Channel Title: Cross Training Adventure Channel Description: Cross Training Adventure Riding is the dim witted cousin of our dirt riding channel - Cross Training Enduro. We mess around along the east coast of Australia on a variety of adventure bikes. Older vids feature the famous DR650, but we are moving toward bigger bikes, a bit more road, and into the more traditional sense of adventure riding as most know it! <video> How to choose the best knee brace︱Cross Training Adventure Description: http://crosstrainingenduro.com How to choose the best knee braces for dual sport riding or adventure riding? In a previous video we explored how to reduce knee injuries, and the options for knee protection when adventure riding or dual sport riding. No protection at all. Knee pads. Knee guards. And knee braces. Welcome to Cross Training Adventure, we are into all things dual sport and adventure on the east coast of Australia. Knee braces won't suit everyone. But the high level of knee protection is great for older riders, anyone riding aggressively or regularly in gnarly terrain, or riders with existing knee problems. So you have decided to buy knee braces for adventure riding. Here is our guide on choosing the best knee braces. Check out our reviews of various adventure bikes and dual sport bikes. First? Make sure they are actually knee braces! Some manufacturers trying to sell their basic knee guards as knee braces. EVS are the most blatant example, with these models. If you like dual sport riding in Australia then you might like our adventure riding vids. The worst problem? You need four very strong straps to secure a knee brace correctly. If you only have two or three straps, there is very little protection against hyperextension of the knee. The hinges and 'arms' are very strong on proper knee braces. There will be 'extension stops' that are adjustable to allow for the natural hyperextension of each rider's knee. Keen on adventure riding in Australia? Check out our vids. The knee cap will be very sturdy and not allow big gaps. The best knee braces for dual sport riding are built with carbon fibre or metal. The budget ones are predominantly plastic. The overall length is important too. Shorter knee braces will provide less protection against hyerextension. Focus on the correct fit, not the brand! Look around the forums and you will find guys saying Pods are shit but Leatt are brilliant. Then someone else will say Pods are fantastic but Leatt are crap. But once you are spending enough to buy quality knee braces, a good fit is generally more important than the actual brand or any features they have. Each manufacturer designs their brace to fit what they think is an average leg. So the less average your leg, the worse the fit. It can make a brace very uncomfortable, but more importantly a poor fit means a knee brace will only half protect you for adventure riding. Why? Any decent knee brace will prevent hyerextension of the leg extremely well, even if the fit isn't very good. However, knee braces have a limited effectiveness with reducing twisting motions, and impacts through the lower leg that can damage the meniscus. And to be effective at all, a knee brace must have a good snug fit of your leg and knee to give you some protection at all. So never buy braces without trying them first. A poor fitting knee brace will prevent hyerextension, but will do very little against other forces that can damage your knee. How do you ensure a good fit? First is getting those straps tight. If you don't, your knee brace is no better than a knee guard and it won't even protect you against hyperextension. Always start with the strap just under your knee. Next? The strap just above your knee. Then the lowest and highest straps. Run your hand along the straps to ensure there is no slack that can loosen the brace while riding. Next adjust the stops so that the brace doesn't dig too much into your quad muscle, or shin, when your leg is hyperextended in adventure riding. Bend your leg and check the gap around the knee cup. Some space is good for airflow when dual sport riding but you want good protection above and below the knee cup without huge gaps. Make sure that there is a firm pressure against the sides of your knee joint. This helps to reduce twisting, and top quality knee braces will provide adjustable padding here for this reason. Ditto for the top of the femur here, you want a snug fit and good braces like the CTi will provide extra padding to insert if needed. If you have very thin fat or muscular legs you may find the brace doesn't grip your leg well. If you can't find a brand that fits well then you may need to look at custom braces. Likewise if your legs bow in or out a lot. An off-the-shelf brace will be uncomfortable and not very effective for dual sport riding. This is one of our three channels, there's also a Cross Training Trials channel, and a Cross Training Enduro channel. All three are equally dodgy. We are the 27th most watched dirt channel in Uzbekistan. So called dual sport riding reviews are just glossy ads nowdays. Cross Training Adventure actively avoids sponsorship. Or don't subscribe to our Cross Training Adventure riding channel. The main thing is get out and ride while you can with dual sport riding or Adventure riding in Australia, Canada, Vietnam, Romania and beyond! So check out Cross Training Adventure. #kneebraces </video> <video> Steg Pegz review: God's gift for reducing upper body fatigue?︱Cross Training Adventure Description: http://crosstrainingenduro.com Steg Pegz are incredible for reducing upper body fatigue when it comes to cramps, carpal tunnel, tendonitis, arm pump and general aches and pains! But they aren't necessarily for everyone. This Steg Pegz review is specifically for dual sport and adventure riders. Welcome to Cross Training Adventure, we are into all things dual sport and adventure on the east coast of Australia. Okay, our Steg Pegz long term review! These are rubber pucks that are designed to take the strain off your upper body when standing on the footpegs. You adjust them until your boots are resting against the rubber pucks. The result? Much less arm pump, upper body fatigue and upper body cramps. They can reduce leg fatigue as well as you don't need to grip the motorbike as much with your lower legs. Check out our reviews of various adventure bikes and dual sport bikes. They have become increasingly popular with off-road riders, especially desert racers. Toby Price uses them in the races like the Finke Desert Race. So does Ben Grabham and a pile of other racers. A lot of enduro riders use them, especially for unfit or older riders who get a lot of upper body fatigue. If you are a dual-sport or adventure rider, Steg Pegz are designed to work with your standard boot. If you use short boots then the rubber pucks will press into your skin. Not very comfortable! Also if you use over-the-boot pants, the rubber pucks could eventually wear through the fabric if you have cheap textile pants. I have Klim pants and no problems with wear after thousands of kilometres. Keen on adventure riding in Australia? Check out our vids. What are the benefits of Steg Pegz? I fall into the latter category. In my 60s I increasingly have problems with pre-arthritic fingers and carpal tunnel syndrome. These disappear once I use Steg Pegz. I use them on my enduro and adventure motorbikes. If you are thinking of using Steg Pegz on an enduro motorbike, see our enduro version of this vid. I want to focus on dual-sport and adventure riders because Steg Pegz are now available in these categories as well. In 2024 they are available for the following motorbikes. If you like dual sport riding in Australia then you might like our adventure riding vids.As already mentioned, there is much less pressure on your upper body. Your leg muscles are much stronger. If you lightly grip the motorbike with your knees you will anchor your legs against those rubber pucks. They can help with correct body positioning. The ideal default body position is a slight crouch with your body weight to the rear. In fact you can see riders in this video using poor body positioning. They are standing up straight with locked legs and leaning forward. You can stay standing on the footpegs longer. We all know that feeling toward the end of a tough ride when you sit on the seat to conserve energy when you know you should be standing! Steg Pegz will keep you on your feet for longer and in better control in rough terrain. You really notice the difference on long rough uphill tracks. There is a tendency to lean forward when you should keep your body weight over the rear wheel for traction. This kind of judgmental attitude really pisses me off. I know army veterans with upper body issues due to the sacrifices they have made. Try telling them they should stop riding. There's no way I'm going to stop riding despite arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome. I welcome anything that lets me enjoy my passion for longer. Steg Pegz keep you in the correct body position without the strain of pulling constantly on the handlebars. A common criticism is that Steg Pegz prevent you from moving back on steep descents. This is quite rare for most dual-sport riders. You simply stop gripping the motorbike with your legs. Then your legs should just slide past the rubber pucks. Steg Pegz come with two rubber pucks on each side. If you have trouble moving your legs toward the rear, just put one rubber puck on each side. Another criticism? Some riders say these are just a 'crutch' and aren't needed if you lose weight and get fit. To some extent I agree with this. The ideal is always to get fit and avoid 'crutches' if possible. But we all make different lifestyle choices. If you don't have the time or inclination to get fit, I see no problem with using Steg Pegz to reduce fatigue. Also this criticism often comes from much younger riders who don't have arthritis, tendonitis and all sorts of health issues that start to emerge in your 50s and 60s. Occasionally I hear riders say if you need 'crutches' like Steg Pegz or a lighter clutch then you shouldn't be riding at all. MUSIC: Fading by Sappheiros under the Creative Commons Licencse #crosstrainingadventure #adventureriding #adventurebikes #dualsportriding #dualsportbikes </video> <video> Missing rider? Eight useful tips!