With the adventure bike market still growing all the time, we are treated to a selection of new bikes every year. While some models are simply refreshed or get an additional trim, this is the one segment where we are still also getting completely new bikes year-on-year. As a result, the used market is starting to wake up in a big way.
Manufacturers do a great job of marketing these new machines, and it is easy to see why somebody might be willing to trade in a perfectly good older bike. If you are shopping on a budget, this is excellent news. Adventure enthusiasts also tend to modify their machines a little more than the average rider, so you might even find a bike with accessories you would otherwise spend hundreds of dollars on. Then again, you might just end up with a bunch of stuff you don’t really want!
Buying a used motorcycle always has an element of risk attached, so please do your research and proceed with caution. The motorcycles on this list go from oldest to newest.
2010 BMW R 1200 GS Adventure
Price Range: $5,000 – $7,000
This is effectively the bike that really got the ADV trend going. While the GS series and other ADV competitors were around for decades already, the R 1200 GS offered an incredible balance between capability, durability, and long-distance comfort. For many adventure enthusiasts, these air-cooled bikes are still the benchmark. By 2010, these bikes made as much as 110 horsepower, which is more than enough power for an ADV, even by modern standards.
2013 KTM 990 Adventure
Price Range: $7,000 – $9,000
All the way through the 00s, the KTM LC8 V-twin-powered adventure bike represented BMW’s biggest competitor. While there was no denying the fact that the BMW was the better tourer, the 990 Adventure quickly developed a reputation for being the better off-road bike. With just over 100 horsepower and a dry weight of just over 450 pounds, it is easy to see why. While this may have been considered a big-bore adventure bike back then, it is more comparable to a modern middleweight bike today.
2014 Husqvarna TR650 Terra
Price Range: $3,000 – $5,000
Back when this came out, BMW had already sold Husqvarna to KTM. This model was essentially a modernized and redressed BMW F 650 GS, which is not a bad thing at all, but KTM had zero interest in marketing the bike. It was quickly and quietly killed off before it even had a chance to show anyone its worth, and represents something of a bargain on the used market today. If you can find one, that is.
2017 KTM 1090 Adventure R
Price Range: $7,000 – $9,000
The gulf between KTM’s 690 Enduro R dual-sport and 1190 Adventure was getting pretty big, and the Austrian brand was well underway in developing a genuine middleweight alternative. But it was not quite ready by 2017, and in an effort to “plug the hole”, KTM gave us this stripped-down version of the 1190. It was marketed as a middleweight, and if based purely on weight, that was pretty accurate, say, for the fact that it still has 125 horsepower and will show a fair few modern bikes a clean pair of heels both on- and off-road.
2018 Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled
Price Range: $3,000 – $5,000
Ducati tested the ADV waters with the Desert Sled. Unlike its Scrambler siblings, it offers genuine off-road capability. The old twin offers a decent amount of punch in this retro-styled bike, and the fact that it is sparsely equipped means the weight is also manageable. Back when it was new, Ducati demanded a premium for it, but depreciation has worked its magic, and all of a sudden, it has become genuinely affordable.
2021 Yamaha Ténéré 700
Price Range: $6,000 – $8,000
For the first couple of years that the Tenere 700 was in production, Yamaha couldn’t even keep up with production. Such was the demand for a motorcycle like this. Other brands have since thrown their respective hats into this middleweight ring, and the Tenere is no longer the “king of the hill,” so to speak. With prices finally normalizing, a used Tenere now offers decent value, especially if you like the bare-bones nature of the original machine.
Every Triumph Tiger Adventure Bike, Ranked By Power
Triumph’s lineup of adventure bikes is nearly peerless, but knowing which one to pick is the real tricky part.
2022 Triumph Tiger 850 Sport
Price Range: $6,000 – $8,000
Most of the bikes on this list are more off-road oriented, but if you are after a more street-oriented bike, the Tiger 850 Sport is a great option. Realistically speaking, most riders will primarily use an ADV for touring, and this will most certainly be more comfortable over long distances. Like any adventure tourer, it is still more than capable of handling the odd stretch of dirt without much fuss, as long as you understand its obvious limitations.
2022 Aprilia Tuareg 660
Price Range: $7,000 – $9,000
Pretty much every manufacturer needed an answer to the Tenere, and this was Aprilia’s effort. In so many ways, the Tuareg 660 is actually better. It is more powerful, has more tech, is more comfortable, and has better suspension than the Yamaha. Even so, the Aprilia name has held the Tuareg back to some extent, with far too many customers left disappointed in the past. For those willing to look past all that, this certainly offers a lot of value.
2023 Kawasaki KLR650 Adventure ABS
Price Range: $4,000 – $6,000
This is cheating a little because it really is more of a dual-sport, no matter what Kawasaki calls it. It is raw, uncompromising, and has the ability to traverse continents. At this price point, you simply won’t find another bike that is more capable, but as good as the KLR650 Adventure is off-road, it is equally poor on the highway. Well, over long distances. Short bursts will be fine, but ultimately, this is an exploration tool, nothing more, nothing less.
10 Adventure Motorcycles That You Can Have For Under $5,000
New ADVs are pricey, but if you are willing to sacrifice a few creature comforts, there are some bargains to be had on the used market
2023 Royal Enfield Himalayan
Price Range: $3,000 – $5,000
The old retro-styled Himalayan takes the uncompromising nature of the KLR and scales it all down to a more beginner-friendly package. While the KLR might seem approachable, it is still pretty heavy for new riders. The Himalayan, on the other hand, is light and offers pack-mule-like agility. What it is not is fast. Just like a pack mule, it will go anywhere, as long as you are not in a hurry.
Source: KBB