Adventure Bikes That You Should Buy Used
Adventure bikes command serious money — and for good reason. The engineering required to make a motorcycle equally at home on a motorway cruise, a gravel track, and a two-up loaded touring run is genuinely impressive. But that premium price point means the used market is full of opportunity: riders who discovered ADV riding wasn’t for them have left behind well-sorted machines at a fraction of their original cost. If you know what to look for, a used adventure bike can be one of the smartest purchases in motorcycling.
Of course, not every used ADV is a bargain. Some depreciate heavily because they’re expensive to maintain or have looming service costs, so choose carefully. Here are 10 adventure bikes that are well worth buying used.
Royal Enfield Himalayan 411
Average Used Price: $3,500
The Himalayan 411 was replaced by the Himalayan 450, which is the most advanced motorcycle Royal Enfield has ever built. The newer bike certainly moves things forward, but the 411 has an agrarian charm that’s extremely appealing if you prefer a no-nonsense machine. There’s very little on it to go wrong, and while the engine isn’t refined, its torque curve is remarkably flat — peak torque arrives and stays spread across a range below 5,000 RPM, which is not something you see every day.
Kawasaki KLR650
Average Used Price: $4,000
The KLR650 is the Swiss Army Knife of adventure bikes. It will do what you need it to, and it will get you home without breaking into a sweat, no matter how many months or years long your ride is. It hasn’t changed much in the decades it has been around, with updates like fuel injection, ABS, and a styling refresh added along the way.
You could pick up an older KLR for a little less if you can find one, or shop for a more recent model — used examples regularly surface well below the new list price. The aftermarket is enormous, so you can use the money saved to customize it exactly to your needs.
Triumph Tiger Explorer
Average Used Price: $5,000
If you’ve liked the BMW GS series but didn’t like the boxer engine, then this is for you. The Tiger Explorer is the large 1,200 cc version of the Tiger, and it gets similar equipment to the BMW, including a single-sided swingarm and shaft final drive. Even older Tiger Explorers came with ride-by-wire throttle, traction control, cruise control, switchable ABS, and an immobilizer as standard. If you plan to do more off-road work, spoke rims were available as an option. With a payload of 490 pounds, there isn’t much you need to leave behind with one of these!
Suzuki V-Strom 1000
Average Used Price: $5,500
The liter-displacement V-Strom lives on in V-Strom 1050 guise and received some very worthwhile updates in recent years. However, don’t discount the older V-Stroms. Even an example from a decade ago produced close to 100 horsepower — on par with today’s version. The suspension was adjustable, the clutch hydraulic, and the twin-spar frame delivers excellent on-road handling. You don’t get ride-by-wire, but fuel injection was present from early on, so cold starts are never an issue. This was very much a road-biased tourer, with a 19-inch front rim and three-spoke cast aluminum alloy wheels.
Yamaha Ténéré 700
Average Used Price: $7,500
If the Super Tenere is too big for you (or you’re simply not ‘Super’ enough), the Tenere 700 will fulfill your needs nicely. Its engine is derived from the MT-07’s unit, so you can count on strong torque, smoothness, and proven reliability. The T7 also looks the part of a Dakar-inspired machine, leaning into that identity with a vertical instrument cluster and 21/18-inch spoke rims. If you want to go off-road with your ADV, it’s hard to find something better at this price point. The model hasn’t changed dramatically over the years, so buying used means you won’t be missing out on much.
KTM 1290 Super Adventure R
Average Used Price: $7,500
KTM makes some of the most extreme adventure bikes on the market, and that has been the case for a while now. If you look hard enough, you’ll find a 1290 Super Adventure R for around the same price as a Tenere 700 — a difference of nearly 90 horsepower for the same outlay. You’ll also get the full alphabet soup of electronics that KTM fits to its premium bikes to keep all that power in check. Just remember that KTMs carry a certain reputation for reliability, so factor that into your decision before committing to a deal.
Honda Africa Twin DCT
Average Used Price: $8,000
If you don’t like the KTM and want the opposite of the frenetic life it promises, Honda’s got your back. The Africa Twin has seen one major engine update since its launch in 2015, meaning whichever generation you choose, you’re getting a platform that has been thoroughly sorted over many years of production. The DCT is a great option if you want to simply twist and go, though earlier Africa Twin DCTs lacked the G Switch that allows more clutch slip at walking speeds — something worth bearing in mind if you plan to tackle technical off-road trails.
BMW R 1200 GS
Average Used Price: $8,800
This is the big daddy of the big adventure bikes, a lineage that continues today with the R 1300 GS. The R 1200 GS was a landmark model for BMW when it gained water cooling in 2013, so pre-2013 examples tend to be cheaper still. The liquid-cooled R 1200 GS came with ride-by-wire throttle, while features like cruise control, electronic suspension, and stability control were optional extras. Speaking of extras, a GS is rarely sold without a healthy options list, so shop widely and aim for a lightly used example with a sensible selection of add-ons — not too few, not so many that the previous owner’s tastes become your problem.
Ducati Multistrada 950
Average Used Price: $11,500
Today’s Multistrada V2 is a very different animal from the Multistrada 950. The 950 was the do-it-all middleweight Ducati ADV, and there are quite a few variants to choose from on the used market. Just keep in mind that it’s powered by the Testastretta 11-degree engine with Desmodromic valves, and valve service intervals follow traditional Ducati schedules — factor that maintenance cost into your budget before you buy. Even so, there’s no denying that riding one of these is an experience unlike any other adventure bike.
Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special
Average Used Price: $12,000
The Pan America 1250 is the most un-Harley-like Harley you will ever come across. It is an adventure bike with a short-stroke liquid-cooled engine and chain final drive — and that engine features variable valve timing on both intake and exhaust valves, unlike anything else in the segment. If you can, hold out for the Pan America 1250 Special.
The Special adds a semi-active suspension that automatically adjusts preload based on the weight on the bike. The Adaptive Ride Height feature is a genuine bonus if the seat height gives you pause — it lowers the bike at walking speeds, and Harley deserves credit for bringing this innovation to the segment first.
Sources: OEMs, CycleTrader
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