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The Best Adventure Motorcycles for 2023: Ride Everywhere

Looking to buy a motorcycle for on- and off-road riding, or long-distance travel? Fortunately, there are many choices. Our list showcases 18 of the best adventure motorcycles on the U.S. market for 2023.
adventure motorcycles(Photo/Drea Ervin)
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The adventure or “ADV” segment of the motorcycle industry is thriving, and the selection just keeps growing. Regardless of your preferences, skill level, or budget, you will likely find something to scratch your itch for adventure riding within the ever-expanding ADV bike lineup.

To be considered an “adventure” motorcycle we’re talking street legal, off-road capable, and comfortable to ride for long distances.

Adventure bikes inherently strive to offer equally good performance, handling, and comfort both on- and off-road. This is a complicated balance to strike, and there tend to be concessions one way or another. Choosing the best adventure motorcycle really means figuring out what qualities are most important to you.

This is not an exhaustive list of all bikes that meet those general criteria or could be made to meet them with after-market upgrades. Instead, we chose these tried-and-true adventure motorcycles that come from the factory ready for long-distance riding. 

18 Best Adventure Motorcycles for 2023

adventure motorcycles
(Photo/Drea Ervin)

Here’s our list of the Best Adventure Motorcycles for 2023, in order of displacement — from smallest to largest.

  • Base price: $9,104-10,799
  • Engine: 645cc V-twin
  • Power: 70 hp
  • Wet weight: 476 lbs.
  • Fuel capacity: 5.3 gal.
  • Tire size: 19”/17”

  • Base price: $12,299-12,699
  • Engine: 659cc parallel twin
  • Power: 79 hp
  • Wet weight: 450 lbs.
  • Fuel capacity: 4.7 gal.
  • Tire size: 21”/18”

  • Base price: $10,499
  • Engine: 689cc parallel twin
  • Power: 74 hp
  • Wet weight: 452 lbs.
  • Fuel capacity: 4.2 gal.
  • Tire size: 21”/18”

  • Base price: $9,995
  • Engine: 853cc parallel twin
  • Power: 77 hp
  • Wet weight: 493 lbs.
  • Fuel capacity: 4 gal.
  • Tire size: 19”/17”

  • Base price: $11,349-12,999
  • Engine: 776cc parallel twin
  • Power: 84.3 hp
  • Wet weight: 507 lbs.
  • Fuel capacity: 5.3 gal.
  • Tire size: 21”/17"

  • Base price: $12,595-13,595
  • Engine: 853cc parallel twin
  • Power: 90 hp
  • Wet weight: 504 lbs., 538 lbs.
  • Fuel capacity: 4 gal., 6.1 gal.
  • Tire size: 21”/17”

  • Base price: $12,190-13,190
  • Engine: 853cc V-twin
  • Power: 76 hp
  • Wet weight: 507 lbs.
  • Fuel capacity: 6 gal.
  • Tire size: 19”/17”

  • Base price: $13,949-15,199
  • Engine: 889cc parallel twin
  • Power: 105 hp, 103 hp
  • Wet weight: 473 lbs., 464 lbs.
  • Fuel capacity: 5.3 gal.
  • Tire size: 21”/18”

  • Base price: $14,995-17,395
  • Engine: 888cc triple
  • Power: 94 hp
  • Wet weight: 501 lbs.
  • Fuel capacity: 5.28 gal.
  • Tire size: 19"/17", 21”/17”

  • Base price: $14,499
  • Engine: 889cc parallel twin
  • Power: 105 hp
  • Wet weight: 472 lbs.
  • Fuel capacity: 5 gal.
  • Tire size: 21”/18”

  • Base price: $17,695-18,295
  • Engine: 937cc V-twin
  • Power: 110 hp
  • Wet weight: 495 lbs.
  • Fuel capacity: 5.5 gal.
  • Tire size: 21”/18”

  • Base price: $15,199-17,599
  • Engine: 1,137cc V-twin
  • Power: 107 hp
  • Wet weight: 554 lbs.
  • Fuel capacity: 5.3 gal.
  • Tire size: 19"/17", 21”/17”

  • Base price: TBA
  • Engine: 1,084cc parallel twin
  • Power: 101 hp
  • Wet weight: 505 lbs., 529 lbs.
  • Fuel capacity: 5 gal., 6.5 gal.
  • Tire size: 21”/18"

  • Base price: $29,995-30,595
  • Engine: 1,158cc V4
  • Power: 170 hp
  • Wet weight: 573 lbs.
  • Fuel capacity: 7.9 gal.
  • Tire size: 19”/17”

