The used sleeper bike that is better than a new Honda Africa Twin

Over the past decade, adventure bikes have exploded in popularity. With so many bikes being launched every year, it’s quite easy to overlook a few. One bike that has never been overlooked – and for good reason – is the Honda Africa Twin. It’s easy to see why so many people love the Honda. There is an impressive balance between touring comfort and off-road competence.

It also happens to be a Honda, and that brings a level of peace of mind that’s hard to put a dollar value on. It’s the safe option, and like most things that are safe, it lacks a little x-factor. If you’re looking for something interesting in this price range, there’s a pretty impressive KTM ADV that’s currently a bargain on the second-hand market.

In order to provide you with the most current and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was taken from several authoritative sources including KBB. While the opinions are ours. Buying a used motorcycle always comes with some risk, so do your research and proceed with caution.

The 2020 KTM 1290 Super Adventure S will outpace a new Honda Africa Twin

Price range: $8,000 – $12,000

With the rise and rise of the middleweight adventure bike, bikes like the 1290 Super Adventure S are depreciating faster than ever. This means you can now have a 2020 model for less than the base Africa Twin model. The Austrian bike also offers the same level of specification as the high-end Africa Twin Adventure Sports, and has almost 60bhp more than its Japanese compatriot. Retail value for the KTM is currently set at $8,130, which is less than half of what the bike cost in 2020. Retail value is just over $11,000, which is an impressive value for a bike with as many features as the Super Adventure S. Suffice it to say, this is a pretty good deal for the right buyer.

The 1290 Super Adventure S has a raspy V-Twin engine

Power: 160 hp

In recent times, KTM has been making headlines around the world for all the wrong reasons. The only thing we can say for sure is that the LC8 engine has nothing to do with these problems. Since it was bumped up to 1301cc, there have been no reports of mechanical problems. It also unleashes its power in the most theatrical way, with around 100 pound-feet of torque at your disposal across wide swaths of the rev range. As a result, you get access to almost all of its glorious power at road-suitable speeds.

The only thing going against it is that because it’s a big-bore V-twin, fuel economy pretty much goes out the window if you get a little too enthusiastic. That’s something worth keeping in mind if you’re far from civilization, something you never have to worry about on the Africa Twin.

The 1290 Super Adventure S is a feature-packed ADV

If you’re looking for a more off-road-oriented ADV, the 1290 Super Adventure R won’t cost that much more, but honestly, big-bore adventure bikes aren’t a top choice for off-road riding. A 2020 R model will also most likely have seen at least some off-road use, and would almost certainly have been knocked out a few times as a result.

That is why we would opt for the more street-oriented S model. It came with a long list of standard features, including cornering ABS, lean-sensing traction control, riding modes, an adjustable windscreen and semi-active suspension. The semi-active suspension is an important point of difference for a bicycle that you will use for travel. This allows you to quickly adjust the suspension when riding with a passenger or extra luggage. Although it was an option, most of these bikes can also be found with luggage already mounted.

Chassis, suspension and weight specifications

The 1290 Super Adventure S is not the only used ADV that goes for a song

With the motorcycle market in a slump and more and more buyers turning to middleweight options, the appetite for luxury adventure motorcycles is not what it once was. As a result, these bikes are hit hard by depreciation. KTM is certainly not alone in this area, with some great options offering exceptional value for money.

2020 BMW R1250GS

For the past twenty years, the GS series has been the standard choice in adventure touring. You’ll generally end up paying more for one of these purely due to their popularity. But there are deals to be had, and some of these bikes had the BMW parts catalog thrown at them, giving the right buyer even more value.

2020 Ducati Multistrada 1260 S

If you’re willing to lean even further away from off-road competence, the previous generation Multistrada presents itself as a rather tempting option. While this is undoubtedly more of a crossover than a true adventure bike, it offers a bit of Italian flair and an equally impressive list of features. The lush V-twin is just as powerful, but requires some maintenance.

To be fair, none of these bikes are a bad option, and they’re all more interesting than an Africa Twin. The KTM is just an absolute bargain on the used market, and with all its features, just offers so much value. It may not be the prettiest bike in the world, but once you ride it you won’t really care what it looks like.