The Best Used Adventure Bikes That Refuse To Die
As the adventure bike market continues to see steady growth year-on-year, the bikes being introduced continue to get more and more sophisticated. This is great for safety, with a host of electronic features that were previously reserved for high-end models getting added to more accessible bikes.
Unfortunately, adding all these electronics to a bike that will be used off-road at some point has a downside. Dust, water, and the added rigors associated with riding off-road can cause some of these electronics to fail, and incur expensive repair bills. If you want something more rugged, or just want to save a little cash, one of these battle-tested used ADVs might be for you.
Buying a used motorcycle always has an element of risk attached, so please do your research, and proceed with caution. The motorcycles on this list go from oldest to newest.
10
2005 BMW F 650 GS Dakar
Price Range: $2,000 – $4,000
At just over 400 pounds, the F 650 GS is pretty light for an ADV, and a fair bit more comfortable than similarly priced dual-sport bikes. The old thumper it makes use of was initially developed by Rotax, and has gone into a wide variety of different bikes over the years, all of which have proven to be mechanically reliable. For those looking for an affordable off-road oriented machine, this offers sensational value.
9
2007 BMW R 1200 GS
Price Range: $4,000 – $6,000
Compared to the new GS, the old air-cooled bike is relatively light. It is also still incredibly comfortable, and for those globe trotters out there, relatively straight forward to work on thanks to its heads striking out the way they do. Naturally, those trademark heads do have a tendency to snag on things off-road, and if the bike has somehow managed to survive without any crash protection all these years, you better be the first one to install some or you will be the first one it leaves stranded.
8
2012 Suzuki V-Strom 650 ABS
Price Range: $4,000 – $6,000
Although not particularly off-road capable with almost no ground clearance to speak of, the little V-Strom might actually be one of the most versatile motorcycles on the market. Its V-twin is far more engaging than any bike that looks this dull has any right to be, and it is also pretty much bulletproof. At this price point, you can still afford to have a look at the aftermarket (which is extensive), and slowly convert the bike into whatever you need it to be.
7
2014 Husqvarna TR650 Terra
Price Range: $3,000 – $5,000
This might be cheap, but it is not going to be particularly easy to find. The Terra was developed during Husqvarna’s time under BMW ownership, but by the time it was put in production BMW had already sold the brand to KTM, and had no vested interest in the model. All KTM wanted to do was use the Husqvarna brand for marketing purposes, and had virtually no interest in selling a direct rival to the 690 range, so no matter how good it actually was, it quietly got killed off after a single model year.
6
2016 Yamaha Super Tenere
Price Range: $8,000 – $10,000
The Super Tenere was always a little too heavy to be effective off-road, but as an adventure tourer it remains underrated. Its big bore parallel-twin develops a pretty decent amount of torque, and as a result these bikes are deceptively quick. Off the line it will make a few superbikes look a little silly, with an impressive 0-60 time of just 3 seconds. It will also gleefully haul you, your significant other, and all your luggage across the country in relative comfort.
5
2017 Honda Africa Twin
Price Range: $7,000 – $9,000
In 2017 the Africa Twin was widely regarded as one of the best off-road adventure bikes on the market. That didn’t last long as other brands quickly rolled out more competent middleweights, but these bikes remain highly capable, incredibly comfortable, and as reliable as any Honda product.
4
2017 KTM 1090 Adventure R
Price Range: $9,000 – $11,000
While the aforementioned Africa Twin was one of the best, the 1090 Adventure R was undoubtedly “the” best off-road ADV back in 2017. This model actually served as a stop-gap before KTM released the 790 series, and while it has more electronics than any of the other bikes on this list, these bikes have stood the test of time. It certainly is not a true middleweight, but it is a lot lighter than the average full-sized bike and a lot more powerful than the average middleweight. It is effectively the best of both worlds, and prices are going up because enthusiasts are waking up to the fact that this might actually be the best (almost certainly the most reliable) ADV KTM ever built.
3
2022 Yamaha Tenere 700
Price Range: $6,000 – $8,000
Yamaha’s CP2 engine is one of the most reliable motorcycle engines ever built. The original Tenere 700 was also a more simplified machine, offering enthusiasts a reliable, affordable way to explore. As a result these bikes generally hold their value pretty well – they only cost $10k when they were new!
2
2023 Kawasaki KLR650 Adventure ABS
Price Range: $4,000 – $6,000
There is nothing new about the latest KLR650. It is still the same unkillable motorcycle we all know and love, just with a few farkles that have helped adventurize it to some extent. The one and only issue that plagued earlier models (colloquially known as the “doohicky”) has also been fixed, which means under the right conditions these globe trotters will most likely outlast us all.
1
2023 Royal Enfield Himalayan
Price Range: $2,000 – $4,000
There will be balk at this inclusion, but after an almost disastrous start to life, the original Himalayan since proven incredibly reliable. Mostly down to the fact that they are also incredibly simple, almost to a fault. They can run on any gas, no matter how poor, and will also gladly trudge through pretty much anything … and we mean trudge. These bikes are frightfully slow, and while charming, won’t be for everyone.
Source: KBB
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