If you like a little dirt mixed in with your pavement, there’s nothing better suited to the tank than an adventure bike. Ride a hundred miles of freeway in the morning, get sideways on your favorite forest service roads all day, then cruise back home in style and comfort. The competition was fierce in 2021, but here is our list of the most sold ADV motorcycles of the year.

10 Best Adventure Bikes Of 2023

#10 Ducati Multistrada V4 S

Take the absolutely mental 200-horsepower powerplant of the venerable Ducati Streetfighter, give it a twin-pulse firing order (for those proper Ducati V-twin feels) and retune it for touring duty and you’ve still got an absolutely mental 170 horsepower adventure bike that dominates every other ADV on the pavement. The Ducati Multistrada V4 S is a sport bike in adventure clothing, no buts about it. There’s just no better option for high-octane thrills on your favorite backroads, and the fact that it’s capable of getting you down some pretty gnarly dirt roads just sweetens the pot. The latest Multistrada also benefits from pretty much every modern electronic aid imaginable, plus front and rear radar technology, which enables active cruise control as well as blind-spot warnings for added safety on the freeway.

#9 BMW F 850 GS Adventure

The BMS F 850 GS is the middleweight stablemate of the flagship 1250 GS, but that doesn’t mean it’s lacking any of the adventure pedigree of the GS name. The compact frame houses a grunty 895cc parallel-twin engine, which manages to crank out 90 ponies and over 60 lb-ft of torque. The “little” GS is one of the most comfortable adventure bikes on the market for long stretches of highway but proves much nimbler and more manageable when the pavement ends as well.

#8 Kawasaki Versys-X 300

We like to think of the Kawasaki Versys-X 300 as the long travel sportbike you never knew you needed. That’s because much of this compact adventure motorcycle is derived straight from the popular Ninja 300, including its twin-cylinder 296cc power plant, slipper assisted clutch, and front and rear ABS braking system. Where the Versys-X differs, however, is its regeared 6-speed transmission, adventure-ready 19-inch front wheel, and longer travel front and rear suspension that’s built to soak up the bumps when the going gets dirty.

#7 Suzuki V-Strom 1050 XT

Suzuki reliability with big V-twin personality: The V-Strom 1050XT has more power than ever before with 60+ lb-ft of torque on tap pretty much everywhere across the rev range. The latest big V-Strom gets sweet retro styling along with a full suite of modern rider aids like selectable power modes, a six-axis IMU for variable traction control, and adjustable electronic ABS.

#6 Kawasaki Versys 650 ABS

Sporty styling, excellent ergonomics, and one of the most proven parallel-twin engines in the motorcycle industry: The Kawasaki Versys delivers excellent bang for your buck, and is the perfect daily rider for adventurers and commuters alike who like to storm the occasional forest road when the opportunity arises.

#5 Suzuki V-Strom 650 ABS

Suzuki’s V-Strom 650 is one of the most well-rounded adventure bikes on the market. Its middleweight V-twin engine is a breath of fresh air in a sea of parallel powerplants and delivers all the right grunts and rumbles when you twist the throttle. Imminently affordable, always reliable, and ready to go anywhere: You just can’t go wrong with a V-Strom.

#4 KTM 690 Enduro R ABS

There’s nothing quite like a single-cylinder thumper for serious off-road adventure riding. Big singles are unmatched for their lightweight and fantastic handling in the dirt, and KTMs 690 Enduro R ABS continues to push the envelope for single cylinder performance. Ride technical singletrack all day, then tear up the canyons on your way back home. The venerable LC4 engine is not for the faint of heart.

#3 BMW R 1250 GS

The godfather of big adventure bikes was back in full force for 2021, and while it didn’t get any major updates from the previous year, the BMW GS 1250 remains the benchmark all other ADVs are held to. A massive flat-twin engine, endless long-range comfort, and the trademark telelever front end all work together for a riding experience that’s unmistakable for anything else on the market. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

#2 Honda Africa Twin

Honda’s flagship adventure bike, the Africa Twin CRF 1100L (as well as the Adventure Sports model), remained hugely popular for 2021 thanks in part to its “torque everywhere” 1084cc parallel-twin engine, superb touring features,  and well-sorted chassis. Endlessly customizable rider modes, variable traction control, and available semi-active suspension are some of the best in the business, but no other ADV on the market sports an optional dual-clutch automatic transmission.

#1 Yamaha Tenere 700

While other manufacturers were busy battling to engineer the biggest, fastest, and most technologically advanced adventure bike on the market, Yamaha chose to take it back to basics: The Tenere 700 is Yamaha’s magnum opus on what an adventure bike should be: A simple, reliable, and comfortable enduro that excels on technical off-road terrain but is just as suited to long stretches of pavement. 25,000-mile valve service intervals and one of the most reliable engines ever made let you focus on riding while your buddies are stuck in the garage wrenching.

Conclusion

After spending countless hours researching and test riding adventure motorcycles, we've come to a conclusion: these bikes are incredibly versatile and fun to ride. Whether you're looking to commute to work, hit the trails on the weekend, or embark on a cross-country trip, an adventure motorcycle can get you there. With their comfortable seating position, easy-to-use controls, and ability to tackle any terrain, adventure motorcycles are the perfect way to explore the world.