Top 10 best low-seat adventure bikes

The adventure motorcycle market boom means that this is perhaps the hardest-fought segment in the two-wheeled world. As a consequence, there’s a dizzying array of options to choose from, and that includes an increasing number of low-seat adventure bikes.

Traditionally, ADVs have been tall beasts, and there are still plenty of bikes in this sector that are best off left to taller riders, like the Yamaha Tenere 700 Extreme with its lofty 910mm seat height, a figure matched by the Ducati Desert X Rally.

Things have changed since the early days of adventure bikes, though, and if you’re a shorter rider who’s happy with a little less suspension travel (and let’s face it, few of us are going to truly stretch the capabilities of these machines), the world’s your oyster. 

There are now many bikes that have low seats out of the box and others that can be brought closer to the ground with accessory seats or even clever suspension technology. On this page, you’ll find what we consider to be the best low-seat adventure bikes currently available. 

In terms of practical advice, as with all bike-buying decisions, nothing can compare to first-hand experience. Seat height alone is just an indicator as to how easily you’ll touch the ground, as the seat’s shape and width will also have an influence. If you’re short of leg, try as many bikes as you can to see which suits you the best.

10. BMW R1300 GS - 830/800mm

You might not have expected to see a ‘proper’ GS on this page (a little lower you’ll see the parallel twin-powered F800 GS), but the new R1300 GS does indeed qualify via the use of clever technology combined with an optional low seat.

The Adaptive Height Control system automatically lowers the bike below 15.5mph to 820mm, or a very accessible 800mm with the low comfort seat specced. Go above that speed, and the height rises to 830mm, or 850mm with the standard seat fitted.

There’s quite a big caveat to this, though - Adaptive Height Control costs £515, and it can only be added if you’ve already ticked the £1,660 Dynamic Package, adding over £2,000 to the cost of your R1300 GS before you’ve even looked at the other (many options). Ouch. At least the low comfort seat only costs 50 quid.

9. Ducati Multistrada V2 – 830mm

The Multistrada V2 is Ducati’s ‘entry-level’, more affordable version of its range-topping Multistrada and was originally launched as the Multistrada 950 in 2017 (Ducati renamed it as the V2 in 2022 following the arrival of the all-new V4 Multistrada 1200). As such, it’s also the most novice-friendly of the Multistrada family with the lowest seat height of 830mm, something which can be lowered further to 810mm with the aid of a kit. (The V4, meanwhile, has an adjustable seat height of 840-860mm, lowerable to 810-830mm with an optional kit). Although no true off-roader, the Multistrada V2 is a great, versatile V-twin road bike with bags of Italian character.

8. Suzuki V-Strom 800RE - 825mm

While the V-Strom 800DE doesn't have a hope of even getting on our list, its more road-oriented V-Strom 800RE recently launched by Suzuki is one of the most accessible ADVs out there. It gets a comprehensively tweaked riding position featuring lower bars plus slightly higher and more rear-set footpegs, and yes, an 825mm seat height that's a chunky 30mm lower than the DE. A reduction in suspension travel helps in this regard, and to make the RE even more friendly, it also gets a taller windscreen. 

7. Royal Enfield Himalayan – 825mm

The Himalayan has been radically overhauled for 2024, featuring a new 'Sherpa' 452cc single-cylinder - Royal Enfield’s first water-cooled engine - a new TFT dashboard and much more besides. At the same time, its standard seat height has grown, punting the bike well down this list from the outgoing model's second-place position. It's still not exactly lofty, though, with an adjustable seat that lies 825mm off the ground in its lowest setting. An optional seat drops that to 805mm.

6. CFMoto 450MT – 820mm

Chinese brand CFMoto’s lower middleweight trail bike is a blast either on the road or off it, with a gutsy-sounding parallel twin and plush suspension that bellies the £5,699 price tag.

As explained in our CFMoto 450MT review, it’s a great option for those wanting something with better on-road manners than a low-capacity trail bike like a Honda CRF300 without ending up with a machine too heavy and expensive, and it’s not only accessible due to how much CFMoto charges for it, but also the seat height.

As standard it’s 820mm, but by adjusting a suspension linkage, it’s possible to drop that figure to just 800mm, matching the lowest-slung bikes on this list. 

5. Triumph Tiger 900 GT – 820mm

What was previously the 'winner' of this list now only has a mid-table finish. The updated, 2024 version of the Tiger 900 GT - for now, at least - does without the 'GT Low' variant, which came with a seat with an adjustable height between 770mm and 790mm. You can get close to the latter figure with the refreshed, three-cylinder ADV, however, by purchasing a 20mm lower accessory seat. The Rally Pro version doesn't even have a hope of getting in our top 10, with longer-travel suspension giving a lowest seat height of 860mm.

4. BMW F800 GS – 815mm

Lower still than an R1300 GS with the fancy suspension is the newbie-friendly BMW F800GS. Of all the GS machines, it's the one with the lowest seat of all. Based on the parallel twin F900GS but with a softer tune, more basic spec and lower seat and suspension, the F800GS comes as standard with a seat height of just 815mm which can be lowered to 780mm via a low seat option and all the way down to 760mm with a suspension lowering kit.

3. Moto Guzzi Stelvio – 830mm

The Stelvio is the second bike from Moto Guzzi to use the all-new V-twin engine, following on from the V100 Mandello. The Guzzi is blessed with a very accommodating 830mm perch, while still being roomy enough to allow those over six feet to get comfortable.

We've already published our Moto Guzzi Stelvio review, and found it to be a very competent on-road adventure tourer. Indeed, while it can handle some light off-road work, we feel it's a bike much more at home doing the traditional touring thing. 

It's also a bike that will stand out in the crowd from the rafts of R1300 GS models and Africa Twins. That said, exclusivity comes at a price, and on that front, the £14,700 starting price does look a bit steep next to things like the NC750X below - which basically does the same thing!

2. Honda NC750X – 800mm

Although updated again in 2021 with refreshed styling (and an even lower seat, down from 830 to 800mm) Honda’s low-revving, commuter-orientated NC750X might spark some discussion – after all, it’s not the sort of thing that you’re about to ride across the Serengeti. But despite sharing most of its underpinnings with the Integra scooter, the ‘X’ model is clearly styled to fit the adventure mould, is immensely practical (there’s even a storage compartment in the dummy tank), comfortable and novice-friendly and even comes with Honda’s very clever, semi-automatic DCT gearbox option. Of course, if you want a ‘pukka’ Honda adventure bikes, there’s always Honda’s 1100cc Africa Twin, but that bike’s seat height is 850mm (although there is an 825mm option).

1. Sinnis 125 Terrain – 800mm

Another adventure bike with an impressively low seat height of just 800mm – although in this case, we may be pushing the ‘adventure’ bit. Chinese brand Sinnis introduced its 125cc, single-cylinder Terrain in 2021 and it remains one of the few A1-class compliant but full-size learner adventure bikes. The low seat height of 800mm comes as a result of that. Unfortunately, too, however, does its fairly measly 13bhp output and limited ability both on and off-road, but if you want a full-size, low-seat adventure for around £4k not much comes close.

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