Best Middleweight Adventure Bikes (2024)

The continuing huge popularity of adventure bikes, which in turn has led to the inevitable growth not just in their capacity but of their proportions, features and price as manufacturers bid to out-do their rivals, has led in turn to the emergence of another type of bike – the ‘middleweight adventure’.

So, while ‘flagship’ adventure bikes like BMW’s GS has grown from 1250 to 1300cc, which in turn followed KTM’s 1290 Super Adventure, they have left a gap in the market behind them for smaller, lighter, cheaper versions which is now being filled.

As a result, in recent years we’ve seen the arrival of not only BMW’s F850GSA, now F900GSA but also even lighter, more affordable offerings such as Honda’s XL750 Transalp – and there are plenty of others, too. It’s also why we’ve decided to limit this ‘middleweight’ categorization to under 900cc.

But what does this ‘middleweight adventure’ breed truly offer? What are the differences between them? And which are the best? To help you find out we’ve taken a closer look at this class and picked out our 10 of the best, in price ascending order…

Best value middle-weight adventure bike 2024

Simon, Martin and Michael get familiar with three entries in the middleweight adventure bike category that could easily be the best value adventure bike.

Benelli TRK502, £5699

On face value, legendary Italian marque Benelli, the brand right up there with Ducati and Laverda for not just its 250cc GP world championship in 1969 with Kel Carruthers but also its famous six-cylinder Sei in the mid-1970s, may have been a shadow of its former self since an abortive early-2000s revival culminated in it being taken over by the Chinese Qianjiang group in 2005. But there are increasing signs of another promising re-birth – as its TRK502 middleweight adventure bike, as launched in 2017, proves. It’s worth taking seriously, too. It comes in two forms, the stock 502 and the more rugged, off-road 502 X with longer suspension, off-road wire wheels and added protection bars but both are surprisingly decent bikes and fabulous value for money. The twin-cylinder motor produces a decent 47bhp and is both A2 licence compliant and willing and effective. Proportions-wise it’s very much a full-sized adventure, so great for taller riders, roomy for two yet still unintimidating and novice-friendly. Beefy, 50mm inverted forks and twin discs up front help it handle and stop more than adequately and, although the clocks and trimmings are a little ‘last generation’ and there’s no getting away from the fact that Chinese quality isn’t the best and the TRK is a little budget in places, you do get an awful lot for your money – especially in X trim. It might not have quite the gloss or solid reassurance of, say, Honda’s lighter, cuter, more novice-orientated and up-to-date NX500, but the Benelli is a genuine, credible all-rounder that looks every inch the pukka adventure bike, has a classic name on its tank and comes at an almost irresistible price. 

Click here to read our full review of the Benelli TRK 502.

Royal Enfield 450 Himalayan, from £6250

One of the most anticipated – and ambition – bikes of 2024. The success of the old, air-cooled and, let’s be honest, dirt cheap Himalayan 411, which offered global-style travel at a budget price, prompted ambitious Indian brand Royal Enfield to come up with an all-new successor. And, with the marque’s first liquid-cooled engine, monoshock suspension and more, it’s a truly significant bike. It’s a pretty effective one, too. Although the 450cc single is claimed to produce 40bhp, the reality is under 30. But although that’s a little underwhelming it’s also a willing, eager performer, will happily cruise at 80+, is a credible off-roader, immensely versatile and has a friendly, unintimidating and practical nature that’s hard not to like. Best of all, though, at just over £6000 it’s a bargain priced alternative to the ever more expensive, litre-class adventure bike offerings.

Read our full review of the 2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 here.

CFMoto 800MT Sport, £6799

The Chinese brand is on a seriously upward trajectory, especially now that the models are being distributed across Europe by KTM’s parent company, Pierer Mobility. At the top of that line-up sits the three-bike 800MT range. The Sport model is the most budget friendly but all three are equipped with a 90hp parallel twin. It stacks up with your wallet in mind – in fact CFMoto just slashed £1800 off the original price of £8599, and that’s backed up with a four-year warranty and an 18,000-mile valve-clearance. Cruise control is standard, as are the engine crash bars and luggage mounting rails, though there’s no traction control, quick shifter, centre stand nor hand guards. But at that price point, who was expecting all of those extras? A slightly jerky throttle at low speeds is off-set by the strong top-end power, comfort and attractive PCP deal.

