There are clear identities when you select motorcycles from certain places around the world. You come to America for the rumble of a V-twin. If you want low-cost motorcycles above all else, you look to China. And if you want exotica with the most tech and performance, you look to Europe. Japan has usually kept itself somewhere in the middle of the road, where it can have the widest appeal.
Products from The Land Of The Rising Sun are reasonably priced, have a decent amount of tech, and are dead reliable. Every once in a while, though, the people at R&D are allowed to let loose by the powers that be, and Japan comes up with gems that go down in history as some of the best products we’ve ever seen. We’re going to focus exclusively on the ten times Japan made better adventure bikes than Europe. It’s happened more often than you think!
10
Kawasaki Versys-X 300
Price: $5,799
The Versys-X 300 has been around for nearly a decade. In that time, nobody – and we mean nobody, not just the Europeans – has come up with a credible alternative to it. Sure, there are options with a single cylinder, but the Versys-X 300’s twin cylinder engine is not only smooth, but indestructible, and returns 70.2 MPG if ridden right. You won’t be able to get too far in the dirt with it, but that would be missing the point of this little ADV-tourer. Considering the way European motorcycle licensing is, it’s a surprise that the Versys-X 300 still stands alone.
|
Engine Type |
180° I2 |
|
Displacement |
296 cc |
|
Max Power |
40 HP @ 11,000 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
19.2 LB-FT @ 10,000 RPM |
|
Transmission |
6 speeds |
9
Honda NX500
Price: $7,399
Like the Versys-X 300, the CB500X was never intended to be an off-road motorcycle. It is essentially a city bike/tourer that can do long distances surprisingly comfortably, and go into the dirt a little. Honda updated it recently and gave it sharper styling and a new name. The NX500 is completely modern, with a TFT display, Bluetooth, navigation, and traction control. Yes, there are contenders at the displacement now, but none of them have the reliability, ease of use, and low ownership costs of this.
|
Engine Type |
180° I2 |
|
Displacement |
471 cc |
|
Max Power |
46.9 HP @ 8,600 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
31.7 LB-FT @ 6,500 RPM |
|
Transmission |
6 speeds |
8
Kawasaki KLR650
Price: $6,999
The KLR650 was always going to be on this list because there really isn’t an option for it from anywhere in the world, including Japan! It started out life as a large dual sport, but has evolved into more of an adventure bike now because of its weight and features. It now has ABS as well as a lowered version for wider appeal. This lowering isn’t new: the KLR650 Tengai that was on sale from the late ‘80s onward had similar lowered suspension and a large 6-gallon fuel tank, making it one of the best no-nonsense adventure tourers of the time.
|
Engine Type |
Single cylinder |
|
Displacement |
652 cc |
|
Max Power |
38.5 HP @ 9,000 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
39.1 LB-FT @ 4,500 RPM |
|
Transmission |
5 speeds |
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7
Suzuki V-Strom 650XT
Price: $9,799
The V-Strom 650XT is the last of the middleweight V-twin adventure bikes that is also reliable and affordable. Despite its age, it still has some modern features like three-level traction control and tubeless spoke rims. At the same time, the engine is extremely reliable yet fun, and the chassis is involving and communicative while still keeping the price extremely low – a combination that Europe finds difficult to achieve.
|
Engine Type |
90° V-twin |
|
Displacement |
645 cc |
|
Max Power |
70 HP @ 8,000 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
46 LB-FT @ 6,400 RPM |
|
Transmission |
6 speeds |
6
1988 Honda XRV650 Africa Twin
Price: $5,000-10,000 (used)
We know today’s Africa Twin is a full-size, technologically advanced motorcycle, but it started life as a midsize off-road-focused adventure bike that drew inspiration from the Dakar Rally. Honda dominated the world’s toughest race in the 1980s and was the first to win it with a water-cooled engine. The XRV650 has a familiar V-twin, versions of which power the Shadow and Fury to this day. To say it is reliable is an understatement, with 18 unmodified Africa Twins finishing the rally in 1989. It even looks the part, complete with covers for the front brake and rear caliper, a massive engine bash plate, and fork gaiters.
