10 adventure bikes that combine indestructible construction with modern features

Globally, motorcycle sales are declining, but one segment is still thriving. As one incredible bike after another hits the market every year, adventure bikes continue to capture the imagination of would-be explorers around the world. While there’s no explicit need to buy an adventure bike if you want to go exploring, they certainly present themselves as the best tool for the job.

Adventure bikes have to withstand the rigors of long off-road rides, so they’re built to withstand all kinds of abuse. They should also still provide a degree of comfort and therefore include the same modern features you’ll find on any other modern bike. Manufacturers have been forced to innovate, essentially offering a motorcycle that can be everything to everyone. Of course, this is impossible, but the bikes on this list come pretty close, offering indestructible construction and a host of great modern features.

In order to provide you with the most current and accurate information, the data used to compile this article was taken from authoritative sources such as Suzuki bicyclesYamaha Motorsports and BMW Motorrad. The motorcycles on this list are rated according to MSRP.

BMW R 1300 GS Adventure

MSRP: $23,645

For those who really want to travel long distances and explore unknown terrain, a larger ADV that offers more comfort is the ideal choice. Over the years, the GS Adventure has long been the standard choice in this particular space. Although very capable off-road, the latest R 1300 GS Adventure weighs almost 600 pounds, which will always be a limiting factor off-road.

Specifications

KTM 1290 Super Adventure R

MSRP: 20,999

Of all the full-size ADVs, the Super Adventure R is by far the most capable off-road. KTM also offers the best off-road electronics in the industry. While it gives you the freedom to have a little off-road fun, it will always save you from yourself if you get a little too ambitious. On long highway rides it won’t be as comfortable as the BMW, but few motorcycles are.

Specifications

Ducati DesertX

MSRP: $18,995

Somewhere between the full-size bikes and the clan of middleweight offerings sits the DesertX. In the past, we weren’t inclined to take anything from Ducati when it came to something “indestructible”, but reliability has proven to be quite good for this ADV so far. It’s also equipped with advanced electronics that keep it upright in rough conditions and keep you entertained on longer highway rides.

Specifications

Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE

MSRP: $16,449

Suzuki updated the venerable V-Strom a few years ago, and that has kept it technically in the race. It received an IMU and a TFT dashboard, adding a host of modern safety and convenience features. This all adds up to what we all already know: a virtually indestructible V-twin platform.

Specifications

Honda Africa Twin

MSRP: $14,799

The Africa Twin offers perhaps the most balanced approach to the whole adventure bike concept. While the new Transalp grabs most of the headlines, the Africa Twin features the proven Unicam parallel-twin that delivers more than 80 pound-feet of torque. It also offers a pretty neat party trick in the form of DCT, if you’re looking for an automatic ADV and are willing to pay an extra $800 on top of the base price.

Specifications

BMW F900GS

MSRP: $13,495

While the larger GS offers both touring comfort and the ability to go off-road, the middleweight GS is a much better option for those who want to spend more time off the beaten track. With just over 100 hp, the F 900 GS has more than enough power for a middleweight. It also offers exceptional build quality and, like its big sister, a refined electronics suite.

Specifications

Suzuki V-Strom 800DE

MSRP: $11,799

Suzuki’s latest ADV is let down a bit by a rather disappointing spec sheet, but in the real world it’s a really capable middleweight that still offers plenty of value. It offers a robust parallel twin and a host of modern features. Unfortunately, the design is borrowed from the V-Strom 1050 line, which doesn’t do it any favors in our opinion.

Specifications

Aprilia Tuareg 660

MSRP: $12,499

It is quite clear that Aprilia has studied the market carefully when developing this middleweight. Everything you could want from an ADV is packed into this bike. You get modern safety features like traction control, ABS and riding modes, but it still weighs just 450 pounds. Its punchy parallel-twin had a wobble in the sports bike, but that problem was resolved and has since proven reliable in the Tuareg.

Specifications

Yamaha Tenere 700

MSRP: $10,999

When it first came out, the Tenere 700 kept technology to an absolute minimum. Yamaha responded to the demand for more technology by adding several modern features, including a huge TFT dashboard. It’s still not the most technically demanding bike on this list, but it makes a very good argument for being the most indestructible. The CP2 engine has proven to be one of the most reliable engines ever placed in a motorcycle.

Specifications

Honda Transalp

MSRP: $9,999

Initially we thought this would be the biggest threat to the Tenere 700. In reality, Honda went in a slightly different direction. This is a bike that’s more of a blank canvas, offering adventure enthusiasts an affordable entry point that they can transform into whatever they want. It’s comfortable enough to ride as a touring bike, light enough to ride as a commuter, and with the right modifications, competent enough to keep pace with all other middleweight bikes off-road.

Specifications