Some might say that adventure motorcycling has gone soft over the last decade, with every man and his dog buying into the adventure dream. Sales of adventure motorcycles have held firm in a market where sales of superbikes have slumped; leathers are being exchanged for rugged textiles.
No adventure bike is complete without aluminium panniers on which to plaster stickers from all the wild countries you've battled your way through. France, Spain, Morocco..
It's easy to feel that adventure motorcycling must start and end with BMW's GS; the bike has featured in so much media coverage, it's become as predictable as a Rolex on a banker's wrist or a footballer's Ferrari. The BMW crowd are a funny bunch at the best of times and it's hard to convince them that any other bike comes close to matching their machine.
Frankly, this is good news for you. Values of non-GS adventure machines don't hold as firm in the first few years as BMWs, so bargains can be had on bikes that are almost-new and will hold strong residual values from here on in.
There are loads of options out there and they don't require you to buy the bike, the matching kit, panniers and GPS device either. If you want to live the adventure dream - but you don't have a film-star budget - here are some great adventure motorcycles for you to get out there and head down that unbeaten path to your own adventure.
Listed in no particular order, here are my top picks.
Yamaha XT660Z
Yamaha XT660Z Ténéré
The original a Ténéré was produced in 1983 and was a direct descendent of the XT500 that had won the first two Paris-Dakar rallies a few years earlier. There's something seriously cool about the Yamaha XT660Z Ténéré. Admittedly, most cost a good chunk over £3,000, however after a quick search I found two under our target price.
The modern Ténéré puts out 48bhp from its single-cylinder engine, just 5bhp more than the original bike made when it was first produced in 1983 and at 183kg dry it's over 40kg heavier than the original. However, while it might have been at the dessert over the last 25 years, it's lost none of that 'let me at the desert' style.
Price new: 2009 - £5699
Example I found: £2999, 2009 model, 8,500 miles
Click here for Yamaha XTZ660 Tenere reviews
Honda XRV750
Honda XRV750 Africa Twin
The XRV750 Africa Twin was based on the NXR-750 which won the Paris-Dakar four times in the late eights.
At 205kg, the Africa Twin is heavy and it puts out a modest 60bhp but the whole package belies the stats on paper. It's a solid Honda workhorse that's perfect for the riding that most riders of adventure bikes will be doing.
The Africa Twin has a keen following and plenty of the bikes from the early ninties are still going, with huge milages, thanks to the easy mods available. Its 23-litre fuel tank makes it an ideal bike for commuters or long-distance warriors.
Price new: 1995 - £7195
Example I found: £1650, 1995 model, 39,000 miles
Click here for Honda Africa Twin reviews
Triumph Tiger 955i
Triumph Tiger 955i
Sure, the Tiger 955i is more road biased in both its setup and its looks. But let's be honest, how much of the average adventure motorcyclist's miles are clocked-up off-road? 1%? And of that, how much is any more than a light trail? Exactly.
The Tiger's best asset is its engine: the 955cc triple-cylinder motor is effortless and produces twin-rivalling torque from low down, with easy, vibe free cruising potential.
While there are plenty for sale under the £3,000 target, many Tigers have clocked up large mileages. While a 40,000 mile Tiger isn't anything to be worried about, it's worth hanging on to find a low-mileage example that's slighty over our budget, but haggling like a native Moroccan to get yourself a bargain that'll give you fuss-free miles for years to come.
Price new: 2005 - £6939
Example I found: £2750, 2005 model, 11,250 miles
Click here for Triumph Tiger 955i owner reviews
Suzuki DL650
Suzuki V-Strom 650
While it may 'only' have a 645cc v-twin engine, don't let that put you off, Suzuki's V-Strom 650 is a fantastic motorcycle. Its well-proven engine can be found in practically half of Suzuki's range and there's good reason for it: it's torquey, reliable and will cruise in excess of motorway speeds with ease.
The V-Strom is one of those bikes that's easy for new riders to enjoy but great for experienced riders to master too. Infact I had one of my best ever UK tours, around the Lake District on a V-Strom 650 back in 2003. They don't hold onto their value that well in the first few years, so there are plenty of bargains to be snapped up.
It'll handle two-up with luggage, no problems, although if you want more shove, check out it's bigger brother, the V-Strom 1000. Or you could head to the next page..
Price new: 2007 - £5335
Example I found: £2550, 2007 model, 5,745 miles
Click here for Suzuki DL650 V-Strom owner's reviews
Kawasaki KLV1000
Kawasaki KLV1000
Ah, the Kawasaki KLV1000. No-one really understands why we were graced with its presence, but we were. Born in a time where Kawasaki and Suzuki were shuffling paperwork under the desk to each other, the KLV1000 is essentially a Suzuki DL1000 V-Strom, painted orange.
Except it's better. Better clocks, an adjustable screen and mirrors that work. The engine is the same unit dervied from the TL1000s, it's torquey, characterful and yer mild-mannnered too.Everything else is as you'd find on a V-Strom.
The KLV1000 was a flash in the pan and because of that, its values are rock-bottom. You can pick up a low-mileage 2006-registered model for well under our £3,000 limit.
Price new: 2004 - £6285
Example I found: £2250, 2005 model, 11,700 miles
Click here for Kawasaki KLV1000 owner reviews
