In the past five years, I’ve noticed a small-but-undeniable change in the adventure bike market. Before COVID, the OEMs wanted to sell everyone as big a bike as possible. Since 2020, we now see the OEMs remembering the half-liter-or-less segment.
That means we now have quite a crop of bikes in this category—and there is a very wide range of differences between these bikes. Some are bargain-basement machines, some now have most of the same features as their big-bore brethren. So to help you sort through the options, here is a manufacturer-by-manufacturer overview of what’s available in North America (and for most cases, Australia and Europe as well, although they have other options not listed here).
2024 Honda NX500. Note that Honda used a boring black color for the NX this year. For some reason, they insist on bland paint for much of their US lineup. Photo: Honda
NX500
Based off the same engine as the CBR500 and CB500F, this twin-cylinder got an overhaul for 2024 with the engine re-tuned and some weight reduction as well as a name change (previously, this was the CB500X). These bikes aren’t intended to be ridden very hard off-road, although they can be modified with aftermarket parts to turn them into a very good all-round machine. If your ADV travels are mostly street-based, these are reliable, good on gas and much cheaper than a bigger bike, but able to cover long distances with very little difficulty. Honda USA has a $7,399 MSRP this year.
The 2024 Honda CRF300 Rally comes in an attractive tri-color paint scheme. But you’re paying top dollar for a bike made in Thailand. Photo: Honda
CRF300 Rally
Honda calls this a dual sport, but really, it is best-suited for travel bike use. If you want an actual dual sport model, most riders will opt for the CRF300L instead.
Many travelers in Europe have opted for the CRF300 Rally as a budget-friendly adventure touring bike, since the 650-class thumpers have mostly disappeared from that market. The 286cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine isn’t terribly powerful, but once you leave the high-speed highways and travel at the generally slower pace of developing countries, or even backroad North America, this little bike is powerful enough. And, it’s also available in a lowered version.
Aftermarket support is strong, and since Honda has been making these engines and even racing them for more than a decade (this thumper saw its genesis in the CBR250), reliability is excellent. MSRP in the US is $6,199 (add $300 for ABS), which is much lower than a powerful twin—but that’s not as affordable as it once was, and that’s for a bike that’s made in Thailand, not Japan. This is no reflection at all on its quality; it’s still an excellent motorcycle. But many North American riders will find they want to upgrade the suspension, at least, if they want to ride it hard, and that means adding hundreds more to the price tag.
Versys-X 300
The Versys-X is quite a capable motorcycle, but it could use a bigger motor, and Kawasaki has one that more-or-less would fit. We expect a 450 version will come along eventually, but people have already been expecting a 400 for years with no such bike revealed. Photo: Kawasaki
Like the CRF300 Rally, this bike has been unchanged for several years now. But where the CRF300 Rally was descended from a dual sport platform, the Versys-X 300 is really an evolution of a street bike. Front wheel size is 19 inches, compared to the 21-inch hoop on the CRF300 Rally. The Versys-X uses the same engine that the Ninja 300 used, but when that bike evolved into the Ninja 400 (and became much better), the Versys-X did not receive the same treatment. This is a major annoyance for some Kawasaki fans, who love the bike but would love it even more with just a bit more muscle.
Still, this bike is capable in stock form and can be modified to be even better. Lots of ADVers have forum threads about their builds, and they’ve even been used in tough long-distance events like the Iron Butt Rally. MSRP in the States is $6,199 for 2024, very much in line with the competition.
The G310 GS actually has a lower MSRP than its Japanese equivalents. What that works out to at the dealer level, after taxes and fees, is another question. Photo: BMW
BMW G310 GS
This is even more of a streetbike than the Versys-X, thanks to its cast rims. These bikes are built in India, by BMW’s partners at TVS. They have a liquid-cooled single-cylinder motor, and there is a bit of aftermarket support for them, particularly because they are almost the same bike as BMW’s G310 R—but don’t be fooled, you can still take them pretty far off-pavement. ADVwriter Kate Murphy wrote a series of articles about her own build-up process here, detailing not just her opinions of the accessories but also the bike itself. The ADVrider forum has a lot of other data about the bike here.
