There has never been a better time to take the plunge and invest in a brand-new Adventure or Sports Tourer motorcycle, with myriad new models coming your way in 2023.
Spanning a range of budgets, performance, off-road ability, and size, whether you’re venturing deep into the wilderness, traversing long distances or simply skipping over the odd kerb on the way to and from the supermarket, there is something for you.
Check out which tempting new and upcoming Adventure & Sports Tourer Motorcycles are being launched in 2023…
Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally
Price: from £23590
Engine: 1158cc V-Four
Power: 170bhp
Torque: 121Nm
Weight: 260Kg
Seat Height: 870-890mm
On Sale: Now
Following on from the ADV-cum-tourer V4/V4 S and the sportier Pikes Peak, the 2023 Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally is the most off-road oriented version of the model yet.
Following an off-road trail blazed by the DesertX - Ducati’s first proper attempt at an ADV model - the Multistrada V4 Rally toughens up with wire-wheels, taller suspension, a substantially larger 30 litre fuel tank and more rugged bodywork.
Under the skin, the 1158cc V4 engine has been re-tuned to deliver improved low-down torque, while the in-built suspension travel sensor makes for a more intuitive off-road performance. Throw in Ducati’s pioneering radar assisted tech and all manner of trickery to make things as safe as they are fun both on and off road and the V4 Rally brings some serious skills to a competitive segment.
However, at £23,590, while the Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally may be a premium product through and through, it isn’t cheap.
BikeSocial’s Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally Technical Review
Suzuki V-Strom 800 DE
Price: from £10499
Engine: 776cc, Parallel Twin
Power: 84bhp
Torque: 78Nm@6800rpm
Weight: 230Kg
Seat Height: 855mm
On Sale: Spring '23
While the ‘V’ no longer stands for V-Twin, the venerable Suzuki V-Strom enjoys a new lease of life for 2023 in the form of the much anticipated latest generation, the Suzuki V-Strom 800 DE.
Reflecting its upgrade to Suzuki’s new 776cc parallel-twin engine, the new V-Strom 800 DE - on sale this Spring - has undergone a transformation to lean away from its soft adventure-tourer predecessor and step more definitively into the competitive mid-size ADV category.
With 83bhp on tap, not only does the V-Strom 800 DE feel brisker than most of its rivals, it delivers its peak torque at lower rpm to give it more pulling power. Meanwhile, excellent Showa suspension keeps things in check both on and off-road.
With prices starting at £10,499, the new V-Strom 800 DE might have been a long time coming but - according to our first ride review - it has been worth the wait.
BikeSocial’s Suzuki V-Strom 800 DE Review
Honda XL750 Transalp
Price: from £9669
Engine: 755cc, Parallel Twin
Power: 84bhp
Torque: 75Nm@7250rpm
Weight: 221Kg
Seat Height: 850mm
On Sale: Spring '23
Not content with just dusting off the Hornet nameplate, this year also sees Honda resurrect the Transalp moniker for its return to the mid-size ADV class.
The Honda XL750 Transalp - to give it its full title - has been developed from Honda’s ambitious new 755cc parallel-twin platform, a base that the Japanese firm has championed for being low in weight, yet strong and durable.
It’s a combination that should prove particularly effective on the Transalp as Honda attempts to find that balance between on-road refinement and off-road ability.
It’s certainly got some grunt, with the 90bhp engine packing a bigger punch than its main rivals and proving only a few digits off its CRF1100L Africa Twin brother, while - being Honda - it comes with a raft of well-engineered tech and gizmos to keep things in check.
Prices will start at £9,499 when it goes on sale officially in the next few months.
BikeSocial’s Honda XL750 Transalp Technical Review
Zero DSR/X
Price: from £24150
Engine: 17.3kWh Electric Motor
Power: 100bhp
Torque: 225Nm
Weight: 247Kg
Seat Height: 828mm
On Sale: Now
Shun electric power all you like, more and more eco-conscious motorcycles are arriving all the time and this - the Zero DSR/X - is among the most ambitious yet.
Already a stalwart of the electric motorcycle game, Zero is putting its reputation right on the line with the DSR/X, the first proper full-size EV ADV to measure itself against the very best in the segment.
