Top Adventure Motorcycles for New Riders

[Hugh Janus]

Lightweight adventure motorcycles like the KTM 390 Adventure are a great option for new riders looking to get out and explore. (KTM/)

So what’s an adventure bike (ADV), exactly? Whatever you say it is! Because in theory, you can ride from Fresno to Fairbanks on a 1975 Gold Wing, throttle a ‘99 Sportster sporting knobby tires from Colorado to Cabo, or even, as a YouTuber demonstrated, shred Moab on a Yamaha R6 supersport. And why not? Motorcyclists have famously forged their own paths over the decades.

But what if you’re just starting to explore on two wheels? Fortunately, the motorcycle market—highly nuanced these days with everything from baggers to scooters, and from trail bikes to tourers—boasts a ready-made adventure-bike segment. And happily, it incorporates easy-handling lightweight to middleweight machines that are ready for long-distance on- and off-road travel. To suit, they typically feature wind protection, optional luggage, improved ground clearance, longer-travel suspension, and sometimes larger fuel tanks.

Now, check out the assortment below—and then go!

Honda CRF300L Rally

The CRF300L Rally is the more travel-oriented model in Honda’s two-bike, CRF300L lineup and is a great option for the rider who wants to explore the trails but also appreciates the comfort provided by added wind protection. (Honda/)

In 2013, Big Red kickstarted (or rather, electric-started) a fresh generation of lightweight dual sport Hondas with its inviting CRF250L. In subsequent years, this bred the CRF250L Adventure, which ultimately led to the CRF300L Rally. Think of it as the little brother to Honda’s globe-trotting Africa Twin and equally enjoyable CB500X.

The CRF300L Rally distinguishes itself with a 286cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine and matching six-speed gearbox, super long-travel suspension (10.2 inches front and rear), and a large 3.4-gallon fuel tank to extend distances between stops. In keeping with its adventure aspirations, it also has a useful windscreen and rally-inspired bodywork. Best of all, though, the bike weighs just 331 pounds, ready to ride. For 2023, the CRF300L Rally retails for $6,149 with ABS $300 extra.

Kawasaki KLR650 Adventure

Mistakes happen, especially if you’re new to adventuring, which is why dependable, bulletproof bikes like the Kawasaki KLR650 are a great option for the unacquainted traveler. (Kawasaki/)

A staple of free-spirited souls almost since the Pliocene Epoch, the KLR650 has excelled as a mechanism for budget-conscious traveling. Now further market segmentation yields the KLR650 Adventure, with added-value features including side cases, fog lamps, frame sliders, and a tank pad. Meanwhile, a 12-volt DC outlet and a USB port support the use of portable electronics.

Sample the KLR and you’ll find plenty of power from the fuel-injected liquid-cooled 652cc single-cylinder engine, an affable personality, and the ability to haul a boatload of accessories, luggage, and gear. It’s all included for a low price of admission, too—$7,899 for the 2023 model, with ABS available for $300 more. Plus, as the largest-displacement bike in this group (albeit just fractionally), the KLR is by nature roomy (as well as plush-riding) for a big single—a real bonus when your stints in the saddle are long enough to empty the big 6.1-gallon tank.

For newer riders who happen to have a shorter inseam, Kawasaki also offers the KLR 650 S with a lower, 32.1-inch seat height.

KTM 390 Adventure

KTM’s performance prowess shows through even in new-rider-friendly options like the 390 Adventure. (KTM/)

Why would a motorcycle from a company with the slogan “Ready to Race” be right for new riders? In the case of KTM’s 390 Adventure, it’s not about racing so much as it’s about the fidelity and aptitude of the product. For instance, for its $7,399 MSRP, the 390 Adventure packs 373cc into a lightweight chassis, providing a favorable power-to-weight ratio for a good balance of acceleration and handling. Another asset is KTM’s adherence to narrow-diameter steel frame tubes. More compact than the aluminum extrusions and castings used on some other bikes, they help create a compact cockpit, enhancing rider comfort.

True to KTM’s off-road provenance, the 390 Adventure has rally styling, an ergonomically designed fuel tank and side panels that improve the rider’s experience while standing on the pegs, and standard engine guards. Another positive for the 390 Adventure is the availability of KTM’s race-bred factory accessories, such as an Akrapovič exhaust, Rekluse clutch, quickshifter, and high-strength aluminum skid plate.

Royal Enfield Himalayan

The Royal Enfield Himalayan will happily carry you from one mountain pass to the other. (Royal Enfield/)

Royal Enfield may not be the most well-known brand in America, but you can’t argue with its “Himalayan” model name for an adventure bike. That’s because India, where Enfields are manufactured, lays claim to some of the world’s tallest mountains. Which brings us to the machine seen here. Introduced in 2018, it shares a long-stroke 411cc air-cooled single-cylinder engine and five-speed gearbox with the Scram 411 but is outfitted specifically for adventure riding.

As such, Himalayan features include 21-inch front and 17-inch rear wheels with dual sport tires, reasonably long-travel suspension (7.9 inches front, 7.1 inches rear), a skid plate, high-mounted fenders, front and rear pannier mounts, a windscreen, a stepped dual saddle, and more. Electronics include an LCD dashboard and dual-channel ABS that allows switching off the rear unit when riding off-road. For ‘23, the Himalayan carries an MSRP of $5,449.

Suzuki V-Strom 650XT Adventure

Suzuki’s V-Strom 650 lineup proves that practical performance never goes out of style, and the XT Adventure model has even more to love, making it a great option for the rider who wants to rack up some miles. (Suzuki/)

When veteran literbike riders confide privately that their favorite touring bike is actually the V-Strom 650, that should tell you something about Suzuki’s middleweight legend. (Ask around, V-Strom 650 love is real.) Unsurprisingly, the V-Strom 650XT Adventure, which retails for $10,799, is further refinement of the excellence.

The burliest bike in this group of ADVs, the V-Strom 650XT Adventure is powered by a 645cc 90-degree V-twin—liquid-cooled and sporting electronic fuel injection and traction control—spinning through a six-speed gearbox with an overdriven top gear for efficiency. Defining this popular middleweight are a touring fairing with adjustable windscreen, multifunction instrumentation, and aluminum side cases. Admittedly much larger than most of its single-cylinder competitors, the V-Strom 650XT Adventure is more for road than trail. But long dirt or gravel roads on the horizon? They just might be this bike’s sweet spot.

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