There is no better bike than an adventure bike to give you the ability to travel, explore, and learn new riding techniques. As a starter bike, you will be able to travel on and off-road, allowing you to decide in the future which style of motorcycle you would want to trade up to—either a full on-road bike or the larger adventure bike.
So, what are the top 5 adventure motorcycles for beginners?
- Honda CB500X
- KTM 390 Adventure
- BMW G 310 GS
- Kawasaki Versys X 300
- Royal Enfield Himalayan 411cc
All of these adventure motorcycles are reliable, lighter than the huge BMW Adventure motorcycles, and all have the ability to take you on an around the world trip if you wish to do so.
By the way, if you are reading this article, I assume you are considering purchasing an Adventure motorcycle.
If you click HERE, you will be taken to Amazon, where you can view my top recommended, best value, adventure motorcycle jacket!
An adventure motorcycle is an excellent bike for a beginner because the more simple, lighter, and easier to handle a bike is, the more you will learn and craft your style. It’s best to stick to the smaller, lighter motorcycles when buying your first bike.
Any of these 5 bikes will allow you to take long road trips with luggage, easily navigate city traffic, use as a daily commuter bike, and upgrade parts or add accessories if you wish to when you have a bit more experience and know what you want.
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So lets look at these five beginner adventure bikes in more detail.
Honda CB500X
If you are a beginner motorcyclist looking to break into the adventure Motorcycle market, the Honda CB500X is an excellent choice. This bike is certainly a usable, friendly do it all bike that will feel quick but not intimidate you.
This motorcycle is lightweight, so it is easily manageable even when the tank is full of petrol. You will be able to easily sit on the bike and feel in control, unlike many other oversized heavy adventure motorcycles on the market.
This Honda CB500X has a 49hp engine, which gives this motorcycle excellent acceleration from a standing start, but not so much that you won’t get into any problems as the acceleration is easily controllable.
This bike’s reliability is second to none, and for beginner motorcyclists, it’s ideal as the bike is defiantly low maintenance. It has the honda 500 cc engine, which has been proven to be reliable over the many years it has been in production.
This bike has a six-speed gearbox, ABS braking system, a 17.5-liter tank, and you should easily achieve a 75 mpg average fuel economy, which gives this bike about a 300-mile range. So you won’t be putting your hand in your pocket too often to fill it up at the petrol pump.
The bike is softly sprung and has an excellent, well-balanced chassis, with a well laid out instrument panel which is easily read day or night.
Another factor that adds to this bike’s performance and makes it such an excellent choice for a beginner is its 17-inch rear and 21-inch front wheel, added from the 2019 version onwards. Going off-road or over potholes should be no problem.
I would, however, upgrade the footpegs, and you can see the ones I have upgraded to on Amazon by clicking HERE.
The Honda CB500X is a good value budget adventure touring motorcycle with a robust design and very comfortable seat and well-positioned footpegs.
There are, however, a few negatives, but they are nothing major and certainly not a deal-breaker.
At 75 mph or above, the bike vibrates a fair bit, so you will get tingly hands if you would be using this bike for long rides at freeway speeds. Also, because the bike is quite light (which isn’t a bad thing), it does pick up crosswinds, which you wouldn’t notice on a heavier motorcycle.
If you are a beginner to the motorcycle world, this bike would be an excellent choice.
SPECIFICATIONS HONDA CB500X
| Bore X Stroke (mm) | 67mm x 66.8mm |
| Carburation | PGM-FI electronic fuel injection |
| Compression Ratio | 10.7:1 |
| Engine Displacement (cc) | 471 cc |
| Engine Type | Liquid Cooled 4-Stroke DOHC parallel twin |
| Max. Power Output | 35KW / 8600 rpm |
| Max. Torque | 43Nm / 6500 rpm |
| Starter | Electric |
| Throttle Bore | 34 |
| CO2 Emissions (g/km) | 80 |
| ABS System | 2 Channel |
| Brakes Front | 310 mm x 5 mm disc with two piston caliper |
| Brakes Rear | 240 mm x 5 mm disc single piston caliper |
| Suspension Front | Conventional Telescopic, 41 mm, pre-loaded adjustable |
| Suspension Rear | Prolink mono with 5 stage pre-load adjuster, steel square pipe swingarm |
| Tires Front | On-Off Pattern |
| Tire Size Front | 110/80R19M/C |
| Tire Size Rear | 160/60ZR-17M/C |
| Tires Rear | On-Off Pattern |
| Wheels Front | Multi-Spoke Cast Aluminium |
| Wheels Rear | Multi-Spoke Cast Aluminium |
| Battery Capacity (VAh) | 12v 7.4 Ah |
| Caster Angle | 27.5 Degrees |
| Dimensions (LxWxH) (mm) | 2,155mm x 825 mm x 1,410mm |
| Frame Type | Steel Diamond |
| Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres) | 17.7L |
| Fuel Consumption | 28.6 km/L 3.5L/100km |
| Ground Clearance (mm) | 180 mm |
| Kerb Weight (kg) | 197 kg |
| Seat Height (mm) | 830 mm |
| Trail (mm) | 108 mm |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 1,455mm |
| Clutch | Wet Multiplate, A.S.clutch |
| Final Drive | Chain |
| Gearbox | 6 Speed |
| Headlights | LED |
| Tail Light | LED |
| Instruments | Digital Speedometer, Digital Bar Graph, Dual Trip Meters, Digital Fuel Gauge, Digital Fuel Consumption Gauge, Digital Clock, Water Temp, Digital Gear Position Indicator |
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KTM 390 Adventure
The KTM 390 Adventure is one of the best choices for any beginner motorcyclist looking to break into the adventure bike market. Over the years, KTM has really hit the mark of what an adventure bike is all about.
