suspension to both ends. It is fully adjustable, but not by hand only – a screwdriver and 17mm spanner is required for damping changes. Importantly, the suspension is properly adjustable. Meaning, spring preload at both ends, which is adjustable by hand. High and low-speed compression damping on the shock, rebound at both ends and fork compression damping. The forks are large 48mm USD units and the shock is PDS mounted, meaning there’ s no rising rate linkage. Both ends have a decent 220mm of wheel travel and ground clearance is a decent 242mm. The steering angle is a pretty sharp 25.3 degrees and the front certainly feels planted, both on and off-road front-end grip feels secure. Agility is great for a big machine and stability feels good at speed on road, notwithstanding the knobbly tyres, which are Bridgestone’ s excellent AX41 hoops. In general, the front end offers a lot of confidence.
PHYSICALITY The Super Adventure is not a small bike, to kinda state the obvious. Physically it’ s a very big machine; tall and wide low down where the fuel
is carried, although the riding position itself is slim and comfortable. The seat height is a reasonably tall 880mm and the overall size will limit sales to smaller riders, for sure. The fuel is mostly carried low down on each side of the bike. This lowers the centre of gravity and gives a lighter riding feel, but it has not helped the ergos. She’ s a big girl down in front of your feet, which is not a big deal most of the time, but does not help if any walking-speed paddling is required. Frankly, the old 990 Adventure did a better job ergo’-wise keeping the fuel low with its twin tank design. Fine-tuning the ergo’ s can be done with subtle, but helpful adjustments. The bars can be moved forward on the clamps, likewise the pegs can go backwards and upwards by 10mm by flipping the mounts over. The gear-shift tip has three positions forward and back and the brake pedal end can be flipped over to raise it. I did all these things, along with fitting larger and slightly lower Rally pegs and a flat MX-style seat which is 27mm higher where you sit, helping those with long legs, but lower at the rear which has the
KIWI RIDER 65