︱Cross Training Adventure Description: http://crosstrainingenduro.com You lost a rider who is seriously injured? How do you find them? How do you alert emergency services out of phone reception? Welcome to Cross Training Adventure, we are into all things dual sport and adventure on the east coast of Australia. Everyone has regrouped but there is one rider missing. A puncture? A rest break? A wrong turn? After a few minutes your thoughts turn toward a crash and you start the search. Check out our reviews of various adventure bikes and dual sport bikes. The longer it takes, the more you think of worst case scenarios. Fractures? Unconscious? Bleeding out? Dead already? Two years ago we were on a ride where a guy died on impact after riding into a ditch. The only reason we spotted him was a rider crashed nearby and spotted the fallen rider. If you like dual sport riding in Australia then you might like our adventure riding vids. More recently, another rider clipped a tree and crashed into a ditch. Unconscious. Bleed on the brain. Trapped underneath his motorbike with fuel dripping into his clothing. Thankfully he woke up and managed to weakly wave an arm and passing riders stopped and called emergency services. Keen on adventure riding in Australia? Check out our vids. It could have been much worse if we hadn't got him to hospital so quickly. Nobody likes a bunch of rules when it comes to motorbike riding. But how to find a lost rider and emergency comms are serious. But when you have lost a rider due to a serious injury, you realise a few basic rules and procedures are incredibly important. Are you into solo riding? This video has a pile of useful tips that will give your family some peace of mind. And might save your life. Our group has seen too many injuries to enjoy solo riding. A friend of mine almost died when he crashed on a short solo ride in the local forest and broke his pelvis. He had no water and was close to dying from dehydration when someone discovered him. Another friend was in a coma for two weeks after a nasty crash and still lives with the effects of a brain injury. So lets look at the all the strategies to reduce the chances of losing a rider when riding in a group. How to find them quickly. How to alert emergency services. If an injured rider is conscious, they can speak to you once you are in range. The Sena mesh technology allows the entire group to connect if riders aren't too far spaced apart. So you can actually do a head count verbally. The rider briefing. If there's anyone new to your group, discuss where you are going, how you mark your corners, and procedures if something goes wrong. It can be a good idea to share phone numbers too. Corner marking. Thre are plenty of good videos about this. It's simple but it's remarkable how often riders can mess it up. There are two general ways so make sure your riders know which one you use. Intercoms. I don't think these are essential if you have good procedures in place. But they are very useful. If riders are using the Garmin Zumo GPS you can see other riders using Garmin's Group Ride app on your phone. This is very handy as it doesn't rely on phone reception. There is a limited range but a crashed rider will show once you are within range. Apparently the Trailtech Voyager Pro this feature too with its Buddy Tracking. For Australian riders, a very useful app is Emergency Plus. We use Sena intercoms on our adventure rides. Our lead rider warns us about upcoming hazards. Cardo intercoms have the same mesh technology. Use Google Maps and share your location with other riders in your group. It's free, and you can clearly see where each rider if you have phone reception. Even if reception is patchy, Google Maps can narrow your search as it shows the last known position of a lost rider. There are other apps too such as Workyard, GPS Essentials, Spotwalla, Sygic, and Livetrack 24. Just hit one button and your location is sent to emergency services if you have phone reception. Let us know if there's a similar app in other countries and we'll include this in our pinned first comment. How to contact emergency services if you don't have phone reception? iPhone 14 and 15 phones can already use satellites to alert emergency services and communicate via text message. This will be available on the Android 15 system on phones with updated hardware. This has been confirmed for the Google Pixel 9 and Samsung Galaxy S24. Hopefully we may be able to track riding buddies via satellite one day. This would make finding a lost rider much easier. Or don't subscribe to our Cross Training Adventure riding channel. The main thing is get out and ride while you can with dual sport riding or Adventure riding in Australia, Canada, Vietnam, Romania and beyond! So check out Cross Training Adventure. #crosstrainingadventure #adventureriding #adventurebikes #dualsportriding #dualsportbikes </video> <video> Giant Loop luggage review︱Cross Training Adventure Description: http://crosstrainingenduro.com Our Giant Loop luggage review courtesy of one of our guys who got this for his 701 recently. We also spoke with some Canadians on our recent trip who love the gear too. The Giant Loop Mojave is particularly interesting for dual sport luggage. Keen on adventure riding in Australia? Check out our vids. And the Nemenu bag for adventure bike luggage. Rackless luggage! If you are a dual-sport or adventure rider who likes to ride relatively light motorbikes then luggage can be a problem on those longer trips. Is it best to go high? Really high? Is it best to put all the weight on the back? Welcome to Cross Training Adventure, we are into all things dual sport and adventure on the east coast of Australia. Or put luggage everywhere and hope there is room for you on the motorbike? A few months ago one of our riders opted for a 'rackless' luggage system to put on his Husqvarna 701. The Giant Loop Mojave. And a few other bags to centre the weight correctly. His reasoning? It will only be used occasionally for longer trips so a rackless system can be completely removed in a few minutes. 'Soft' luggage is cheaper than 'hard' boxes. It is unlikely to cause injuries if you crash. There is less strain on your motorbike's frame. And it is expandable. Check out our reviews of various adventure bikes and dual sport bikes. If you need more luggage, just keep adding extra storage. And it's a good alternative to fitting a larger aftermarket fuel tank. There are one day rides in remote areas where the standard fuel tank isn't quite enough. This luggage system lets him carry fuel bottles that extend his fuel range when needed. Soft luggage is also a good way to remove weight from your backpack. As we get older, the weight of our backpacks is increasingly causing sore shoulders and sore backs. A quick summary? Strap this to the exhaust pipe and it prevents any melting of the luggage. The Giant Loop material is water-resistant. It conveniently rained during this ride and we think it would take a lot of wet weather before the contents were soaked. During my recent trip to Canada I met a few riders who use Giant Loop luggage and loved it. If you know of any problems please tell us! We will put these in the pinned first comment. A few tips if you are interested in luggage. It's a good idea to opt for quality brands. Me? I am a poor starving Youtuber and I was using this extremely cheap Chinese luggage for years. But everyone said the seams could split easily and drop the contents along the road. I was constantly checking the luggage during long rides. There were several options for high quality 'rackless' luggage. Mosko Moto (Reckless). Kriega (OS combo). Wolfman (TW series). And of course the Giant Loop Mojave which was substantially cheaper. My friend used a combination of a fender bag, tank bag, and accessory bags to spread the weight around. Also try to keep the weight low if possible. The heaviest items should be placed in the lowest section of the Mojave luggage. Put the lightest items in the fuel tank bag and the rear tail bag. Lets have a closer look at the Giant Loop equipment. The heat shield is very useful. But it would make sense to carry some plastic bags for persistent rainy weather. So far he said it's been great. If you like dual sport riding in Australia then you might like our adventure riding vids. The quality seems to be excellent. It's easy to install and remove. If he discovers any future problems we will put this information in the pinned first