Packing a 17.3kWh battery, the Zero DSR/X offers 75kW (102bhp) of power and 225Nm/166 ftlb of torque, which we described as ‘breathtaking’ in our review late last year, the DSR/X is also a hoot to drive on the road too.
If anything, you’d quickly forget you were riding an electric motorcycle altogether were it not for a £24,150 price tag that makes it considerably pricier than the Ducati Multistrada, Triumph Tiger 1200 and KTM 1290 Adventure S.
BikeSocial’s Zero DSR/X Review
Yamaha Ténéré 700 Rally
Price: from £11400
Engine: 690cc, Parallel Twin
Power: 72bhp
Torque: 69Nm@6500rpm
Weight: 203Kg
Seat Height: 895mm
On Sale: Now
Targeted at those who’d describe their off-road activities as ‘serious’, the Yamaha Ténéré 700 Rally is inspired by the firm’s exploits in the toughest off-road test there is; the Dakar Rally.
While the standard Ténéré 700 - which was joined by the longer-range World Tour last year - already punches above its weight when it comes to taking on the wild, Yamaha has turned things up to 11 with the Rally version, adding an alloy skid plate under the engine, radiator protectors, a taller ‘Rally Seat’, rubber grip knee/thigh pads and off-road bar grips.
It also comes with an Akrapovič slip-on that Yamaha says enhances torque sensation for more responsive riding in tougher terrain.
BikeSocial’s Yamaha Ténéré 700 Rally Technical Review
MV Agusta Lucky Explorer 9.5
Price: £TBC
Engine: 631cc, Parallel Triple
Power: 124bhp
Torque: 102Nm@7000rpm
Weight: 224Kg
Seat Height: 850-870mm
On Sale: TBC
If you’ve had your eye on the MV Agusta Lucky Explorer 9.5 ever since it was revealed to the world back in November 2021, then it seems there is still a wait ahead to get your hands on one.
A bulging pre-orders book that caught MV Agusta by surprise has left the Varese firm in a quandary in terms of meeting demand, forcing the Lucky Explorer’s release date to be pushed back into this year.
This could pose a problem because the rapidly growing mid-size adventure segment has changed a lot over the last 18 months, but there is still plenty of intrigue in the quirkily-titled Lucky Explorer - a homage to its spiritual predecessor, the Lucky Strike-sponsored, Dakar Rally-winning Cagiva Elefant.
Boasting MV’s new 121bhp 931cc triple-cylinder engine, we’ve already had the chance to try out a pre-production prototype and - suffice to say - it still brims with exotic appeal, even as an off-roader.
BikeSocial’s MV Agusta Lucky Explorer 9.5 (Prototype) Review
KTM 1290 Adventure S
Price: from £16599
Engine: 1290cc, V-Twin
Power: 116bhp
Torque: 138Nm@6500rpm
Weight: 239Kg
Seat Height: 849-869mm
On Sale: Now
With the unveiling of the Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally and the new BMW R 1300 GS Adventure but a few months away, the KTM 1290 Adventure S has sharpened up its act for 2023 with a series of tweaks.
Key among the updates includes an improved 7-inch TFT displayed GPS system with re-designed infographics and menu options, plus Turn-by-Turn+ navigation guidance.
Under the skin, the KTM 1290 Super Adventure S is equipped with a detuned version of the 1301cc unit as found in the sportier Super Duke, pumping out 160hp and 138Nm of torque, while the ‘ChroMo’ stainless steel chassis comes with tweaked geometry to accentuate cornering potential and stability, working with the specially designed WP semi-active suspension.
BikeSocial’s KTM 1290 Adventure S (2021) Review
KTM 890 Adventure
Price: from £11999
Engine: 889cc, Parallel Twin
Power: 103bhp
Torque: 100Nm@6500rpm
Weight: 210Kg
Seat Height: 830mm
On Sale: Now
KTM has been fettling its entire Travel-Rally range for 2023 with the KTM 890 Adventure also brought up to date amid a wave of incoming new rivals.
