Over the last few years, the adventure bike market has seen exponential growth, with more interest than ever in the sector. Any motorcycle is appealing because of the freedom aspect, marketing has centered around this motive for years. For adventure bikes, it actually makes even more sense for the marketing department to play on this ingrained desire for freedom. In many ways it is an easy sell, bikes that are comfortable enough to ride long distances, efficient enough to ride every day and affordable enough for most of us.
For many manufacturers it has become the source of most of their income, and now they are reinvesting that into some incredible new models.
10 Ducati Multistrada Enduro
Ducati decided to give their sporty tourer some decent off-road ability, so it could appeal more to the ever expanding Adventure bike market.
We think they nailed it, if money is no object, then this should be right at the top of your list. It packs some serious V4 punch and will make the trusty GS look decidedly utilitarian.
9 KTM 1290 Super Adventure S
If you want a big off-road-focused adventure machine, you will be looking at getting a KTM, they have been making them since before they were popular.
The range topping Super Adventure is one of the best motorcycles in the industry, only held back by some of the most polarizing looks in the industry. All of their adventure bikes are good, they just all look like this, so if you like the looks don’t bother looking at other brands.
8 BMW R1250GS
When BMW first introduced us to the concept of an adventure bike in the 80s, nobody knew quite what to make of it, but they carved out a perfect little niche and had no competition for decades.
Then the market just exploded, and to be fair they have always been one step ahead of the chasing pack. It is without doubt still the staple big bore Adventure bike, it will take you anywhere and back again (see; Long Way Down) and it only has one real criticism; it is a very expensive bike to own and run.
7 Honda Africa Twin
What Honda have done with their big bore Adventure bike is pretty impressive, with one model they cover two different parts of the market.
The base model is actually cheaper than most middleweight adventure bikes, and the top of the range DCT model competes with the big boys and is an especially good touring machine.
6 Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250
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Harley-Davidson have gone and done the unthinkable and created an all conquering Adventure bike. It really is comparable to the venerable GS and has already stolen some of their sales.
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They really did surprise everyone when they first proposed this bike, but in terms of how the market has grown, it actually makes perfect financial sense for them.
5 Suzuki V-Strom 650 XT
Although you might think we are a bit off the mark choosing this over its bigger sister, the 650 actually makes far more sense.
It is more of a road oriented machine, but offers incredible bang for buck as a tourer and can definitely handle short off-road stints.
4 Triumph Tiger Rally Pro
The Tiger platform has become one of Triumph's best-selling bikes, let alone adventure bikes.
If you are after an entry level machine, they have you covered with their new 660 Sport Tourer, if you want a big bore cruiser, the 1200 might be for you but if you want to roll in the dirt then the Rally Pro should be right atop your list.
3 Yamaha Tenere 700
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No motorcycle is perfect, with every type of bike conceding some form of compromise, but the bike that has by far the least compromises is the Tenere. It is something of a Goldilocks machine, able to do pretty much everything better than you might expect.
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It is a remarkable piece of engineering, it performs well on the road and can soak up long distances but comes into its own off-road where it is lightweight and flickable, yet still only costs around $10k. Little wonder the waiting list is so long…
2 Aprilia Tuareg 660
Aprilia have big plans for their 660 platform, the sportbike and naked Tuono make right around 100 horsepower, but the Tuareg has an entirely different tune focused on torque delivery.
It makes right around 80 horsepower, with incredible torque delivery, as promised. It amounts to a more prestigious T7, with more electronics and more options at a marginally higher price.
1 Husqvarna Norden 901
It has everything that makes the KTMs great, without the awful looks, dare we say, with incredibly good looks, subjectively speaking.
Their pricing is also spot on and as a result, offers better value than anyone expected when the bike was first teased a few years ago.