10 motorcycles, perfect for couples riding together and exploring alone

Adventure bikes are the most versatile motorcycles money can buy. There’s an adventure bike model to suit virtually every budget and purpose, from tough little singles that are ready to hit the road, all the way to luxurious V4s that are equally at home on the track. It’s no wonder this segment has exploded.

So if you and your partner are looking for a bike suitable for long distances, it already makes sense to consider some kind of ADV. But if you also want to go out on your own every now and then and do some serious off-road riding, you should consider one of the bikes on this list. Purely for the sake of variety, we’ve limited it to one pre-bike brand.

KTM 1290 Super Adventure R

MSRP: $20,999

For those with a larger budget, this may be the ideal choice. A bigger bike like this is always going to be a little more comfortable, not to mention powerful, but of all the full-size ADVs on the market, this is the only one we think is truly capable off-road. The 1290 Super Adventure R offers an extraordinary balance between touring and off-road capabilities thanks to its relatively light weight and advanced off-road electronics.

Specifications

Ducati DesertX Discovery

MSRP: $19,995

Ducati

Like the aforementioned KTM, the DesertX blurs the line between middleweight and full-size. With the DesertX Discovery alone you get a true middleweight that reaches into the upper class in terms of performance and specifications. Comfort is certainly not a problem here and even though Ducati throws all kinds of nice features at the bike, it remains relatively light.

Specifications

Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro

MSRP: $17,395

Triumph motorcycles

The Tiger 900 Rally Pro is certainly not the lightest middleweight, but it more than makes up for any perceived lack in that area with a host of great comfort features. The triple also adds a nice element to the package, but it could also turn out to be something negative. No triple is perfectly balanced, so there will be some vibration in the higher revs that some riders find slightly annoying, while others simply can’t tolerate it.

Specifications

MV Agusta Enduro Veloce

MSRP: $15,998

MV Agusta

This year, MV Agusta has dropped the price of the Enduro Veloce to just under $16,000, and we have to admit, we’re baffled. This is a feature-rich motorcycle that lives up to its old price tag and comes with a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty. Build quality is on par with the very best, while performance is also on par with other premium middleweight offerings from Europe. However, it is also a triple, so a test drive will be the deciding factor.

Specifications

BMW F900GS

MSRP: $13,495

BMW

Several fans of the brand may object to the exclusion of the famous R 1300 GS, but we believe it will be so much better suited to solo off-road exploration. After the previous generation motorcycle was criticized for being underpowered and too heavy, BMW responded by adding some power and shaving a bit of weight. While it certainly isn’t class leading in either area, it delivers on par and sets itself apart enough with excellent build quality and an impressive list of standard features.

Specifications

Suzuki V-Strom 800DE Adventure

MSRP: $13,159

Suzuki

So much is always expected from Japanese brands. No matter how reliable each bike they produce is, customers always expect more value. The V-Strom 800DE was not universally praised in this department, because it is simply a good bike for a fair price. For the money, we think the Adventure trim is the best choice, with a long list of standard features that buyers would normally turn to the aftermarket for – including a hard case – and end up spending more money.

Specifications

Aprilia Tuareg 660

MSRP: $12,499

Aprilia

Of all the versatile middleweight options, this is perhaps the most versatile bike. It is currently the lightest bike in the middleweight class, yet packs all the features that modern riders will be familiar with, aside from anything to do with an IMU. It’s also powerful and comfortable enough to drive quite a distance, and can even be used as a weekday commuter if necessary.

Specifications

Yamaha Tenere 700

MSRP: $10,999

Yamaha

A rather big caveat to this would be the fact that the Tenere isn’t the most comfortable touring car. It shines so much off-road that we feel its inclusion is deserved, and the CP2 engine also offers flawless reliability, which is a big factor when you’re riding far from home. The latest version also offers more technical features than previous models and the soft rear suspension has also been addressed.

Specifications

Honda Transalp

MSRP: $9,999

Honda

Honda was slow to release the Transalp and relied on the old CB500X to fill the middleweight gap for quite some time. Once it arrived, it also received a largely lukewarm response, as customers felt it couldn’t quite match the Tenere off-road… because it doesn’t, it’s a different kind of ADV. This is a bike that is every bit as comfortable as the larger Africa Twin, and is more than suitable for cross-country touring. Once you want to hit the road yourself, it is still plenty capable off-road.

Specifications

Kawasaki KLR650 Adventure ABS

MSRP: $8,099

Kawasaki

With the KLR650 Adventure you get what is still essentially a highly customized dual-sport. While this means it’s quite impressive off-road, it’s not the most comfortable touring car in the world. But it will do everything the other bikes will do, only cheaper, a lot cheaper. It comes with everything you’ll even need as standard equipment, so you don’t need to explicitly add anything, and because it’s a single one, it’s cheap to run too.

Specifications