Adventure Motorcycle

As the cliche saying goes, there are two types of people in the world: those that "understand" motorcycles and those that don't. Generally, all it takes to transform someone from the latter to the former is one ride. For those that "get it", there is no greater feeling than to be effortlessly motoring down the highway on two wheels to destinations unknown. More than any other type of bike, I believe that adventure touring motorcycles embody this spirit. These do-it-all bikes are capable of everything from commuting and trips to the grocery store to full blown multi-year 'round the world travels.

Larger and more comfortable than dirt oriented machines but smaller and more off road capable than large touring bikes, adventure motorcycles fill an important niche in the two-wheeled world. They give you the freedom to travel practically any road on any continent with the ability to bring enough equipment and supplies to live on the road indefinitely. Don't wanna travel alone? Most of these bikes are more than powerful enough to easily accommodate a passenger. The versatility of these machines is remarkable. Few other vehicles will let you travel to so many places with such a feeling of freedom.

For the other crowd, the ones who cringe at the thought of a loved one taking up the sport, the concern almost always revolves around the perceived safety, or lack thereof, of motorcycling. It is true that many people have been seriously injured or killed while riding. However, what most people fail to understand is that with EVERYTHING in life there is a risk. Even spending too much of your life sitting on your couch in the safety of your living room can have an associated health risk. The key lies in maximizing life experiences while minimizing risk, to the degree possible. In the end, all you really have is stories. To this end, you will find no greater believers than adventure motorcyclists. While always seeking out new experiences and adventures, these riders are also the most likely group of motorcyclists to wear ALL of the appropriate safety gear on every ride. Adventure riders pride themselves on learning and perfecting the skills that will keep them alive and safe on the road. They don't take unnecessary chances, and they generally try to the make the world a better, more accepting place. Few other pastimes can offer as much.

I am passionate about adventure motorcycling and I hope this page provides some valuable information, as well as inspiration, for the sport.

Safe riding!

Here are the most well known examples of the adventure touring class of motorcycles:

BMW

• R1200 GS - The undisputed king of the adventure riding world. This bike is big, powerful, and $$$. Although widely regarded as an excellent 'round-the-world bike, this machines extra weight and expense can become a liability in far off places.
• R1200 GS Adventure - Basically a GS with a few extra offroad accessories including an oversized fuel tank.
• F650 GS - The R1200's little brother. This little bike can make for an excellent solo touring ride.
• F800 GS - A relatively new bike, this midsized model is meant to fill the size gap between the F650 GS and the F1200 GS.

Buell

• XB12X Ulysses - Buell's original adventure sport touring bike. Excellent onroad handling and power with the ability to do light dirt and gravel road work.

Kawasaki

• KLR 650 - Capable, simple, reliable, and affordable. This bike is widely used and respected for its long distance touring abilities. An equal mix of on and off road capabilities and an excellent value make this ride hard to beat for international travel.

KTM

• 990 Adventure - Powerful, lightning fast, and more offroad ability than BMW's R1200 GS. The tradeoff is a less comfortable and enjoyable on-road experience.

Suzuki

• DL650 V Strom - Reliable and affordable, the Stroms make for an excellent touring bike. Excellent on-road manners but only inteded for light off-road work.
• DL1000 V-Strom - The 650's big brother. Althought the two are very similar the 1000 is heavier, faster, more powerful, and less fuel efficient.

Triumph

• Tiger - A powerful, smooth, 3 cylinder motor makes the Tiger a fun ride almost anywhere. Older models are a bit more dirt capable, while the newer ones lean more towards on-road sport touring.