Already one of the most capable off-roaders out there regardless of size, the 2023 KTM 890 Adventure gets a host of small but welcome tweaks, among them new seat upholstery, a more cohesive front-end design, a new 5-inch TFT dash design and revised WP Apex suspension.
Prices start at £10,499 for the 890 Adventure and £12,999 for the more rough’em, tough’em 890 Adventure R.
BikeSocial’s KTM 890 Adventure (2021) Review
Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE
Price: from £13,699
Engine: 1037cc, V-Twin
Power: 107bhp
Torque: 100Nm@6000rpm
Weight: 252Kg
Seat Height: 880mm
On Sale: Now
Not prepared to let the new V-Strom 800 DE to completely steal the show, Suzuki has also taken the time to bring the larger Suzuki V-Strom 1050 up to date for 2023.
Like its sibling, the 1050 model range now gets a ‘DE’ (Dual Explorer) trim level that demonstrates it too has shifted away from its erstwhile ADV-cum-Tourer positioning into a proper off-road focused rival for the Honda Africa Twin.
As is standard for Suzuki, the V-Strom 1050 DE’s updates appear subtle on the surface, with the improvements - revised display infographics, potent engine and generous equipment - instead making themselves known to you the more time you spend with it. It even puts up a good fight in the rough stuff.
The 2023 Suzuki V-Strom 1050 DE is on sale now with prices starting at £13,699.
BikeSocial’s Suzuki V-Strom 1050 DE Review
Husqvarna Norden 901 Expedition
Price: from £13599
Engine: 890cc, Parallel Twin
Power: 105bhp
Torque: 100Nm@6500rpm
Weight: 230Kg
Seat Height: 854mm
On Sale: Spring '23
If the standard Husqvarna Norden 901 is just a bit too timid for those filthy weekends in the wilderness, then never fear for the more muscular-looking Husqvarna Norden 901 Expedition is now available.
With a new colourway, rugged skid plate and a taller screen helping the Norden 901’s Scandi-chic design pop just that bit more, the Expedition’s upgrade is more than simply cosmetic. Heated grips, a centre stand and 18 litre side bags are thrown in, as is uprated WP Apex suspension that should address misgivings about pre-launch model’s performance in the rough.
Better still, even with all of those features, the £13,599 price tag represents a meagre £900 premium over the standard model.
BikeSocial’s Husqvarna 901 Norden Expedition Technical Review
KTM 790 Adventure
Price: from £9999
Engine: 790cc, Parallel Twin
Power: 94bhp
Torque: 88Nm@6500rpm
Weight: 215Kg
Seat Height: 840-860mm
On Sale: Now
If new adventure motorcycles are getting just a bit too special to roll around in the mud on, then here’s a novel solution from KTM, which has resurrected its 790 Adventure model for just that reason.
Indeed, while the model that succeeded it - the 890 Adventure - is certainly a step forward in quality, it’s also a fair chunk more expensive. As such, the still very capable KTM 790 Adventure - equipped with the well-proven, CFMoto-manufactured LC8 790cc parallel-twin - is back to fill a more value-orientated role.
So long as you’re content with this being the equivalent of the Apple iPhone 12 versus the Apple iPhone 14, there is still plenty of appeal here.
BikeSocial’s KTM 790 Adventure (2019) Review
Benelli TRK 702
Price: TBC
Engine: 693cc, Parallel Twin
Power: 75bhp
Torque: 68Nm@6250rpm
Weight: 220Kg
Seat Height: 825mm
On Sale: TBC
Yet another brand new option in the busy mid-size ADV class, the Benelli TRK 702 arrives to build on the success of the smaller TRK 502 on the European mainland.
Equipped with an all-new 693cc parallel-twin engine boasting 75bhp at 8,500rpm and 68.2Nm of torque at 6,250rpm, the TRK 702 will be available in tourer-style standard trim and in more off-road focused X trim.
Offering a more matured rendition of the TRK family face, the Benelli TRK 702 will feature heated grips and seat, plus an LCD dashboard display and even an HD camera integrated into the nose section.
MV Agusta Lucky Explorer 5.5
Price: TBC
Engine: 554cc, Parallel Twin
Power: 47bhp
Torque: 51Nm@5500rpm
Weight: 220Kg
Seat Height: 858mm
On Sale: TBC
Revealed at the same time as the larger ‘9.5’, the MV Agusta Lucky Explorer 5.5 is also due to hit the road at some stage this year.