comment. But I googled widely looking for problems, known issues and warranty claims about Giant Loop luggage without a single result. Fitment of the luggage system was slow the first time. It's important to find the best mounting positions But once you have the ideal mounting points worked out, removing or installing the Giant Loop luggage is very quick. The 'expandable' nature of the luggage is very convenient. My friend also ordered the tail bag, fender bag, and 'Possible Pouches'. These pouches have a 3.5 litre capacity and can be strapped to the motorbike in various places. The Mojave luggage is also highly recommended for enduro motorbikes. Have you bought a 'rackless' luggage system? Did it work well? Have you used the Giant Loop Mojave luggage? We are keen to know the pros and cons! We will post these in the pinned first comment. So the Cross Training Adventure focus is just get out there and have fun on two wheels. Cross Training Adventure actively avoids sponsorship. We like doing seriously critical reviews. Or don't subscribe to our Cross Training Adventure riding channel. The main thing is get out and ride while you can with dual sport riding or Adventure riding in Australia, Canada, Vietnam, Romania and beyond! So check out Cross Training Adventure. Music: Cease by A Himitsu under the Creative Commons License #crosstrainingadventure #adventureriding #adventurebikes #dualsportriding #dualsportbikes </video> <video> 2024 Honda CRF450RL review (& CRF450L)︱Cross Training Adventure Description: http://crosstrainingenduro.com Our 2024 Honda CRF450RL review! Is this the 'unicorn' motorbike that straddles the enduro and dual sport categories? We think so. At least in most respects. Interested in the Suzuki DRZ400 but you want more power, lighter weight, better suspension without paying too much more? The CRF450RL fits the bill. Watch other Honda CRF450RL reviews and see if they agree. Welcome to Cross Training Adventure, we are into all things dual sport and adventure on the east coast of Australia. Are you thinking of a road-legal enduro motorbike but you want it to be cheaper, lower seat height, softer suspension, more reliable and have better road manners? Keen on adventure riding in Australia? Check out our vids. In 2020 the name was changed to the CRF450RL. We suspect this was to indicate it shares a lot of characteristics with the motocross R model. If so, it was a good idea. If you like dual sport riding in Australia then you might like our adventure riding vids. In 2018 the road-legal version started with the CRF450L. A sixth gear was added. A stronger subframe. Lets start with road riding the 2024 Honda CRF450RL. It feels much more refined that your usual enduro motorbike. It's quiet. And it's more than just the exhaust. Honda have used specially lined plastic engine covers to reduce noise. And the swingarm is filled with polyurethane to dampen noise and vibration. And nose-diving under brakes. Compared to enduro motorbikes, the extra weight of the CRF450RL works well for road riding with a wet weight of 132 kg or 291lb. The LED headlight is actually quite bright and has a very precise beam, something we have never seen on motorbikes in this 2024 Honda CRF450RL class. What didn't work well for road riding? The seat. It's your standard plank of wood. Unlike the rest of Honda's 'L' models, this 450 has a lot in common with the motocross and cross-country racing 450s. The main changes for the RL? A set of handguards as standard and upgraded ECU and fuel-injection settings. The good news for Aussies? It has returned and at a much better price - currently AUD13700 'ride away'. The Honda CRF450X began in 2005 as a cheap reliable off-road motorbike. Check out our reviews of various adventure bikes and dual sport bikes. It was a detuned version of the CRF450R with an electric start, wide ratio gearbox, softer suspension and an 18 inch rear wheel. Within 30 minutes the 'monkey butt' will creep in. Like most fuel-injected off-road motorbikes, the throttle can be quite snatchy at lower revs. Some riders don't mind this. We do. Investing in a G2 Throttle Tamer is a great idea. I fitted this to an FE570 years ago and it transformed the throttle response. Off-road riding with the 2024 Honda CRF450RL? We initially found it a bit firm but we reduced the compression settings and it worked great. A lot quieter, especially the exhaust noise. Up to a certain point the engine feels very similar to its enduro cousins. Fast to rev. Plenty of grunt into the midrange. It's only when you get to the higher revs you really notice the engine has been detuned for more reliability and dual-sport characteristics. Even though it's clearly not an enduro motorbike we were keen to try the CRF450L on tighter single track. It was still surprisingly capable in wet muddy conditions, but you won't be throwing it around like its four-stroke enduro cousins. First gear did feel a bit too tall, but then the gear ratios are wide enough to gear it down for dirt riding and still avoid excessive revs for road riding. Fuel-injected enduro motorbikes often have a snappy throttle response. Some riders like it. We hate it. The CRF450RL has a strong on-off jerkiness with the throttle at low revs.A lot of CRF450L owners said the Vortex ECU transformed their Hondas. The owner of our CRF450RL is going to fit a Vortex so we'll report on this eventually in the pinned first comment. We also noticed the heavy clutch pull on slower tracks. Some owners have fitted the XPR clutch actuator arm to make the clutch much softer. Others use the do-it-yourself and do this modification. Adventure riding! Would the CRF450RL be a good lightweight adventure motorbike with suitable mods? There is a lot of potential for sure. The gearbox ratios, lack of vibration, and suspension are ideally suited. The power characteristics are great too, with the possible exception of snappy throttle response. It's quiet and behaves well on the road. The oil capacity is quite small too with 1.1 litre oil changes. Any favourite modifications? Let us know and we'll put them in the pinned first comment. So subscribe. Or don't subscribe to our Cross Training Adventure riding channel. The main thing is get out and ride while you can with dual sport riding or Adventure riding in Australia, Canada, Vietnam, Romania and beyond! So check out Cross Training Adventure. #crosstrainingadventure #adventureriding #adventurebikes #dualsportriding #dualsportbikes </video> <video> How to win arguments about motorbike stuff︱Cross Training Adventure Description: http://crosstrainingenduro.com How to win dirt bike arguments and sound like an expert - even if you are an idiot (like us). Welcome to Cross Training Adventure, we are into all things dual sport and adventure on the east coast of Australia.Knowing how to ride a motorbike is only half the battle when it comes to a sex magnet for the opposite sex, the same sex, or species of your choice. You also need to know how to win dirt bike arguments and speak with authority on the best engine oil. Italian oil for Italian motorbikes. It's just commonsense, you moron. Keen on adventure riding in Australia? Check out our vids. The best tyre. The new Xinjiang flesh ripper. Sticks like crap to a blanket. If you like dual sport riding in Australia then you might like our adventure riding vids. Used on Honda Goldwings to climb Mt Everest. And best chain lubrication. Baby seal chain lube. Clubbed daily for freshness. Seal in the goodness. I don't like to boast, but I'm very good at arguments. Just ask the two friends I still have. On our motorbike rides, I am so effective at arguing that most riders have admitted defeat and no longer invite me on their rides. First? Alcohol will always improve your incisive cognitive skills. If you drink orange juice after your ride you will just hide in the background while others speak. With beer you will speak longer. And louder. And you may even knock a few parked motorbikes over. Often your riding buddies will be so impressed they will walk away, knowing they can't match your incisive analytical skills. Still prancing around like a princess with that green powerband? It's time to grow a sack! Fill it with gonads. Don't just say the Xinjiang knobby is the best tyre. Check out our reviews of various adventure bikes and dual sport bikes. Say it's the 5.7% increase in artificial elastomers such as polybutadiene with its branched molecules that provide a low viscosity reaction conducive to 12 o'clock wheelies. And if they ask for the source of your information, make that up too. Say it's from the peer-reviewed journal of Advanced Knob Polishing. Roll your eyes if they say they've never heard of it. If they ask to see a copy, distract them by accidentally knocking their motorbike over. Use Latin phrases too. For example. An 'ad hoc' summary of the Xinjian knobby is it grips like shit to a blanket, but a bona fide description is better polymerisation ergo more elasticity and ipso facto, improved traction. PS Quid pro quo Clarisse, quid pro quo. In short, all these terms mean "I speak Latin and you don't". And if you really want to deliver the knock out blow to any argument, finish with either of these statements. Non gratum anus rodentum.A major problem is if you are arguing with people more intelligent than you are.This is an issue I face with almost everyone I meet. These riders can be very annoying as they make valid