Best Fast Adventure-Touring Bikes 2024

Adventure-touring motorcycles have a tough mission. As touring rigs, they’ve gotta serve up better-than-average on-road performance and comfort, but as adventure bikes, they also need a good measure of off-road capability. Most of the bikes here are supremely versatile, coming equipped with powerful engines, robust frames, larger fuel tanks, plenty of ground clearance and well-sorted wheels and tires to tackle a variety of terrain, while some of the others focus on more touring amenities, with advanced suspension systems, multiple radars, adjustable windshields, and luggage options to help keep you set for long miles.

These bigger-bore ADVs are off-road capable and comfortable enough to ride long distances, managing to balance comfort and power with ruggedness and durability. Good ground clearance and longer suspension travel along with large fuel tanks to increase range and comfortable cockpits with fairings or windshields for weather protection are key, and of course, cargo provisions help too. Unfortunately, hard bags and other storage items are not always available as standard equipment, so we list whether they are or not (all weight measurements are without the luggage included). Looking for more affordable ADV options? Read the Best Affordable Adventure Bikes 2023 article.

145 hp (claimed)

523 lb. wet weight

Ground clearance: N/A

Fuel capacity: 5.0 gal.

Luggage: Not included; $1,388 for optional BMW Vario cases

BMW’s globe-trotting GS has long been regarded as the top of the adventure-touring class, and after a significant redesign this year, it’s looking to keep its spot secure. (Read/watch the 2024 BMW R 1300 GS and R 1300 GS Trophy Edition Reviews article and videos.) The 2024 R 1300 GS is lighter, slimmer, and more powerful, with a bigger 1,300cc boxer engine, a new steel frame, and a host of new tech, including radars on the higher level trim. The 145 hp, ShiftCam-enhanced engine is an exceptionally smooth operator, while excellent triple disc brakes with ABS, four ride modes, and cruise control come standard, as does a 19/17-inch wheel set with 7.5 inches of suspension travel up front and 7.9 inches out back to suck up your off-road adventures. A 5-gallon fuel tank gives you plenty of range too.

Looking to spend more time in the dirt? Opt for the GS Trophy trim or level up to the longer-travel 2025 GS Adventure model, available later this year. Find out more in the BMW R 1300 GS - Motorcycle of the Year article.

Related: 2024 BMW R 1300 GS and R 1300 GS Trophy Edition Reviews

170 hp (claimed)

525 lb. wet weight (w/o fuel)

Ground clearance: 9.1 in.

Fuel capacity: 7.9 gal.

Luggage: Included on Adventure Travel trim

As the most off-highway-capable Ducati Multistrada, the Rally sports the kind of premium components you’d expect on a bike of this caliber: top-of-the-line Brembo Stylema brakes, spoked, tubeless wheels in 19-inch and 17-inch sizes, off-road footpegs, a heavy-duty skid plate, etc., etc. But the Multistrada also rocks a list of electronic rider aids longer than your arm, covering the engine, chassis, and safety categories. While all those help manage the Multistrada’s manners very well, it’s the 1,158cc 90-degree V-4 GranTurismo engine with a reverse-rotating crankshaft, twin-pulse firing order, and four valves per cylinder that’s sure to generate the most adrenaline. That monster of a mill pumps out a claimed 170 hp at 10,750 rpm, with a massive 89 lb.-ft. of peak torque; it’s as good an engine platform for adventure-touring as anything out there, and backed by all the bells and whistles you could possibly want or need. Learn more in the Is Ducati’s Multistrada V4 the Fastest Adventure-Touring Bike?, 2021 Ducati Multistrada V4 S MC Commute Review and 2022 Ducati Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak Review articles and videos.

150 hp (claimed)

569 lb. wet

Ground clearance: 6.9 in.

Fuel capacity: 5.6 gal.

Luggage: Not included ($1,099 for optional SW-Motech panniers). Included on CVO model

Another nicely equipped adventure-tourer with a host of standard electronic goodies is Harley-Davidson’s rugged Pan America 1250 Special. In fact, the Pan America is pretty loaded in Special form, with electronically adjustable semi-active front and rear suspension, ride modes, traction control, cruise control, lean-sensitive ABS, and even an adaptive LED headlight. The 19/17-inch wheel combo is cast, but spoke wheel options are available, and work in conjunction with fully adjustable suspension with 7.5 inches of travel at both ends. The grunty Revolution Max engine with variable valve timing doles out its 150 ponies and 95 lb.-ft. of torque predictably, with five ride modes to dial in your preferences, while the adjustable windshield, heated grips, upright ergos, and 5.6 gallons of onboard fuel will no doubt be welcome on longer trips. If you want your adventure rig ready to go out of the box, opt for the premium CVO Pan America, which comes dialed, with laced wheels and aluminum luggage, for $28,399.

