Algoma ADV Adventure Touring
For our recommended adventure touring routes in Ontario, we're generally targeting the big bore bikes, with displacements ranging from 650 to 1200. The reason being that these bikes are better-suited to travelling long distances, allowing riders to carry a range of luggage, tools and/or camping gear.
Think of it practically… the biggest bike isn't necessarily the best. Sometimes, the smaller bikes are better for ruts or mud. Being that I ride a 1200, tuts and mud are my enemy. The big bikes are so heavy they'll slip. You try picking that up a couple times a day… you just want to go home. That being said, bigger bore bikes that can do highway and also do off-road, are better for long-distance travel.
Some bikes simply defy being placed in a category, but just for general purposes, here's a very broad breakdown:
Class: Enduro
Description: Lightweight (~300 lbs), 125cc to 500cc
Examples: KTM 500EXC, Honda CRFx
AKA dirt bikes, thumpers, stump pullers or motocross bikes, they have high fenders and ground clearance, plus long travel suspension. They usually come with aggressive dirt-oriented tires known as “knobbies”. Lightweights are closest to pure dirt bikes and are most at home on rough trails and two-track roads with occasional forays onto pavement. Some of these bikes cannot be licensed for the road.
Class: Dual Sport
Description: Midweight (~300-400 lbs), 250cc to 650cc
Examples: KTM 690, KLR 650, Suzuki DRZ 400, Super Sherpa
AKA trail bikes, they usually have less suspension travel and ground clearance than lightweights, and often come with tires that offer a compromise between dirt and pavement performance. These bikes are often tailored over distance and do spoke and hub touring. Mid weight bikes such as this are most at home on smooth trails, graded dirt roads and pavement. These bikes can both be tailored or ridden to a destination for spoke and hub day trip touring. Fuel and carrying capacity also define these bikes.
Class: Adventure
Description: Heavyweight (+ 350 lbs), 650cc to 1200cc
Examples: BMW R1200GSA, BMW R1200GS, BMW F800GS, Kawasaki KLR 650, KTM 990 Adventure, Triumph Tiger, Yamaha Super Tenere, Honda Varadero, Moto Guzzi Stelvio, Aprilia
Aka ADV bikes, off-road touring bikes or "Beasts", adventure class bikes are big bore and have the capabilities of traveling on and off road long distances. These bikes have ranges that exceed 300km on a tank of gas and are designed to carry travel gear.