Read our full review of the 2024 CFMoto 800MT Sport.

Honda NX500, £6799

When first launched in 2013 as the CB500X alongside its roadster CB500F and sports CBR500R siblings, the 471cc, 47bhp, parallel twin X was pretty much the only credible A2-compliant adventure-styled bike. That’s now changed with the arrival of bikes such as Benelli’s TRK, but the X, thanks to repeated updates (most recently for 2024 when it was renamed as the NX500 and had a few subtle styling and spec changes), remains the ‘go-to’ novice-friendly, affordable, middleweight adventure. Prior to the name change, the last major update was in 2019. Although output remained 47bhp, new valve timing, a bigger airbox and other tweaks helped make its delivery more immediate and gruntier, yet still a doddle to use. A larger 19-inch front wheel and revised suspension made it taller and somehow more serious without losing its novice appeal. On top of that there was revised bodywork, a new taller screen and slick new LCD clocks, since changed for an even better TFT. The end result has ‘proper’ adventure stature and looks without losing any of its easy manageability; is an absolute piece of cake to ride yet also substantial enough to be all-day capable, and, though still a little basic, it has more class and polished reassurance than any of its rivals. OK, it might not be a true off-roader – but that’s true of many other adventure bikes as well – but as an introduction to adventure bikes they don’t get much better – as proven by its Europe-wide sales success.

Suzuki V-Strom 800 RE, £9699

Although Suzuki’s long-lived and much-loved v-twin V-Strom 650 lives on, its middleweight thunder has now been stolen by the all-new 800 version as introduced in 2023. That bike is based on the same all-new 799cc parallel twin as also used in the GSX-8S roadster and GSX-8R sportster and is a peach. Although, with a peak of 83bhp, it’s not as potent, on paper, as Honda’s equally new twin-cylinder Transalp (see below) it more than makes up for it with a gutsy, characterful delivery, great throttle response, decent electronics and slick gearshift. Its chassis is good, too, if a little bit built down to a price and, although this base, cheapest version is very much road-orientated with cast, 19/17inch wheels and street tyres, Suzuki also offer a ‘DE’ version (with 21/17inch wire wheels, semi-knobblies and a lower screen) to keep dirt fiends happy (even though it costs £1300 more…)

Read our full review of the 2024 Suzuki V-Strom 800RE

Honda XL750 Transalp, £9699

In 2023 Suzuki (above) weren’t the only ones introducing an all-new, parallel twin, middleweight adventure bike that was based on a platform-sharing roadster – in fact, Japanese rivals Honda got there first. (In truth it all boils down to Honda and Suzuki wanting a slice of the market up to then dominated by Yamaha’s MT-07 roadster twin and its adventure spin-off, the Ténéré). Initially, ‘Big H’ launched the CB750 Hornet, an affordable but fun roadster based on an all new90bhp parallel twin. And after that bike received almost universal praise, it followed it up with the similarly-powered XL750 Transalp, so reviving the name of its historic middleweight adventure bike. The new version is totally worthy of the name. Good looking, brisk (if a little revvy), comfortable and well-equipped it’s a true go-anywhere bike but also one with a dash of Honda class, a smooth, almost soft easy nature that’s totally unintimidating and, best of all, a great price.

Read our long term loan review of the Honda Transalp here.