concise points actually backed with evidence. You need a pile of snappy comebacks such as:But what are your contextual parameters? I think you've got some unresolved childhood issues that are making you defensive. That may be true using a framework of Newtonian phyics, but what about the quantum entanglement perspective? We have occasional detours to places like Vietnam, Cambodia, Romania and Canada. This is one of our three channels, there's also a Cross Training Trials channel, and a Cross Training Enduro channel. All three are equally dodgy. So the Cross Training Adventure focus is just get out there and have fun on two wheels. Instead of obsessing over the latest blinged out Beemer, which tyres to fit or spending a fortune on your suspension or billet alloy gas cap. So most of our adventure riding vids will feature the much loved bush pig, the Suzuki DR650. And we've done a 10 part series on how to unleash the mighty beast that lurks within. What else? Cross Training Adventure actively avoids sponsorship. We like doing seriously critical reviews. Manufacturers make some really bad mistakes. and there is a lot of dodgy crap being sold out there. Instead of glowing dual sport reviews for kickbacks or free product, we will try to keep the buggers honest. So subscribe. Or don't subscribe to our Cross Training Adventure riding channel. The main thing is get out and ride while you can with dual sport riding or Adventure riding in Australia, Canada, Vietnam, Romania and beyond! So check out Cross Training Adventure. Our enduro channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/CrossTrainingEnduroSkills Our trials channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/MOTOTRIALSTRAININGTECHNIQUES #crosstrainingadventure #adventureriding #adventurebikes #dualsportriding #dualsportbikes </video> <video> Are you a motorbike specifications nerd?︱Cross Training Adventure Description: http://crosstrainingenduro.com Know any riders who obsess over motorbike specs? Or are you one of them? Make no mistake. Spec nerds have existed since the dawn of time. “Now, how can anyone improve on that!” In all my years of riding and writing about off-road motorcycles, I have rarely seen a spec sheet that accurately predicts the ride experience. Welcome to Cross Training Adventure, we are into all things dual sport and adventure on the east coast of Australia. Every bike has thousands of components that come together to create the final product. At best, all you can do is use the specs to put it loosely in a category on the omnipresent spectrum from trials to Goldwings. Keen on adventure riding in Australia? Check out our vids. I rarely look at the spec sheet prior to riding a bike for the first time. Why introduce bias before you have even tried something? If you are an experienced enough rider, over a few days the bike will tell you everything you need to know. If you like dual sport riding in Australia then you might like our adventure riding vids. Does it feel heavy when you take it off the stand. How does it feel when you swing a leg over? Does it ride slow easily? How is the power delivered? Does it like to corner? Vibrations? Do the forks feel soft or harsh? What is the rear wheel doing? Does it have manners at speed? So subscribe. Or don't subscribe to our Cross Training Adventure riding channel. The main thing is get out and ride while you can with dual sport riding or Adventure riding in Australia, Canada, Vietnam, Romania and beyond! So check out Cross Training Adventure. Using specifications to review motorcycles is like reading and researching the ingredient lists before you go into a restaurant. Check out our reviews of various adventure bikes and dual sport bikes. If you had a friend that did that we would all think he is insane. Yet, for some reason, we accept it when it comes to motorcycles. So next time you watch a YouTube review that arrives at an absolute conclusion based on specifications, run screaming. They know nothing about chemistry. Find yourself enjoying our inane drivel? The like and subscribe buttons are for the homogenized. Go all the way and subscribe to our newsletter. It's the slippery secret sauce, the back room, the place where all the weirdos hang out. We have occasional detours to places like Vietnam, Cambodia, Romania and Canada. This is one of our three channels, there's also a Cross Training Trials channel, and a Cross Training Enduro channel. All three are equally dodgy. We are the 27th most watched dirt channel in Uzbekistan. We have won the polished turd award five years in a row. And we have a world record 25 class action lawsuits for inaccurate information. We think the whole motorbike scene is getting too commercial. So called dual sport riding reviews are just glossy ads nowdays. Everyone is trying to sell you stuff you don't need, convince you to buy the latest model with anodized coffee cup holders for your trips to the coffee shop. Of course if you are cashed up and into bling, go for it. All we are saying is there's also the budget option for adventure riding. And it won't hold you back. Why? We reckon it's 80% the rider and 20% the bike. So the Cross Training Adventure focus is just get out there and have fun on two wheels. Instead of obsessing over the latest blinged out Beemer, which tyres to fit or spending a fortune on your suspension or billet alloy gas cap. So most of our adventure riding vids will feature the much loved bush pig, the Suzuki DR650. And we've done a 10 part series on how to unleash the mighty beast that lurks within. What else? Cross Training Adventure actively avoids sponsorship. We like doing seriously critical reviews. Manufacturers make some really bad mistakes. and there is a lot of dodgy crap being sold out there. Instead of glowing dual sport reviews for kickbacks or free product, we will try to keep the buggers honest. Our enduro channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/CrossTrainingEnduroSkills Our trials channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/MOTOTRIALSTRAININGTECHNIQUES Let us know if we used your music but forgot to credit you. Many thanks to the following artists for their copyright free music in various vids: Music: https://www.purple-planet.com Music: www.playonloop.com Music: https://soundimage.org Music: https://audionautix.com/ Music by Tobu: https://tobu.io http://youtube.com/tobuofficial Music: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music Music: https://soundimage.org Music by Atch: SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/AtchSoundCloud Spotify: https://bit.ly/AtchSpotify Instagram: www.instagram.com/atchmusic #crosstrainingadventure #adventureriding #adventurebikes #dualsportriding #dualsportbikes </video> <video> 18 inch rear wheel conversion for DR650 & KLR650 - worth doing?︱Cross Training Adventure Description: http://crosstrainingenduro.com 18 inch rear wheel conversions for the DR650 and KLR650! Benefits, issues, sourcing wheels, and deciding if it's worthwhile. Motorbikes like the DR650 and KLR650 have a 17 inch rear wheel. A common modification is fitting an 18 inch rear wheel. Welcome to Cross Training Adventure, we are into all things dual sport and adventure on the east coast of Australia. Why? Traditionally the reason was to have a much wider choice of rear tyres, especially more off-road oriented knobbies. However this has slowly changed over the years with a broader range of 17 inch tyres for adventure and dual sport motorbikes. Check out our reviews of various adventure bikes and dual sport bikes. If you ride regularly in rough terrain there are some other advantages. The increased rolling diameter means a slighter smoother ride. There is arguably less chance of pinch punctures. Changing tyres is easier with the KLR650 18 inch rear wheel mod. Ground clearance is slightly higher. And you can fit the TUbliss system if the rim is 2.5 inches or 2.15 inches wide. I bought a custom made 18 inch rear wheel for the DR650 18 inch rear wheel mod so that I could fit TUbliss. I hate punctures and love the idea of just doing a quick tubeless repair then continue riding. What are the potential disadvantages? If you like dual sport riding in Australia then you might like our adventure riding vids. Your motorbike will turn quicker because the rear sits higher. This can be an advantage of course, depending on the type of riding you do. Personally I didn't enjoy the faster steering but it all balanced out because I fitted some RMX250 forks which lifted the front of the DR650 as well. Next? If you already have trouble touching the ground then it will only be worse with the higher rear end. However, you can potentially reduce this by using a lower profile tyre. There is a chance the increased diameter might rub during full compression of the shock with the DR650 18 inch rear wheel mod. Generally this doesn't happen but you can google around to see if anyone has had issues with particular tyres. Again, a lower profile tyre will reduce the chances. The increased diameter will also have an influence on your gearing. I dropped from a 15 tooth front sprocket to a 14 tooth which cancelled out the difference. If you want an 18 inch rear wheel so you can fit the TUbliss system, just remember TUbliss is designed for 2.15 inch rear rims. Many of us have used TUbliss with 2.5 inch rims successfully, but just make sure your rear tyre width here is at least 11mm for