Adventure bikes are everywhere these days, making it difficult to stand out in the resulting crowd. With so much competition, manufacturers are being forced to think outside the box a little more in order to part us from our hard-earned dollars and this is causing some really interesting adventure bikes to be built.
Always known for their impressive ability in any riding situation, their cool-levels have also been on the rise, not just for their chunky good looks, but for other, less practical physical and more aesthetic attributes. The adventure bike market is the fastest growing motorcycling segment - has been for years - and the struggle the manufacturers are having to come up with new models can only be good for us, the customer.
10 Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE: Retro Cool
Retro is uber-cool at the moment, even more so when you consider that many retro, or ‘modern classic,’ bikes have just as much ability as their modern-styled counterparts in any class of motorcycle. Swing a leg over the Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE, and immediately, you’re Steve McQueen in On Any Sunday.
Triumph’s iconic parallel twin - in completely modern form - is the power unit, it’s punchy, free revving and silky smooth but with bags of character. The suspension and brakes are top-spec Öhlins, Showa and Brembo, and if it lacks the weather protection of a full fairing, that only adds to its accessibility and looks, which are as retro-cool as you could wish for.
9 Ducati DesertX: More Off-Road Than The Multistrada
New ground for Ducati, being much more off-road focussed than the Multistrada. The DesertX carries on from where the Scrambler range left off, in that it is a proper Dakar- and Rally Raid-style model with true off-road ability. Capable of satisfying serious trail riders while being typically Ducati-capable on the road. Beautifully balanced chassis, excellent comfort, huge range - up to 375 miles with the optional 30-liter gas tank, KYB suspension that works perfectly in any situation, Brembo brakes that offer huge power with great control and really distinctive styling. The engine is the same as you’ll find in the Multistrada V2: liquid-cooled and producing 110 horsepower. This is the most convincing off-road Ducati yet.
8 Husqvarna Norden 901 Expedition: A KTM Under The Skin
Easy to think of this as merely a KTM 890 Adventure with different clothes, but somehow, Husqvarna has given the Norden 901 its own identity and character. More of an adventure touring bike than the KTM offering and the suspension, riding position and weather protection are all different, which will account for the change in character. It looks sufficiently different to stand out from the crowd and the build-quality is excellent. 103 horsepower and 74 foot pounds of torque are plenty for this 490 pound machine, and it’s all where you need it, whether on-road or off.
7 BMW R 1250 GS: The One That Started It All
It might be ubiquitous, and in terms of size and complexity, be a thousand miles away from the original in the early 80s, but there can be no denying that a motorcycle that has defined a category for over 40 years is cool. The BMW R 1250 GS is the standard for adventure bikes by which all other adventure bikes are measured, and it still manages to come out on top more often than not.
If other bikes have more power or less weight, then very few have the credentials that BMW has built up over the years, and even if you have to be capable of handling the bulk and weight of the GS, it is still one of the most competent adventure bikes out there, while advances in suspension technology have endowed it with a magic carpet ride quality on rough surfaces. Expensive, yes, but you’d have to say that its worth every cent.
6 Moto Guzzi V85 TT: Italian Flair
If you’re looking for something different, then the Moto Guzzi V85 TT might well be it. Quirky as only a Moto Guzzi can be, with the transverse V-Twin engine, the Italian brand might not be the first you’d think of when looking for a middleweight adventure bike, but it’s definitely worth a look. On paper, using the traditional Guzzi engine configuration doesn’t make sense, but it has a lovely, old-school character and plenty of torque.
Don’t mistake the TT name for anything to do with the Isle of Man: TT in this case stands for ‘tutto terreno’ or ‘all-terrain.’ The engine pushes out 79 horsepower and 59 foot pounds of torque which, with over 500 pounds to propel, means the Guzzi isn’t the fastest or sharpest handling bike out there, but at least it’s distinctive.
5 Yamaha Tenere 700: The Simple Yamaha
While the 1200cc Tenere model never quite gained the recognition afforded to some of its rivals, that isn’t a problem for the latest Tenere 700. Yamaha chose to go a completely different route with its middleweight adventure bike, concentrating on balance and dynamics rather than excessive levels of electronic trickery to hold everything in check.
It uses the engine from the MT-07, which is a parallel twin of 689cc, producing 73.4 horsepower and 49.4 foot pounds of torque, perfect levels for any terrain without getting overwhelming. It’s tall, so not for everyone but the ground clearance is excellent and there’s nothing wrong with the brakes or suspension. It’s in the same class as the Ducati DesertX and all the better for it.
4 Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250: Forging New Trails
Instant cool factor was bestowed on the Pan America when it was launched simply because it is so different to anything Harley has built before and yet it is a brilliant adventure bike while still retaining the Harley trademark of a V-Twin engine, albeit liquid-cooled. This is the engine that will take Harley into the next stage of its existence and to debut it in the Pan America was a stroke of genius, signaling the fact that Harley is not afraid to push into new territories which, of course, it needs to do if it is to survive.
The model even managed to introduce new technology to the class in the form of self-lowering rear suspension, removing the traditional handicap of adventure bikes: excessive seat height. Critics managed to find ‘faults,’ but as a first effort, the Pan America put several existing adventure bike manufacturers to shame.
3 KTM 390 Adventure: Small But Perfectly Formed
The clearest argument yet against the sheer size and bulk of the current crop of adventure bikes. Taking a cue from BMW, which launched the G 310 GS, the KTM is better in every respect: engine, chassis, electronics and all-round ability. 44 horsepower gives sparkling on-road performance, and being a single-cylinder engine, excellent low-down pulling power for off-road work.
The comfort is good enough for long days in the saddle and the ergonomics those of a larger bike, without the handicap of a too-tall seat. The best thing is that it doesn’t look like a ‘small’ adventure bike: stand it next to a 790 or 890 Adventure, and you’ll be hard-pressed to tell which is which. Great for beginner and experienced riders alike.
2 Honda XL750 Transalp: Honda Shifts Up A Gear
Honda’s direct response to the Yamaha Tenere 700, the newly resurrected Transalp name is now applied to Honda’s new middleweight adventure bike, and it promises to be just as good as its Yamaha rival. Nostalgia for the Transalp name will play a large part in its success, but it can also rely on being a genuinely good off-road performer.
On road, it uses its CB750 Hornet-based frame to great effect and it still handles brilliantly even with taller suspension and a 21-inch front wheel. It’s grippy, stable, effortless and comfortable, with great suspension and brakes and typical Honda build-quality. Compared with other Hondas, it even has a huge dose of character and personality. It’s bikes such as this and the Ducati DesertX, Triumph Scrambler 1200 and Yamaha Tenere 700 that make you wonder why you need anything bigger.
1 Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally: The Expensive One
If you’re going to go all-in on an adventure bike, then there’s little else out there that’s more excessive than the Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally. From inception, the Multistrada was more road orientated than off-road but, over the years, Ducati has built in more off-road ability, especially with the Enduro versions.
When it was powered by the 1260cc V-twin, it was borderline insane: with the new V4 engine, producing 170 horsepower, it’s properly insane, and costing as much as it does (at least $10,000 more than a BMW R 1250 GS), it’s unlikely it’s going to be used for round-the-world trips or any form of hectic adventure riding around your hometown. Jam-packed full of electronics, performance and dynamics, it is just so excessive it's the ultimate in cool.