|
Engine Type |
52° V-twin |
|
Displacement |
647 cc |
|
Max Power |
57 HP @ 8,000 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
40.6 LB-FT @ 6,000 RPM |
|
Transmission |
5 speeds |
5
Yamaha XT600Z Ténéré
Price: ~$5,500
The Ténéré is the adventure bike we want when we want to explore off-road. It is that way because of the older Ténérés, which were basically large dual-sport bikes designed to tour. The original Ténéré had a single-cylinder engine, a massive 8.5-gallon fuel tank, and an alloy swingarm. Its second generation shrunk the fuel tank but carried the fuel lower, on the sides, to reduce the center of gravity. The tank was also made slimmer to avoid damage during the inevitable crash. This was like the XRV650 Africa Twin, but more suited to off-road work. Once more, its reliability and performance at the price were very difficult for the Europeans to match.
|
Engine Type |
Single cylinder |
|
Displacement |
595 cc |
|
Max Power |
46 HP @ 6,000 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
37.6 LB-FT @ 5,750 RPM |
|
Transmission |
5 speeds |
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4
Yamaha Ténéré 700
Price: $10,999
The current Ténéré had, until recently, much of the same raw off-road characteristics as its predecessor. However, the world wants more refined and usable adventure bikes, so Yamaha has updated the Ténéré 700 and given it a by-wire throttle with ride modes, an optional two-way quickshifter, and a taller windscreen. It retains the torquey engine and light weight that makes it so good when the going gets rough. You’ll get a European motorcycle that can match it off-road, but be as reliable or low-cost to maintain? We’re not so sure.
|
Engine Type |
270° I2 |
|
Displacement |
689 cc |
|
Max Power |
72.4 HP @ 9,000 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
50.2 LB-FT @ 6,500 RPM |
|
Transmission |
6 speeds |
3
Suzuki DR750S Big
Price: ~$3,000 (used)
You can trace the lineage of the V-Strom line back to the DR750S, and Suzuki still has a DR650S knocking about. In the ‘80s, along with Yamaha, Kawasaki, and Japan, Suzuki also threw its hat in the ring, offering Dakar-type products to the public. The DR750S had a massive 6.4-gallon fuel tank, long-travel suspension, and a torquey thumper engine. To this day, the DR has carburetion, which keeps things simple and reliable.
The DR750S saw a few improvements over the years, with a larger engine, a smaller fuel tank that could accommodate the legs of taller riders, and more comfortable seats, before the DR800S replaced it. However, no other Suzuki dual-sport or adventure bike has achieved the fame of the DR750S Big, which was the road-legal version of the DR-Z Dakar race bike.
|
Engine Type |
Single cylinder |
|
Displacement |
727 cc |
|
Max Power |
50 HP @ 6,800 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
40.6 LB-FT @ 5,600 RPM |
|
Transmission |
5 speeds |
2
Honda XL750 Transalp
Price: $9,999
Honda’s current Transalp is named after a series of midsize adventure bikes that it produced from the mid-‘80s to 2012. These were all powered by V-twin engines from the same family that powered the Africa Twin of the time, and the Shadow and Fury today. Today’s Transalp, like the current Africa Twin, is powered by a parallel twin engine, and it isn’t as hardcore an off-road machine. But it is still plenty capable and also one of the best value propositions under $10,000.
|
Engine Type |
270° I2 |
|
Displacement |
755 cc |
|
Max Power |
90.5 HP @ 9,500 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
55.3 LB-FT @ 7,250 RPM |
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1
Honda Africa Twin ES DCT
Price: $15,599
We’ve chosen the automatic as a representation of a model that is available today in the US market, but Europe gets the Africa Twin with the automatic gearbox as well as the electronic suspension. Here, it is limited to the Adventure Sports. If you try and buy a European full-size ADV with the features of the Africa Twin ES DCT, you’re going to easily end up spending around $10,000 more than the Honda. But here’s the kicker: you won’t miss anything if you buy the Honda!
|
Engine Type |
270° I2 |
|
Displacement |
1,084 cc |
|
Max Power |
100.5 HP @ 7,500 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
82.6 LB-FT @ 5,500 RPM |
|
Transmission |
6 speed DCT |
Sources: Kawasaki USA, Honda Global