Best Beginner Adventure Motorcycle 2020?

Wondering what your choices are when it comes to the best beginner adventure motorcycles available in 2020? Here's a run down of some of the most popular options at and under 500cc, covering a broad variety of adventure riding categories.

With the adventure category broken into adventure sport, adventure touring and the more traditional pure adventure, which has a greater focus on off-road prowess, it's easy to get confused as to what's right for you.

Things to keep in mind are what type of riding you'll be doing, as some of these options like the V-Strom 250, Himalayan and 250cc dual-sport machines are limited to top speed and may not be as ideal for extended highway use.

In comparison options like the 390 Adventure, Versys-X 300, TRK502X and CB500X are all machines based on strong beginner motorcycle platforms, ready for anything, with the 390 ADV and Versys-X 300 lighter machines for those considering more off-road use.

Also remember if you are a new rider you'll still be working out what is right for you, so this is a stepping stone to bigger and better things - although some of these machines are no doubt good enough to keep long term, if you're happy with a smaller capacity machine.

I own a DRZ400E, and would likewise happily own a WR250R, but with other road bikes in the stable that's an easy choice as I've got other road bikes for two-up riding, or doing longer touring riding.

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[nickmason]

The best adventure motorcycle is the one you own. As someone who actually rides thousands of miles all over Europe for weeks at a time I've met so many people on so many different bikes having adventures. Last year crossing the Alps from Italy to Switzerland we met a French guy on a 1974 Puch Maxi moped along with his camping gear. You don't have to fall for the marketing lifestyle hype. You don't need an adventure bike to have an adventure unless you want one. Don't look at the bike you have and think you can't, get on it and ride.

[technician]

Got the 390 ADV and really like it. The technology it offers is lightyears ahead of everyone in the class.

[milanstepanek]

Bought CB500X 2020 and I'm loving it. It almost feels like there should be a catch to buying a brand new motorcycle which is that good for what a CB500x costs, but so far there is none.

[stevelarson]

Honda CB500X - it's great on the road, but yet light enough to take off-road. The 19"/17" combo works well, and Honda reliability can't be beat.

[geoffp-d]

I'm AMAZED that you have completely forgotten about the BMW G310GS!

[Michael_Mears]

Thanks for a quick cover of these bikes. I've looked at a most of these bikes in the flesh, and have ridden three of them. Himalayan - cross between a Kubuto tractor and a detuned KLR650, didn't like the ride much, but price was nice. Versys 300 - screams it's tits off everywhere it goes. TRK 502X - I like the look, but heavy. Dual sports bike - I don't have that sort of need for such dirt capability. I didn't mind the V-Strom 250, but preferred the 650XT (but the price is getting up there), so settled on the Honda CB500X. Now trying to find two new for sale...slim pickings in NSW.

[hiltonmcconnell]

Had the Versys 300 x nice bike but rev to high on the highway and starts to drink a lot of gas at 90 Km per hour. traded it in for the KTM 390 Adventure much better on the highway and off road as well. I feel that it is in a class of its own, things that non of the others offer, like adjustable suspension front and rear, ABS with 2 settings off road and on road, Traction control you can turn off, The only thing I would like is a bigger gas tank but even with the 14.5 liter can get close to 400 Km per tank. I fitted mine with the GIVI Trekker 33/46 liter hard bags, heated grips, and waiting for the KTM better skid plate, also went with the Dunlop TrailMax Mission tires. If they would of went with a 18 - 20 liter gas tank this bike would be a dream come true. It also feels a lot lighter than it is. The instermation panel is one of the best, very easy to see and, maneuver through.

[brianc]

Great review, thanks from an older guy returning to the cycling world. Kind of hard to choose with so many options out there.

[slakk]

Reliability is something the wr250r is very well known for. Valve adjustments are every 40, 000km. Loves to rev and no problem for it. People have done rtw trips on them. I saw a guy take a pair of them rtw, 140, 000km with only one valve adjustment

[deltabluesdavidraye]

The Himalayan has them all beat.Mpg is great.Tractors through anything without going fast and hard.Superior highway comfort.Complete ease of maintainance.Great guarantee and very affordable

[adamparker]

The KTM seems to be the best of both worlds. It can tour on highways alright (I rode my 390 Duke from Melb to Syd and return) and still has good tech for off road riding. The tech may cause problems but I dare say that it would be few and far in between for failures. Although being made in India could be a problem... Living in Melbourne it is a decent ride to the bush so I think the 390 Adventure is the one, unless you have a ute to carry a more dirt orientated bike.

[matthijs]

My mind goes to the AJP PR7 (powered by SWM/Husky TE630 engine): 600cc, 165kg wet, 17 liter fuel, 310mm ground clearance, brembo brakes, 5000km service intervals, total price of €12.000 to €13.000 (Netherlands). To bad it's a single and therefore not really suitable on the freeways. However people took the AJP PR7 and rode them from Western europe to eastern Siberia and central Asia. if it would have a 500-600cc parallel twin engine (less vibrations) with the same hp and wet weight of around 180kg wet, I believe we would have found the unicorn. However I recently saw a post about a guy who put a cb500x engine into a crf250l chassis (so called CRF500L) which is also very interesting.

[D.E.X]

The 250's, if road speed is more important than low end grunt in the mud, add a tooth to the front. Since it's cheat and easy, get one with two extra teeth, too. You just have to remember and adjust for shifting low end power to high end top speed. It's the same bike, just needs more RPM to do the same thing it did before. I know people that keep two bikes, and it amazes them when they use the stock bike for the first time. Your RPM control has to get better, because you stall and chug out easier. Then you get on a stock bike and run the same RPMs, but tearing it up.

[godfreytomlinson]

7:10 Saying that the wr250r is running high the rev range at 110km/h is misleading. Stock the wr2504 will do 100 in 3rd gear and its a 6 speeds so cruising at 130km/h is still comfortable and it tops out at about 150ish. The rev limiter doesn't kick in until 11, 300rpm

[steverowe]

I think ya missed the Zongshen RX3 and RX4. I can find them marketed under at least 37 different countries, under different names, and different colors...but all made by Zongshen. Stack the Zongshen RX3 vs the BMW G 310GS and make that video.

[victorherrero]

Adventure: Ktm 390 ADv
Adventure Touring: Vstrom 250

[Legweak]

I recently purchased the Versys X300 i am very happy with it picked it up for $6500

[jon]

How does the Versys 300 compare to the KTM 390? I would mostly be riding street and twisties but occasional runs on the challenging dirt roads and mud here in the Philippines. I have ridden the Versys 300 on-road and it was great. The KTM seat height is also a bit of an issue for my 28-inch inseam but I would make due if the KTM 390 ADV was significantly better than the Versys 300.

[ghardi]

I think the KTM seems like a lot of bike for the money. Each bike has its strengths and weaknesses though.

[kevinnashskitchen]

Could maybe make an Xt250 or Serrow yamaha work if you stay out of the 110-120 kph range.. 😲