There used to be a time when manufacturers stood by the ‘Race on Sunday, sell on Monday’ mantra. Today, racing isn’t as important to product lines and sales as it used to be; customers are happy to purchase and use a product that suits them, regardless of how many championships the product line or the brand has won. Still, we see a lot of influence from racing bikes trickling down to roadgoing motorcycles (a 150 cc fully faired motorcycle with wings, anyone?), which isn’t a bad thing, overall.
However, more often than not, good products that aren’t flashy or have a big brand on the tank slip through the cracks. This is through no fault of their own; these adventure bikes are great products, but simply go unnoticed. They might not be marketing heroes, but they certainly can get the job done with flair and offer the rider an enjoyable experience.
CFMoto Ibex 450
Price: $6,499
The Ibex 450 is one of the great value options in its segment. It has features like a 5-inch curved TFT display and a parallel twin engine with a 270-degree crank, both of which are unique to the segment. However, it isn’t as well known as the established names, which is why features like the radial brakes and fully adjustable KYB suspension tend to fly under the radar. And it costs less than the single-cylinder KTM 390 Adventure R!
|
Engine Type |
270° I2 |
|
Displacement |
449 cc |
|
Max Power |
44 HP @ 8,500 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
32.5 LB-FT @ 6,250 RPM |
Honda NX500
Price: $7,399
The NX500 doesn’t even pretend to be interested in off-road work. It has 19/17-inch alloy wheels, and the ABS isn’t switchable – so you know it loves tarmac. If you understand its limitations, you’ll have one of the smoothest, most reliable, and most efficient motorcycles across segments. You get features like a 5-inch TFT display with navigation that will help with touring. Oh, and it isn’t like it can’t play on dirt, the traction control is switchable.
|
Engine Type |
180° I2 |
|
Displacement |
471 cc |
|
Max Power |
46.9 HP @ 8,600 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
31.7 LB-FT @ 6,500 RPM |
Moto Morini X-Cape 700
Price: $8,299
The X-Cape 650 has been around for a long time, but Moto Morini has also had the 700 engine in the Calibro 700. It has finally updated the X-Cape to share the same engine, and the added power and torque make it a much better product than the X-Cape 700. Of course, there are some great components and features included, like Brembo brakes, Bosch switchable ABS, an adjustable windscreen and hand levers, and a big 7-inch TFT color screen.
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Engine Type |
270° I2 |
|
Displacement |
693 cc |
|
Max Power |
70 HP @ 8,500 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
50.2 LB-FT @ 6,500 RPM |
10 New Adventure Bikes That Combine Comfort And Rugged Performance
The most affordable ADV that balances comfort and off-roading prowess here is a sub-$6,000 Royal Enfield.
Benelli TRK 702X
Price: $8,799
Benelli is another brand like Moto Morini that has an uphill battle despite competent products and excellent value. The TRK 702X is a good product with all the ingredients it requires to be successful – a 5-inch TFT display, Bluetooth, navigation, dual-channel ABS from Bosch, backlit switches, and 320 mm petal brake discs. The 19/17-inch spoke wheel rims are fitted with tubeless tires, and you get both a USB-A and a USB-C socket for charging.
|
Engine Type |
180° I2 |
|
Displacement |
698 cc |
|
Max Power |
70 HP @ 8,000 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
51.6 LB-FT @ 6,000 RPM |
BMW F 800 GS
Price: $10,995
The F 800 GS often gets hidden in the shadow of the F 900 GS, but the fact is that the F 800 GS is essentially the same motorcycle, only toned down. That makes it even more reliable, and the F 900 GS is a hugely reliable motorcycle in the first place. The 800 might seem a little boring, with its low horsepower figure and alloy rims, and not too many standard features. But if you’re looking for a reliable adventure bike and won’t venture off tarmac much, this is a solid alternative at a great price.
