Selecting enduro and adjusting saddle height

The mode of transport for romantics and daredevils is a motorcycle. Motorcyclists are considered freer than motorists, hidden from the gusts of fresh wind in the car. If you ride even on a not very presentable motorcycle, you will get a lot of attention from the outside. We’ll talk about which device to buy, the pros and cons, as well as what to look for when choosing, in our article.

Which enduro should I buy first: 250 or 400 cc?

To understand which enduro and why it is best for a novice motorcyclist to take his first steps, you need to look not only at the purpose of the bike, but also at the engine capacity.

"Soft" (up to 250 cubic meters)

They weigh on average 120 kg. Low weight and dimensions are one of the main advantages in comparison with larger enduros. Relatively inexpensive. They can cope with any suburban conditions, while being maneuverable in a metropolis.

They are not skittish, they will easily forgive some control mistakes, so they are quite suitable for beginners to master driving. A slight rise in the saddle is very useful for short motorcyclists. The engines are simple with one air-cooled cylinder.

Light (250-300 cc)

Perhaps the most popular among Russian motorcyclists are SUVs. The main advantage of the so-called “quarters” is that they are universal and cost less than their cubic counterparts. They are also great for beginners starting out and learning driving skills.

With a low weight, the 250s have good power. They give confidence in city traffic and on the highway, where a reliable and unpretentious single-cylinder engine allows you to rush with a breeze of up to 140 km/h. Thanks to the strong chassis, energy-intensive suspensions and different-sized wheels, it ensures quiet passage of broken country roads and off-road terrain, overcoming ditches, stones, logs, curbs, etc.

A more rigid version also belongs to the same class (250-300). It is distinguished by a sporty bias - stronger suspension, a small gas tank, narrow saddles, and symbolic headlights. This is basically the same cross-country shoe, so it is not recommended for a beginner who does not have good skills to purchase it. Only an experienced motorcyclist can realize all the possibilities of a 300cc hard enduro.

"Medium" (400-650 cubic meters)

The class of balanced all-rounders and powerful sports bikes is unlikely to be suitable for beginners - only trained motorcyclists should ride these enduro bikes. Overall, this is an excellent vehicle for daily driving and long-distance driving on any road. On the highway it is more comfortable and quicker to fire than “checks”. They weigh on average 140 kg.

“Heavy” (from 650 cubic meters)

Designed mainly for long journeys on roads and off-road. There are tough variations - successors to the line of the first champions of famous races; There are soft ones - all-terrain vehicles. It is better for beginners not to sit on either one or the other.

Such monsters weigh 1.5-2 centners. In addition to classic single-cylinder engines, among them you can see two-cylinder and V-shaped variations.

Cross motorcycle - types and applications

In the case of crosses, the matter is quite simple. In a simplified way, we can say that motorcycles of this type are found in two different types. They differ from each other primarily in their ability to travel on roads, and therefore in their equipment.

Honda motorcycle parts

The first type of “cross” is cars that have permission to drive on city roads. There are not many of these motorcycles on our roads, because they are almost never produced for street riding. If it's a sports car used in motocross, then why let it go on the road? However, for some time now there have been dirt bikes on the market that have headlights, turn signals, starters and matching mufflers so you can register them and use them for riding on asphalt roads as well.

Other bikes can always be converted, even with a special kit that can be purchased online. Even a homegrown amateur mechanic can handle its installation, making the motocross machine suitable for riding on public roads.

“Cross” Husqvarna CR 125

The second type of motocross bikes are typical machines designed for riding on rough terrain. Their sporty nature does not require the elements mentioned above because motocross riding does not require a road driving permit. The problem with typical cross-country vehicles is that they need to be transported to the track by tow truck, trailer, or other means, but these vehicles do not have the ability to travel to the site on public roads.

Cross motorcycle Gas Gas MC50

Myths about street motorcycles

We would like to dispel the following common misconceptions:

• Driving is dangerous - if you follow traffic rules and adhere to recommended speed limits, you will get into accidents no more often than in a car.
• Frivolous transport - only those who perceive a bike as a means of entertainment think so, whereas this is a whole philosophy.
• The more protection, the lower the risk of injury - optional elements hinder movement, interfering with control, and therefore can provoke an accident.
• An expensive pleasure - you can give preference to budget transport for a beginner, the cost of which will be several times lower than the price of the car.

