If you're shopping for an adventure bike in 2025, we've got good news for you: You've got more choices than Nick Cannon has children.
Unfortunately, that also means picking a favorite has never been harder, but we managed to round up 9 of the most exciting options of the year for your consideration.
There was a time when adventure bikes didn't exist, and the term "adventure riding" was a much more literal thing, having more to do with long-distance travel into parts unknown than it did splitting your time between pavement and dirt in equal measure.
Somewhere along the way between the introduction of the first BMW GS, the publication of Neil Peart's "Ghost Rider," and everyone's favorite Jedi taking the long way from London to New York, the definition of what was and wasn't a proper adventure machine began to change, and the bikes themselves started changing to suit customer demand.
Of course, the soul of adventure riding is still very much intact, and if it's a life-changing motorcycle ride you're after, you need look no further than any one of our international motorcycle trips to experience the genuine article.
Lucky for us ADV riders, however, the machines we ride on tours like these have only gotten better, and below you'll find the adventure bikes we're most looking forward to in 2025.
*Listed in no particular order
1. Ducati Desert X
Quick Specs:
- Power: 110 hp @ 9,250 rpm
- Torque: 68 lb-ft @6,500 rpm
- Wet weight: 492 lbs
- Suspension travel: 9" front/ 8.7" rear
- Base MSRP: $17,995
You've gotta give it to the folks at Ducati for doing things their own way.
At a time when every other major manufacturer was scrambling for market share in the parallel-twin gold rush, Ducati doubled down on their V-twin roots and gave adventurers the engine we didn't know we needed.
"The Desert X with the new discovery trim. Photo credit: Ducati"
Truth be told, not much is changing for the 2025 Ducati Desert X with the exception of the new "Discovery" trim, and considering the model is only on its fourth year of production, we really can't complain.
Riders looking for the gnarliest possible off-roader also have the option of the "Rally" edition for $5K more, but we're sticking with the OG this year ourselves.
The Testastretta 11-degree engine delivers tons of tractable power and character, the fully adjustable KYB suspension is competent and well-balanced, and at risk of stating the obvious here, the Desert X handily remains in the running for highest all-around sex appeal in the ADV segment.
"Photo credit: Ducati"
What's most surprising about this Italian exotic, however, is that its maintenance sheet reads more like something from the Big Four than you might expect from the team in Borgo Panigale.
This ain't your daddy's air-cooled Duc, and the new water-cooled Testastretta is good for a whopping 18,600 miles between valve service intervals.
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2. Honda XL750 Transalp
Quick Specs:
- Power: 83 hp @ 9,500 rpm (US model)
- Torque: 55 lb-ft @ 7,250 rpm
- Weight: 459 lbs
- Suspension travel: 7.9" front/ 7.5" rear
- Base MSRP: $9,999
Next up is the Honda XL750 Transalp, Big Red's latest and greatest entry in the mid-size multi-cylinder adventure bike segment.
We've been logging some serious miles on the Transalp as part of our new rider training program, and there's no doubt Honda has brought a serious contender to market here.
The engine is arguably our favorite aspect of the new Transalp, thanks largely to the XL's outstanding power-to-weight ratio.
The Transalp only weighs about 30 lbs more than the Honda's NX500, yet cranks out about 30 more horses. Giddy up.
The Transalp has also proven to be a great companion for riders with a shorter inseam.
Despite its 8" of ground clearance and suspension travel, we've found team members with a 30" inseam can nearly flat-foot the XL, which hasn't been the case for other budget favorites like the Yamaha Tenere.
"The Honda XL750 Transalp has officially hit US shores, and undercuts the Tenere's pricetag but a decent chunk."
Speaking of the Tenere, we'll also point out that the Transalp has officially taken the title as the most budget-friendly offering out there.
Honda has introduced the Transalp with a starting MSRP of just $9,999, and because the Tenere has slowly crept up in price over the years, this is now the only major middleweight available under $10k.