Though the two models share similar design themes, unlike the larger 9.5 - which has been developed on an all-new platform and comes with the firm’s latest triple-cylinder engine - the Lucky Explorer 5.5 is based on the Benelli TRK 502, Italy’s best-selling motorcycle.
Designed to give MV Agusta - considered one of motorcycling’s most affluent, premium brands - a foothold in a more affordable market space, the Lucky Explorer 5.5 offsets its more rudimentary underpinnings with more attractive styling.
It is yet to be confirmed whether the MV Agusta Lucky Explorer 5.5 will be made available in the UK.
CFMoto 800MT Explorer
Price: TBC
Engine: 799cc, Parallel Twin
Power: 90bhp
Torque: 75Nm@8000rpm
Weight: 231Kg
Seat Height: 825mm
On Sale: Now
Husqvarna isn’t the only KTM-affiliated brand to be launching a more adventurous version of its large off-roader, with CFMoto - which manufacturers engines for KTM - also getting in on the act with the 800MT Explorer.
Built on the discontinued-now-resurrected KTM 790 Adventure platform, the CFMoto 800MT Explorer sits above the Touring in the line-up and gets multi-spoke wire wheels, tweaked traction control, RDS rear radar and MMI display.
Voge 900 DS
Price: TBC
Engine: 895cc, Parallel Twin
Power: 97bhp
Torque: TBA
Weight: TBA
Seat Height: 825mm
On Sale: Summer '23
Having landed over here in 2021 with a range of modest, value-orientated mid-size options, ambitious Chinese firm Voge will step things up in 2023 with a wave of new models led by the Voge 900 DS.
Sitting above the 650 DSX, if the Voge 900 DS looks strikingly similar to the BMW F 850 GS, then this is no coincidence since Loncin - Voge’s parent company - is responsible for building engines for the German firm.
Borrowing various parts - including the 895cc engine from the F 900 R/XR - and switchgear from the BMW parts bin, the Voge 900 DS is expected to be one of the cheaper options in the segment too.
New Sport Tourer Motorcycles for 2023
Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello
Price: from £13500
Engine: 1042cc, V- Twin
Power: 115bhp
Torque: 105Nm@6750rpm
Weight: 233Kg
Seat Height: 815mm
On Sale: Now
New Moto Guzzi models don’t come around all that often, so the launch of the all-new Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello is rather a big deal.
Another step into a more contemporary-angled future for the classic Italian firm, the V100 Mandello presents itself as a Sports Tourer with a Sportsbike alter ego.
Handsome styling, exquisite attention to detail and punchy performance on the road makes the V100 Mandello an exotic choice among comparatively bland rivals, though it is pricey starting at £13,500.
BikeSocial’s Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello Review
Energica Experia
Price: from £25990
Engine: 22.5kWh Electric Motor
Power: 101bhp
Torque: 115Nm
Weight: 260Kg
Seat Height: 847mm
On Sale: Now
If the Zero DSR/X is taking electric motorcycles further off-road than they have ever been before, then the Energica Experia’s objective is to take EVs further along the road than ever before.
Another convincing argument that an electric future might not be all that bad, the Experia goes a long way to dispelling misplaced notions that you can’t travel far on a single charge with the company claiming a combined range of 153 miles, rising to 260 miles in urban environments.
You’ll need to crunch the numbers to find out if your annual mileage will offset the hefty £27,790 price tag, but if it makes economic sense and would rather the planet survived for future generations, then you’ll find plenty of appeal in the Experia’s sporty dynamics, handsome styling and generous kit levels.
BikeSocial’s Energica Experia Review
Yamaha Tracer 9 GT
Price: from £14900
Engine: 890cc, Parallel Triple
Power: 117bhp
Torque: 93Nm@7000rpm
Weight: 223Kg
Seat Height: 820-835mm
On Sale: Now
The Yamaha Tracer 9 has been the standard setting mid-to-large sports tourer for a couple of years now, its blend of comfort, practicality and quality making it an understated hit with buyers.