the KLR650 18 inch rear wheel mod. How do you source your 18 inch rear wheel? If there is no rush I think the best option is to just wait for a secondhand 18 inch rear wheel on the market. That's what I did. In effect it costs nothing as I will be able to sell it for the same amount in the next few years. If you buy brand new, there are aftermarket brands available. A custom-made wheel using quality parts is going to cost quite a lot. Warp 9 use cheap Chinese made parts for a more reaonable price. Apparently the quality is reasonable but you just need to check your spoke tension regularly until the spokes bed in. Building your own wheel? Keen on adventure riding in Australia? Check out our vids. There are online tutorials for this and you can save quite a bit of money by just buying an 18 inch rim and suitable spokes. Some DR650 owners buy an old DR350 rear wheel for the KLR650 18 inch rear wheel mod. Just make sure it's one of the cushdrive hub versions. It fits straight in but it has a smaller brake disc so just bolt on the DR650 brake disc instead. I'm not aware of stock 18 inch wheels from other motorbikes that will fit a KLR650. Let me know about any options. I will put the DR650 18 inch rear wheel mod information in the pinned first comment. Is the 18 inch rear wheel worthwhile? Have you ever tried this mod on a DR650 or KLR650? Was it worthwhile? Let us know in the comments. So the Cross Training Adventure focus is just get out there and have fun on two wheels. Instead of obsessing over the latest blinged out Beemer, which tyres to fit or spending a fortune on your suspension or billet alloy gas cap. So most of our adventure riding vids will feature the much loved bush pig, the Suzuki DR650. And we've done a 10 part series on how to unleash the mighty beast that lurks within. What else? Cross Training Adventure actively avoids sponsorship. Or don't subscribe to our Cross Training Adventure riding channel. The main thing is get out and ride while you can with dual sport riding or Adventure riding in Australia, Canada, Vietnam, Romania and beyond! So check out Cross Training Adventure. #crosstrainingadventure #adventureriding #adventurebikes #dualsportriding #dualsportbikes </video> <video> Suzuki DR650 on gnarly enduro tracks? 😂︱Cross Training Adventure Description: http://crosstrainingenduro.com The Suzuki DR650 on gnarly tracks? We don't recommend it lol. A few years ago my dirt bike was out of action so it was time to experience the DR650 dirt bike. Yeesh. So the good DR650. The big bush pig, the Suzuki tractor, the doctor... whatever you call it, the DR650 has been around in its current format since 1996. Welcome to Cross Training Adventure, we are into all things dual sport and adventure on the east coast of Australia. And Suzuki thinks the design is so brilliant the only changes made each year are colour and graphics... or they think new stickers will fix the suspension and other major design faults... who knows? If you like dual sport riding in Australia then you might like our adventure riding vids. We have had a few DR650s over the years for motarding, dirt riding and adventure riding, and for the money it has to be one of the most flexible platforms around to customise just the way you want. Check out our reviews of various adventure bikes and dual sport bikes. Keen on adventure riding in Australia? Check out our vids. We want to establish a baseline for how the DR650 performs so we took it out for a bush bash. Off the showroom floor, the DR650 is fine around town and doing easy dirt roads - the suspension is far too soft and underdamped for anything else which we found out quickly. And once that dicky suspension is sorted, the DR650 handles beautifully, and surprisingly loves to do wheelies. And the DR650 is so popular there is an incredible range of aftermarket accessories and bling to turn it into a motard beast, light weight adventure bike, or heavy dirt bike. Of course the DR650 isn't really intended to be ridden on dirt tracks at speed, but nonetheless it's a lot of fun once you have upgraded your life insurance. The suspension and tyres are truly pathetic, but you can still tell the Suzuki does actually handle well and just needs a good pair of shoes and suspenders to become a foxy lady you will love to have between your thighs. The main thing is get out and ride while you can with dual sport riding or Adventure riding in Australia, Canada, Vietnam, Romania and beyond! So check out Cross Training Adventure. We have occasional detours to places like Vietnam, Cambodia, Romania and Canada. This is one of our three channels, there's also a Cross Training Trials channel, and a Cross Training Enduro channel. All three are equally dodgy. We are the 27th most watched dirt channel in Uzbekistan. We have won the polished turd award five years in a row. And we have a world record 25 class action lawsuits for inaccurate information. We think the whole motorbike scene is getting too commercial. So called dual sport riding reviews are just glossy ads nowdays. Everyone is trying to sell you stuff you don't need, convince you to buy the latest model with anodized coffee cup holders for your trips to the coffee shop. Of course if you are cashed up and into bling, go for it. All we are saying is there's also the budget option for adventure riding. And it won't hold you back. Why? We reckon it's 80% the rider and 20% the bike. So the Cross Training Adventure focus is just get out there and have fun on two wheels. Instead of obsessing over the latest blinged out Beemer, which tyres to fit or spending a fortune on your suspension or billet alloy gas cap. So most of our adventure riding vids will feature the much loved bush pig, the Suzuki DR650. And we've done a 10 part series on how to unleash the mighty beast that lurks within. What else? Cross Training Adventure actively avoids sponsorship. We like doing seriously critical reviews. Manufacturers make some really bad mistakes. and there is a lot of dodgy crap being sold out there. Instead of glowing dual sport reviews for kickbacks or free product, we will try to keep the buggers honest. So subscribe. Or don't subscribe to our Cross Training Adventure riding channel. Our enduro channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/CrossTrainingEnduroSkills Our trials channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/MOTOTRIALSTRAININGTECHNIQUES Let us know if we used your music but forgot to credit you. Many thanks to the following artists for their copyright free music in various vids: Music: https://www.purple-planet.com Music: www.playonloop.com Music: https://soundimage.org Music: https://audionautix.com/ Music by Tobu: https://tobu.io http://youtube.com/tobuofficial Music: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music Music: https://soundimage.org Music by Atch: SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/AtchSoundCloud Spotify: https://bit.ly/AtchSpotify Instagram: www.instagram.com/atchmusic #crosstrainingadventure #adventureriding #adventurebikes #dr650 #suzuki dr650 </video> <video> Kove 450 Rally long-term review: known issues and who will it suit?︱Cross Training Adventure Description: http://crosstrainingenduro.com Our Kove 450R Rally long term review! It's road-legal status in the USA has just been announced so it's good timing for our Kove 450 Rally review. Welcome to Cross Training Adventure, we are into all things dual sport and adventure on the east coast of Australia. Over the past few months our Canadian cousins have clocked a lot of miles on three Koves. Our Australian team just spent three weeks in Canada and got to ride them. Check out our reviews of various adventure bikes and dual sport bikes. This Kove 450R Rally long term review combines the opinions of at least a dozen riders. First in this Kove 450 Rally review? It's very important to understand the nature of the beast! The Kove 450 Rally has been designed for the Dakar rally and it has performed surprisingly well for a new model. If you like dual sport riding in Australia then you might like our adventure riding vids. The Kove 450 Rally then revs at 5900rpm at 100kmh. Adventure riding? The Kove could prove to be quite a good lightweight adventure motorbike. The huge fuel tanks are an obvious benefit with a potential range of 600km or 370 miles from the 30 litre fuel capacity. Some owners say the Euro 5 airbox may fix this. But of course it might be very restrictive too. Although the windscreen is not adjustable the rally fairing worked quite well for protecting our riders from the elements whether they were short or tall. But with modifications or adjusted expectations it may fit those roles quite well. The Kove 450 Rally rally fairing and extra fuel tanks make it a lot heavier than enduro 450 models at 145kg with an empty tank. Keen on adventure riding in Australia? Check out our vids.171kg with the massive fuel tanks filled. The gear ratios are fairly narrow to suit racing conditions. The Kove 450 Rally is very tall with a 960mm or 37.8 inches seat height.Kove 450 Rally throttle response at low revs. Many owners are complaining about the snatchy on-off nature of the fuel injection at low revs. It's a race motorbike so it hasn't been designed with that in mind. However, Kove have been quick to respond to feedback so far so we may see ECU remapping that improves this. Overall quality? To their credit,the Kove 450 Rally seems to