|
Engine Type |
270° I2 |
|
Displacement |
895 cc |
|
Max Power |
87 HP @ 6,750 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
67 LB-FT @ 6,750 RPM |
Kove 800X Pro
Price: $11,299
The Kove 800X Pro is a bike that you could possibly take to a rally raid race without much change. This is a more all-around product, though, which can be taken for touring as well. It doesn’t have a headlining power figure, but somehow Kove has made it really light (up to 100 pounds lighter than the competition). Features include a steering damper, ABS that can be switched off at the front wheel as well, a subframe-mounted 5-gallon fuel tank, KYB fully adjustable suspension, 21/18-inch tubeless spoke rims, and crash bars.
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Engine Type |
270° I2 |
|
Displacement |
799 cc |
|
Max Power |
95 HP @ 9,000 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
59 LB-FT @ 7,500 RPM |
10 Adventure Bikes That Feel Smaller Than They Really Are
Discover the top 10 adventure bikes that defy their size and prove that big things can come in small packages!
AJP PR7
Price: $13,999
The PR7 is a simple adventure bike, in the sense that it opts for none of the usual electronics you’d expect from an adventure bike today. Instead, its price is for its engineering, with an aluminum-steel composite chassis, ZF Sachs suspension with nearly a foot of travel, and an incredible 364-pound curb weight. It might not be for everyone, with the almost-$14,000 price and 36.2-inch seat height coupled with no ride modes, traction control, or quickshifter.
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Engine Type |
Single cylinder |
|
Displacement |
600 cc |
|
Max Power |
NA |
|
Max Torque |
NA |
Moto Guzzi Stelvio
Price: $16,390
The Stelvio is a real alternative to full-size ADVs, and it is a great product at the price. You get the only longitudinal V-twin engine in the segment with shaft drive, so it should be great for long-distance trips. There are quality components like a Sachs fork, KYB rear shock, Brembo brakes, and a single-sided swingarm. For an extra $1,000, the ‘PFF Rider Assistance Solution’ offers radar at the front and rear for adaptive cruise control and blind spot detection. A six-axis IMU and two-way quickshifter are standard.
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Engine Type |
Longitudinal 90° V-twin |
|
Displacement |
1,042 cc |
|
Max Power |
115 HP @ 8,800 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
77 LB-FT @ 6,750 RPM |
MV Agusta Enduro Veloce
Price: $19,998
The Enduro Veloce isn’t truly designed to deal with the dirty stuff a lot, but you know what you’re getting into with an MV. In case you don’t, well, this is a counterrotating engine that gives it a 137 miles per hour top speed. It’s a good value as well, with a lot of features. That includes a 7-inch TFT display, six-axis IMU, fully adjustable Sachs suspension, eight-level traction control, launch control, and an anti-theft system with geolocation.
|
Engine Type |
I3 |
|
Displacement |
931 cc |
|
Max Power |
124 HP @ 10,000 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
75.2 LB-FT @ 7,000 RPM |
10 Practical Adventure Bikes That Promise Fun From The Factory
You won’t need accessories with any of these – just get on and ride, even when the road ends
Zero DSR/X
Price: $22,995
No current electric motorcycle will be at the top of anyone’s ADV list, but Zero has made a great effort with the DSR/X. It takes care of the range anxiety with decently quick charging, and you can also add the extra ‘Power Tank’ battery to it. Zero also allows you to ‘overcharge’ it the night before a ride, giving you extended range for a total of 155 highway miles. Oh, and you get Showa suspension, combining braking, hill hold assist, cruise control, heated grips, tubeless spoke rims, and a Gates carbon belt driving the rear wheel.
|
Engine Type |
Liquid-cooled PMAC electric motor |
|
Max Power |
100 HP |
|
Max Torque |
169 LB-FT |
|
Range |
179 Miles (city) |
|
Charge Time |
1.6 Hours (min, 0-100%) |
Sources: Moto Morini USA, Benelli USA