In 2024, this bike has two big things going for it: Lots of people want to buy a BMW GS, and this is the most affordable entry point into that brand. And, pricing is actually lower than the Japanese-branded equivalents; the mini-GS has a basic $5,695 MSRP this year.
The new Royal Enfield Himalayan will be a global success simply because of its availability, just like the Honda CRF300 series. A low MSRP, attractive paint options and practical accessories make it an even more appealing option for many buyers. Photo: Royal Enfield
Himalayan 450
This all-new machine expands on the idea that made the OG Himalayan successful. It’s simple and affordable, and small enough that just about anyone can easily ride it. It’s only available for pre-order right now, with starting MSRP of $5,799. While it’s got a much more advanced bike than the previous Himalayan, there are still questions that it may suffer from the same power-to-weight problem that the first one did—see review here.
The air-cooled Royal Enfield Himalayan (2023 model seen here) is one of the simplest bikes on the market today, and that brings a lot of interest from ADVers interested in non-complicated transportation. Photo: Royal Enfield
Himalayan 410
The first Himalayan is still currently available, with a US MSRP of $5,449. With its air-cooled single-cylinder motor mixed with EFI and ABS brakes, it’s everything that riders like about old-school bikes spliced with the only the most useful modern tech. While the earliest-production bikes suffered from quality issues, Royal Enfield continually improved the design and manufacturing process whenever deficiencies were found. They’re a reliable bike now, with a lot of aftermarket support.
It’s unclear whether RE will cancel this bike when the new 450 comes along; perhaps it will be renamed, or perhaps it will be punted due to the demands of modern emissions laws. If you want a basic, easy-to-ride and easy-to-maintain travel bike, you might want to get your hands on one now, before they disappear.
The KTM 390 Adventure is a budget-friendly bike with most of the electro-features of larger machines. Photo: KTM
390 Adventure
Like BMW’s G310 GS, this is an adventure bike that evolved from a made-in-India naked bike. When it came to market, the 390 had a quickshifter along with leaning-sensitive ABS and traction control, features that were only available on pricey big-bore bikes at that point. It’s still probably the most technically-advanced bike in the sub-500 market today, and if you get a version with spoked rims, then add a skid plate and other crash protection, the 390 is a fun-to-ride moto-burro. Not as capable as a true dual sport, but if you steer that 19-inch front wheel carefully, you can get through a lot of backcountry fun.
We reviewed the 2023 version and also put a lot of miles on the first-gen model. Now, with an update reportedly coming for 2025, we’re quite interested to see how KTM mixes up what’s already a fun and accessible bike. MSRP for this year is $7,599.
The CFMOTO 450MT is a wild card. If build quality and performance are acceptable, this could be the not-dumbed-down sub-500 bike that people have been asking for. Photo: CFMOTO
CFMOTO 450MT
Not available in North America at time of writing, but it will be here soon—it’s already been in other markets for months. While CFMOTO is a Chinese company, they’re partnered with KTM and there is considerable suspicion that this bike is actually a KTM design. Who knows? What’s for sure is this: With electronic trickery that even surpasses the KTM 390 Adventure, not to mention tubeless spoked 21-18 wheels and a very modest $6,500 MSRP, this is arguably the most ADV bike you could ever get for your money under seven grand.
It’s not a perfect bike, according to early reviews, but it’s a great starting point by the sound of it. If CFMOTO can improve the things that need a bit of tweaking while keeping the price low, expect this machine to force other OEMs (particularly the Japanese) to take this market segment a lot more seriously. Many ADVriders have been asking for a bike with these specs, more-or-less, for a decade or even longer. Now, they might finally have what they want.
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