Enduro motorcycles from 200,000 to 300,000 rubles

But in the 200-300 thousand category, when it comes to choosing a motorcycle, everything is not at all clear. Here are both top Chinese and Japanese enduros, which are not so old anymore and have very “fun” characteristics. But let's take things in order. On my YouTube channel “Moto Life Enduro” there are quite a few reviews of top Chinese enduro motorcycles. This is the best that Chinese manufacturers offer. There are modern suspensions, excellent brakes, and powerful engines. In addition, all the advantages described above, such as the easy availability of both the motorcycles themselves and spare parts, have not gone away. Prominent representatives of the class are the ZUUM CX300R and Avantis 300Pro.

ZUUM CX300R

But such Japanese cars as Honda CRM or Yamaha WR-F certainly shouldn’t be discounted. The Japanese (especially Yamaha), in terms of characteristics, although not by a head, are still superior to the Chinese horses. Again, thoughtfulness and ergonomics are on their side. The only thing against us is age. Still, 10-12 years for hard enduro is a lot. In addition, the cost of service is not a penny at all. To thoroughly capitalize a technically complex Yamaha engine, it is often necessary to spend more than 100 thousand rubles! But nevertheless, I will leave the question of which motorcycles are better to choose, Chinese tops or Japanese hard enduros, unanswered.

Yamaha WR250F

Also, in this price category, European hard-enduros also appear on the scene. For the money of 200-300 thousand, most of them will be half-dead chariots. But if you search carefully and for a long time, you can stumble upon, for example, a KTM EXC200, Husqvarna, NeftNeft, well, in the sense of GasGas, or a very rare TM. Finding such motorcycles, and even in good condition, is like finding hay in a stack of needles, you will have to inject yourself more than once))) And yes, as always, we do not forget about expensive and frequent maintenance.

Husqvarna TE310

Sports equipment

If the crossbike has all the necessary documents, you can ride it around the city, having previously installed all the missing parts. However, such motorcycles have a narrow seat, so riding long distances is very tiring. It is difficult to drive it for more than a couple of hundred kilometers, besides, large treads on the tires lead to excessive vibrations of the steering fork when driving on asphalt, which, in turn, loads the driver’s hands.

The Chinese IBRIS TTR motorcycle is an excellent option for a beginner. Although these inexpensive models require some modification (usually replacing some parts with similar ones made in Japan). It could also be BaltMotors Enduro 250. Other global manufacturers also have many models for motocross. As a motorcycle for off-road and city use, for example, the Honda CRF250L, which feels great both on the highway and on difficult sections of the road, or the 250 cc Kawasaki KLX250S.

Clear advantages and disadvantages

I was surprised that the design of the moped was quite strong - serious damage to the side turn signal did not affect it in any way - everything was done conscientiously. The tires hold the road well and cope with off-road conditions. The engine runs great and starts without difficulty.

There are problems with the gearbox, in particular, the neutral gear is not clearly worked out. Sometimes the system does not respond to neutral being turned on, and sometimes it constantly detects it as being on. This is where the kick starter comes in handy.

Serious driving had stripped the moped of its mirror and a couple of screws that held the parts in place. There are still not enough additional elements to protect against dirt - after trips I had to scrub the wheel sprockets for a long time and even remove some parts. Fortunately, under the seat there was a set of necessary keys.

Enduro motorcycles from 100,000 to 200,000 rubles

ZUUM CR250 CB

As for the Japanese, in the category from 100 to 200 thousand, there is already something to choose from. These include two-stroke bikes such as Suzuki RMX, Kawasaki KDX and Honda CRM. By the way, I had one of these representatives, called Suzuki TS200R. I have made a whole series of videos about him. But, of course, the motorcycles of the legendary trio, Honda XR250, Yamaha TTR and Suzuki Djabel (or DR), stand apart in this category. You can also add Kawasaki KLX here. It’s just worth remembering that these are, after all, dual-purpose motorcycles, intended for leisurely motorcycle rides and motorcycle tourism. For hard enduro, the same Chinese “competitors” are better suited. And there are several reasons for this. Firstly, the Chinese motorcycles described above are sports enduros, whose purpose is to ride through the forest, mountains, logs and stones. They are lighter, they have more protective plastic, which is also not brittle. But the same 172nd engine is not at all inferior to these Japanese in terms of power.

