6 most popular adventure bikes in 2023

If you’re looking forward to that adventure trip to nowhere, then we got your back. Today we are spoiling you with the six best riding mates for your adventure. 

And what's more, it doesn't matter if you’re a beginner cutting your teeth at bike riding or an experienced connoisseur with immeasurable know-how. We got everyone covered. 

Our researched guide brings you a fair share of the upsides and key features for each adventure bike model, and we’ll also give each chopper a rating to ease your decision-making. 

Hence, if you’re set and ready to go, so are we. Let us dive right into the thick of things. 

What is an Adventure Motorcycle?

First things first, what exactly is an adventure motorbike, and are they suitable for bike-riding novices? 

An adventure bike is designed to handle any terrain, meaning it is as good for use on a paved road as on an unpaved one. Others refer to it as an Enduro or a dual-purpose bike thanks to its suitability for any road. 

So does the adventure motorcycle fit a beginner rider? Yes, although this is relative, depending on the experience level and preferences of the rider. 

Nonetheless, there are reservations concerning their ostensibly tall frame and considerable weight that are definitely daunting for beginner riders. But we can assure you that even there are custom beginner adventure motorcycles that are blissful to ride for everyone. 

We’ll explore them below, plus other adventure dirt bikes you should add to your collection. 

6 Most Popular Adventure Bikes

Check out our collection of the six best Adventure bikes.

• Honda CB500X- Best Beginner Adventure Motorcycle

  
  

Tarmac, muddy, unpaved pavement, dirt road…mention it. There’s nothing that the Honda CB500X doesn't take. It’s the ideal adventure beginner bike for any terrain you want to attack. 

You simply don’t need to have a plan for where you want to go with this bike. Rather, it's the pathway to discovering new destinations and places capable of handling anything that comes on its way. 

So why do we rate it so highly? 

• The bike has an excellent upright sitting design coupled with a tall windscreen that protects you from all sorts of dirt (and weather) the roads throw at you. 
  
  
• It also comes with wheel sizes (17 and 19 inches- rear and front) primarily customized for adventure, making it the ideal hog for a beginner rider.
  
  
• The motorcycle features a parallel twin engine, a design contributing to its overall dear pricing and a great riding experience. 
  
  

The CB500X is also a great improvement on the erstwhile 500cc models. For instance, it has a relatively larger tank meaning that you’re always covered whenever traveling long distances. 

Moreover, the bike sports remarkable features such as a spring-preload-adjustable fork. Its lighting has also significantly improved, with the bike now employing modern energy-saving LED systems. 

We’re also talking of a bike with an adjustable brake lever, giving you more braking autonomy. 

Again, as mentioned earlier, the model comes with a 19 inches front wheel, a significant upgrade on the former 17-inch size. This design is imperative in giving the bike the ultimate adventure bike shape. 

How about its price? You need to part with a ‘measly’ $7,299 to own this all-weather dragon. And we feel this is an absolute bargain considering its outstanding features. 

• Kawasaki KLR-650- Best Midrange Adventure Bike

  
  

This model first entered our markets in 1987, and you’d be forgiven for thinking so highly of it if you’re a Kawasaki enthusiast, as it's definitely one of the best dual-use bikes ever to grace our roads. 

We don’t want to exaggerate much about this beast, but it's undoubtedly a force to reckon with. First, the 2023 model is a sight to behold, with several significant upgrades on its single-cylinder liquid-cooled 652cc engine. 

The new model still retains its unmatchable torque, but it features a relatively heavy flywheel to enhance its traction on any road you use. 

Also, there haven’t been many changes in its weight, with the 2023 model weighing a hefty 498 lbs. But this has been countered by its exemplary suspension and steel frames, making it the best-fit bike for the most rugged, muddy, or heavily sandy roads. 

There have also been notable improvements to the erstwhile models. 

• The latest KLR-650 features a digital fuel injection system and a boosted generator capacity making it well-compatible with accessories such as a GPS unit. 
  
  
• Moreover, this new model has better suspension, while the chassis has been redesigned for improved stability and overall bike comfort. 
  
  
• Further, you get to enjoy features such as a 30mm-longer swingarm and more efficient brakes thanks to its improvements in the front and rear disc sizes. 
  
  
• Other remarkable features include a fuel gauge on the LCD dashboard for better visibility, wider mirrors with better orientation, and a more comfortable handlebar, thanks to its padding. 
  
  
• Lastly, it also sports a windscreen to shield you from oncoming winds, and the headlight has an energy-saving LED lamp. 
  
  

The 2023 Kawasaki KLR® 650 Adventure Camo retails at $5,999, which is undoubtedly an absolute bargain for a bike of its caliber. So if you’ve been looking for the best mid-range adventure bike, this one is worth breaking the bank for. 

• Honda Africa Twin- Best High-End Adventure Bike

  
  

You know you’re in for a ride of a lifetime when we’re talking of an adventure bike made for Africa or manufactured to glide through the all-weather tough African roads. 

The Honda Africa Twin deserves all the plaudits it has accumulated after its dominance in the Dakar rally and over the years. It looks like everything a high-end adventure bike should possess. Talk of its 21-inch front wheel that gives you the feel of riding at the top of the world. 

And if you thought its height was an issue when navigating twisty canyons, you’re in for a big surprise. This beast will eat any road with a swagger you’ve never seen before, especially if you’re upgrading from a midrange bike. 

So you’re probably wondering about its other remarkable features that separate it from the erstwhile models. Well, they are many, and we’re confident you’ll like every inch of its properties. 

