Howdy from Colorado Springs, CO

546 Views 2 Replies 2 Participants Last post by DucatiBart, 6 mo ago

DucatiBart

Discussion Starter · 6 mo ago

Just picked up my 2022 Desert X! Long time rider (40 years). For 35 of that on-road, cruisers, super nakeds, and sportbikes. Spent a fair amount of that roadracing! Got the itch to try and ADV bike. What an "adventure" (pun possibly intended) it's been. Never rode off-road of any type a HUGE learning curve and still learning. I consider myself a low intermediate. And no that I'm old, tend to keep the off-road to fairly safe type roads. I have ridden parts of the COBDR and plan to do the whole thing in 2023.

The Desert X is my 11th ADV bike in as many years (actually less years). It's just been hard for me to find that "goldilocks" bike, which I finally figured, there is no such thing. The big ADV bikes regardless of how or the weight is carried is still a large, heavy ADV bike. The smaller ones can be buzzy. I won't divulge what I feel is the best all around ADV bike IMO...

But I started on a Yamaha Super Tenere, then a Triumph Tiger XC, Honda Africa Twin DCT, BMW 1200 GSA, Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sport, BMW GS850, Ducati Multistrada 1260 Adventure, Multistrada V4S Travel and Radar, KTM 890S (Modified to resemble a Dakar bike, with fully reworked suspension), and find finally my Desert X. I owned multiples at several times.

Like I mentioned above I was trying to find a bike that was equally GREAT on road and GREAT off-road. Doesn't exist, IMO.

Anyways really looking forward to comparing the capabilities of my KTM against the DX.

I've farkled my fair share of these ADV bikes and haven't kept them to make it worthwhile. I plan to ONLY add what I absolutely need as I go. Crashbars are in order as I'm short in the inseam 30" so my experience has been with these tall bikes, I'm going to drop them, just a fact for me. I will be looking for a low seat that drops the height by at least an 1" and not the .5 inch offered by Ducati. I don't want a lowering kit as I don't want to mess up the rake and trail.

Looking forward to contributing to this board and learning! If any of you want to go ride hit me up!

Art

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tomis916

· #2 · 6 mo ago

You probably have a little more off-road experience than me. I also spent lots of time and money road racing. I'm in Boulder, but would love to meet up some time for a ride.

I'm a 31 inch inseam. I think the seat height wouldn't bother me much if I had spent the majority of my life on dirt bikes, but it is a bit of a stretch for me. I'm still trying to convince myself that I can adapt, but I'm ready for my backordered crash bars to come in.

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DucatiBart

Discussion Starter · #3 · 6 mo ago

Yeah, I spent alot of time an money roadracing too. My favorite bike was my TZ250. Just amazing what a true racebike can do.

Crashbars seems to be back ordered everywhere. At the shop where I bought the bike they said March of 2023 before they arrive. In the mean time I put a water pump guard on that was meant for the Multi or Monster... It'll do for now. I won't take my DX off-road until I get crashbars. Not willing to take a chance and bugger something up. My problem is being older and some of the meds I take tends to give me a bit light-headedness. Not so bad I can't ride but it throws my "fine" balance off.

Yeah, keep in touch when the nice weather rolls around that allows us to ride at the higher altitudes and offroad I'll be ready.

tomis916 said:
You probably have a little more off-road experience than me. I also spent lots of time and money road racing. I'm in Boulder, but would love to meet up some time for a ride.

I'm a 31 inch inseam. I think the seat height wouldn't bother me much if I had spent the majority of my life on dirt bikes, but it is a bit of a stretch for me. I'm still trying to convince myself that I can adapt, but I'm ready for my backordered crash bars to come in.

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