http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-top-10s/your-top-10-adventure-sport-bikes/22093.html

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Mods that I have done to my XTX's

My 04 XTX
Stage 1 & 2 DNA filters / Kev fuel mod / snorkel mod / Drilled air box mod / Engine breather mod / Fork Spacer mod / 15w fork oil /
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My 07 XTX
Raptor 700 cylinder 102mm / Modified Crank Case to take a 105mm Raptor Cylinder / 11:1 102mm JE Raptor piston / Stage 1 Raptor Hot Cam / Ported head / Colder Spark Plug / +2mm Throttle body / DNA stage 1 & 2 filters / Modified Air Box / Snorkel removed / Worry Brothers stage 2 filter cover / 6mm & 8mm Bolts Replaced with Titanium Bolts / Recovered seat in Black / O2 Eliminator /

My 09 XTX
59HP at the rear wheel / Stage 2 Raptor Hot Cam / DNA stage 3 Air Box / Carbon Can Exhausts / Modified Exhaust Link Pipes / PCIII With Custom Fuel Map / Wideband Commander O2 Data logger / LCD100 Dyno Jet display & fuel adjuster / 2500 OHM HT lead instead of a 10K OHM XT lead / Extra Coolant Cooler / Protaper Fat Bars / Tail Tidy With LED Tail Light / OKE Protection Knobs / LED indicators / AIS blocked / Modified rear sprocket rubbers / Rear Foot Pegs removed / 09 ECU With 02 Sensor Changed To A 06 ECU / Complete wiring harnes Changed from 09 to 04 / Home made LED resistor flasher / Hole drilled in the fuel tank filler neck to allow quicker filling / Modified Bar End Weights / Progressive front fork springs, 15W fork oil, forks lowered 25mm, used XTR rear links lowering the rear 20mm, rear spring one click stiffer / Changed front & rear guards from blue to black / 47T rear sprocket / Speedo Healer V4.0 / Kev throttle cam mod / Throttle grip mod / The new 2010 O2 sensor mod is out, works a treat, The new 2012 O2 Controller is out, PM me for details

Now ride a 2018 MT09SP ABS + TCS

My KTM 990 SMR Mod book. http://www.ktmsmt.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=4946

hey Kev cool post.

Out of all those bikes i could only see myself on the ten for single travelling, or the 990 SMT.

I dont think there was any bias among manufacturers either.

also noticed theres no BMW's haha

I have pre-ordered a 2013 SMT, they arrive in Oz next month.

__________________
Click here to join the XT Supporter's scheme

Mods that I have done to my XTX's

My 04 XTX
Stage 1 & 2 DNA filters / Kev fuel mod / snorkel mod / Drilled air box mod / Engine breather mod / Fork Spacer mod / 15w fork oil /
[
My 07 XTX
Raptor 700 cylinder 102mm / Modified Crank Case to take a 105mm Raptor Cylinder / 11:1 102mm JE Raptor piston / Stage 1 Raptor Hot Cam / Ported head / Colder Spark Plug / +2mm Throttle body / DNA stage 1 & 2 filters / Modified Air Box / Snorkel removed / Worry Brothers stage 2 filter cover / 6mm & 8mm Bolts Replaced with Titanium Bolts / Recovered seat in Black / O2 Eliminator /

My 09 XTX
59HP at the rear wheel / Stage 2 Raptor Hot Cam / DNA stage 3 Air Box / Carbon Can Exhausts / Modified Exhaust Link Pipes / PCIII With Custom Fuel Map / Wideband Commander O2 Data logger / LCD100 Dyno Jet display & fuel adjuster / 2500 OHM HT lead instead of a 10K OHM XT lead / Extra Coolant Cooler / Protaper Fat Bars / Tail Tidy With LED Tail Light / OKE Protection Knobs / LED indicators / AIS blocked / Modified rear sprocket rubbers / Rear Foot Pegs removed / 09 ECU With 02 Sensor Changed To A 06 ECU / Complete wiring harnes Changed from 09 to 04 / Home made LED resistor flasher / Hole drilled in the fuel tank filler neck to allow quicker filling / Modified Bar End Weights / Progressive front fork springs, 15W fork oil, forks lowered 25mm, used XTR rear links lowering the rear 20mm, rear spring one click stiffer / Changed front & rear guards from blue to black / 47T rear sprocket / Speedo Healer V4.0 / Kev throttle cam mod / Throttle grip mod / The new 2010 O2 sensor mod is out, works a treat, The new 2012 O2 Controller is out, PM me for details

Now ride a 2018 MT09SP ABS + TCS

My KTM 990 SMR Mod book. http://www.ktmsmt.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=4946

I think that's pretty fair and probably representative.

While the Multistrada is an awesome bike, I am surprised to see it at number one. Mainly because of it's price and from feedback I've picked up (from a number of different sources over the last year) is still suffering silly little problems (silly problems always seem to upset people more than major ones, I find). Clearly the awesomness of the bike overrides any issues.

The Varadero and the VStrom are no surprises, both bikes are superb distance tourers, having had two mighty 'Deros myself I fully appreciate the fundamental ability of these bikes to do just what it says on the label. Looks aren't everything...

The Crossrunner is another one that is a surprise. Not because I doubt it's ability (it was a serious consideration for me before I picked up my Tiger) but it is a new bike to market. The old VRF800 was a peach of a bike (I had one of them too), but I did doubt the riding position of the Crosser, being that it still has a sports orientated chassis.

The baby Tiger, I can see why this rates highly. Gravel path ability married with motorway content-ness. I see this as being the way all the manufacturers will go. While I'm a huge critic of the XC's off-road intentions (although any bike, in the right hands will ride any terrain) it does ride well on rough roads. The bike is a very good all rounder.

The SMT, Never ridden one, not even sure I've seen one on the road! It does look to me to fall into the same bracket as the Multistrada, so the fact we see these two at the top maybe says more about the people who provided the information for the survey ??

Of course the impeccable do-it-all Tenere...... no need to say anything there.

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Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

What is a surprise is that the Buell Ullysses has made it into the top 10!

My brother bought one new in 2008 and sold it six months later after a catalogue of build and reliability issues. It was uncomfortable, cramped and small and every time you went near gravel the belt snapped. Aside from the pin-sharp handling, which is an acquired taste in itself, it was an utterly rubbish motorcycle. It was a poor bike in 2008 so why it should be on a best bikes list for 2012 beats me? It's certainly a lot worse than at least half a dozen bikes I can think of that didn't make it into the top 10...

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Very very interesting. I agree with most of the comments BUT given the cost of the Multistrada plus the awful build quality I would never have expected to see that at the top of the pile......

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(Now sold on, sob) 2011 Blue XT660X with gold wheels, was 26,500 km.
Engine mods: K&N Stage 1 filter, DNA Stage 2 filter, snorkel removed, Kev fuel mod fitted.
Plus: smoked Puig screen, Yam aluminium sump guard, Yamaha / Acerbis handguards, Givi Trekker aluminium side cases, Leo Vince X3 cans plus Kev front fork mod and Fender Xtender. Just fitted Michelin Road Pilot 3 tyres.

SOLD the XTX for a Super Ten 1200. And just bought a Raptor 700 so staying on here for some tips....