Honda XR250

The advantage of Japanese representatives can definitely be called high quality, reliability and thoughtfulness. But only in recent years, the majority give their preference in choosing a motorcycle, after all, in favor of the Chinese. Why? The fact is that due to customs legislation adopted in recent years, it has become no longer advisable to import Japanese motorcycles from their homeland. And those specimens that are in our country are living out their last years. Still, nothing lasts forever. And they are also often used in hard games, for which, as has already been said, they are not really intended. To find a living specimen, you also need to travel quite a bit around the country. Chinese enduros can be bought almost in the nearest supermarket. In addition, the availability of spare parts for Japanese enduros and their prices are far from pleasing to the owners. Sometimes the search for spare parts for Pepelats from the last millennium turns into a real quest. Well, the last nail in the coffin of “old” Japanese motorcycles is that Chinese enduros at this price have greatly improved in quality and reliability in recent years. And of course, they are new. But like any new technology, they will lose more value. I repeat, not because this is Chinese technology, but because this technology is new! Used Chinese, according to my observations and my practice, do not lose much more in price than the Japanese.

Which brand of motorcycle should I choose?

Traditionally, the Russian market is represented mainly by Asian companies, whose vehicles are very popular. The leaders are Japanese companies (Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, Honda) and Chinese (Viper). But if Japanese motorcycles are already considered classics, since they have been on the market for more than 100 years, then Chinese models have recently become more competitive with them.

A review of Chinese motorcycles will be presented below. Vehicles from the Middle Kingdom are chosen for the following reasons:

Such classic and well-known models of domestic production as “Ural”, “Izh” and “Java” are no less popular among Russian consumers. They can be easily purchased secondhand and in terms of price they outperform all foreign models, but we will consider below whether their quality meets the required parameters.

Yamaha XT225 Serow

The Yamaha XT225 is also worthy of our attention and careful consideration

You may ask why 225 and not 250? Because the 250th model is very difficult to find on sale, and it’s not worth focusing on it because of this

XT225 does not have the external aggressiveness that is inherent in its classmates. Many people criticize the bike for this reason, but this is a rather subjective opinion. The meaning lies in the name itself - Serow. The word serow in Japanese means a local mountain goat, which easily gallops along mountain slopes, but does not have great speed.

The Yamaha Serow can outperform many dirt bikes, but it is not suitable for long-distance riding.

Not even because of the low speed, but because of the slippery and uncomfortable seat. But for a beginner, this is the best choice, since the model is low and light, and any rider can handle it.

Letting the beast go free

On a washed-out country road, 50 cubes appeared even more clearly than on hard city surfaces. Sometimes, in order to get through the mud, I had to lower myself all the way to first gear. But due to its size and the fact that there is only one track, it was possible to pass where both an ATV and a car would get stuck. Sometimes it seemed that even on a motorcycle with a hard tread it would not be possible to take on the next obstacle, but this little guy dealt with it with ease. It’s better not to stop on such a muddy road, because then it will be very difficult to start again.

After a fairly long trip on a surface completely unsuitable for this, the first symptoms of the disease began to appear - apparently due to the constant change in speed, serious load and overheating, something went wrong in the fuel system - irregularities appeared in the engine. Apparently, the carburetor began to mix the ingredients in uneven proportions. In addition, after measurements, it turned out that a baby with a volume of 50 cubic meters consumed 5 liters per 100 kilometers of road, which is simply an prohibitive amount for such an engine. After two hundred kilometers, the first serious problems appeared.

What is enduro?

Those who love an active and varied life cannot imagine themselves without a motorcycle. Complete freedom, speed of movement, sometimes completely crazy, privacy with your thoughts. The owners of this vehicle get all these delights.

In the USA and Europe they know firsthand what an enduro motorcycle is. In the modern world in general, and on the Pitbiker.ru website in particular, there is a very rich selection of steel horses. Enduro motorcycles are in great demand as a convenient way of transportation both in the city and on mild off-road conditions.

Just a few years ago, those who were not part of the motorcycle scene did not know what an enduro motorcycle was. There was an opinion that these motorcycles were intended for professional competitions. However, later an enduro motorcycle became a completely affordable way for a person who wanted to switch to a two-wheeled mode of transport.

