SUMMARY
Here we have four different bikes, from four fledgling brands, all offering four different takes on adventure. Each is different, and each excels in slightly different areas. The Benelli is such a competent and enjoyable road bike. That it has the talent to take on the equivalent Honda is testament to how rapidly Benelli are finding their stride (keep an eye on their upcoming range of750cc bikes). They also have an extensive dealer network, which always helps getting bums on seats.
The AJP is the antithesis to the Benelli. Light and lithe, it's a straightout-of-the-box rally raid special that is capable of conquering all terrain. Compared to the obvious rivals from Austria it's not only cheaper, but also brilliantly simple, with a great feel-good factor and the talent to really shine in the right hands.
The Fantic is another firecracker. Who knew it would be this thrilling or engaging to ride? It's one of those bikes that makes you sit up and take notice less than a mile down the road. I had a good few days on that one.
Finally, the SWM SuperDual 600 X, a bike that harks back to the good old days of the big single cylinder thumpers. This is more refined than those bikes, with excellent equipment levels and a price tag that'll surely take some beating.
Some will worry about buying a bike from an emerging brand. They will cite the unproven mechanicals, the concern over getting parts or the value of it three years down the line. The connection with China and the quality of some past products from that part of the world is also going to draw out the doubters.
But as Colin at Thor Motorcycles sums up: "It's just about getting people to try something different and realise that there are other options out there that are just as good, if not better than the obvious choices:'
And from riding these four bikes, I think he might just have a point.