10 adventure bikes that are all the motorcycles you’ll ever need

If you want true freedom on two wheels, an adventure bike is a good choice. They are solidly built, can carry a pillion passenger and luggage for two people and can handle a variety of situations, both on and off the tarmac, without any problems. This means that they make a very strong case as bicycles for a bicycle shed if long journeys are part of the assignment.

Even if long rides aren’t on the menu, the sheer comfort and performance that big adventure bikes bring is hard to ignore. They may get a little unruly in heavy traffic, but that’s about the only negative about them these days: even the seat heights are manageable these days. With this in mind, we’ve put together a list of ten adventure bikes that are the motorcycle you’ll ever need. And this time we didn’t take the sticker price into account.

CFMoto Steenbok 800 E

Price: $10,299

The Ibex 800 E is packed with features you would expect from a premium bike and not from a middleweight. These features include an 8-inch TFT touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, radar-based blind spot monitoring, a steering damper and a standard two-way quickshifter. There are also fully adjustable KYB suspension, J.Juan brakes and 94 horsepower at your disposal.

Honda Africa Twin

Price: $15,799

The Africa Twin is the definition of all the adventure bikes you will ever need. Despite being a full-size motorcycle, it gets ‘only’ 100 horsepower, which is plenty of performance for the right-thinking people among us. It’s not short on features, with a six-axis IMU, adjustable and switchable traction control, switchable ABS and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto packed with a touchscreen TFT display. The standout feature is the six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, which has both a manual mode and a ‘G switch’ that provides extra clutch slip for low-speed work. The manual gearbox gets a two-way quickshifter as standard.

KTM 890 Adventure R

Price: $15,799

The 890 Adventure R is one of the default choices if you’re the kind of rider who likes to go further than anyone else off-road. KTM’s off-road racing experience comes to the fore, with a lightweight product and 105 horsepower. It is equipped with a full electronics suite, fully adjustable suspension and a TFT color display.

Moto Guzzi Stelvio

Price: $16,390

The Stelvio is like the Africa Twin, a full-size ADV that is priced more like a mid-size. The difference is that quite a bit is ignored. It is also unique because of the longitudinal engine, while facilitating the shaft drive. Quite a few of the great features are optional, such as Bluetooth, navigation and two-way quickshifter, but hey, the choice is always good for the consumer! For an extra $1,000 you get the PFF variant with its radar-based cruise control.

Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE

Price: $16,449

The V-Strom 1050DE is a throwback ADV that uses a somewhat heavy but large aluminum twin-spar chassis. Another anachronism is the 21-inch spoked rim up front, which requires a tubed tire, although the rear is tubeless. The V-twin engine is flexible and is aided by a hydraulic assist and slipper clutch, by-wire throttle, drive mode, cruise control and a two-way quickshifter. A six-axis IMU enables cornering traction control and ABS. Finally, a 5-inch TFT display offers Bluetooth and navigation.

Husqvarna Norden 901 expedition

Price: $16,499

The Norden 901 is the KTM 890 Adventure R with a touch of Swedish cool and better refinement. The Norden 901 Expedition is the version that is more off-road ready thanks to the suspension that has even more travel, but is still capable of touring. It is also fully adjustable. We also like the other standard additions, like the heated grips and seat, the larger windshield and the better engine skid plate. Naturally, it tends to use the chassis bits with its 105 horsepower and full electronics suite.

BMW R1300GS

Price: $20,275

The R 1300 GS was always going to be on this list because it’s so good at so many things. The horizontally opposed 1,300 cc engine has given it a new dimension with the option of the automated manual gearbox, or a two-way quickshifter with the manual gearbox. You get everything that makes the flagship GS unique and uniquely desirable: the single-sided shaft-drive swingarm, double wishbone front suspension and a full electronics suite.

KTM 1290 Super Adventure S

Price: $20,999

The big KTMs have always been very fast machines, but the 1290 Super Adventure S also brings a good dose of comfort. That makes it useful in all kinds of situations – maybe even in traffic, as long as it’s not a very hot day. You get the best technology from the Austrian brand, including hydraulic assist and slipper clutch, six-axis IMU, full electronics suite, a large TFT display and semi-active suspension. The only stress here will be trying to drive slowly!

Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally Pro

Price: $23,195

The Tiger series motorcycles are known for being quite good off-road, despite the choice of an inline three-cylinder engine. The Tiger 1200 is a big touring type ADV whose power may be too much for the casual off-road person, but it makes up for this with a very strong electronics suite. The T-Plane crankshaft also offers excellent torque spread, without sacrificing power. It is assisted by a standard assist and slipper clutch and a two-way quickshifter. Other features such as a semi-active suspension that can be lowered, an aluminum fuel tank, a by-wire throttle with driving modes and a six-axis IMU further enhance the experience.

Ducati Multistrada V4 S

Price: $28,995

The Multistrada has quite a few different avatars, but the most complete is perhaps the V4 S. It has the Granturismo engine with a counter-rotating crankshaft, a double pulse ignition that gives it better torque, and deactivation of the rear cylinders that makes life on board a Multistrada V4 S better. There’s also a semi-active electronic suspension with remote-adjustable spring preload, Brembo brakes with a radial master cylinder and a 5-inch TFT color display.

Sources: KTM USA, BMW motorcycle