Adventure bikes, large capacity, off-road style motorcycles which are effectively the two-wheeled equivalent of SUVs, have been one of biking’s success stories of the 21st century.
Characterised by BMW’s best-selling R1200/1250 and now 1300GS, big adventure bikes can literally do it all. They have rugged good looks, enough 1000cc+ performance to both entertain and haul a passenger and luggage over vast touring distances in comfort. And their specifications have become increasingly sophisticated and impressive to now potentially include everything from adjustable screens and heated seats, to luggage, radar-guided cruise control, electronic riding modes and more. Indeed, the latest big-bore adventure bikes can not only DO it all – they HAVE it all, too.
But by evolving to this degree, big adventure bikes can now also be eye-wateringly expensive and quite intimidating for some riders, too. Ducati’s latest 1200cc V4 Multistrada, for example, not only boasts 170bhp a baffling array of electronics, adjustable everything and all the options you can think of, but, in Rally form, it also now starts at over £24,000. BMW’s new R1300GSA starts at £18,780 while Triumph’s latest Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer starts at £19,695.
This is why in more recent years we’ve seen an emergence of middleweight adventure bikes, such as Triumph’s own Tiger 800-900, will smaller engines, less weight and fewer features but also prices that start at under £10K and yet still have enough ability to be brilliant all-round performers.
BMW’s first F800GS, set the ball rolling way back in 2008, quickly followed by Triumph’s first Tiger 800 in 2010. But in the last couple of years that trickle has become a flood. KTM has reintroduced its more affordable 790 Adventure to supplement its 890 version; Honda reinvented its Transalp with the new XL750 in 2023 when it was also joined by Suzuki’s all-new V-Strom 800. Yamaha’s MT-07-derived 700 Ténéré has proved such a hit since its launch in 2019 that it has spawned a whole new Ténéré family and there are also a new breed of Chinese branded bikes such as the new Voge DS900X which proves that, for under £10,000, maybe you don’t need that big £20K adventure bike after all.
So, what ‘Middleweight adventure bikes’ are out there in 2025? What do they offer and how much do they cost? Here’s our round-up of the best, in price-ascending order…
10. Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 | Price: £5,850
2025 Royal Enfield Himalayan 450
OK, a 450cc single may be pushing the definition of ‘middleweight’ slightly but Royal Enfield’s all-new and now liquid-cooled and monoshocked (the first Enfield to be so equipped) successor to its previous Himalayan junior adventure bike has proved so versatile and so popular it deserves including here.
Admittedly, it’s not the most exciting performer and that 40bhp claim is on the generous side (on the dyno it’s more like 30), but it’s light and easily manageable, is comfortable upright and nimble, its power delivery is flexible, easy and sufficient for 80mph motorway cruising, it’s more than capable of gentle off-road trails and, at that price, leaves plenty in the kitty for luggage and extra accessories. As an entry-level adventure bike it’s got a lot going for it.
9. Honda NX500 | Price: £6,829
2025 Honda NX500
One of the best-selling and most popular entry-level adventure bikes of the last decade – and with good reason. The NX was first introduced as the CB500X in 2013 as the adventure style variant of Honda’s new A2-specific CB500 family, the others then being the CB500F roadster and CBR500F sportster. All were powered by a purpose-built parallel twin with similar chassis components. And, with a flexible 47bhp, novice-friendly manners and great prices, all proved big hits.
The X was then updated in 2019 and 2022 before being improved further and renamed as the NX500 (so rekindling the old 1990’s NX moniker made famous by ‘street trailies’ such as the NX650 Dominator) in 2024. The result is just as welcoming and effective as ever, retains a modicum of off-road prowess, now has a 5in TFT dash and Bluetooth connectivity and is the most affordable twin-cylinder entry point into adventure riding.
8. Honda XL750 Transalp | Price: £8,749
2025 Honda XL750 Transalp
Honda already had the adventure bike category pretty well covered with its 47bhp NX500 (above) and 101bhp CRF1100 Africa Twin, but in 2023 it impressively also filled the middle ground with the launch of this all-new, CB750 Hornet roadster-derived adventure bike, which also revived Honda’s historic Transalp model name.
Power comes from the same perky and potent parallel twin from the Hornet roadster; the chassis ticks the adventure box via 21/18in wire wheels and longer travel suspension which deliver both adequate off-road ability, a comfortable, touring ride yet still good road handling. Its upright riding position and fairing are more than sufficient for motorway touring and it’s keenly priced, too.
7. Voge DS900X | Price: £9,199
2025 Voge DS900X
New in 2024, the Voge DSX is an all-new, premium spec Chinese adventure tourer built by the same company that has been making BMW’s F800GS engine for the past 10 years. The DSX also uses a version of that engine yet by delivering a virtually full-size adventure bike fully equipped with an adjustable screen and suspension, heated grips and even three-piece luggage – and all for under £10K – the result is a bike that seriously questions why anyone would want to pay anything more.
On paper, it has it all and does it all. It’s handsome, well built, perky enough, roomy and comfortable over distance, and has a hugely impressive spec. In reality, it’s not quite perfect – its delivery is a little crude, it’s over geared, the suspension needs setting up, the luggage is a little small and crude and reliability, residuals and the dealer ‘experience’ remain unknown, but, even so, it has enough going for it at such a stunning price that it’s proved a big hit.