be aiming for quality. Our mechanic has been working on these for a while and has been impressed so far. The three test motorbikes were outside for one month and it was often raining or snowing. Only time will tell, but the initial indications of the Kove 450 Rally are positive. The Kove does start to move briskly at high revs but of course most of us will be using the midrange power most of the time. We rode the Kove back-to-back with a derestricted DRZ400 and were surprised to see the DRZ had almost as much power up to about 6000rpm. Kove 450 Rally has probably sacrificed some power in exchange for reliability. Second? Will the Kove 450 Rally be good for enduro riding? Of course not. You can ride it on single track. We did. But it's hard work and it's simply not designed for that. The main issue is the weight. Some Kove 450 Rally riders may be disappointed with the midrange power for adventure riding. There's enough to lope along at highway speeds all day. But for any spirited riding you will find the engine only starts to perform well above 6000rpm. The stock gearing could be tricky. It works well for highway but there will be compromises if you also want to ride slower gnarlier terrain. Ridden the Kove 450 Rally? We are keen to hear your thoughts. Do you own one? What has been your experience so far? Remember to check our pinned first comment for important links and further tips. With a full fuel tank it will be like enduro riding on a DR650 with good suspension. Once the fuel level is low, it will be like riding a DRZ400 with firm suspension. Doable, but not ideal. If you really want that lightweight enduro/adventure unicorn you need to adventurise a 450 or 500 enduro model. See this video. Lets move on. Dual sport riding? Now we are much closer to the mark! The Kove way better for road riding than your 450 enduro models. The Kove 450 Rally gearing works well. The Kove is still a bit heavy for a dual sport motorbike but remember it does have quite a low centre of gravity with those lower fuel tanks. Off-road? First gear is too high and needs a lot of clutch-slipping to get going. Many owners add three teeth to the rear sprocket and find this works well. CREATIVE COMMONS FOOTAGE How we FILMED the rally to DAKAR from Dream Duo Films https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hlljDB68qA #crosstrainingadventure #adventureriding #adventurebikes #dualsportriding #dualsportbikes </video> <video> Motorbike injuries, mind games and getting back on the horse︱Cross Training Adventure Description: http://crosstrainingenduro.com Motorbike injuries and mind games. Many riders experience this after a serious motorbike crash. You have a major injury, and it spooks you. The moment you hit some harder terrain the anxiety kicks in. Welcome to Cross Training Adventure, we are into all things dual sport and adventure on the east coast of Australia. Sometimes it happens the moment you start riding and you can't relax and enjoy the ride anymore. You mean beach mints for motorbike injuries! Get back on that dirt bike, princess. I definitely experienced this with my spine fracture a few years ago. More about that later. Riding buddies will often provide very unhelpful advice like this. Check out our reviews of various adventure bikes and dual sport bikes. You want pain pills? Oversize ovaries available for women too. But wait there's more. Order now and you also get our crossfit cement. Time to harden up, baby. The problem with a motorbike crash? You could be dealing with a serious mental issue. PTSD or post-traumatic stress syndrome. If you like dual sport riding in Australia then you might like our adventure riding vids. It affects everyone different, and it doesn't matter how tough you think you are. Many of us know war veterans who are seriously tough characters but have wrestled with PTSD. Here are some typical symptoms. How often does it happen? PTSD occurs in 2.6% cases of non-threatening motor vehicle accidents. It almost doubles for life-threatening accidents. If you might have PTSD it's important to get help as soon as possible. But most of us won't get full-blown PTSD after a serious injury. But was the anxiety a good thing? Keen on adventure riding in Australia? Check out our vids. Unpleasant, but I just kept reminding myself to accept this was a natural reaction, and talked about it with friends until it went away. Lasting effects? Anxiety kicks in with any steep descents nowadays. When I think there's a serious risk I just look for a way around. In my early 60s was it time to just stop seeking those challenges? My whole body tends to just break instead of bounce nowadays. The good news? After a year of riding I finally worked out a balance of challenge versus risk that I'm happy with. Two weeks in hospital and nine months off the motorbike. For quite a few weeks I had recurring thoughts about how close I had come to being paralysed. But I was surprised at how long it look. vAnd of course my Growacet medication helped too. Scared of that hill climb? Dry your eyes and get into it with Growacet. But we can still experience a few of the effects - or none at all. For example, I fractured four bones in my foot when the DR650's rear wheel slid out and the entire weight of the motorbike crushed my left boot. And this was a high quality motocross boot! Effects of the accident? Nothing really. I remember talking about the mind games going on in my head. I usually enjoy riding some gnarly terrain, but I was shying away due to the anxiety. Just a reminder to always wear the most protective boots possible in rough terrain. Warning, may cause cancer, crappy pivot turns, flatulence, bad breath, man boobs, and death. What about you guys? Have you had a serious injury? Did it have any effect on you at the time? Where there any lasting effects? We are keen to hear your stories. Next? I was riding too fast on a fire trail. I came over a crest into a series of muddy ruts and down I went. A shattered lower leg, two weeks in hospital, and a titanium rod inserted. I did have minor flashbacks for several weeks about trying to use sticks and vines to splint my rubbery leg. The spine fracture. I tried to u-turn on a steep hill and the motorbike bounced out of control and I went over the handlebars and was knocked unconscious. T3, T4 and T5 compression fractures. If I think there's a medium risk, I will 'bulldog' or walk the motorbike down. This is one of our three channels, there's also a Cross Training Trials channel, and a Cross Training Enduro channel. So called dual sport riding reviews are just glossy ads nowdays. All we are saying is there's also the budget option for adventure riding. And it won't hold you back. Why? We reckon it's 80% the rider and 20% the bike. So the Cross Training Adventure focus is just get out there and have fun on two wheels. Instead of obsessing over the latest blinged out Beemer, which tyres to fit or spending a fortune on your suspension or billet alloy gas cap. So most of our adventure riding vids will feature the much loved bush pig, the Suzuki DR650. What else? Cross Training Adventure actively avoids sponsorship. Or don't subscribe to our Cross Training Adventure riding channel. The main thing is get out and ride while you can with dual sport riding or Adventure riding in Australia, Canada, Vietnam, Romania and beyond! So check out Cross Training Adventure. #crosstrainingadventure #adventureriding #adventurebikes #dualsportriding #ptsd </video> <video> Epic six day tour of the Australian outback!︱Cross Training Adventure Description: http://crosstrainingenduro.com Highlights of six days dual sport riding in the Australian outback. Grab the popcorn, it's a one hour special! We have featured this tour before in separate vids but this is our feature length version. Welcome to Cross Training Adventure, we are into all things dual sport and adventure on the east coast of Australia. Ready for the ride of your life with Outback Motorcycle Adventures? These motorbike tours include the Finke Desert Race Experience, The Rock Six Day Tour, Ultimate Simpson Crossing Tours, and the Finke Desert Race Hire and Support package. Michael and Damian have spent years of outback motorbike riding in central Australia, and introducing riders to this amazing scenery and riding since 2017. Keen on adventure riding in Australia? Check out our vids. Experience outback dirt riding with this adventure of a lifetime. Create your own customised outback tour for Australian desert riding. Or join our existing range with either outback adventure riding, desert racing, or dirt riding. The Finke Desert Race Experience! The biggest fastest desert race in the southern hemisphere! Ever wondered what it's like? Well here's your chance with this Outback Motorcycle Adventures two day ride. If you like dual sport riding in Australia then you might like our adventure riding vids. The Rock Six Day Tour? An epic outback motorbike tour including Uluru, the Olgas, and Kings Canyon. Ultimate Simpson Crossing Tours? A fully supported tour but definitely for experienced riders only! Giant sand dunes. Motorbike riding the Simpson desert and back if you want! We dirt ride the remote Madian line, then back along the famous French line in the Simpson desert by motorbike. Our Finke Desert Race Hire and Support package. Want to compete in the Finke Desert Race? We offer our superbly maintained bikes along with full race