• The Honda Africa Twin weighs a whooping 529 pounds and, for the obvious reason- to seamlessly adapt to any terrain. 
  
  
• It’s also a superbike with 100cc horsepower and a smooth acceleration capability, ensuring your riding experience gets better and better as you keep going.
  
  
• It also sports the terrific adjustable Showa suspension, which buffers perfectly against the ground, guaranteeing stability and enough protection against the ground. This may not go down too well for short riders, but this bike offers you the privilege of customization to your liking.
  
  
• Its  24.5 L fuel tank ensures limited stops to refuel, a significant feature, especially if you’re an adventurer looking to go deep into unknown lands. 
  
  
• The motorbike’s dual headlights also grant the user Daytime Running Lights (DRL). This is imperative for daytime visibility whenever you need it. Further, the Twin has strategically positioned cornering lights to help you efficiently deal with blind spots anytime you lean while navigating bends. 

The Dual Clutch Transmission mode makes it all too smooth to shift gears, while its manual transmission means the motorbike retains the vibe of the first release of the series. How about its price? 

The chopper is quite pricey than the aforementioned models, but from the insight above, it makes sense why it retails at $14,499. 

• 2023 Yamaha Tenere- Best Budget Mid-Range Adventure Bike

  
  

The Yamaha Tenere is in a class of its own as far as mid-range adventure bikes are concerned. First, it's a powerful machine with a 689cc liquid-cooled DOHC 4-stroke engine with eight valves to deliver 74 horsepower. 

Further, the Tenere has a fuel injection system and an incredible 50 lb-ft. The motorbike weighs approximately 450 lbs which is a great weight for a mid-range adventure bike, ensuring it easily glides through any environment. 

We also like the bike because its manufacturers are cognizant of the need to save energy without compromising proper lighting. The bike features LED light systems in casings that are excellently protected to shield it from external elements. 

How about its fuel consumption? There are fewer adventure bikes with such incredible efficiency in fuel use. This bike sports a phenomenal 50mpg consumption rate, ensuring that running out of gas is the least of your worries. 

Also, don’t forget that it's primarily a Yamaha Bike, so it comes with all the outstanding properties the brand is renowned for, such as great resilience and durability. Its suspension systems are also customizable to the user’s liking meaning you can always tinker with it to fit the terrain. 

Lastly, we like its excellent ergonomics that give you the ideal rally bike vibes, and its response anytime you change gears is simply mind-blowing. It retails at $10,499, which is why we rate it as the best adventure midrange bike, especially if you’re operating on a lean budget. 

• BMW R 1250 GS- Most Classy High-End Adventure Bike

We won’t lie, this motorbike is painfully pricey compared to the other popular models we’ve covered. But it's a BMW, which means one thing- it exhumes class, incredible power, and a whopping seven riding modes, ensuring you can navigate any road type. 

Its grip is also astronomical, allowing you to set the handlebars wherever needed. The bike’s handlebars are adjustable to a height of up to 30 mm, ensuring that if you’re a tall rider, it covers you at all times.  

Moreover, it's made for adventure, and its seat adjustability is a testament to this, given that they allow adjustments between 790 to 910 mm. 

And hear this- the 1250 GS comes with a seat heater system making a ride on the bike akin to the latest SUV because the experience this feature delivers is simply heavenly. 

Again, the bike’s headlights are a force to reckon with as they are adaptable (even dimmable) to ambient light conditions. They are also LED lights, thus will save every lumen of light you’d have expended on the conventional incandescent fixtures you’ll find on other bikes. 

Enough of the fanciful properties. How powerful is the 2023 BMW R 1250? 

This beast gives you top-notch torque at all speeds, and even when you’re driving so fast, it's remarkably so stable that you can’t help but just keep driving. 

And its muffler is also excellently designed to give the bike a low sound output. Its stainless steel-made to ensure the utmost durability and also adds to the bike’s stylish appeal. This motorbike speaks volumes just from a simple glance of its power and class. 

It sells at $23,925. Why? This is the perfect high-end adventure bike you’ve dreamed of owning since childhood. So, never mind its ostensibly high price, you will get full value for your savings. 

• Honda NC750X- Most Powerful Mid-Range Adventure Bike. 

It's less popular than others in the mid-range category, like the Kawasaki KLR-650 or Yamaha Tenere, but its engine power is its key standout feature. As its name suggests, the bike is a 750cc kind with unimaginable power and stability. 

But why do we like it exactly? It comes with an excellent revving property which is particularly crucial in instant acceleration. It's actually a bike built for speed, and the DCT automatic transmission is another key feature that enhances this cause. 

You can easily tell the NC750X engine from the rest by its unique engine design and positioning, which is all tactical. For instance, its positioning facilitates a 31.6-inch seat height, which is ideal for biking newbies. 

The engine setup also grants the user space near the tank where they can carry critical attire such as a helmet or shopping bag. 

Further, the feature ensures that the bike has a relatively low center of gravity which is imperative in enhancing its overall stability. This is particularly important for a bike with a 493-pound wet weight. 

Is its weight a burden for a beginner user bike? Absolutely not. It comes in handy in improving traction when riding on heavily sandy terrain. It's also a dearly priced motorbike at $9,399. 

Verdict

We don’t want to be the jury, but we’ve told you as it is so that you can choose the best adventure model for your liking and cause. Remember, these brands are not just popular for nothing. It is definitely because of their impressive features and durability. Also, they tick all the boxes for an ideal dual-purpose motorbike for a beginner rider. Go for the best in regard to your budget and personal preferences.