Motorcycle travel is not a new concept, but it has never been as popular as it is right now. As such, manufacturers have developed a wide selection of tools for the job. Each bike offers something a little different that will appeal to different riders. At present, middleweight adventure bikes have captured the imagination of many riders, all offering a balance of off-road competence and touring comfort. Adventure touring bikes have since taken a back seat to these more versatile machines, and their resale values have taken a bit of a hit as a result. To the right buyer, an older adventure touring bike offers impressive value right now.
Buying a used motorcycle always has an element of risk attached, so please do your research and proceed with caution.
The Used Market Is Littered With Great Adventure Touring Deals
BMW was responsible for building the very first adventure bike way back in the 80s, and was also responsible for helping kick-start the trend back in the 00s. So it follows that the R 1250 GS is also one of the best adventure bikes money can buy. It is also still fairly pricey compared to the alternatives, largely thanks to the fact that almost none of these bikes were sold in base trim.
If you are willing to accept that 90 percent of your travels will stay on paved roads, the Ducati Multistrada 1260 S might be the best tool for the job. In some respects, it is closer to a sport touring bike thanks to its superbike-derived V-twin. The S model is not light on features, either, but it is still a little more expensive than the bike in question, which offers even more bang for your buck.
This Ducati Multistrada Now Costs Less Than A New Triumph Tiger 900
This premium adventure touring bike has depreciated into an affordable bargain
The 2020 KTM 1290 Super Adventure S Is The Smartest Adventure Motorcycle To Buy Second Hand
Price Range: $8,000 – $12,000
Over the course of the last six years, the 1290 Super Adventure S has lost almost half of its value. It has depreciated significantly more than the other bikes competing in this space, and we can’t help but feel that it is guilty by association rather than actually being guilty of any actual wrongdoing. It is more indicative of shifting consumer demands than anything else. Trade value is currently sitting at $8,130, and retail value is pegged at just under $11,500, which is ridiculously cheap for a feature-laden bike like the Super Adventure S.
10 Adventure-Touring Bikes Perfect For Couples Who Love To Explore
The most affordable touring bike here is the first-ever Royal Enfield with a liquid-cooled engine, capable of doing it all.
The 1290 Super Adventure S Has A Proven
Twin Power: 160 Horsepower
The LC8 has proven to be perfectly reliable over the years, not to mention potent. This 1301cc monster of a V-twin is capable of producing over 100 pound-feet of torque, all available throughout most of the rev range. Not long ago, this kind of power was strictly reserved for superbikes. Unfortunately, KTM has been in the news for all the wrong reasons in recent times, and one can’t help but feel that consumer trust is at an all-time low. While Bajaj has stepped in to steady the ship, there is still a valid concern that the Austrian division of this particular ship could get scuttled. This would theoretically lead to issues when it comes to parts availability down the line, but it is safe to say that this is not going to happen anytime soon.
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The world’s third-largest motorcycle manufacturer has pumped in over 600 million dollars to save KTM from bankruptcy.
The 1290 Super Adventure S Has All The Modern Features We Know And Love
With a dry weight of 474 pounds, the Super Adventure certainly isn’t the lightest ADV, but it is nowhere near the heaviest either. The R model is the more off-road oriented of the two, but the S is arguably the better buy. It has more comfort features and leans into the touring part of adventure-touring, which is more realistic when it comes to bikes of this size and weight class. Even though it is six years old, it still comes loaded with pretty much every conceivable modern feature.
It has an IMU, so lean-sensitive traction control and cornering ABS are present. So too are ride modes, an adjustable windshield, and a big, relatively dated-looking TFT dash. The key point of difference is its suspension, though. At this price point, getting a bike with semi-active suspension simply shouldn’t be possible, but it is, and it works.
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Impressive Bang For Your Buck
When it comes to used adventure touring bikes, we are genuinely spoiled for choice. But, in terms of overall value, nothing even comes close to the KTM. It has more features and power than anything else in this space, and is an underrated bargain, as long as you can live with the looks. Looks are deeply subjective, but KTM’s design language certainly doesn’t leave you on the fence.
The designers will say that it is bold, but we can’t help but feel like it looks a little like an alien from the front, especially with the windshield all the way up. That is pretty much the only bad thing we can say about the bike. To put this into perspective, you would be able to have this bike with all these features, and most likely a couple of other things the previous owner added, for less than the out-the-door price of a new Yamaha Tenere 700.
Chassis, Suspension, And Weight Specifications
|
Chassis |
Steel trellis |
|
Front Suspension |
Electronically adjustable semi-active inverted 48 mm fork (7.9-in travel) |
|
Rear Suspension |
Electronically adjustable semi-active shock (7.9-in travel) |
|
Weight |
474 lbs (dry) |
Source: KBB