Reviews

Best Budget Adventure Motorcycles

Because no one should have to sell a kidney just to go exploring.

Kurt Spurlock

Updated: March 6, 2025

Bikes like the new CFMoto Ibex 450 offer more performance and refinement for the money than ever before.CFMoto

Plain and simple, you don’t need a $30,000 motorcycle to go out and have yourself an adventure. Sure, the idea of owning the latest and greatest BMW R 1300 GS with all the fixings is a lovely thought, but for that same amount of money, you could have any one of the bikes below and enough cash left over to ride it around the world for a year straight.

That’s an easy enough decision to make from where we’re sitting, and it’s made even easier by how good budget-friendly ADVs have become these last few years. Features like lean-sensitive traction control, full-color TFT dashes, adjustable suspension, and multiple rider modes can all be had for well under $10,000, leaving more cash in your pocket to make that epic trip a reality.

Here are our favorite adventure candidates of the year that deliver maximum bang for your buck.

2025 CFMoto Ibex 450

CFMoto’s new Ibex 450 might be the most buzzworthy adventure bike of the decade.CFMoto

MSRP: $6499

If budget-friendly adventure is what you’re after, CFMoto’s new Ibex 450 is tough to ignore. On the one hand, it’s made in China and is fairly unproven in terms of long-term reliability, but on the other, nothing else matches its list of standard features for the money.

With 7.8 inches of adjustable KYB suspension, a 44 hp parallel-twin engine, a tubeless 21/18-inch spoked wheel setup, and surprisingly effective wind protection, the Ibex 450 is an all-terrain adventure motorcycle in the purest sense rather than a glorified dual sport or repackaged streetbike. Standard equipment like hand guards, a skid plate, off-road pegs, an adjustable windshield, and folding mirrors only add to the Ibex’s standout value, as does a standard two-year warranty for peace of mind.

2025 Honda CRF300L Rally

Honda tweaked the 2025 CRF300L Rally’s suspension to be a bit firmer than previous versions.Honda

MSRP: $6199

From BDRs to weekday commuting, we’ve logged our fair share of miles on Honda’s CRF300L Rally. Essentially a CRF300L dual sport given the adventure treatment, the Rally takes an affordable but effective approach to ADV minimalism.

Dual sport underpinnings have a few distinct advantages here. The Rally is light at 331 pounds wet, even with its long-range 3.4-gallon fuel tank filled to the brim. Its 10.2 inches of suspension is plenty capable in the dirt, especially after Honda reworked the damping on the Showa components for a firmer/more responsive ride this year. The Rally’s dual sport DNA also gives it access to the same robust aftermarket as the 300L for parts and support.

2025 Honda NX500

The redesigned NX500 now looks and rides the part that much better.Kurt Spurlock

MSRP: $7399

Honda’s CB500X had always been something of a dark horse in the budget adventure motorcycle space, but last year Big Red renamed it the NX500 and gave it a proper ADV makeover to better suit its all-terrain fanbase. More aggressive looks and more capable suspension make it feel more at home in the dirt, but the NX500 is still the great all-rounder it’s always been at its core.

The NX boasts above-average displacement for the class, which makes it a little better suited for long-haul travel and highway cruising than most. It’s a bit pricier than the other bikes on this list, but its proven track record of reliability and minimal maintenance costs make it a great option as a cost-effective adventure-tourer.

Related: 2024 Honda NX500 Review

Kawasaki KLR650

It doesn’t get much more proven than Kawasaki’s unkillable KLR650.Kawasaki

MSRP: $6899

Pound for pound Kawasaki’s KLR650 remains the same tried-and-true machine it has always been, although the latest update gave it a healthy dose of ADV style and the convenience of fuel injection. Kawasaki sells an “adventure-specific” version of the bike for an extra $1200, but we’d stick with the base model and use that money for farkles of our own choosing.

Performance-wise the KLR is better on the highway than most big thumpers, with decent wind protection at speed from its fairly tall windshield and wide front fairing. It’s a little softer and heavier than we might like for more aggressive off-road pursuits, but as a simple, low-cost solution for traveling far and wide, the KLR’s legendary status is well deserved.

Kawasaki Versys-X 300

The Versys-X 300 is a great first ADV that’ll pull double duty as a weekday commuter and weekend adventure rig.Kawasaki

MSRP: $5699

It’s a small-bore, twin-cylinder adventure bike for well under $6,000, need we say more? A silky-smooth engine, light clutch, and relatively low 32.1-inch seat make Kawasaki’s Versys-X 300 the ideal ADV for new riders, while its low price, low maintenance, outstanding fuel economy, and cheap insurance make it a shoo-in for the budget segment.

What really makes the Versys special is that it borrows its 296cc engine from Kawasaki’s Ninja sportbike, which means it loves to rev and manages to crank out an impressive 39 hp despite its compact size. Enjoy it as is, or throw a set of soft bags and some knobby tires on it and go find its limits in the dirt.

KTM 390 Adventure R

KTM’s all-new 390 Adventure R has all the makings of the ideal ADV for dirt lovers.KTM

MSRP: $6999

Budget-friendly adventure, KTM-style: The new 390 Adventure R combines affordability and serious off-road performance in a way that only the Austrian brand can. All the typical KTM bells and whistles are here, including lean-sensitive traction control, a big TFT dash, and multiple rider modes, but the 390 Adventure R offers a lot more than just impressive tech.

Over 9 inches of adjustable WP suspension tell us the all-new 390 should outperform everything else on our list in the dirt, while a tall windscreen and 3.7-gallon tank allude to some legit long-haul capability. It’s also worth noting that while the KTM is a bit more expensive than the CFMoto Ibex 450 above, it weighs a good 20 pounds less, which should pay serious performance dividends on road and off.

Royal Enfield Himalayan 450

Enfield’s new Himalayan 450 has no business being this good for such a cheap bike.Royal Enfield

MSRP: $5799

We couldn’t say enough good things about Royal Enfield’s all-new Himalayan 450 after our off-road test ride last year. The new Sherpa 450 engine is a gem, its Showa suspension punches well above its weight class, and the fit and finish you’re getting for $5799 (just $100 more than a Versys 300) is out of this world.

In short, the Himalayan does everything from technical dirt to freeway drudgery pretty dang well and represents the best overall value in the segment by a decent margin. The icing on the cake is that Royal Enfield is offering the best warranty in the business on the Himalayan right now, with unlimited mileage and three full years of coverage stem to stern.