6. Suzuki V-Strom 800 | Price: £9,699
2025 Suzuki V-Strom 800
In 2023 Suzuki followed Honda (which had recently launched its Transalp 750) with both having in turn followed the model of Yamaha, who’s 2014 MT-07 affordable parallel twin roadster had proved such a hit it later in turn span off the 2019 700 Ténéré adventure bike, which also proved a big success. The all-new roadster Suzuki GSX-8S arrived first, rivalling Honda’s 750 Hornet, closely followed by the V-Strom 800 RE, in the style of previous Suzuki V-Stroms such as the V-twin 650 and 1050.
Although overshadowed slightly by its Honda and Yamaha rivals, questionably styled and also slightly more expensive than the Transalp, the V-Strom 800’s 776cc parallel twin is a grunty, flexible peach compared to the revvy Honda, has a solid, rugged quality few rivals can match and handles well, too. Suzuki has since supplemented it with a more off-road DE version (with longer travel suspension and 21/17in wire wheels in place of the RE’s 19/17inch cast items and more for £10,699), plus the three-box luggage equipped DE Tour for £12,499.
5. BMW F800GS | Price: £9,995
2025 BMW F800GS
One of the first middleweight adventure bikes, the original F800GS was launched in 2008 based around a modified F-series parallel twin engine along with a more basic, lower powered, entry-level version, the F700GS. Both have proved solid sellers ever since due to their affordability and manageability compared to BMW’s full-size R1200GS series (if not quite matching that flagship bike’s best-selling success). Both have been successively updated since, most recently for 2024, with the 800 then the 850 becoming the F900GS with more hard core off-road ability than ever. The 700 then 750 now becoming the entry-level F800GS – although if you’re confused we wouldn’t be at all surprised.
As such, the F800GS remains charmingly accessible and easy to ride and has a refinement and badge appeal few bikes can match. On the slight downside, it is a little basic (just two riding modes and a low, non-adjustable screen limits distance appeal) and optional extras to bump up its spec to match some rivals quickly become expensive.
4. KTM 790 Adventure | Price: £9,999
2025 KTM 790 Adventure
Austrian off-road experts KTM pretty much redefined what middleweight adventure bikes might be capable of when it launched its first ‘midi-adventure’, the 790 Adventure, based on the punchy new parallel twin engine from the 790 Duke roadster, in 2019. That bike was the junior sibling to KTM’s already superb off-road 1290 Adventure V-twin, like its bigger brother was available in more off-road R form (again redefining what such bikes were capable of) and yet was a decent, punchy road all-rounder, too.
That bike was updated to even punchier, 105bhp 890 form in 2020 then, in 2023, KTM reintroduced the 790 version but this time built by its Chinese partner CFMoto and to a slightly lower spec so resulting in its sub-£10K price. If you’re after a truly off-road capable middleweight adventure bike but aren’t keen on the 890 R’s now near £14K price it’s worth serious consideration.
3. Yamaha Ténéré 700 | Price: £10,400
2025 Yamaha Ténéré 700
Another bike that redefined – and reinvigorated – the middleweight adventure bike category. First launched in 2019, the 700 Ténéré had the impressively punchy parallel twin engine from Yamaha’s successful MT-07 roadster, true off-road-capable ability thanks to big wheels and long travel suspension and, at least initially, a very tempting sub-£10K price.
All of that proved such a success it not only fuelled interest in the class but also spawned a series of variants. For 2025 six different versions are available. All offer KTM-rivalling off-road ability, Dakar Rally visual appeal, punchy performance, and decent road manners although none, sadly, are quite as cheap as they once were…
2. Triumph Tiger 850 Sport | Price: £10,095
2025 Triumph Tiger 850 Sport
British brand Triumph is another leading marque who was ‘in’ at the beginning of the middleweight adventure bike ‘movement’ (with its first Tiger 800 triple in 2010) and, like Yamaha (and others) that bike’s success has spawned both a series of updates and an increasing number of variants such that, for 2025, three different Tiger 900s plus this entry-level (and most affordable) Tiger 850 are available.
Those 108bhp 900s comprise the road-orientated £12,195 Tiger 900 GT, the upspecced £13,895 Tiger 900 GT Pro and the more off road, £14,495 Tiger 900 Rally Pro. The Tiger 850 Sport, meanwhile, is based around the same invigorating and flexible 888cc triple but detuned to 84bhp (so is A2 convertible) and is intended as a more basic, novice-friendly, road-orientated version. As with virtually all Triumphs, handling is class leading.
1. Aprilia Tuareg 660 | Price: £10,750
2025 Aprilia Tuareg 660
Aprilia’s entry into the middleweight adventure bike category may be among the pricier here, but if you want a stylish, effective all-rounder with a hefty dose of Italian style and exotic appeal it has a lot going for it. Launched in 2022 it’s a derivative of the RS660 sportster and uses a version of that bike’s parallel twin engine detuned to a more flexible and friendly 79bhp. Its chassis, however, is ‘full-on adventure’ with 21/18in off-road wire wheels along with semi-knobblies.
The long travel suspension is fully adjustable, brakes are by Brembo, there’s a full suite of electronic rider aids, a slick five-inch colour TFT dash, smart Italian styling and, going by the Aprilia factory’s desert racing results, genuine off-road credibility. It might not be the cheapest or most powerful, but it’s right up there with the best.
