Its been said before but I'll say it again, if a bit differently: I feel far more part of the environment I am travelling in on a bike. Having a dognow means our trip bike is a Ural side car, but for me the feeling is the same. We recently toured for a few days on the the rig, followed by a few more days in the car to give th pooch a break from the Ural (its still new to her). The difference in the experience was palpable for me. I just feel few more relationship with the environment I am travelling through if I can feel it hear and smell it, rather than just see it (open windows are not the same IMO). Add to that the note worthy rferenbce to a fabulous piece of road: and its bloody amazing!!!

Mollydog:
Don't go propagating myths and stereotypes, please. That's not what this site is about...

I may be running an XR400R and a Ural, but up until last September I was one of those "adventure wannabees" with a BMW 1150 GS. Only I've actually used it as an overlander in Europe and S America, as have many bonafide bike traveller on here. No 5 Star hotels for us and no Ewan idolisation even if I enjoyed the programme: I decided on the GS long before LWR, even if I could only afford it afterwards....

Other than missing top end speed: probably the best, most competent all-round bike I've ever owned and I've owned 19 over the years, from sports to Supermoto... Maybe not as many as some but enought to form an informed opinion.

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Adventure: it's an experience, not a style!
(so ride what you like, but ride it somewhere new!)