racing have successfully built a 450 LC4 from a 690 motor. It has about 50 hp. I think Jenny Morgan will be racing one in Dakar in 2015 and they will have 2 more in the race I think. Jenny Morgan Rode the bike from the Uk to the Hellas Rally, did the rally and rode it back to the UK. They never changed the oil till the bike got back to the Torque racing shop. lc450 dakar. I have heard they will sell a kit to convert the 690 into a 450 for people who want a pullet proof 450 or those who want to make their 690 enduros/rally bikes legal for FIM Rallies. But this begs the question, if you have a 690, why reduce it to 450 if you are not saving weight?

3.) They are developing an 800 an 500 parallel twin. Come on KTM! Make a 500 twin ADV!!!! (Please keep it under 130 kilo!)

4.) How much HP is needed? 45hp is a good number.

I'd heard vague rumors about the 800 V-Twin, nothing on a 500 P-twin. I'd bet the 500 will be an Made In India Bajai motor, no?

I know Bajai have big plans for KTM. Will interesting to see how they handle it once they own a controlling share, if they don't already?

A super lightweight parallel twin would be cool. The Japanese have made one or two 300cc to 500cc twins over the last 50 years ... shame the CB500X from Honda weighs in at 430 lbs. with 4.5 gallon on board, makes 46 HP but does get 70 mpg.

2013 Honda CB500X specifications and pictures

I have high hopes for the KTM's (Bajai) 390. Only read a couple reviews in the Brit press ... they were not all that complimentary of the bike. Bike has lots of problems, hope KTM can sort it out ... and hope the engine is a good one as KTM have plans to make an ADV bike out of it, according to Pierier in an interview a couple years ago. (CEO) Maybe this is the "500 parallel twin" you're thinking of? Or is that a totally different motor?

Please. Do not blaspheme. It is a KTM. there can only be a 790 and a 490. Would anyone whose blood runs orange buy anything else?

Blerry yank heathen

Next you will tell me America, owned by the banks and Hollywood, and with more dollars in china than in the USA or Israel, is the land of the free.

isn't it that new SR400 close enough to fit the bill then?