Another major highlight of our time with the new Transalp is its outstanding handling characteristics, both on and off paved roads.
One of our instructors even went so far as to compare its light feel and flickability to Honda's mini-ADV, the CRF300L Rally, which is no small feat considering the size and weight difference between the two.
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3. KTM 890 Adventure R
Quick Specs:
- Power: 105 hp @ 8,000rpm
- Torque: 74 lb-ft @ 6,500rpm
- Weight: 480 lbs
- Suspension travel: 9.4" front/ 9.4" rear
- Base MSRP: TBA
Of course on the complete opposite end of the adventure bike spectrum, we've got the 2025 KTM 890 Adventure R, which has only grown more powerful and capable off-road thanks to some hands-on development from Mr. "Say No To Slow" himself, Chris Birch.
If uncompromising offroad performance is what you're after, chances are you've got a big orange bike in your future...
"Photo credit: Rudi Schedl"
We've loved our time aboard the current KTM 890 Adventure R, and we really can't say enough about how dialed the whole motorcycle is for serious off-road riding.
The long-travel WP suspension goes toe-to-toe with the best in the business, and that ungodly 105-claimed-horsepower engine is an absolute menace when let off leash in KTM's now infamous "rally mode."
Interestingly enough, we've also found the Adventure R to be a sweet ride on the pavement despite its heavy off-road focus, making it a true adventure bike in the purest sense of the word: it's equally at home carving ribbons of pavement as it is flying through the air or roosting around singletrack.
The 2025 model remains largely unchanged from the 2024 version, although KTM's "connectivity unit," a 5" TFT display with full smartphone integration, will now be offered as standard equipment.
We'll see if it's worth paying for once KTM confirms pricing for the 2025 890.
"The big 890R's outstanding WP suspension remains the best in the segment."
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4. Yamaha Tenere 700
Quick Specs:
- Power: 73.4 hp @ 8,750 rpm
- Torque: 49.4 lb-ft @ 6,500 rpm
- Weight: 459 lbs
- Suspension travel: 8.3" front/ 7.9" rear
- Base MSRP: $10,999
The working man's middleweight finally got its first complete redesign this year, and few machines are as hotly anticipated as Yamaha's 2025 Tenere 700.
At its core, this is still the same beloved, CP2-powered, middleweight adventure bike, but Yamaha has showered it with upgrades in all the right places.
Chief among them is the addition of ride-by-wire throttle, which adds a full electronics suite to the T7 for the first time in its history. The Tenere now sports multiple throttle maps, rider modes, and selectable settings for traction control and ABS.
"Photo credit: Honda"
All those new settings are now controlled through a 6.3" full color TFT dash and an accompanying joystick on the left hand switchgear. The new dash also includes full Bluetooth connectivity, which includes calls, music, and on-dash navigation via Google Maps.
Aside from new tech (and the obvious new look), the Tenere also gets a major upgrade to its KYB suspension. Travel remains unchanged, but damping performance has been improved and preload adjustment has been added to the front fork.
"Photo credit: Honda"
Will all the new tech sacrifice the Tenere's charming simplicity, or will the T7's lovable engine and rock solid engineering only be enhanced by electronics?
We'd argue the latter, but we'll withhold judgement until we've logged some serious miles on one this year.
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5. Suzuki V-Strom 800DE
Quick Specs:
- Power: 83 hp @ 8,500 rpm
- Torque: 57.5 lb-ft @ 6,800 rpm
- Weight: 507 lbs
- Suspension travel: 8.7" front/ 8.7" rear
- Base MSRP: $11,709
Suzuki officially joined the modern adventure bike fray last year with their own middleweight parallel twin.
While some may mourn the impending loss of the V-Strom 650 (it's hanging around for 2025, anyone's guess for '26), the all-new engine is lighter and significantly more powerful while retaining much of that V-twin charm thanks to its 270-degree crank configuration.
