Why big bikes could be a way forward for trail riding

There is much discussion over the best bikes for trail riding. This leads us straight to the first question “what does best mean?” Is it the bike that makes your trail riding the easiest? If it is, why bother with trails at all? Surely sticking to the tarmac is even easier? Or maybe a trials bike would be best? Is the best bike the one that allows us to go fastest on the trail? Good luck justifying that one!

Personally I say the best bike is the one I enjoy riding the most of the time.

For example if I had a trials bike I would probably enjoy the really gnarly bits more than I do now but the roads would be a pain, so maybe I would only really enjoy 20% of my trail riding on a trials bike.

If I had an R1 the roads would be great (right up until the point the police take my licence away!) but the trails would be a very expensive learning experience I suspect so maybe I would enjoy 50% of my trail riding on a sports bike.

How about a bike that 90%+ of UK trails are doable and fun and the roads are great too? I introduce the way forward!
 

• With an “adventure” motorbike the trails are fun but challenging (that was one of your reasons for trail riding wasn’t it?).
• Doing three or four hundred road miles in a day is no problem (possibly on one tank of fuel).
• The service intervals are long (six thousand miles on my GS vs. a couple of hundred on my WR450).
• The roads between trails are comfortable and fast.
• You don’t need a trailer or a van.
• Carrying camping gear etc is no problem.

There are of course some (minor) downsides

• Paddling along ruts is very, very hard work (better riders than me with a bit of practise don’t need to worry about this)
• Picking one up after a fall is tough (maybe 300 kilos+ with full luggage or 250 if you’re travelling “light”!)
• They’re more expensive than an enduro type bike (although there are much cheaper options than a BMW)

If you aren’t already convinced here’s the final “proof”:

We’ve all heard better, faster trail riders saying “momentum is your friend”

Well … momentum (p) is the product of the mass (m) and velocity (v) of an object

(p = mv)

Therefore the heavier the bike, the more momentum you have so it’s a better friend on the trail.

John Kitching
October 2009