Are the Japanese canning Dual Sport entirely?

[Fudmucker]

With ZA wanting all motorcycles to have E2 homologation in order to register on Natis,
I looked to see what Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha and Kawasaki have to offer in Europe this year.
I found only road motorcycles and crosstourers like the VStrom on offer.
Does this indicate that Dual Sport motorcycling in EU is dead?
(They have MX machines, but no street legal off-road bikes.)
If so, does it mean that DS in ZA will also die?

Only BMW and KTM for sale...?

[Single Cylinder]

The manufacturer produces models according to market demand. Cross tourers are in demand so that is what will be produced. The DS market is only a small fraction of the global market thus less DS bikes and more cross tourers.   

[Casting from Turd]

So that means my XR is gonna go up in value!!



Gotta lave the japs

[Tommy Transalp]

Thumpers will never die!! (they just go faster!)

[Fudmucker]

Thumpers will never die!! (they just go faster!)

Only for as long as you can still get spares.
Without the spares, they die even faster the faster you ride them.
The crossover market it what Europe and much of the US wants.
A road bike that doesn't skrik its tyres off when it sees a short stretch of gravel.
Considering that 97% of roads in EU are paved, what else?
ZA on the other had has 93% UNPAVED roads - and growing as the potholes get bigger.

[lecap]

I doubt the figure of 97% of roads being paved is realistic if you look at the main European bike markets (British Isles, Germany, France, BeNeLux, Spain & Italy). It's more like 100%. If there are any dirt roads they are off limits.

If you want to ride DS in Europe you have to go to Finland or counties of the former Eastern Bloc & SU.

The market for DS bikes was dwindling over the last 20 years.

The South African DS market is being killed deliberately by the legislative and the importers. Now go and buy a friggin' V-Strom
and weep your eyes out when you look at the offerings of Suzuki Australia (the FULL range of DS bikes available from the DRZ125 for the kids via the 200 & 250's not missing the DRZ400 in all versions all the way to the DR650SE.

The manufacturers will not come out with E2 compliant bikes specifically for that little market down there in South Africa (South where ).
Maybe the situation will change if one day the bikes have to conform similar legislation in AUS and North America.

In the meantime buy the bikes which are available in the UK or look after what you have got.

[Airguitar]

I doubt the figure of 97% of roads being paved is realistic if you look at the main European bike markets (British Isles, Germany, France, BeNeLux, Spain & Italy). It's more like 100%. If there are any dirt roads they are off limits.

If you want to ride DS in Europe you have to go to Finland or counties of the former Eastern Bloc & SU.

The market for DS bikes was dwindling over the last 20 years.

The South African DS market is being killed deliberately by the legislative and the importers. Now go and buy a friggin' V-Strom
and weep your eyes out when you look at the offerings of Suzuki Australia (the FULL range of DS bikes available from the DRZ125 for the kids via the 200 & 250's not missing the DRZ400 in all versions all the way to the DR650SE.

The manufacturers will not come out with E2 compliant bikes specifically for that little market down there in South Africa (South where ).
Maybe the situation will change if one day the bikes have to conform similar legislation in AUS and North America.

In the meantime buy the bikes which are available in the UK or look after what you have got.

That was always a continual source of frustration when I was living in Germany. Finding a dirt road was like finding gold. Amazingly the foremost DS Bike manufacturers are German and Austrian, where there are the fewest DS routes..

Maybe we can start looking at China for our stock?? Puzey is pioneering that route..

[Spastic Spy]

Were the rumours about Honda releasing the new Africa Twin next year just bs then?

[Omninorm]

Don't worry, there will always be something to ride --- even if we start converting scooters or naked street bikes for offroad. Won't be ideal...as it is now but it will be good enough.
In a few years we will be riding bikes like the electric Zeros etc.

[TVB]

What is wrong with the XTR660?, the XTZ, the BMW Sertao, the KTM690, still a lot of stock available on the outgoing KLR. All still okish thumpers the above mentioned. Parts will not be a problem in our lifetime as you still get parts for XR500and XT500 from 1982. Not nearly as many was sold than DR650 which is great and often available secondhand, KLR, the list goes on. Aprillia Pegasso trail is still available, basically a XTR in another frame.

Honda African twin to be released last quarter next year in SA. V strom 650 with spoked rims, a bit more offroad capable and always was way better than people thought it was. I have done goat trails and went all over the show on a DL650.

We still have the 800 class

I am not worried