Price

In this paragraph, we will consider two main points: the cost of the vehicle itself and the costs of its operation. Motorcycles are the leaders in these two indicators. Of course, some ATVs or motorcycles can be more expensive than cars, but this is rather the exception. Typically, SUVs are significantly more expensive than motorcycles. As for the costs during operation, motorcycles will cost significantly less, even in terms of fuel consumption. Even the most economical SUV consumes no less than 10 liters of gasoline or diesel fuel per hundred, while, say, an enduro will be fine with less than 5 liters. Much, of course, depends on road conditions, but in general, in off-road conditions, motorcycles are much more economical than cars.

The price of this BMW is more than a million rubles

Other criteria for choosing an enduro for a beginner

The soft version (250 cc and less) is best suited for a beginner, as it meets the basic criteria of a motorcycle for beginners:

• Ease and simplicity of control. It’s easy to control, like a bicycle, and it can squeeze through everywhere due to its narrow profile and high steering wheel – it won’t touch the mirrors of most cars.
• Good review. Achieved thanks to a high, straight landing - you can look over cars without any problems.
• Single cylinder engine. Provides traction from the very bottom, which is just right for beginners.
• Simplicity and low maintenance costs.
• Sufficient speed for beginners. For those who like to ride with the breeze, a cruising speed of 100 km/h (plus or minus 10) will be enough. The speed is limited by the absence of a fairing and a long suspension stroke, while it does not depend on the engine capacity (therefore, when choosing software, you should not chase power - weight is more important). Acceleration time to 100 km depends on the speed of gear changes (they are short), for a beginner it will be useful to learn how to do this quickly. In addition, there will be an opportunity to master the skill of working with your own weight.

Functional

The best city motorcycle simply has to be easy to ride. So that even a beginner can master riding, it is therefore recommended that the bike have the following set of features:

• ABS – protects against sudden wheel locking;
• ACC – helps control speed and avoid collisions in time;
• TCS – ensures consistently good tire adhesion to the road surface;
• AWC – prevents the front wheel from rising higher than necessary;
• Quickshifter – is responsible for easy gear shifting, being a kind of alternative to an automatic transmission in cars.

Additional equipment is welcome, but it is also accompanied by increased costs, which do not always fit into the purchase budget.

Classification

There are three main groups of bikes in this class.

Hard

Their appearance becomes a reason to mistakenly classify them as sports motorcycles. Indeed, they have a lot in common - and this is no coincidence, because hard courts are often built on the basis of sneakers. However, this does not mean at all that it is so.

The first thing that distinguishes hard from the rest of its fellow enduro hard bikes is:

• excellent chassis strength;
• energy intensity;
• impact resistance of parts and finishes with minimal weight;
• high power-to-weight ratio compared to other enduro bikes.

However, hard bikes also have disadvantages: service life measurement in engine hours, similar to motocross bikes, and maintenance intervals that are shorter than those of “civilian” motorcycles.

Software

This class is suitable for driving both off-road in nature and along well-trodden city avenues. Therefore, it is often called a dual-purpose bike or a compromise enduro.

An excellent option for lovers of nature, fishermen, and villagers. He is not afraid of bumps, holes and other obstacles.

Today, unfortunately, this category among manufacturers is characterized by a clear shift towards asphalt motorcycles.

Touring enduro

Comfortable for long journeys, equipped with equipment from protective bars to navigation systems. The most popular class of bikes, especially abroad, sales significantly exceed other types of enduro.

A powerful engine and durable suspensions - all this is designed for heavy workload without compromising technical parameters and service life. The only downside is, perhaps, that driving on Russian off-road roads becomes more difficult due to its large weight and dimensions. Everything else is at the highest level.

History of creation

The first all-wheel drive moped appeared back in 1924. Created by British engineers, it remained the only copy for a long time. Then, in the middle of the century, Rokon was created. The principle of operation was to transmit torque to the front wheel by two chains

and has no suspension, but moves well off-road and weighs less than a hundred kilograms. This two-wheeled unit is still popular among outdoor enthusiasts.

The idea of ​​​​creating an all-wheel drive motorcycle came to Russian engineers during the Second World War. Then the first mopeds were built that had a drive to a sidecar wheel. Now such units are popular among the rural population who use three-wheeled vehicles to transport goods.

The Ural motorcycle with front wheel drive has a number of differences from other Soviet vehicles. The wheel on the stroller can rotate at the same speed as the rear one. Although the moped has more advantages, it still has disadvantages.