All the other modern perks are here as well including a big colorful display, multiple electronic rider modes (including one specifically for gravel), switchable ABS, and fully adjustable long-travel suspension.
"Photo credit: Suzuki"
Suzuki is also offering their new adventure bike with a proper "Adventure" package from the factory, which includes a set of aluminum panniers, a pair of crash guards, and an aluminum skid plate for an extra $1,450.
Ultimately we believe the new V-Strom will be a smart buy for potential Tenere buyers who want a little more power and a few more modern conveniences (more extensive rider aids and a quickshifter, for example) in exchange for the T7's "big dirt bike" charms.
It's a little on the heavy side compared to its Japanese compatriots, but as an overall package, the V-Strom 800 DE brings a lot of value to the table.
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6. Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro
Quick Specs:
- Power: 106.5 hp @ 9,500 rpm
- Torque: 66.4 lb-ft @ 6,850 rpm
- Weight: 503 lbs (wet)
- Suspension travel: 9.45" front/ 9.05" rear
- Base MSRP: $17,395
We recently wrapped an extended test of Triumph's latest Tiger 900 Rally Pro, and what a ludicrously fun machine this thing is.
A 100+ horsepower middleweight that's got more features than some flagship ADVs? Where do we sign up?
As you might expect, the key to the Triumph's success is its unique three-cylinder engine.
It's got plenty of low-down torque to chug through the technical stuff, but it also delivers rev-happy thrills that no parallel or V-twin can compare to.
"Taking the Tiger 900 Rally Pro for a test run in the backcountry near my home"
Whether that means blasting roost at your friends around gravel corners or passing sportbikes on curvy mountain roads is up to you, but the Tiger truly wears both hats with aplomb.
Much of this is due to its KYB suspension, which is plush enough for comfortable cruising yet firm enough for some downright irresponsible endeavors.
"Making the most of the ride with some twisty pavement sections"
We also can't say enough about all the Rally Pro's standard features.
Lean sensitive traction control, ABS, rider modes, heated grips, heated seats, cruise control, adjustable windshield, adjustable seat... the list just keeps going, and it's all standard equipment.
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6. Aprilia Tuareg 660
Quick Specs:
- Power: 80 hp @ 9,250
- Torque: 52 lb-ft @ 6,500 rpm
- Weight: 450 lbs
- Suspension travel: 9.4" front, 9.4" rear
- Base MSRP: $12,299
The Aprilia Tuareg 660 is an intriguing character to say the least.
It's built around the same high-performance parallel twin engine as the RS 660 (Cycle World's 2022 middleweight streetbike of the year, fyi), which is technically just an RSV4 Superbike engine with two cylinders lopped off.
This is no repackaged street bike though. Yes, the Tuareg 660 gets high marks on the street as one of the sweetest handling adventure bikes on the market, but it's equally skilled in the dirt as well.
"Photo credit: Tuareg"
In fact, the Tuareg 660 is actually the only bike on our list that can match the KTM Adventure R in outright suspension travel, and that 9+ inches of squish combined with a respectably low weight and a predictable chassis make it a welcome companion over anything from groomed gravel roads to steep rocky climbs.
Add in a premium electronics suite including swappable ABS, traction control, adjustable engine maps, and even electronic cruise control, and you've got one hell of a competitor by any measurement.
"Photo credit: Tuareg"
So where does the Tuareg fit into the ranks of this year's finest ADV machines?
The way we see it, if you're loving the premium features and all-terrain capability of the KTM 890 Adventure R but have no use for its 25 extra horsepower, the Aprilia delivers damn near everything else we love about the 890 for about $3,500 less.
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7. BMW 1300 GS
Quick Specs:
- Power: 145 hp @ 7,750 rpm
- Torque: 110 lb-ft @ 6,500 rpm
- Weight: 523 lbs
- Suspension travel: 7.5" front/ 7.9" rear
- Base MSRP: $18,895
If you're into adventure motorcycles, chances are you've owned a big GS at some point in your life.
