800MT-X has big shoes to fill. Confused about the two? We sent Todd Sutherland, KR’ s most compact tester, out to try them both and see which personality he preferred. After a 500km loop from north of Auckland down to the South Waikato and back, swapping between the 450MT and 800MT-X, one thing became very clear. While these two adventure machines share the same badge, they deliver very different riding experiences. At $ 9990 plus on-roads, the 450MT represents a very affordable entry into the small to midweight ADV market. The 800MT-X, by contrast, carries a $ 15,990 price tag plus ORC, and brings with it a suite of modern touring features, including cruise-control and a slick bi-directional quick-shifter. On the open road, the 800MT-X really shines. Motorway cruising is where its smooth, torquey engine and plush ride come into their own. Cruise control is a welcome relief during the long, straight slogs, those‘ just let me get through this boring part’, eating up the kilometres effortlessly. The quick-shifter is genuinely impressive, crisp and intuitive. However, its 860mm seat height was a challenge for my 700mm inseam legs. At standstill, its size and weight are noticeable, but once moving, they fade into the background

44 KIWI RIDER