Related: 2024 Harley-Davidson CVO Pan America Preview

101 hp

529 lb. wet weight

Ground clearance: 6.9 in.

Fuel capacity: 6.6 gal.

Luggage: Not included; $1,080 for optional Honda aluminum panniers

Take an already nicely equipped adventure machine, give it more midrange torque for stronger acceleration, swap in a 19-inch front wheel, and lower the seat height and you have the 2024 Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES. The model also brings electronic suspension and a giant 6.6-gallon fuel tank, and now adds a new fairing and screen to provide wind protection for those long days in the saddle.

The Africa Twin’s 1,084cc parallel-twin engine has been retuned to deliver better low- to midrange power and torque, while other key upgrades include a Bosch six-axis IMU that provides cornering ABS and an off-road setting, four default riding modes, two custom options, plus traction control, wheelie control, and more. You can choose either a manual transmission or dual-clutch transmission; the Adventure Sports trim, which is more oriented toward road touring, gets shorter electronically adjustable suspension, a lower seat, and a new five-level-adjustable windscreen.

160 hp

500 lb. dry weight

Ground clearance: 8.8 in.

Fuel capacity 6.1 gal.

Luggage: Not included; $1,000 for optional KTM Touring Case

If you’re looking for something that’s superb at long-distance touring, train your retinas on KTM’s brawny 1290 Super Adventure S. Not only does it pack class-leading tech like adaptive cruise control and semi-active suspension for above-par highway duty, but it’s also pretty dang good in the dirt with the right set of tires. The 34.2-inch seat height will appeal to us hobbit types, and the healthy 6.1-gallon tank makes for drama-free rides over greater distances. The innovative navigation and adjustable electronics are displayed on the 7-inch TFT display, showing ride modes, along with settings for the semi-active suspension (with 7.9 inches of travel on both ends), lean-sensitive ABS, traction control, and adaptive cruise control—the adjustability here is near infinite. Adventurers can also count on extra options with their navigation plotting, and of course, the 160 hp creamy-smooth Lc8 V-twin is an absolute peach of a motor.

Related: 2018 KTM 1290 Super Adventure S

107 hp

554 lb. wet weight

Ground clearance: 7.5 in.

Fuel capacity 5.3 gal.

Luggage: Included

The upgraded Suzuki V-Strom 1050 will certainly attract eyeballs due to its low price tag, but the bike should also be lauded for its easygoing manners and versatility. The DE trim replaced the XT designation in 2023, getting a host of revisions to make it more comfortable and off-road capable, with the addition of a spoked 21-inch tubed front wheel and 17-inch tubeless rear (we know, odd) paired with longer-travel suspension—as opposed to the base 1050 model’s 19/17 cast wheel combo.

Yes, there are rider aids here too, like a six-axis IMU, lean-sensitive ABS, linked brakes, cruise control, three power settings, and traction control, and on the DE, there’s also an additional off-road setting and switchable rear ABS. Even better, the 1050DE Adventure comes loaded with crashbars, a skid plate, hand protectors, and adjustable windscreen; all you need to get you out exploring for under $18,000, out of the box.

Related: 2023 Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE First Ride Review

147 hp

540 lb. wet weight

Ground clearance: 7.5 in.

Fuel capacity: 5.3 gal.

Luggage: Not included; $1,100 for Triumph aluminum panniers

After getting an overhaul in 2022, the Triumph Tiger 1200 series looks more ready for both on- and off-road adventures than ever. The GT is the more road-focused variant, wearing 19-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels, while the Rally trim will appeal to off-road fans, with 21/18-inch spoked wheels and longer-travel suspension, but both get a brand-new engine, an all-new chassis, updated electronics, and less weight. The adventure-ready machine is powered by a refined, fantastic-sounding 1,160cc triple claimed to produce 147 hp at 9,000 rpm, and 95 lb.-ft. of torque at 7,000 rpm. The Tiger 1200 GT Pro’s 7.9 inches of travel front and rear mean it can handle the occasional off-road jaunt, but its neutral ergos make it equally comfortable for long street rides, complemented with Brembo Stylema brakes and a ton of great tech, like optimized cornering ABS with IMU and advanced Showa semi-active suspension.