• passability on any surface with a very low probability of getting stuck;
• load capacity increases significantly;
• control is easier and more enjoyable;
• the driving dynamics become softer and smoother.

• more complex chassis design;
• There is no way to detach the stroller.

In addition to the Urals, there is another Soviet motorcycle with a sidecar - the Dnepr-16. Its characteristics significantly exceed all other Russian bikes; the stroller has rubberized springs, and the load capacity is 200 kilograms. Such motorcycles can be excellent assistants at work and on vacation. Therefore, if you are thinking about buying an all-wheel drive bike, don’t hesitate.

Two Wheels of Victory The Yamaha WR450F 2-Trac is the only production sportbike with all-wheel drive. For the fourth year now, French rider David Fretinier has achieved fantastic results on this motorcycle during the Dakar Rally and on the sand track in Morocco. In 2005, his “monopoly” on all-wheel drive ended: several more such cars took part in the rally.

Almost invisible The rear wheel drive of the Yamaha WR450F 2-Trac is a traditional chain drive. A short chain from the gearbox rotates the hydraulic pump. Oil pumped through a closed circuit drives a hydraulic motor on the front wheel axle. The system is so compact that from a distance such a motorcycle can easily be mistaken for a regular rear-wheel drive one. It is distinguished only by two thin tubes leading to a hydraulic motor covered with a small casing

Two-wheeled tractor The most famous all-wheel drive motorcycle - ROKON - was made in 1968, but is still successfully sold today

Front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive cars today do not surprise anyone. It would never even occur to anyone except extreme autocrossers to drive quickly through mud, snow or ice in a rear-wheel drive car. And all-wheel drive supercars, such as the Lamborghini Diablo VT, have no equal in terms of acceleration dynamics thanks to the ability to move away without slipping. But the advantages of motorcycle all-wheel drive in such conditions have been confirmed quite recently: French racer David Fretinier brilliantly demonstrated this in 2002 and 2003, riding a Yamaha WR450F 2-Trac motorcycle on a sandy rally track in Morocco. The results he showed in the 2004 Dakar Rally (victory in the 450 cc class, three stages won and seventh place overall) impressed his rivals so much that in 2005 several more of these all-wheel drive two-wheeled vehicles took part in the rally, and Fretinier himself won in the 450 cm³ class and took 5th place in the overall standings!

Dual purpose bikes

Motorcycles designed for normal and overcoming bad roads, riding in their complete absence, belong to the “enduro” class (endurance). Enduro is one of the first off-road motorcycles. The entire motorcycle industry began with him. Asphalt was rare at the beginning of the 20th century, so a vehicle was needed that could drive over rocks, mud, virgin soil, and forests.

At the same time, it is important that the equipment does not fall apart on the next bump and does not hit the driver with shaking. This is how the enduro motorcycle appeared

Now these bikes are divided into touring and racing. Tourists do not ride long distances very quickly on dirt roads and light off-road conditions. The racers manage to rush along vertical rocks, overcome the swamp, and not get stuck in the sand, but on the asphalt it’s a bull in a china shop.

Enduro features are:

1. Design:

• for driving over bumps and uneven surfaces, the suspensions are made with long travel;
• the steering wheel is high with a crossbar, hand protection is present;
• semi-duplex frame (strength rings combined);
• the front wing has been increased in size.

1. Wheels: The tread has a pattern that helps you ride both on asphalt and dirt. Casting is not encouraged - knitting needles are better.
2. Engine: most of them run on one cylinder, tourist ones (from 650 cm3) are two-cylinder V-shaped. The exception is Yamaha and BMW bikes.

Several important differences between a sports bike and a pleasure bike:

• the sportak has no headlights;
• starts with kickstarter;
• has no right to ride on the roadway.

Varieties of “household” enduro

The design is based on a powerful engine, a lightweight frame, a progressive suspension, and a comfortable pilot position. Non-sporting types of these motorcycles are registered as vehicles and can be safely ridden on the streets and highways; a frame is provided for hanging a license plate.

Of course, these bikes are equipped with quieter mufflers to avoid rattling in populated areas. Their rear wheel is an inch smaller than a motocross wheel. But there are some technical differences between different “endurics”.

