Review: BMW F800GS Adventure vs. Honda Africa Twin vs. Triumph Tiger 800 XCa Adventure, we have said in these pages, is in the wrist of the rider. It’s up to you to decide what kind of escapade suits the cut of your jib. To some, and what now defines the ADV category, it’s the luxury SUV of motorcycles—tall, rugged (looking), replete with whistles, bells, and sci-fi gyroscopes. To others, adventure is a couple of gallons of gas and just enough parlay with the DMV to mosey between trailheads. Or perhaps a venerable thumper somewhere in the middle, as reliable as taxes. With adventure touring being so exceptionally popular, companies have been building down from the $20,000 upper crust, in the general direction of simplicity. If what you desire is a broadly capable, full-size machine with the advent of a 21-inch front wheel but without frivolous gadgets like electronic suspension, you’ll want an 800-class ADV. For a handful of years now, that has meant either a Triumph Tiger 800 or a BMW F800GS. Now, for the same price (less, actually!) you’re welcome to Honda’s new ADV special agent CRF1000L. Code name: Africa Twin. Along with price, it shares approximate power and weight figures, as well as the general scope of options, with the Tiger 800 XC and F800GS Adventure. And because they all share the dirt-biased, not-so-subtle-nod-to-off-road-21-inch front rim, we thought we would fit up Continental TKC 80 knobbies and experiment with each bike’s actual beyond-the-pavement adventure capability. Still, we rode them all on the street. Each of the machines is just fine, delivering suitable and only slightly different on-road performance. But this test is dedicated to those customers who truly want to explore slices of this earth not groomed with tarmac or by heavy equipment. Read the review at http://ift.tt/29wSZmB
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