10 Best Middleweight Adventure Bikes On The Market

Adventure bikes are all the riot nowadays. But not all of us can afford a top-drawer Ducati Multistrada V4 or suffice with an entry-level offering like the Royal Enfield Himalayan 411. There needs to be a middle ground, right? Well, there is, and you know them as middleweight adventure bikes.

These fall between 600-1000cc displacement, mostly with twin-cylinder engines, and strike a balance between loads of grunt yet at a relatively affordable MSRP than the big dogs. Not to mention, the juicy engines enable you to keep up with most full-size adventure bikes on highways, without feeling out of breath at high altitudes (where small bikes would feel somewhat winded). So now that we’ve established just how sensible these mid-capacity ADVs are, here are 10 we just can’t help but recommend.

Updated August 2023: Since we want our readers to get the latest information, we have updated the article with more details for each motorcycle. We have also added a few pros and cons, alongside a comprehensive list of performance specs for each motorcycle which will help you decide which middleweight ADV is best.

RELATED: 10 Reasons Why You Should Buy An Adventure Bike

10 Aprilia Tuareg 660

The Tuareg 660 is Aprilia’s only adventure bike on sale as we speak. Named after a nomadic tribe in the Sahara desert, the ADV shares its engine with the RS 660 and Tuono 660. It produces 79 horsepower and 51 pound-feet, sent to the wheel via a six-speed gearbox. That might not sound like a lot, but the Tuareg’s real USP is its extensive off-road abilities. Credit here goes to its steel trellis chassis, sprung on long-travel 43 mm upside-down forks and monoshock with 240 mm travel at each end.

Performance Specs

This is amped by a 21/18-inch spoke wheel combination and extensive electronic rider aids. The former helps you jump over all kinds of obstacles without a worry, while rider aids such as a 6-axis IMU, traction control, engine brake control, and ride modes ensure you stay right side up.

Pros

• Priced under $13,000
• Loaded with electronics
• Sub-450-pound curb weight

Cons

• The design might not cater to all
• After sales service could be an issue

9 BMW F 850 GS Adventure

The F 850 GS Adventure is BMW’s weapon of choice in this highly contested category. It employs an 853cc twin-cylinder engine with a solid 90 horsepower and 63 pound-feet—the latter kicking in from as low as 6,000 RPM. The engine is housed inside a tubular steel chassis, which joins hands with 43 mm USD forks (230 mm travel), monoshock (215 mm travel), and a 21-inch front spoke wheel. To make matters sweeter, BMW has also equipped it with adjustable levers (foot and hand), adjustable windshield, enduro footrests, and chunky crash protectors in case you tip-off.

Performance Specs

Pros

• Proper ADV credentials
• Electronic suspension adjustability is a rarity
• Beefy powerhouse

Cons

• Near-540-pound curb weight
• Not the cheapest option for its segment

8 Ducati DesertX

Related: You’ve Seen The Ducati Desert X, Now Check Out The Panigale V4 Track X

If you want all things extra from your middleweight adventure motorcycle, then the Ducati DesertX is an ideal candidate. Right from its Dakar-inspired livery option to its sky-high 875 mm seat height, the Ducati ADV promises an experience like no other. The crown jewel, meanwhile, is the 937cc Testastretta engine that churns out 110 horsepower and 68 pound-feet. Since that’s a lot of power in low-grip terrain, the Italian giant has thrown in wheelie control, ride modes, power modes, bi-directional quickshifter, and engine brake control. Oh, and lest we forget, the suspension comprises fat 46 mm upside-down forks and monoshock (both from KYB) whereas the brakes come from Brembo.

Performance Specs

Pros

• Class-leading performance
• Top-shelf suspension
• Cagiva Elefant-inspired design is unique

Cons

• Costs more than a few full-sized ADVs
• No crash protection as standard
• High ownership cost

7 Honda Transalp XL750

After a long hiatus, the Honda Transalp moniker has made a comeback for 2023. Called the XL750 now, the all-new middleweight ADV has a 755cc parallel-twin engine (borrowed from the CB750 Hornet) with 91 horsepower and 55 pound-feet. The power reaches the wheel via a six-speed gearbox while five ride modes, traction control, and switchable ABS keep an eye on it. As for suspension, the Transalp has Showa USD forks and monoshock with 200 mm and 190 mm travel, respectively.

Performance Specs

Pros

• Expected to go on sale in America at around $11,000
• Powerful engine

Cons

• Suspension travel is less than its rivals
• No quickshifter as standard
• Looks too identical to the CB500X

6 Kawasaki KLR 650 Adventure ABS

What’s frugal, simple, and super-capable? The Kawasaki KLR 650 Adventure, what else! The ADV is a rare single-cylinder Japanese middleweight that employs a 652cc engine with under 50 horsepower. This configuration makes it easy to control yet properly fun in tricky terrain, while also promising superb fuel efficiency. It’s essentially built to take you places you never thought possible, with a promise of unmatched reliability.

Performance Specs

In its current avatar, the 650 has 41 mm telescopic forks (200 mm travel) and monoshock (200 mm travel), complete with 21/17-inch spoke wheels. These wear off-road-spec rubber and single disc brakes for a non-flamboyant experience. However, since we’re talking about the ‘Adventure’ variant here, you get hard saddlebags, fog lamps, frame sliders, and a charging socket as part of the package.

Pros

• Super-affordable at under $8,000
• Camouflage livery looks sexy
• Saddlebags, fog lamps, and frame sliders are usable accessories

Cons

• Quite low on peak horsepower
• Feels dated among its rivals
• Not everyone appreciates its raw, bare bones feel

5 Husqvarna Norden 901 Expedition

The Norden 901 Expedition is Husqvarna’s latest flagship adventure bike. It is an upgraded version of the Norden 901 launched in 2022, aimed at improving the rider’s ability to tackle more technical terrain and increase comfort. To do that, the motorcycle features new 48mm WP XPLOR forks and an Xplor PDS monoshock with 240 mm travel at each end. There’s also a new center stand and an enormous bash plate that keeps your powerhouse safe.

Performance Specs

On the feature side, the Expedition unlocks heated grips, heated rider seat, soft panniers (with 36 liters of storage), and an ‘Explore’ rider mode, dedicated to off-road shenanigans. All this while, the KTM-borrowed powerhouse with 105 horsepower and 73 pound-feet remains as is.

Pros

• Soft panniers as standard is a big plus
• Dedicated livery creates a special aesthetic
• Top-shelf suspension setup

Cons

• Near $16,000 MSRP is not affordable for all
• After-sale service can be an issue

4 KTM 890 Adventure R

Don’t like the Norden? Then, you can get the very motorcycle it’s based on – the KTM 890 Adventure R. It has the same liquid-cooled 889cc, parallel-twin engine as the Norden, with 105 horsepower, as well as the 48 mm WP XPLOR forks and monoshock. The key difference, though, is the lack of saddlebags and a much sharper design, comprising KTM’s flagship orange color. This also gives it a dry weight of just 440 pounds—a whopping 33 pounds less than the Expedition.

Performance Specs

Pros

• Costs less than the Husqvarna Norden 901 Expedition
• Meaty engine with class-leading torque (73 pound-feet)
• Ripe with electronics

Cons

• No adjustable windshield
• A few niggles have been reported by some owners here and there
• KTM’s ownership costs aren’t the cheapest

3 Suzuki V-Strom 800 DE

After years of giving us the same 650XT, Suzuki finally has a new player in the middleweight ADV segment. Called the V-Strom 800DE, the motorcycle is based on the company’s all-new 776cc, parallel-twin platform it shares with the GSX-8S. It has 83 horsepower and 58 pound-feet, all sent to the wheel via a quickshifter-equipped six-speed gearbox. Other rider aids include ride modes, traction control, and switchable ABS.

Performance Specs

What about underpinnings, you ask? Well, there’s a new steel chassis that relies on Showa upside-down forks and monoshock for suspension duties. These offer 220 mm travel at each end, and pair up with 21/17-inch spoke wheels (F/R).

Pros

• Excellent value for the money at $11,349
• Capable underpinnings
• Suzuki DRZ-inspired design is sleek and likable

Cons

• No crash protection as standard
• Does feel heavy at slow speeds

Related: Suzuki V-Strom 800DE Gears Up For A Sportier Sibling

2 Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro

Just like the KLR, the Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro has a unique engine configuration. It employs an 888cc, inline-triple engine that produces 94 horsepower and 64 pound-feet. But that’s not all. The Rally Pro, as its name suggests, comes loaded with proper off-road credentials. We’re talking 45 mm Showa USD forks, over 220 mm suspension travel at each end, spoke wheels, and top-drawer Brembo Stylema brakes. You also get cornering ABS, traction control, six ride modes, and a quickshifter, along with creature comforts like cruise control, heated seats, and TPMS.

Performance Specs

Pros

• Triple-cylinder engine promises a raspy exhaust note
• Loaded with all kinds of features
• Brembo Stylema brakes are class-leading

Cons

• Costs over $17,000
• High ownership costs

1 Yamaha Ténéré 700

Last but not least, we have the Yamaha Tenere 700. It might have remained unchanged in America for a few years now, but its popularity has remained unbeaten in this space. Credit here goes to its easy riding dynamics, amplified by the likable underpinnings. These comprise 43 mm USD forks (210 mm travel) and monoshock (200 mm travel), alongside 21/18-inch spoke wheels.

Performance Specs

Considering that the entire bike weighs just 452 pounds (fully fueled), making it one of the lightest bikes here. The latest 2024 version has recently been released in America that comes with an upgraded TFT screen alongside some interesting tech and all-new ABS modes that further add to its off-road character. All this comes at a meager price bump of $300!

Pros

• Costs under $11,000
• Weighs quite less
• Can take on all off-road conditions with ease

Cons

• Limited wind protection with the stock windshield
• Basic electronics package compared to competitors
• No color options