  • Base price: $16,299
  • Engine: 1,199cc parallel twin
  • Power: 110 hp
  • Wet weight: 584 lbs.
  • Fuel capacity: 6.1 gal.
  • Tire size: 19”/17”

  • Base price: $19,595-24,200
  • Engine: 1,160cc triple
  • Power: 147 hp
  • Wet weight: 529 lbs., 575 lbs.
  • Fuel capacity: 5.3 gal., 7.9 gal.
  • Tire size: 19”/18”, 21”/18”

  • Base price: $17,995-20,345
  • Engine: 1,254cc flat twin
  • Power: 136 hp
  • Wet weight: 549 lbs., 591 lbs.
  • Fuel capacity: 5.2 gal., 7.9 gal.
  • Tire size: 19”/17”

  • Base price: $20,299
  • Engine: 1,301cc V-twin
  • Power: 160 hp
  • Wet weight: 550 lbs.
  • Fuel capacity: 6.1 gal.
  • Tire size: 21”/18”

2023 Adventure Motorcycles — No Perfect Bike

adventure motorcycles
(Photo/Drea Ervin)

Full disclosure, I ride a Suzuki DR650SE, and I call it my adventure motorcycle. We have indeed been on many wonderful adventures together, but it’s really a dual-sport. Yes, it is street-legal and off-road capable, but it is not very comfortable. It becomes exponentially less so on long-distance rides, even with upgrades.

Adventurers the world over will share similar stories of epic times on all types and sizes of bikes, including single-cylinder or “thumper” bikes like mine. The point is that while you can certainly have adventures riding whatever bike you fancy (or can afford), an ideal adventure motorcycle will take you everywhere you might want to go, and you’ll be a lot more comfortable.

adventure motorcycles
(Photo/Drea Ervin)

Adventure Motorcycle FAQs

What stock adventure motorcycle features do you look for when considering off-road capability?

Good ground clearance, suspension travel, and large spoked wheels all help make navigating different types of terrain and obstacles easier, safer, and more enjoyable.

What stock adventure motorcycle features do you look for when considering all-day comfort?

Vibration, jarring, and wind buffeting are three big factors that are exhausting on long rides. Twin-cylinder engines or above will vibrate much less than single-cylinder bikes. Plush suspension will absorb changes in terrain, and a frame-mounted fairing will provide ultimate protection from the wind.

Which are the heaviest and lightest bikes in this ADV bike lineup? 

The lightest weight bike in this comparison is the new Aprilia Tuareg 660, coming in just under 450 pounds (449.7, to be exact). The only other bike that comes close is the Yamaha Ténéré 700, at 452 pounds. The heaviest is the venerable BMW R 1250 GSA, at 591 pounds. Leave it to German engineering to figure out how to perfectly balance that much weight on two wheels.

What are the most and least expensive adventure motorcycles?

No surprises here. The priciest is Ducati, and the economy is a Suzuki. The new Multistrada V4 Rally can be yours in Ducati Red for just under $31,000. For that price, you can buy matching Suzuki V-Stroms for yourself and two of your friends. The base model V-Strom 650 comes in at $9,104 and has been successfully carrying adventure riders all over the world for nearly 20 years. 

Which ADV models are getting the biggest upgrades?

Suzuki has gone after the adventure market with their new V-Strom “DE” models. They are still pretty far behind the competition in side-by-side comparisons, but the pricing is so good it might not matter. At the other end of the spectrum in quality, price, and cutting-edge technology, the Tiger 1200 line has been completely revamped for 2023.

What ADV bike performs best on pavement?

If you want to do lots of road riding, the very popular BMW GSAs, Triumph Tigers, and of course, the Ducati Multistrada will offer the most comfort on the longest rides. Heavier, large-displacement bikes tend to ride better on the road.

What ADV bike performs best off-road?

Riding off-road can mean a lot of different things. Generally speaking, the lighter-weight ADV bikes tend to be easier to handle (and pick up!) riding off-road. Look at the KTM 890 R (really any KTM), Tuareg 660, and Ténéré 700 if you live for dirt.

What ADV bike performs equally well on both street and dirt, with the least amount of comfort compromise?

This is where the mid-weight adventure bikes win. The Ducati DesertX is creating quite a stir. I dare you not to want this bike. Also touted as equally well-appointed for both are the Tiger 900, the new kid Norden 901, and the Africa Twin.

adventure motorcycles
(Photo/Drea Ervin)
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