Adventure Touring

American Honda announced the 2026 Transalp will come standard with E-Clutch, as well as a new aluminum skid plate and updates to its suspension. The move to an electronic clutch from a manual follows a similar decision made for the CB750 Hornet. The U.S. also joins other markets such as the U.K., Italy, and Spain, in offering the E-Clutch as standard equipment on the Transalp, while others, such as France, offer it as an option.

Southern California might have a reputation around the world of being a place with ideal weather, sunny skies, and bespoke lattes held by smiling people on every corner. Adventure riders, however, know this isn’t always the scene. Fun trails, interesting sites, and deep history can be found all over the lower-left corner of the U.S., but it might take some work to get there. Adverse weather, locked gates, and challenging routes are often on the adventure menu.

Harley-Davidson filled out its 2026 lineup with the reveal of new full-dressed touring models, a new Pan America 1250 Limited model, plus its latest premium Custom Vehicle Operations (CVO) models.

KTM's heavyweight ADV models are finally about to land in the U.S., with the 2026 1390 Super Adventure R due to arrive in February, and the 2027 1390 Super Adventure S EVO (which we reviewed just before the holidays) will follow in March.

Back in November, Harley-Davidson announced its carry-over motorcycles, while confirming a second announcement to come in January for its new and updated 2026 models. The Motor Company teased these upcoming models on its official website, identifying them by name and showing several images of bikes covered by tarps. Well, Motorcycle.com has managed to get a peak under the covers and secured official photos of all the new 2026 Limited, Trike and CVO models, plus some additional details ahead of the official January 14 announcement.

Backcountry Discovery Routes is introducing a new four-day 550-mile loop in Northern California. Dubbed the Lost Coast BDR-X, the route is designed for a wide range of skill levels, taking them through dramatic ocean vistas, mountain towns, and redwood groves.

The Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro became a quick favorite during our second trip to Northern Ontario, and not just because it was outfitted with heated seats (rider and passenger) and grips – but it surely helped. We all have a soft spot for a stout Triple and Triumph’s latest Rally Pro middleweight ADV is its most capable to date with Showa suspension, a willing chassis, a robust electronics package and creature comforts to boot. Let’s dive into what stood out while we piloted the Hinkley-bred machine through the Great North.

CFMoto announces its flagship ADV

Complete with dystopian AI images

Kawasaki announced a new KLE500 adventure bike with rally-inspired styling and a lightweight chassis. The KLE fills a gap in Kawasaki’s adventure lineup between the Versys-X 300 and Versys 650, but it’s interesting the company opted against using the Versys branding on the 500. The name harkens back to the original KLE500, which was in production from 1991 until 2007 when it was replaced by the Versys 650 (which uses the model code KLE650).

Last November, at EICMA, KTM announced a number of new street models based on its 1390 and 990 platforms. Not long afterwards, KTM announced it was entering into self-administration under the weight of its growing debt. Production was halted, which means those new models planned for the 2025 model year have been pushed back to 2026.

Last November at EICMA, Moto Morini presented a new 450cc Twin-cylinder adventure bike, called “Alltrhike”. The name is supposedly a combination of “All-Terrain” and “Hike,” but that doesn’t excuse the people at Moto Morini, or its owners, the Zhongneng Vehicle Group, from coming up with a name that makes Suzuki’s GSX-S1000GX sound less awkward.

Why is it that OEM lighting too often seems subpar? That’s not to say every brand or model on the road these days has a headlight that comes up short, but in my experience, on two wheels or four, manufacturers rarely put an emphasis on their vehicle’s ability to provide ample lighting. Thankfully, there are a handful of companies out there making great auxiliary lighting options for motorcycles. Some are new, and some have been well-tested over time in rigorous conditions. If you’re looking to add some lumens to your stock setup, here are some of the best LED lights for motorcycles. 

Adventure motorcycle helmets blend the features of on-road and off-road helmets, providing adventure riders with versatility that mirrors the capabilities of their machines in the great outdoors. Manufacturers of all kinds have entered the ADV helmet market, offering riders a wide array of options. To simplify your decision, we've compiled our top three picks of the best adventure motorcycle helmets, based on our extensive review and testing process, along with feedback from trusted enthusiasts and fellow journalists. When it comes to safety, we do our best to avoid recommending budget options, so below you'll find three picks that we believe are very similar in performance quality. As a result, these recommendations are listed in no particular order, and choosing the right one for you will largely depend on personal preference in terms of style and fitment.

It took a couple of months after they were first announced internationally, but the 2024 BMW F 800 GS, F 900 GS, and F 900 GS Adventure have now been confirmed for the U.S. market. The three middleweight adventure bikes are replacing the previous F 750/850 models, and offering a smaller-displacement alternative to the flagship R 1300 GS.

Yamaha’s popular Ténéré 700 “T7” adventure bike returns for 2024, and while it would be easy to say it is “largely unchanged” from the 2023 model, there have been some notable changes made in response to feedback from many North American riders. One wish still unrealized: the U.S. dealers won’t be getting the up-spec World Raid and numerous other versions of the T7 the EU enjoys - at least not this year. But might that change?