1. Hard enduro is a cross bike adapted for use in non-competitive life. It has a sporty orientation, rigid suspension, but has headlights, a dashboard, an electric starter, a side stand, and a brake light. In terms of cubic capacity, they are produced from 400 to 650 cm3, and are air-cooled. On such a motorcycle you can drive through thicket forests, mountains, sandy areas, and overcome water obstacles (swamps, river mouths, puddles). Due to its great similarity to a sports crosser, problems with the traffic police may arise.

2. “Soft” (civilian) - differs from cross-country in soft suspension, the ability to sit two people, dual-purpose tires, the presence of a trunk, powerful brakes, a battery and a modified engine. Engine capacity from 125 to 650 cm3. Speed ​​is not very important here, the emphasis is on safety.

3. “Tourist” - a unit for the Paris-Dakar rally, long off-road driving. It has a powerful plastic body kit, a windshield, a powerful engine, a large tank, a light that allows you to move in the fog, a comfortable seat, and luggage space. But this trucker has more weight and less maneuverability. Only an experienced pilot can operate such equipment.

4. “Parquet” (semi-passable) - the ability to drive on good and bad roads equally successfully. This type has an engine from 650 to 1200 cm3 and a weight of ∓ 200 kg. Short-travel suspensions, low ground clearance, wheels with wide-profile tires and alloy discs, powerful brakes, enlarged windshield, maximum body kit. Comfortable double seat, luggage racks with panniers.

Pitbike

A pitbike is a small cross-country motorcycle. As a rule, they have small wheels 17/14, 14/12 inches or smaller. Engines with a horizontal cylinder, volume from 50 to 190 cubic meters. The first pit bikes appeared in the vicinity of racing tracks and were used to move personnel around the subdock. They were two-wheeled vehicles, often without suspension. Often such minibikes were used for entertainment and fun. By the 90s, pit bikes had acquired a modern and familiar image. Nowadays, this type of equipment still serves for fun rides, both for adults and for children and teenagers.

Main technical characteristics

Two wheel tractor

The first all-wheel drive two-wheeled motorcycle was made from a serial British Raleigh back in 1924. The machine was used for training and remained the only experimental model.

The most famous 2x2 motorcycle was produced in 1968. ROKON - this is the name of this all-terrain vehicle - can be considered one of the most ingenious and successful inventions of the twentieth century. Without undergoing any significant design changes, ROKON is successfully sold to this day. Its motto is: “It’s not a motorcycle, it’s a two-wheeled tractor.” The front wheel of the ROKON is driven by two chains, the rear wheel also has a classic chain drive. The suspension problem has been solved radically - it is absent on the ROKON, and wide tires have shock-absorbing properties. They provide low ground pressure, allowing the motorcycle not to sink in liquid mud or bury itself in sand.

The designers managed to achieve an extremely low weight of the motorcycle - less than 100 kg. Thanks to wide tires, low weight and permanent all-wheel drive, ROKON is able to independently cope with almost any off-road conditions.

All-wheel drive is not the only technical feature of the ROKON. For example, its wheel rims are made in the form of sealed drums and are capable of carrying an additional supply of water or fuel. Moreover, thanks to the “empty” rims and wide tires, the motorcycle has positive buoyancy and cannot sink!

ROKON is equipped with an almost silent four-stroke engine that produces 6.5 HP, which is quite sufficient for its weight. It has an automatic centrifugal clutch and a three-speed gearbox. The stages (aka modes) of the box do not switch on the go. The driver immediately selects the desired driving mode, after which he operates only with gas and brake. The first gear is low - for particularly difficult off-road conditions. The second is for leisurely maneuvering. The third mode allows you to accelerate to a maximum speed of 50 km/h.

ROKON is a unique vehicle that can go anywhere, and in a pinch you can carry it with you. No wonder the Jordanian army purchased a batch of these vehicles in 2001.

The best touring motorcycles: review of enduro class models

Let us remember that this vehicle is characterized by a relatively low weight, low engine noise, good handling, suspension providing cross-country ability, high traction characteristics, but not a very comfortable frame.

BMW R1200GS Adventure

One of the most famous “geese”, produced since 2004, is fast and comfortable. It accelerates to 200 km/h without problems, maintaining controllability even on rough terrain thanks to the “Road” and “Rain” modes. It has a tank of 33 liters, cruise control, ABS, a two-cylinder engine with a volume of 1170 cubic meters and a power of 125 HP.

