So which middleweight?.....

[Ventana]

I loved my F800 Adventure and after it was stolen I followed the herd and felt I needed a BIG bike so I got an Africa Twin Adventure Sport.  It's huge.  So now I have an itch to go back to the middleweights.  SWAMBO and I spend plenty time doing the pillion thing - so pillion comfort is essential - and by the looks of it this scratches the T7 and the KTM790 (or am I wrong?) which leaves the F850 Adventure, base Africa Twin, or maybe the Tiger 900?

Shopping paralysis.....

[Fuzzy Muzzy]

Im going for the base Twin.. ticks every box I have. Its a bike I just have to get in my garage,

Ive been looking for one, not in any rush but if the opportunity comes ill grab it.

[chicco]

New KTM 890 will be available soon. 

[BuRP]

he KTM790 (or am I wrong?)

I would say you are - and, the 890 is exactly the same save for some horses.
It depends how fast you want to pillion, but the 790 is waayy faster than an 800 - and 'off' it's a different league altogether.
Go test one and convince yourself! 

[peteb]

New KTM 890 will be available soon. 

Also have a similar request, pillion will accompany me on a fair bit of the bikes' trips. The new 'standard' 890 seems to have better torque figures, which will make it better for 2 up riding. Also the shock gets a 'hand' preload adjuster now, also good for compensating for a pillion, and rebound adjustment (but no compression). Such a pity they didn't upgrade the forks.
Wonder what the price will be relative to the Norden? That could also be a long wait....Q3 2021 for international release I'm told, possibly later for SA. But it will have 'decent' shocks and fork (and styling!), whilst still retaining the low seat height and nice pillion seat. Decisions decisions.

[BuRP]

Wonder what the price will be relative to the Norden?

The Norden will have better suspenders and a quite different (higher..) price - it's a Husky you see, white is more exclusive than orange in this regard.
Looks better also 

[bud500]

There's a difference between middleweight and middle capacity. So are you talking actual bike weight or engine capacity? Because there's a bit of a difference in weight of the bikes mentioned...

[Noneking]

My 790 is not comfortable with pillion. More than enough power etc, but not the ideal bike for the application. I suspect T7 similar......850 Beemer surprised me, but it is is quite a big, heavy bike.

[peteb]

Wonder what the price will be relative to the Norden?

The Norden will have better suspenders and a quite different (higher..) price - it's a Husky you see, white is more exclusive than orange in this regard.
Looks better also 

From the info I have the Norden will be priced between the 890 and 890R, in Europe anyway (don't know what that means for SA?) Seat height will also be positioned between the two, but suspenders will be 48mm in front, remote rezzy shock at the back, both with full adjustment (like the R), travel shorter than the R, also less ground clearance. And seat like the standard 890 for pillion.
The only things which might tempt me into a standard right now is the availability soon, and the fact that I'm a little concerned about Husky backup in KZN. But not a fan of the KTM styling (mantis headlight and huge pointy shrouds) and the suspension, though I quite like the new grey colour scheme.

[Ventana]

There's a difference between middleweight and middle capacity. So are you talking actual bike weight or engine capacity? Because there's a bit of a difference in weight of the bikes mentioned...

Hear what you're saying - I guess the difference is significant....the bikes listed are the ones on the shopping list - all Adventure Bikes should be classified as heavyweights I suppose....

[sidetrack]

When I hear middleweight I still think 650 single and 150kg 

[DUSTRIDERS]

When I hear middleweight I still think 650 single and 150kg 

+1

[Lord Knormoer]

When I hear middleweight I still think 650 single and 150kg 

The mention of pillion is the primary parameter to consider, most smaller bikes are not pillion friendly.

My advice would be to go ride the bikes on your shopping list with pillion, she will tell you real quick if it works or not. Factors not important for the rider can completely change the pillion experience. This would include seat comfort, seat height relative to rider, screen size etc.

To illustrate my point, my wife loves to pillion on a 1200 GS bit less so on the GSA. The relative seat height on the GSA means she stares into the back of my head while on the 1200 she could see over me. Surprisingly, she hates the 1600 GTL because the seat is too high which means she experiences severe wind buffeting at higher speeds.

This would be different from person to person based on their preference, height etc.

[2StrokeDan]

When I hear middleweight I still think 650 single and 150kg 

This is true. Heavyweights, in my opinion, goes from 200KG up.

[Roxtar]

Get a 990....all the speed, all the comfort and all the joy

My friend had his F800GS stolen... replaced it with a 3oth Anniv.Edition 990 a few years back... still thanks the thieves for doing him a favour...

[DUSTRIDERS]

I see the Sport is 238 kg wet, so anything lighter would be better if the weight is the problem.
I'd look at a KTM 1090.

[sidetrack]

When I hear middleweight I still think 650 single and 150kg 

This is true. Heavyweights, in my opinion, goes from 200KG up.

Only the manufacturers now fooling us into believing a 790 is a middle weight to create more categories and models

[roxenz]

When I hear middleweight I still think 650 single and 150kg 

+1

Amen. The 800 class are heavyweight bikes. The litre+ class are behemoths (or pigs), basically tourers with veldskoene. I think of middleweight as the old 650s, the KTM 500, DRZ400, etc. The T7 seems on the heavy side of a lightheavyweight.

Pillion ability doesn't affect the weigh classification, although there is some correlation between weight and pillion ability. Anyway, even a middleweight bike becomes a heavyweight with pillion and luggage, so if you want to pillion in comfort, just get a behemoth.

[Spectaitor]

I see the Sport is 238 kg wet, so anything lighter would be better if the weight is the problem.
I'd look at a KTM 1090.

1090 sits at around that weight too so then you're just looking at different ergonomics

[Vintage_Mania]