Yamaha Ténéré 700, £10,166

Yamaha’s middleweight Ténéré (the name dates back to Yamaha’s first desert rally-inspired, big-tanked, XT600 Ténéré of 1983) was a huge success when launched in 2019 based on a retuned version of the universally-applauded MT-07 twin cylinder powertrain in a genuinely capable chassis. The result produces a grunty 72bhp in a tall, slim, chassis complete with long-travel, multi-adjustable suspension, powerful Brembo brakes, off-road-sized wire wheels and more. As such, it’s a far more off-road-targeted adventure bike than most, in a similar way to KTM’s Adventure 790 and 890 (see below), yet remains a decent road bike at a tempting price. Off-road it all works brilliantly: it’s grunty, nimble, slim and agile, at least compared to most other so-called adventure bikes. On road it’s adequate with a decent screen, comfort and a flexible delivery. Yes, it lacks the slick electronics of the posher, more expensive KTM but it’s a great, proven all-rounder. What’s more, it’s success has prompted the arrival of now six different variants ranging from added off-road emphasis to ‘world traveller’ equipment.

Click here to read our Yamaha Ténéré 700 review.

Moto Guzzi V85 TT, £11,200

Here’s a slightly ‘left-field’ option for you. Moto Guzzi, also known as the ‘Grand Dame’ of Italian motorcycling both for a history dating back to 1921 and a product line based on idiosyncratic, shaft drive, transversely mounted V-twins, has rarely been comfortable with adventure bikes. Its Quota in the 1990s was a heavyweight embarrassment, for example, although an all-new Stelvio for 2024 is at last a decent performer. But its oddball V85TT is definitely worth a look for its charm and style. By giving the TT a blend of retro scrambler style mixed with touring comfort and Guzzi’s traditional heritage appeal, Guzzi’s middleweight adventure bike offering sidesteps performance comparisons and instead concentrates on delivering acceptable versatility along with lots of quirky, character. Its signature 853cc shaft-drive V-twin is derived from that of the V9 Bobber, is flexible and charismatic and produces 80bhp. Its upright ergonomics are all-day comfortable. It’s far less of a handful than many and its scrambler/retro style is bang on ‘trend’ All of that for just over £11K (the two-tone liveried version costs £200 more) makes it very tempting indeed. A fashionable, classy yet versatile and accessible all-rounder for around £11K? Guzzi might finally have got it right. Just don’t expect a lightweight off-roader, a true world-navigating adventure in the GS mould or a modern, electronics bedecked sportster such as the Tiger or Ténéré…

Read our review of Moto Guzzi’s V85TT here.

BMW F900GS, £11,995

Adventure bike experts BMW – the German firm arguably invented the breed with its first R80G/S way back in 1980 – would be expected to be pioneers when it comes to middleweight adventure bikes and its first F800GS was exactly that when it debuted in 2008. Based on the Bavarian firm’s mid-range, 800cc parallel twin, until then only available in F800R roadster and F800ST sports-tourer forms, the GS married the perky, 85bhp twin with longer-travel, off-road suspension and wire wheels and added some adventure style bodywork all resulting in a bike that was actually a far better off-roader than its then R1200GS bigger brother, yet still comfortable and long-legged enough to be a decent tourer. In 2019 the 800GS grew to become the 850GS and also received a host of updates including switchable electronic modes. While for 2024 it’s grown again to now be the F900GS as based on the already successful engine from the F900R roadster and F900XR adventure sport. The result may not be as celebrated as BMW’s latest R1300GS but its arguably just as good an all-rounder at a far more affordable price.

Our review of the 2024 BMW F900GS is here.

Triumph Tiger 900, £12,195

Leading British manufacturer Triumph has a credible history with middleweight adventure bikes with the Tiger 800 proving to be not just one of the best of the breed since the original was launched way back in 2010 – it’s one of the best all-round bikes, period. In 2020 these were updated to be the Tiger 900 of which two variants are available, the road-orientated 900 GT and the more off-road 900 Rally – and for 2024 both have been updated again, with the top spec Rally Pro version added. Now 106bhp whichever variant you go for you’ll arguably want for nothing. The three cylinder motor is characterful and flexible; they bristle with the latest electronics and slick TFT screen; there are tons of comfort and accessory options and the result, today, is that you can pretty much have your Tiger 900 any way you want – from budget street machine to fully-loaded off-roader which, in terms of spec, gives BMW’s GS a run for its money. Whichever you go for, the Tiger 900’s characterful triple, classy handling and real-world practicality is almost irresistible…

Click here for our 2024 Triumph Tiger 900 review.