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Well, I think I have “Touring Disease.” I just added the black Expedition panniers to my Tiger 900 GT Pro, and have my tank bag, cell phone holder, and Sena helmet communication system all set up. Soon I will be mounting my Go Pro camera to document my journeys. It is so cool using knowledge I have gained from countless motorcycle tours, along with today’s technology that will make our rides safer, more comfortable, and a lot more enjoyable.
 
I can’t describe how much fun it is figuring out gear and routes with Cyndy, and mapping out places we want to go and see. We are planning rides, and getting our bikes, gear and ourselves ready to go a long way.
 
Don’t let life pass you by! Go touring on your motorcycle.
2021 Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled Review
A new seat and paint job are more than enough reason to revisit the off-road-ready Scrambler.
The retro bike scene is as strong as ever, with pretty much every manufacturer from Triumph to Kawasaki digging up heritage stories and building classically styled bikes to match. But the best thing about the current wave of retro bikes is that the sacrifice in performance for style is becoming less and less pronounced. And while the Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled would be hard work to actually race across a desert, it does have some genuine off-road capability.

The fully adjustable Kayaba fork and preload/rebound-adjustable shock both have 7.9 inches of travel, and with more than 9 inches of ground clearance, you can tackle some decent terrain without tearing a hole in your cases. And sure, a 21-inch front wheel would be better off-road, but the spoked 19/17-inch wheel combo is a proven adventure bike setup for striking a balance between dirt and asphalt.

Equally important as ground clearance and suspension is riding position; no amount of travel will make up for ergonomics that don’t work when you’re standing up. Thankfully the Sled works well; it feels a little wide, particularly if you’ve just stepped off a dirt bike, but the bars are a good shape and well-positioned for standing operation. The only weak point here is down by your feet; the pretty aluminium footpegs look nice, but even with the rubber removed they’re slippery, especially when mud and water get involved.
2021 Giant Trance XE + Pro 29 Bike review
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