Earlier this summer, BMW confirmed a new R 1300 GS model was on its way, with an official world premiere scheduled for Sept. 28. While that’s more than a month away, we now have a good idea of how much it will cost, thanks to an overzealous update on BMW’s official website.

Some readers have asked us what we were thinking when we put the little KTM 390 Adventure in our South Dakota shoout with the Aprilia Tuareg 660, the Ducati DesertX, and the BMW 1250 GS. We were saying that Adventure bikes don’t need to be big to have fun on all terrains. Significantly lighter than the other bikes in the shootout, the 390 has a lot of things going for it. The 390 Adventure has been a good seller for KTM, and we’ve really enjoyed it every time we have one in our hands. So, what makes the KTM 390 Adventure so special?

As we were first to report back in January, Triumph is releasing new special edition versions of the Tiger 900 to celebrate Ivan Cervantes’ win in the 2022 Baja Aragón. The new Aragón Edition Tiger 900 Rally and Tiger 900 GT models will be offered for just one year only.

Last year, we voted the Aprilia Tuareg the Best Adventure Motorcycle of 2022 and the 2022 Motorcycle of the Year. Clearly, we like it, but after almost six months without riding one, we began to wonder if it was really as great as we remembered. Fortunately, we recently got to spend some quality time with a 2022 Aprilia Tuareg while adventure touring in South Dakota thanks to the good folks at Travel South Dakota, and it only rekindled our fondness for this motorcycle. This time, however, we spent more time in the dirt than we did on pavement, which only made us appreciate the balance provided by this motorcycle even more.

A few weeks ago, we uncovered some specifications for the yet-to-be-announced 2024 BMW R 1300 GS from Swiss homologation documents. The certification data confirmed details such as the 1,300 cc engine displacement and cited peak performance figures of 143.5 hp at 7,750 rpm and 109.9 lb-ft. at 6,500 rpm. What was less clear was how much the new GS would weigh.

Unless you’re a world-class rally racer, an afternoon spent riding with Red Bull Factory KTM’s Toby Price aboard his booming 450 isn’t a common experience. Note I said riding with, and not alongside Price. The only time I was alongside the man was when he stopped and I caught up. End the day with a cozy fireside chat including Price, Monster Energy Honda’s Ricky Brabec, and Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Skyler Howes and you’ve the ingredients for memorable uniqueness.

The California Air Resources Board has issued an executive order for the Honda XL750 Transalp, certifying the mid-sized adventure-tourer for the 2024 model year.

As we expected, Husqvarna announced a new Norden 901 Expedition, adding a more adventure-capable model to its lineup. Equipped with longer-travel suspension and coming standard with a number of accessories such as waterproof luggage, the Norden 901 Expedition carries an MSRP of $15,799, a $1,300 premium over the regular Norden 901.

When the Husqvarna Norden 901 entered the market for 2022, one of the first things we asked was when we would see a more adventure-focused version. That is, after all, the modus operandi for Husqvarna’s sister brand, KTM, which gave the 890 Adventure an upscaled R version.

Triumph is preparing to add a pair of special edition Tiger 900 models for 2023, according to updated vehicle certification data from Australia. Available for both the road-going Tiger 900 GT and the more off-road equipped Tiger 900 Rally, the special edition models are likely in recognition of Iván Cervantes’ victory for Triumph in the 2022 Baja Aragón last July.

To tell you the truth, in all the excitement, I don’t remember if I ever rode a 2012 BMW G650GS Sertao or not? Most of BMW’s attempts at middleweight adventure have been forgettable that way. But the Sertao actually comes off pretty okay in Pete’s review. And now there’s a gaping hole in BMW’s current line-up between the F750GS (which is 853 cc, don’t ask) and the rank beginner G310 GS. In any case, it sounds like a good day at the RawHyde Academy and another solid day’s work for Kevin Wing.

Ten years ago everybody wanted to go big, so it’s nice to see everyone coming to their senses by naming the right-sized Aprilia Tuareg MOTY 2022. If you still want to go big without breaking the bank, you could do a lot worse than a lightly used 10-year old one of these big ADV bikes (bearing in mind only one of them had cruise control). How barbaric. Duke was there, and Tom was there, Kaming Ko, and even Trizzle was there – so maybe the laddie doth protest too much about his lack of ADV experience? In the 10-minute video, they all look 10 years younger. 

Some readers have noticed that a few of us MOrons are avid backpack users. In fact, it may have become somewhat of an addiction. The reason behind this is that motorcycle backpacks have become as specialized as motorcycles themselves, with different ones designed for different riding activities, be it day rides, adventure touring, or just commuting. Now, you don’t need a closet full of them, like Ryan, but since we are always looking for new developments in the category of gear, the Mosko Moto Wildcat 12L Backpack With Chest Rig (also available in an 8L version) caught my eye as I was preparing to ride in the 39th LA – Barstow to Vegas Dual-Sport Ride. However, it wasn’t just the plethora of features built into the bag that enticed me. Additionally, the optional attachment, the Chest Rig, that piqued my curiosity.