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By Nature
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MotorCycling Achievement in Design: Off-Road
Don Williams
02/01/2007
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Photograph by Heinz Mitterbauer
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With motocrossers’ designs in a maturation phase, the big changes in the dirt
are happening off the closed courses. These three bikes reflect that
reality.
KTM 950 Adventure. Photograph by Heinz Mitterbauer.
Weighing in at 436 lbs without fuel, and lacking any extraneous
motor parts that exist as the pleasure of nature’s worst, the KTM 950 Adventure
is the rare bike that can span continents without a thought either way about
pavement. Hugely successful in rally competition, the V-twin 950 Adventure’s
design translates to civilian riding, with many accessories that allow the rider
to tailor the motorcycle to his own purposes.
 Aprilia RXV. (Click image to enlarge)
After years of teasing, Aprilia
finally put its long-previewed off-road motor into for-sale motorcycles. The RXV
4.5 and 5.5 break the convention of vertical singles, with a fuel-injected,
liquid-cooled, four-valves-per-cylinder, 77-degree V-twin powerplant. Not only
does the RXV look spectacular, the bike is hugely successful when the motor is
given room to stretch its legs. Off-roading will never be the same after this
revolutionary machine.
 Husqvarna 610 SM. Photograph by Kevin Wing. (Click image to enlarge)
Many street-legal so-called supermoto bikes are
supermoto in appearance only. The Husqvarna 610 SM is the real deal, only
slightly modified for street legality. Excellent handling and suspension await
the uncorking of the motor powering this immensely fun bike.
www.ktmusa.com
www.apriliausa.com
www.husqvarnausa.com
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