With the success of KTM’s 1290 and 790 larger models, they have put their expertise and know-how into the 390 Adventure.
This bike has a 373 cc engine, a compact, and sporty design, and keeps the adventure looks with its well-built skid plate that does an excellent job protecting the engine and the exhaust.
There are an adjustable clutch and brake lever, as well as an adjustable screen. There’s also a 12v power plug, so you will be able to charge your mobile phone or Sat Nav, and the oil changes on this bike are every 4750 miles so that you can get plenty of use out of the bike between services.
If you are a new motorcyclist, you will find that the riding position is excellent, even for taller riders. The seat is relatively wide and comfortable with enough space for a pillion. The hand-guards which come with the bike also do an excellent job of protecting the hands.
Like the Honda CB500X, this adventure bike also has a 17-inch rear and 19-inch front wheel but comes with the Continental TKC 70 tires, which certainly add to the bike’s adventure styling. I have these tires on my own adventure bike, so I can’t recommend them highly enough.
It is hard to believe at this price point that the bike also has adjustable front forks that have independent compression, rebound, and damping.
The KTM 390 Adventure would be ideal for a beginner motorcyclist as it also has some excellent electronics inherited from its bigger brother, of which some are added options.
The TFT Display, Traction Control including the lean-angle sensitivity system, an off-road and rain mode, and an engine control assistant, which has been made available due to its ride-by-wire throttle. These make a nice addition to the setup of this bike.
With other features as standard such as the handguards and crash bars and the ability to use a downloadable app to connect to the TFT screen to play music and connect to your mobile phone, this bike is certainly worth a good look if you’re a beginner looking to purchase an adventure motorcycle.
SPECIFICATIONS KTM 390 ADVENTURE
| Engine Type | Single Cylinder, 4 Stroke, DOHC |
| Displacement | 373.2 cc |
| Bore/stroke | 89/60 mm |
| Power | 43 hp (32 KW) |
| Torque | 27.3 ft-lbs (37 Nm) |
| Starter | Electric, 12V 8Ah |
| Transmission | 6 Gears |
| Fuel System | Bosch EFI, 46 mm Throttle Body |
| Lubrication | Wet Sump |
| Cooling | Liquid Cooling |
| Clutch | PASC Slipper Clutch, Mechanically Operated |
| Ignition | Bosch EMS with Ride-By-Wire |
| Frame | Steel Trellis |
| Subframe | Steel Trellis |
| Handlebar | Aluminum, Tapered, 0 26/22 mm |
| Front Suspension | WP APEX USD 0 43 mm |
| Rear Suspension | WP APEX Monoshock |
| Suspension Travel FR./RR. | 6.7 in (170 mm) / 6.9 in (177 mm) |
| Front/Rear Brakes | Disc Brake 320 mm / 230 mm |
| Front/Rear Wheels | 2.50 x 19″, 3.50 x 17″ |
| Front/Rear Tires | 100/90-19″; 130/80-17″ |
| Steering Head Angle | 63.5 Degrees |
| Wheelbase | 1,430 mm +_ 15.5 mm / 56.3 +_ 0.6 in |
| Ground Clearance | 7.8 in (200 mm) |
| Seat Height | 33.6 in ( 855 mm) |
| Tank Capacity | 3.8 gal ( 14.5 L) |
| Dry Weight Approx | 348.3 lbs (158 kg) |
| Wet Weight | 379 lbs (172 kg) |
BMW G 310 GS
The BMW G 310 GS is an excellent adventure motorcycle for a beginner. It is a lightweight adventure bike that is ideal to use as a general commuter and around town. It looks like a small version of the larger BMW GS.
The bike is comfortable to ride, and the dash is easy to read, including a fuel gauge, tacho, and gear indicator. This gives the beginner motorcyclist all the information they would need at a glance.
When comparing the size of the bike to the larger BMW GS 1200, it doesn’t feel like a big bike, but when seated on it, it does feel like a full-sized motorcycle and may not be suited to the smaller rider.
This bike is a nice looking bike and has been well thought out, such as having the guard protecting the rear shock from getting dirty when riding off-road.
Although you could easily take long road trips on this motorcycle, the 313 cc single-cylinder engine is a little underpowered, but the 6-speed gearbox does keep the revs of the engine down somewhat at higher speeds of 65-70 mph.