There's a reason the GS remains the most popular ADV of all time, chief among them being big torque, reliability, and that smooth telelever front end.
The all-new 1300 GS could be considered the first true clean sheet redesign in the model's long history.
No more steel trellis frame, no more asymettrical styling, no more asymettrical engine: the new GS is leaner, more powerful, and more capable than ever.
"Photo credit: BMW"
More power and less weight are always good, but the most impressive feature of the new GS 1300 has to be its electronic suspension.
It's an industry-first design that features electronically adjustable spring rates, which means every aspect of the new GS' suspension can be electronically optimized on the fly.
As is often the case with the GS, you can easily spend a small fortune to get all the bells and whistles from radar-assisted cruise control to an adaptive ride height feature, but our favorite part of the big 1300 is that it's surprisingly affordable for a flagship adventure bike.
"Photo credit: BMW"
With base the base-model GS starting at just $18,895, BMW's legendary ADV officially costs less than some middleweights while still delivering on big bike power, comfort, and touring prowess. It ain't cheap, but it's surprisingly affordable for European hardware.
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8. Royal Enfield Himalayan 450
Quick Specs:
- Power: 39.5 hp @ 8,000 rpm
- Torque: 29.5 lb-ft @ 5,500 rpm
- Weight: 432 lbs
- Suspension travel: 7.9" front/ 7.9" rear
- Base MSRP: $5,799
Royal Enfield's original Himalayan worked as an adventure bike on a budget, but as a whole the simple machine was underpowered, overweight, and antiquated.
The new Himalayan 450 is radically different in every way.
As Enfield's first liquid-cooled motorcycle, the new Himalayan boasts a legitimately entertaining engine with more revs, more torque, and more power across the board.
It's finally powerful enough for the interstate, but that's just the first of many improvements.
"We also took out these little guy for some testing. Conclusion: for the price point we are very pleased"
During a recent test ride we found the Himi's new Showa suspension worked shockingly well both on and off-road.
No longer is this a bike you have to tip-toe through the rough stuff: 8 inches of well-damped travel feels right at home on all but the gnarliest terrain.
In short, it's a homerun, and it's backed by an impressive three-year warranty to boot.
All this, plus standard features like rider modes, turn-by-turn navigation, and traction control for under $6,000? We can't say enough good things about this ADV on a budget.
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9. CFMoto Ibex 450 (450MT)
Quick Specs:
- Power: 44 hp @ 8,500 rpm
- Torque: 30 lb-ft @ 6,250 rpm
- Weight: 386 lbs (dry)
- Suspension travel: 7.9" front/ 7.9" rear
- Base MSRP: $6,500
This year is shaping up to be an exciting one for the budget-friendly/small displacement category. The Himalayan 450 above is one such example, and CFMoto's hot new Ibex 450 is another.
In short, we're stoked on the Ibex because it's intentionally built as a full-sized yet lightweight adventure bike.
Its 449cc parallel twin engine sports a 270-degree firing order, so it's better to think of the Ibex as an ultralight Tenere rather than a fully-faired dual sport.
"The Ibex 450 is lightweight, multi-cylinder, and off-road focused. Photo credit: CF Moto"
The Ibex is a bit costlier than the Enfield, but it also sports a few notable upgrades like adjustable KYB suspension front and rear, J Juan brakes, and tubeless 21"/18" wheels.
The same goes for its 5" full-color TFT dash and switchable Bosch traction control and ABS.
Couple that with an off-road biased build and back it with a minimum two-year factory warranty (longer in some countries), and you'll start to see what's so appealing about this $6,500 adventure bike.
It was enough to convince us to add a few to our rental fleet, and we'll have a full review later in the year.
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Thanks for reading! We hope this article helped you on your journey of finding the right adventure bike.
→Read More:
Adventure Motorcycle Helmets: The Best of the Best
Adventure Bikes for Beginners That Will Take You Far & Wide
