Best adventure motorcycles 1970: Picks, Costs & Parts

Who this segment suits

Riders mixing tarmac, gravel and light trails
Long-distance travellers carrying luggage over rough surfaces
Commuters who want an upright view over traffic

Model picks — adventure motorcycles

Every pick links to its fitment reference: chain spec, pad codes, tyre sizes and the parts that fit.

Bike	Type	Years	Why it makes the list	Own one?
BMW R 1250 GS	Adventure	2019–2026	The benchmark big adventure bike, with the deepest accessory ecosystem.	Find parts that fit →
Yamaha Tenere 700	Adventure	2019–2026	Simple parallel twin with genuine off-road geometry and few electronics to fail.	Find parts that fit →
Honda Africa Twin CRF1100L	Adventure	2016–2026	Adventure platform offered in road-biased and off-road-biased setups.	Find parts that fit →
KTM 790 Adventure	Adventure	2019–2026	Low-slung fuel tank keeps the mass where it helps off-road.	Find parts that fit →
Triumph Tiger 900	Adventure	2020–2026	Triple engine that splits the difference between road pace and trail ability.	Find parts that fit →
Suzuki V-Strom 650	Adventure	2004–2026	The value pick: proven V-twin, cheap parts, huge used supply.	Find parts that fit →
Royal Enfield Himalayan	Adventure	2016–2026	Light, simple and easy to repair far from a dealer.	Find parts that fit →
Kawasaki KLR650	Adventure	1987–2026	Single-cylinder workhorse with a reputation built on remote-travel reliability.	Find parts that fit →

What to check before you buy

Tyre choice drives everything: 90/10 road tyres and 50/50 knobblies behave completely differently
Crash bars, sump guard and hand guards — the three parts that pay for themselves in one tip-over
Seat height and whether a low seat or lowering link exists for your model
Suspension travel and preload adjustment for luggage
Tubed or tubeless wheels, which determines how you fix a puncture in the field

What it costs to run

Knobbly tyres wear far faster on tarmac than road-biased tyres — plan replacement by use, not by season
Crash protection and luggage are usually the largest first-year purchases
Chain and sprocket life drops sharply with dust and mud exposure

Part-cost ranges and workshop labour rates for 16 countries are in our price guides.

Crash Protection for adventure motorcycles

The category adventure motorcycles owners buy from first.

Verified fit

Crash Protectionvia Amotopart

Frame Slider Crash Protection Kit

Delrin sliders on steel mounts to protect frame and bodywork.

$74.00View

Verified fit

Crash Protectionvia MotorcycleID

Engine Guard Crash Bars

Powder-coated steel crash bars for engine and fairing protection.

$249.00View

Parts this segment needs first

Crash Protection

60 min · Moderate

Luggage

60 min · Moderate

Suspension

150 min · Advanced

Tires & Wheels

60 min · Advanced

Windscreens

20 min · Easy

All adventure motorcycles in our catalog

24 models with fitment references and matched parts.

Other segments

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best beginner motorcycles

Best sport motorcycles

sport motorcycles

Best cruiser motorcycles

best cruiser motorcycles

Best touring motorcycles

best touring motorcycles

Best naked motorcycles

best naked motorcycles

Best electric motorcycles

electric motorcycles

Best dirt bikes and enduro machines

best dirt bikes

Best commuter motorcycles

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Best motorcycles on a budget

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FAQ

Are big adventure bikes good off-road?

They are capable on gravel and forest tracks in trained hands, but weight punishes mistakes. Riders doing serious trails usually pick a middleweight or a dedicated dirt bike.

What protection should I fit first?

Crash bars, a sump guard and hand guards. Together they cover the damage that ends a trip.

Do I need tubeless wheels?

Tubeless spoked wheels let you plug a puncture at the roadside. With tubes you need to break the bead and change the tube, which is a much bigger job.