Pros:

• maneuverability and versatility;
• convenience of direct landing;
• suspension reliability and frame ergonomics;
• large gas tank, spacious trunks.

Minuses:

• the speed range is short;
• vibrations are observed during significant acceleration;
• relatively expensive to maintain.

Customer rating: 4.6

KTM 1190 Adventure

One of the leaders in the “best enduro motorcycles for long-distance travel” category. Why? Because it’s powerful, with a 148-horsepower engine, and well-equipped - full power accessories, adjustable suspension, reinforced chassis and wide tires.

Advantages:

• predictability on the road;
• wonderful review;
• effective Brembo brakes;
• straight fit;
• productive engine of 1195 cm3.

Flaws:

• relatively high heat generation;
• Problems may occur when shifting gears.

Biker rating: 4.8

The main qualities of a touring motorcycle

Firstly, this is the diameter of the wheel. If the route is to be taken exclusively along highways or compacted dirt roads in good weather, this parameter is not so important. However, if the hiker knows that there will be rocky areas to overcome, it is better to have a wheel larger than 21 inches (53 cm).

The presence of an electric starter is also important. If the motorcycle stalls in a puddle, ditch or on a hill, starting it from the kickstarter will be very inconvenient, especially if the traveler is riding alone. Weight also matters, so unless there are some personal preferences, it is better to choose an air-cooled model

In addition, it is easier to maintain, and this is important, because you often have to repair an off-road motorcycle with your own hands, being in extreme conditions. Therefore, it must be as reliable as possible, and the driver’s task is to thoroughly know his equipment and its capabilities

Husqvarna

The 2021 Husqvarna lineup also includes seven production models

: two-stroke - TE 150i, TE 250i, TE 300i and four-stroke FE 250, FE 350, FE 450 and FE 501. The entire Husky TE and FE series lineup has undergone significant improvements over the past few years. Last year's full list of changes amounted to 60% new components and included significant changes to the rear. Consequently, the 2021 models don't get anything new other than revised graphics.

Two-stroke models

TE150i

Equipped as standard with an electric starter for easy starting in difficult situations. In addition, the chassis provides precise flex characteristics and, when combined with the WP suspension, offers improved handling characteristics and comfort in the most challenging conditions.

Husqvarna TE250i

and

2021
TE300i In addition, the engines feature an improved design for greater mass centralization and a balance shaft to reduce vibration.

Model FE 250

is the lowest power 4-stroke bike in the enduro range, which also means it's the lightest. Designed and built with premium components including WP suspension, selectable engine ignition maps and a Magura hydraulic clutch, the FE 250 is a machine of unrivaled quality, performance and reliability.

The golden mean of the model range – FE350

has the same power-to-weight ratio as
the FE450
, while maintaining the lightness and maneuverability of the FE250. The model is also equipped with a number of premium components and has unsurpassed quality and reliability.

The FE 450 features class-leading power, technology and premium components. This motorcycle is the perfect combination of precision and agility. The refined and powerful engine features a shaft arrangement designed to improve mass centralization and handling. Combined with innovative electronics, WP suspension and enduro-specific rear linkage, the FE 450 pushes the limits of performance to a whole new level.

Husky FE501

is the most powerful model in the Husqvarna enduro range.

How the competition works

Enduro competitions began more than a hundred years ago and have undergone significant changes since then. Now there are more than 10 famous multi-day competitions in Russia and abroad, where famous riders from all over the world come to compete. Competitors undergo special tests, including: prepared enduro parks, forest and winding trails, steep descents, ascents, various rough terrain surfaces, high-speed sections and hour-long races. In general, no despondency, only extreme sports, adrenaline and real struggle, which gives a feeling of excitement and a thirst for victory.

Since 2001, Russia has hosted the Russian Enduro Championship. Competitions are held in different regions of the country, two days for each stage. Each lap contains special sections that may include high-speed turns, artificial or natural obstacles, jumps, fording and other challenges. By the way, the motorcyclist must complete them at maximum speed, which implies extreme and spectacular competition.

There are also competitions in Russia for different levels of riders: both for professionals and for beginners, in which those who like to ride in their free time - the so-called “hobbits” - can try themselves. This is, for example, the “Nimble Squirrel” race, which is held in Karelia, or several stages of “Are You Violent?” These competitions are quite accessible to any endurist.