With new rivals emerging from all corners to challenge its crown, Yamaha has added a new Tracer 9 GT+ flagship to its range boasting a new 7” TFT display with smartphone integration, more ergonomic switchgear and better adjustment for the seat.
More interesting, however, is its clever new radar-assisted Adaptive Cruise Control which acts as an extra few pairs of eyes to alert you of any potential hazards around you. If it does, then Yamaha’s new Unified Brake System will help you react quicker to it.
BikeSocial’s Yamaha Tracer 9 GT+ Technical Review
Yamaha Niken GT
Price: from £16200
Engine: 890cc, Parallel Triple
Power: 113bhp
Torque: 90Nm@6500rpm
Weight: 270Kg
Seat Height: 825mm
On Sale: Now
The Tracer 9’s quirky three-wheeled cousin - the Yamaha Niken GT - is brought back in towards the family range with an upgrade to the latest 890cc three-cylinder engine.
Beyond the changes under that wacky skin, the 2023 Yamaha Niken GT also gets a host of electronic upgrades, a new seat design, a fresh 7” TFT display and heated grips as standard.
Pitched as a true ‘Grand Touring’ motorcycle, sales of the niche Niken GT will continue to be won or lost on its strange ‘two front, one rear wheel’ set-up and subsequent oddball appearance, not to mention its lofty £16,200 price tag.
BikeSocial’s 2023 Yamaha Niken GT Technical Review
New Adventure and Sport Tourer Motorcycles we can expect beyond 2023
BMW R 1300 GS & GS Adventure
Launch: Mid-to-late 2023 (est)
Arguably the most anticipated new launch of 2023, the successors for Europe’s best-selling motorcycles - the BMW R 1250 GS and BMW R 1250 GS Adventure - are due to be unveiled at some stage in 2023.
Expected to become known by the R 1300 prefix, BMW has kept details of the latest generation models very much a secret, not least a firm idea of when exactly we will get to see them for the first time.
To say the R 1300 is an important model for BMW would be an understatement - a perennial best-seller in multiple nations, BMW cannot afford to get the R 1300 wrong, which might explain why it has been undergoing rigorous development since 2020.
With competition in the Sports Tourer and Adventure segments getting tougher all the time, they can’t come soon enough.
Royal Enfield Himalayan 450
Launch: Mid-to-late 2023 (est)
Royal Enfield have been burning the midnight oil in recent months following the quick succession launches of the Scram 411, Hunter 350 and - most recenrlty - the Super Meteor 650.
It’s a tempo it is set to continue deep into 2023 with the launch of the keenly-anticipated Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, to sit above the much-loved, albeit ageing Himalayan 411.
Following Royal Enfield’s recent trend of pushing its models more upmarket, the Himalayan 450 is set to be more of a honed off-roader to take on the KTM 390 Adventure. Debuting a new 450cc platform - which will also spawn a Scram version - the Himalayan 450 might now finally come with the grunt to wade through the mud and actually climb the Himalayas..
Can-Am Origin
Launch: 2024-2025 (est)
Can-Am becomes the latest mothballed brand to make a big comeback as Canadian owners BRP (Bombardier) look to upstage American rivals Livewire with a fresh range of funky-looking, electric powered models.
Though still a couple of years away from hitting the road, Can-Am has already presented two models in concept form - the Pulse naked and the Origin ADV [above]. Bearing more than a passing resemblance to the Husqvarna Norden 901, the dual-sport Can-Am Origin draws on the firm’s reputation for building some of the best motocross bikes of the 1970/80s.
Brixton Storr
Launch: 2024 (est)
Evidently, the Norden 901 has a lot to answer for based on the Can-Am Origin and this, the Brixton Storr 500, which also borrows heavily from its Swedish counterpart.
If you haven’t heard of Brixton before, don’t let its south London hamlet namesake fool you, for it in fact originates from Austria (which might explain the Husqvarna-KTM vibes) and offers a number of retro-themed models constructed in China.
However, the Storr concept - revealed at EICMA - represents its first steer into a more contemporary market space and, if it doesn’t tone down the looks too much, it could be onto a winner with this distinctively rugged creation.
Share on social media:
