Best Budget Adventure Bikes

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Thanks you for your comments! I do my best to keep up with them for the first few days after a video comes out, but due to the volume of comments on all of my videos, and to the general hustle and bustle of life, I must give up the fight after a while. If you are leaving a question four or more days after a video comes out I can't guarantee I'll see it, but perhaps one of my other viewers knows the answer and can help out. Thanks in advance to those who contribute and share their knowledge. Cheers and stay safe everyone!

#differentspokestv

[rupertfb]

Totally agree: The KLR is carved out of granite. Simple, tough, big enough frame to hang your gear onto, and as reliable as a ……. Honda! I bought a used one for $3k…. ran the TAT in one go….. and sold it on completion. It didn’t miss a beat, didn’t lose me ANY money and it ‘does what it says on the tin’

[gregorbabic]

I can speak to the deal of a used VStrom 650. Got my 2015 bone stock one with 4, 800kms on it for $4500 CDN. Love it. Rarely miss the power of the 2018 DL1000 I had.

[aroncarlsapru]

I have traveled thousands of kilometres on my two stroke Yamaha 135, never had a problem off road and on road, the Suzuki V Storm 250 is exactly like it, a go anywhere unicorn.

[mau]

I think that the new RE himy and the cfmoto 450 will make a big impact on the adventure segment, hopefully Kawa follows them soon

[Bandit-Iggy]

Clearly stated and agree, Honda CRF Rally and the KLR are the only bikes you can ride straight out of the showroom floor and around the world, no questions asked, good video👍

[johnanderson]

I definitely agree that the smaller bikes are a better fit. I had a 22 Africa Twin ADV Sports DCT. For me, even after lowering it some, I felt it was to heavy, and to tall. I may jump into he ADV market again, but this time it will be something like the Transalp or maybe a Triumph 850 sport, not really hard core ADV bikes but I don’t need the higher displacement machines anymore, several of the bikes you mentioned are road worthy and acceptable for off roading, while being easier to pickup.

[SquareHelmet]

Great video as usual! The further from the civilization I go, the more I start appreciating the simplicity and reliability. So, KLR, DRZ, CRF300 come to the top. I actually would take my XT250 around the world in a heartbeat too. I plan a major roadtrip to Newfoundland soon. Let's see how it does.
Thank you for great videos!

[jerryandnancywertzbaugher]

Another great episode. Have to agree with absolutely everhing on this video.😘
Your final recommendations are spot on as well; the seven bike collection I maintain with two sons-in-law include a used 2015 Suzuki VStrom 650 we picked up for $3, 500 USD and a new 2022 Kawasaki KLR 650 that was on sale for $6, 500 USD. Both the VStrom and KLR (with a 17 tooth front sprocket) keep up quite well on the highway with our Sport/Touring bikes; a Triumph T120, a Moto Guzzi V7 and BMW F900 XR.
And, as a Boomer who's ridden since the mid-60s, I can certainly confirm that Japanese made bikes are unquestionalbly the very most reliable. Both of our vintage Yamahas ('76 XS650 & '81 XV920) have traveled from Miami to Anchorage (10, 000 miles) and have eaten up the Alaska Highway and the Dalton Highway (to the Arctic Ocean) without issues or repairs. 😎 PS: Love the Guzzi and the Bonneville, however, they've both had more repairs in their first year than my Yamahas have had since new in 1976 and 1981.😱

[oldmanV]

30+ year rider and I was considering an adventure bike, mid-size for backroads, gravel etc, not heavy off road but enough to get lost. After a lengthy search I found a 2017 Vstrom 650, coming up on a year and I love this bike. Didn't break the bank and extras were on it from the previous owner. If a bit takes a bit to find for sale used it's likely because people keep them, a good sign in your choice. Thank you for doing the channel.

[corcoranranch]

Here in sunny So Cal we’re just seeing the arrival of the new NX500. As an 80 YO who is celebrating life by getting back on 2 wheels and ready for more highway adventures after COVID and a knee injury that has taken me off 2 wheels for a couple of years, the NX is the perfect weight for the old bod to handle. It should extend my highway light ADV riding hopefully into my 9th decade. My reserved NX (2nd of the first 2 new arrivals) should arrive in a week or two, and I’m anxious to get it home, get the luggage set and do some highway and backroads travel. A big advantage of the NX is the compatibility of all the CB500X accessories on the market, since it’s the same chassis back of the new fairing. Happy trails all.👍

[GregLanz]

I love my KLRs but am now thinking I might get rid of them and pickup something like the 300L or the KLX 300. I rode my Transalp for the first time in the rain today and was impressed by how much shelter it provided, another way it would be better than the T7. That said I'm still thinking I should have got the T7. I would personally avoid something like the cfmoto or ktm I like riding much more than being broken down

[Rickmac]

Keep mentioning the Versys 500X! I believe we are going to have to WILL that bike into this world!

[en.beruangboroi]

I got versys x300(250 in malaysia)...still got the job done...been running 4 years now...at 90000km...still going strong...

[alainrigaud]

good common sense!going back to the essential:what do we need for travel, a bike we can afford, light and reliable;so we have to keep it simple without all the electronic gadgets;back to basic:be in connection with the nature and people ;in many countries people will see you differently if you stop with a klr rather than with a 1300gs!

[malemasemoer]

Agree 100%. New klr adv is easy to fall in love with

[dueoutdoors]

I had a ‘18 V Strom 650 XT and it was a great riding bike. The L twin is smooth and reliable. It handled light off-road/gravel sufficiently well, and it was better at touring than my current ‘23 VStrom 800 DE. A lot of new ADV riders overestimate how much off road they’ll be doing. They’ll likely spend more time on surface streets than gravel/dirt, and for that reason I’d choose a V Strom over the KLR.

[robertlindstrom]

Agree about the V-Strom 650, it is a real workhorse that can be bought cheaply. Also a Versys 650 would fit the bill, the older ones are sold used for pocket change (propably due to the ugly front) but they are still Kawasaki quality. Propably not long now for a 500 Versys, we need more 2 cylinder options. 🙂

[cocchiam]

Here in Italy, RE Hymalaian 450 is selling very well. Many people look at the new CFMOto but the best selling is the 10:42 Benelli TRK 702, italian best selling motorcycle. Would you believe it?

[Al.j.Vasquez]

5:38 The Tenere T700 is 21.300$ in Costa Rica, and we don't have laws that increase tax in imports of big bikes, the brands just love to r*pe their customers when they're dreaming about a machine like that one. My Versys x300 costed me 7.900 USD, (8800$ Nowadays in the CR currency because the dollar went down) and the NX500 is above 10.000 USD, the CFMoto 450MT is at 9.900$ and it looks like a great bike for the price compared to what the mainstream brands offer, keep in mind, CFMoto is still fckn with us because the 700MT costa 9.000$, less than the 450MT because it's actually a less desired bike.

[wheels.are.better.than]

My trusty T7 would be my choice, but if I had no bike and a budget not to exceed $9k OTD, I would probably go with the Honda NX500, or a DR650.