10 Best Adventure Bikes For Long Journeys And Off-Road Fun

Gone are the days when adventure bikes were essentially street nakeds or sports tourers cosplaying as dirt bikes. That’s when they were cumbersome, handful to control, and lousy on dirt. Today, adventure bikes have come a long way, and it’s not hard to find ones that can keep up with baggers on the highway and dirt bikes on trails. There are even some adventure bikes that can do both of those things while being capable enough to run with sports bikes on a racetrack!

That’s what makes modern adventure bikes so special. They offer everything you need to make your Long Way Around dreams come true. They can comfortably sit on the highway for hours and keep going when the pavement ends. In this long list of capable ADVs, these ten motorcycles stand out the most. They offer the best balance between long-distance comfort and off-road adventure.

Royal Enfield Himalayan 450

Starting Price: $5,799

Royal Enfield

The Himalayan 450 is an easy-going adventure bike that manages to be approachable for beginners while being fun enough for intermediate riders. The new Sherpa engine offers modern performance, unlike the older Himalayan, while still retaining the tractor-like low-end charm that made the predecessor so great. Meanwhile, its long-travel suspension and Harris Performance-designed frame take care of soaking up bumps on trails and staying planted on the road. While it may hold on to highway speeds just well enough, it’s still an excellent entryway into the ADV world.

Performance Specs

Honda Transalp

Starting Price: $9,999

Honda

For many, a good adventure motorcycle is all about balance and zero surprises. That’s what the Honda Transalp is. Honda has designed this middleweight ADV to be versatile, capable of doing a lot of things, including commuting. As a result, the bike can feel a bit vanilla, but that’s what makes it so great. It is powerful enough to sit on highways for hours, and the Showa suspension and 21-inch front wheel take care of business when off-roading. Being a Honda, you can rest assured that it will get you to your destination without hiccups. Just don’t expect it to wow you with features or outright performance.

Performance Specs

Yamaha Tenere 700

Starting Price: $10,999

Yamaha

On the other end of the spectrum, some bikers look for outright off-road performance from their ADVs. Highway comfort is an accessory to help them get to the trails. That’s where the Tenere 700 slots in. You’ll even find this bike in hard enduro competition with lightweight two-stroke dirt bikes, which is a testament to the bike’s off-road capabilities. That’s not to say it’s not good on pavement, though. The good ol’ CP2 engine is a peach, and the adjustable suspension allows you to dial in comfort for the highway. No wonder many consider this the spiritual successor to the legendary KLR 650.

Performance Specs

Aprilia Tuareg 660

Starting Price: $12,499

Aprilia

Like the Tenere 700, the Tuareg is yet another all-rounder ADV with a knack for off-roading. Credit goes to its long-travel suspension and rally-inspired design, which are designed to take on some serious dirt without complaints. Even the RS 660-derived parallel-twin engine is tuned for mid-range punch, which comes in handy while off-roading. On the highway, the same mid-range is great for cruising, while the rally-inspired design keeps the wind off your chest. It’s a well-built, well-equipped Italian ADV that’s hard to ignore, especially when you consider its pricing.

Performance Specs

BMW F 900 GS Adventure

Starting Price: $15,075

Robbie Bacon

Few bikes strike the perfect balance between off-roading fun and long-distance comfort like the BMW F 900 GS Adventure. This bike takes everything that makes the standard F 900 GS so great off-road and adds in a few touring-friendly comforts. For instance, the massive fuel tank gives it a 300-mile+ range! BMW also offers optional Dynamic ESA electronic suspension that adapts to riding conditions on the fly, so you don’t have to bother with setting up the suspension. The result is an off-road-ready ADV that is also ready to take on an intercontinental road trip.

Performance Specs

KTM 890 Adventure R

Starting Price: $15,799

Marco Campelli Via KTM

KTM knows a thing or two about off-roading, and it shows in the 890 Adventure’s design. It has everything to become a capable off-roader, and then some. To start with, the parallel-twin engine focuses on mid-range torque, and the fully-adjustable suspension has almost 10 inches of travel. Thanks to the tank placement, even the center of gravity is pulled closer to the ground. On the road, these translate to excellent comfort and agility, with relaxed ergonomics and a commanding seat height.

Performance Specs

MV Agusta LXP Enduro Veloce

Starting Price: $15,998

MV Agusta

Italian motorcycles aren’t known for being value for money, but the Enduro Veloce is an exception. It’s powered by a punchy inline-triple engine, an architecture that’s known for its meaty mid-range and screaming top end. Supporting this engine are Sachs fully-adjustable suspension, Excel tubeless spoke wheels, Brembo Stylema calipers, cruise control, and more. All of this for under $16,000 is a steal! Not to forget, being an MV Agusta, it is likely to age like fine wine over the years.

Performance Specs

Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro

Starting Price: $17,595

Triumph

Among Triumph’s Tiger lineup, the 900 Rally Pro sits as the most balanced option that can do it all. It is the most off-road-oriented variant of the Tiger 900 lineup, featuring a 21/17-inch wheel setup and fully-adjustable long-travel suspension. Unlike the larger Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer, it is much lighter and nimble, too. Triumph also claims a range of over 230 miles between fuel stops, and heated grips and seats, cruise control, and a large windscreen help its on-road comfort. It’s a legit do-it-all motorcycle that can handle everything you throw at it.

Performance Specs

Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special

Starting Price: $19,999

Harley-Davidson

Saying off-roading and ADV in the same sentence as Harley-Davidson may feel weird, but give the Pan America 1250 Special a chance, and it will surprise you. This full-size ADV is unlike any Harley before it; it’s refined, agile, quick, and modern. It’s powered by a modern Revolution Max V-twin, complemented by an agile frame. Everything sits on long-travel Showa suspension that’s electronically adjustable and semi-active, with Adaptive Ride Height. In short, the Pan America 1250 Special has everything you’d need for off-roading and long-distance adventures, making it a thoroughbred globetrotter.

Performance Specs

Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally

Starting Price: $30,595

Ducati 

If your idea of adventure is opulence and extravagance, nothing will impress you but the Multistrada V4 Rally. Everything about this bike is designed for comfort and performance, with no compromises. For example, the powerful V4 Granturimso features rear-cylinder deactivation, and a dedicated Enduro mode helps tame the engine down. Then there’s Ducati Skyhook EVO DSS semi-active suspension, a full suite of rider aids, and radar-enabled cruise control and blind spot detection. Is it a handful? Yes. Will dropping it on a trail cost you thousands of dollars in repairs? Probably. Is it still worth it? As long as you have the skill to handle it and pockets deep enough to afford it, there’s nothing better.

Performance Specs