support. Simply fly in. Race. Then fly home! We take care of all the Finke race hire package logistics. Outback Motorcycle Adventures provide truly unique experiences for any rider seeking the ultimate adventure. But don't take our word for it. See dozens of five star reviews on TripAdvisor about our Finke race support, outback dirt riding tours and Simpson crossings. Check out our reviews of various adventure bikes and dual sport bikes. The adventure of a lifetime! Outback Motorcycle Adventures was established in 2017 by Alice Springs locals Michael Vroom and Damian McGrath. Both have a huge passion for motorcycles and after years of riding and exploring the Central Australian region, they decided that it was time to let the secret out and share with everyone the amazing scenery and unique riding terrain that this part of the world offers. They strive to make your Outback Motorcycle Adventure experience one to remember! Get out and ride while you can with dual sport riding or Adventure riding in Australia, Canada, Romania and beyond! So check out Cross Training Adventure. Our enduro channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/CrossTrainingEnduroSkills Our trials channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/MOTOTRIALSTRAININGTECHNIQUES VIDEO & MUSIC CREDITS 'Time Lapse de Ayers Rock' from Tómate algo https://youtu.be/Y94YsJCoB44 'Outback Australia' from Fernweh https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDOlC8_vDR8 'Time Lapse de Ayers Rock' from Tómate algo https://youtu.be/Y94YsJCoB44 'Outback Australia' from Fernweh https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDOlC8_vDR8 MUSIC CREDITS 'Didgeridoo Duet' by Adèle & Zalem https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXBGZoBYaLY 'Didg To Didg #4' by Mow VS Zalem https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKUO09fLRPY Traditional Aboriginal Australian Music Using the Didigeridoo (Yidaki) by Marra Dreaming https://youtu.be/t0PcHo5Heb8 Music by audionautix.com 'Rocker' 'Plantation' '5 cents back' Music by www.playonloop.com 'YT nation' 'Spirit forge' 'Returning from' Music by Atch 'Echoes' 'Wondering' 'Time out' SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/AtchSoundCloud Spotify: https://bit.ly/AtchSpotify Instagram: www.instagram.com/atchmusic 'Echoes' 'Wondering' 'Time out' Music by teknoaxe.com 'Inspiration for another day' 'August heatwave' 'Life as a sprite' 'Edge of the sky' 'Fading into the dream' 'Massive reason' Waypoint S' https://www.youtube.com/user/teknoaxe Bensound at https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music for the following songs: Elevate, Acoustic Breeze, Birth of a Hero, and Rumble. Let us know if we used your music but forgot to credit you. Many thanks to the following artists for their copyright free music in various vids: Music: www.playonloop.com Music: https://soundimage.org Music by Tobu: https://tobu.io http://youtube.com/tobuofficial Music: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music Music: https://soundimage.org Music by Atch: SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/AtchSoundCloud Spotify: https://bit.ly/AtchSpotify Instagram: www.instagram.com/atchmusic #crosstrainingadventure #adventureriding #adventurebikes #dualsportriding #dualsportbikes </video> <video> Dunlop D606 review: still the best road-legal knobby after all these years?︱Cross Training Adventure Description: http://crosstrainingenduro.com Our Dunlop D606 review! For years it was the popular choice if you wanted a road-legal knobby that was okay for road riding as well with reasonable longevity. Welcome to Cross Training Adventure, we are into all things dual sport and adventure on the east coast of Australia. The problem with aggressive knobbies is very rapid wear, especially for road riding. And of course the side knobs can flex during hard cornering which can lead to soiling your pants. The D606 was especially good if you had an 17 inch rear wheel because there was so little available in that size for serious off-road tyres. Check out our reviews of various adventure bikes and dual sport bikes. But in recent years the range of dual-sport and adventure tyres has expanded and we have so many choices - even for the 17 inch rear wheel. Is it still a good choice for some riders? We think so... at least the rear tyre. The The trusty Dunlop D606 knobby review continues. Dunlop claims the D606 is for 10% road riding and 90% off-road riding. We would put the balance as 20% and 80%. We always found the D606 worked quite well on road surfaces. As usual, we have read dozens of owner reports about the D606 and we found some riders claimed the front tyre has very poor grip for road riding but we never encountered that. Wet roads? Keen on adventure riding in Australia? Check out our vids. No problems but then we never push hard on wet roads. Road noise is what you would expect - pretty loud. High tyre pressure reduces the noise slightly, but you will want earplugs on the highway! Off-road performance? If you like dual sport riding in Australia then you might like our adventure riding vids. We suggest looking at the Mitas E09, Motoz Tractionator Desert, Continental TKC80, Kenda Big Block, Metzeler Karoo, and Kenda Trackmaster 2 for starters. And of course the Tusk Dsport in north America. Do you have other suggestions for road-legal knobbies to suit dual-sport and adventure motorbikes? Let us know in the comments about very dirt-oriented rubber you like! Good traction especially if you drop the air pressures to suit. A lot of riders complain about the front D606 being sketchy in the dirt. The only way to get more life is avoid bitumen, and use high air pressures when road riding. Similar budget tyres to the Dunlop D606? We already mentioned the Pirelli MT21. In the USA there is the Tusk Dsport which is extremely similar to the D606 in all respects but almost half the price.You lucky bastards. All the reviews indicate it's on par with the Dunlop knobbies so it appears to be a bargain. If anyone had trouble with the Tusk Dsport let us know in the comments. I started this review by asking if the Dunlop D606 was still a good choice for riders? If you have limited cash and want good off-road performance? Definitely. Although I suggest pairing it with the Pirelli MT21 if it doesn't cost more. Motoz Rallz, lasted about three times longer than the Dunlops. But only cost about 15% more. It's worth doing your research. Many riders think the ideal combination is the Pirelli MT21 front paired with the Dunlop D606. I experimented with this and did find the MT21 was slightly better - but not the drastic difference claimed by some. It might be due to the uneven wear that often occurs with the D606 front. Unfortunately road riding is not kind to knobbies and usually leads to this type of uneven wear - sometimes called cupping. Some riders claim the Pirellie MT21 is less likely to do this. Others say there is still 'cupping'. I did use the Pirelli MT21 once and had less uneven wear. But I also used a much higher tyre pressure - 30PSI - to try and minimise it. Soft sand and mud? The D606 works a lot better than 50/50 tyres. But of course you have to accept faster wear and less road manners. Longevity of the front D606? Usually you can expect to use one front tyre to every two rear tyres. But due to uneven wear you may find the front D606 only lasts about 50% longer than the rear. We have occasional detours to places like Vietnam, Cambodia, Romania and Canada. This is one of our three channels, there's also a Cross Training Trials channel, and a Cross Training Enduro channel. All three are equally dodgy.All we are saying is there's also the budget option for adventure riding. And it won't hold you back. Why? We reckon it's 80% the rider and 20% the bike. So the Cross Training Adventure focus is just get out there and have fun on two wheels. Or don't subscribe to our Cross Training Adventure riding channel. The main thing is get out and ride while you can with dual sport riding or Adventure riding in Australia, Canada, Vietnam, Romania and beyond! So check out Cross Training Adventure. Our enduro channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/CrossTrainingEnduroSkills Our trials channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/MOTOTRIALSTRAININGTECHNIQUES #crosstrainingadventure #adventureriding #adventurebikes #dualsportriding #dunlopd606 </video> <video> 2024 Honda CRF300L long-term review︱Cross Training Adventure Description: http://crosstrainingenduro.com Our 2024 Honda CRF300L long-term review! The good news? It can wheelie. We got to ride the Honda CRF300L a lot in Canada recently. I reviewed the 250 model last year and the bigger engine does make a difference in this CRF300L review. It's still very user-friendly especially for beginners, but it does have that extra punch. The CRF250L was released in 2012 and very little changed for a while - just the usual 'bold new graphics' every year. In 2017 a few engine tweaks gained two more horsepower. Welcome to Cross Training Adventure, we are into all things dual sport and adventure on the east coast of Australia.And the CRF250 Rally was released with a large fuel tank, rally fairing, and longer suspension. In 2021 the 250 was replaced by the CRF300L which was upgraded to meet the EURO 5 emissions standard. Check out our reviews of various adventure bikes and dual sport bikes. If you like dual sport riding in Australia then you might like our adventure riding vids. There was a corresponding Rally model too. A few years ago we rode the CRF250L and the extra power of the 300 is definitely a plus, even for beginners. It's still a very gentle linear power delivery and won't get you into trouble. But once you hit the higher revs the little Honda moves along quite well. The handling on dirt roads is fine with plenty of stability if hitting loose gravel. Like most dual-sport motorbikes the suspension is very basic and soft. On-road performance. The CRF300L is surprisingly good on the highway compared to other 250 dual-sport motorbikes. You have a bit of extra power for overtaking. Keen on adventure riding in Australia? Check out our vids. It would definitely be a fun commuter if needed although the snappy throttle at low revs could be annoying at lower speed. Longer trips? Overall quality? While Honda still makes a lot of its premium models in Japan, the CRF300L is made in Thailand along with many other Honda motorbikes. The good news is their quality control appears to be excellent in the Thailand factory. I scoured the forums and the only quality control issue that appears regularly is the thin paint on the frame. Some owners complain that their legs wear through the paint after a while. The Honda CRF300L motorbikes we rode have a lot of mileage already and the mechanic reported zero issues with overall quality. The seat is much better than an enduro motorbike but we found it gets uncomfortable after about two hours. The suspension! As mentioned we think it's adequate for everyday riding if you aren't too heavy. The lack of adjustment is a real shame and many feel Honda should have provided this and just raised the price a little. You can easily spend loads of cash with various upgrades from Race Tech, K-Tech, YSS, Ohlins, Wilbers and Hyperpro. My opinion? Why not put that extra money into a CRF450RL which has infinitely better suspension and way more power too? I think it's better to look at budget modifications first. Quite a few owners say a thicker fork oil can make a big difference for the front. And just add stiffer springs if it still feels too soft. The rear shock? Find the cheapest valve kit possible and fit this along with a stiffer spring. Do your research. There's plenty of discussion out there! Let us know about your modifications and the cost. How does the CRF300L compare to other motorbikes in this class? Many regard the Honda as the best dual-sport all-rounder in its class. Owned or ridden any of the 250 or 300 dual sport motorbikes? What did you think? Any mods? Thinking of downsizing to one of these pint-sized thumpers? Let us know in the comments. So called dual sport riding reviews are just glossy ads nowdays. Everyone is trying to sell you stuff you don't need, convince you to buy the latest model with anodized coffee cup holders for your trips to the coffee shop. So the Cross Training Adventure focus is just get out there and have fun on two wheels. Instead of obsessing over the latest blinged out Beemer, which tyres to fit or spending a fortune on your suspension or billet alloy gas cap. And we've done a 10 part series on how to unleash the mighty beast that lurks within. What else? Cross Training Adventure actively avoids sponsorship. We like doing seriously critical reviews. Manufacturers make some really bad mistakes. and there is a lot of dodgy crap being sold out there. Instead of glowing dual sport reviews for kickbacks or free product, we will try to keep the buggers honest. So subscribe. Or don't subscribe to our Cross Training Adventure riding channel. The main thing is get out and ride while you can with dual sport riding or Adventure riding in Australia, Canada, Vietnam, Romania and beyond! So check out Cross Training Adventure. Music: 'Round 2' by Dolby used under Creative Commons License 3.0 #crosstrainingadventure #adventureriding #adventurebikes #dualsportriding #dualsportbikes </video> <video> Ducati DesertX versus CRF250RX for motocross? 😂︱Cross Training Adventure Description: http://crosstrainingenduro.com Anyone for a 110hp beast on a motocross practice track? When my Canadian cousins reviewed the Ducati DesertX they asked an enduro racer, Mitch Meister, in the expert class to give the suspension a thorough test. They gave us their raw footage for this video (you can see a much longer version including lots of gnarly enduro riding with the big Duke on the Traction eRag channel). Welcome to Cross Training Adventure, we are into all things dual sport and adventure on the east coast of Australia. He went way beyond the original expectations and we thought 'Why not show it in the review?' Check out our reviews of various adventure bikes and dual sport bikes. Everyone likes watching the antics of riders like Pol Tarres doing very inappropriate things on an adventure motorbike. Mitch also did a lap of the motocross practice track. He hasn't ridden an adventure motorbike before so he takes it easy for the first 30 seconds. But after the first corner he starts roosting and the Hondas start working hard to stay with him. Behind Mitch is young Mason is on a Honda CRF250RX. He is local racer doing quite well in the junior class. And we are onboard with Chuck Harder, mechanic and occasional enduro racer. The Ducati has a ridiculous amount of power for a track like this. 110hp. So on the few parts of the track where Mitch can hit the throttle the roost is long and wide! As expected, the Ducati is a cumbersome beast to slow down. If you like dual sport riding in Australia then you might like our adventure riding vids. It's also a lot of weight to wrestle through the corners. Mason goes wide. I'm not sure if he came in too fast or he is deliberately trying to avoid the flying chunks of dirt from the Ducati's rear wheel. I should mention our legal disclaimer. Keen on adventure riding in Australia? Check out our vids. Kids, don't try this at home on your adventure motorbikes. Unless you have a permission note from your parents. And lots of life insurance. The guys pull in to take a break. Next? It's just Chuck Harder chasing Mitch. Who is Chuck Harder? I'm glad you asked. Damn! It's surprising how fast the Ducati can accelerate if the tyre has enough grip. It's hard to control all that horsepower. A bit too much throttle? The Ducati's rear goes sideways and with all that weight it doesn't correct very quickly. Again, the RX catches up quickly during braking. Riding a big motorbike in inappropriate terrain is pretty popular now. Me? I've taken my DR650 on some hard enduro tracks when my usual enduro bike was out of action. But it was all at low speeds and I didn't feel at risk. But I have zero interest in this sort of caper on a Ducati. Ever tried it yourself? What sort of motorbike? My advice? Don't try it until you can ride like this guy. Pol Tarres. We have occasional detours to places like Vietnam, Cambodia, Romania and Canada. This is one of our three channels, there's also a Cross Training Trials channel, and a Cross Training Enduro channel. All three are equally dodgy. We are the 27th most watched dirt channel in Uzbekistan. We have won the polished turd award five years in a row. And we have a world record 25 class action lawsuits for inaccurate information. We think the whole motorbike scene is getting too commercial. So called dual sport riding reviews are just glossy ads nowdays. Everyone is trying to sell you stuff you don't need, convince you to buy the latest model with anodized coffee cup holders for your trips to the coffee shop. Of course if you are cashed up and into bling, go for it. All we are saying is there's also the budget option for adventure riding. And it won't hold you back. Why? We reckon it's 80% the rider and 20% the bike. So the Cross Training Adventure focus is just get out there and have fun on two wheels. Instead of obsessing over the latest blinged out Beemer, which tyres to fit or spending a fortune on your suspension or billet alloy gas cap. So most of our adventure riding vids will feature the much loved bush pig, the Suzuki DR650. And we've done a 10 part series on how to unleash the mighty beast that lurks within. What else? Cross Training Adventure actively avoids sponsorship. We like doing seriously critical reviews. Manufacturers make some really bad mistakes. and there is a lot of dodgy crap being sold out there. Instead of glowing dual sport reviews for kickbacks or free product, we will try to keep the buggers honest. So subscribe. Or don't subscribe to our Cross Training Adventure riding channel. The main thing is get out and ride while you can with dual sport riding or Adventure riding in Australia, Canada, Vietnam, Romania and beyond! So check out Cross Training Adventure. Our enduro channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/CrossTrainingEnduroSkills Music : Slammin from purple-planet.com #crosstrainingadventure #adventureriding #adventurebikes #dualsportriding #dualsportbikes </video>

Contacts and Links

Description

Cross Training Adventure Riding is the dim witted cousin of our dirt riding channel - Cross Training Enduro. We mess around along the east coast of Australia on a variety of adventure bikes. Older vids feature the famous DR650, but we are moving toward bigger bikes, a bit more road, and into the more traditional sense of adventure riding as most know it!

Videos from channel