At 65 mph, there is a lot of vibration in the footpegs, which are ok for the road but not so good if taking the bike off-road. At the same 65mph speed, the handlebars also vibrate but have rubber mounts, so the vibration is dampened.
To get the best from this bike, the gears would have to be used to keep the revs up, but that being said, if you do shift gears at the correct time, then this bike certainly does produce the power you would want to give you a fun ride.
Because this bike is fairly lightweight, weighing only about 373 pounds, it’s an easy adventure bike for a beginner to control on and off-road. However, the suspension is very soft, so you will not get much feedback when having fun navigating twisty roads.
Off-road, the bike can hold its own, but it’s not the best with the soft suspension. There is, however, a switch on the handlebar, which allows the ABS to be switched on and off easily, which is a well thought out addition.
Unlike Honda’s CB500X with its 21″ front wheel, the BMW G 310 GS only has a 17″ front wheel, which again lets the bike down when off-road.
However, due to the bike’s pricing, which is relatively cheap at only about $5700, the suspension is not adjustable. Also, the forks seem a bit soft, and the shocks only have a spring preload adjuster.
The BMW G310 GS comes with Metzeler Tourance tires, a 13.2-liter fuel tank that should give just over a 100-mile range at the stated 71 mpg.
This bike is definitely worth looking at if you are a new motorcyclist searching for an adventure bike, but make sure you take a look at other options available from other manufacturers.
SPECIFICATIONS BMW G 310 GS
| Engine Type | Water-Cooled, Single-Cylinder 4-stroke, four valves, 2 Overhead Camshafts, Wet Sump Lubrication |
| Bore / Stroke | 80 mm x 62.1 mm |
| Capacity | 313 cc |
| Ratet Output | 25 KW (34 hp) at 9,250 rpm |
| Max. torque | 28 Nm at 7,500 rpm |
| Compression ratio | 10.9 : 1 |
| Mixture control | Electronic fuel injection |
| Emission Control | Closed-loop 3-way catalytic converter, emission standard EU 5 |
| Maximum Speed | 143 km/h (approx 90 mph) |
| Fuel consumption per 100 km | 77 g/km |
| Fuel type | Unleaded regular, Min Octane 91 (RON) |
| Altenator | Three-phase 308 W |
| Battery | 12 V / 8 Ah, maintenance-free |
| Clutch | Multiplate clutch in oil bath |
| Gearbox | Constant mesh 6-speed gearbox integrated in rear wheel hub |
| Drive | Endless Z-ring chain with shock damping in rear wheel hub |
| Frame | Tubular space frame |
| Front wheel Location / suspension | Upside down fork, 0 41mm |
| Rear wheel location / suspension | Cast aluminium dual swing arm, central spring strut, spring pre-load adjustment |
| Suspension travel, front and rear | 180 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1,420 mm |
| Castor | 98 mm |
| Steering head angle | 63.3 degrees |
| Wheels | Cast aluminium |
| Front rim | 2.50 x 19″ |
| Rear rim | 4.00 x 17″ |
| Front tire | 110/80 R19 |
| Rear Tire | 150/70 R 17 |
| Front brake | Single disk, 4-piston fixed caliper, 300 mm diameter, radially bolted |
| Rear Brake | Single disk, 240 mm diameter, single-piston floating caliper |
| ABS | BMW Motorrad ABS |
| Seat height | 835 mm / Low seat 820 mm |
| Usable tank volume | 11.1 liter |
| Reserve | Approx 1 liter |
| Length | 2,075 mm |
| Height | 1,230 mm |
| Width | 880 mm |
| Wet Weight | 175 Kg |
| Permitted total weight | 345 Kg |
| Payload (with standard equipment) | 170 Kg |
Kawasaki Versys X 300
The Kawasaki Versys X 300 is an excellent choice of adventure motorcycle for a beginner if you want to keep your budget below $6000.
This bike has a 17-inch rear wheel and a 19-inch front, so you will have plenty of tire brands to choose from when you need to change the rubber on this bike.
The Versys X 300 comes with a nice upright seating experience, a tall screen as standard giving good wind protection, and a 25.9-liter tank. The assist and slipper clutch makes changing gear on the bike very smooth, and the clutch is very light, so ideal for the beginner.
There is also an ABS version available at an extra cost, and the brakes on this motorcycle are adequate but nothing special.
The 296 cc engine has a rating of 39 BHP, which is 5 more horses than the BMW G 310 GS at 34 BHP and can cruise along at 75 mph with no problems, so if you’re looking to commute on the freeway, this bike would be a good choice. However, the bike is most comfortable at 60-65 mph
The seat height on this bike is fairly low, which is ideal for the shorter rider. There is a taller version available, however, if that is what you require.
The suspension on the bike is very basic, and although this bike looks like an adventure-style bike, it is made in a way that really favors the tarmac than any off-road dirt. There is a plastic engine guard, and the handlebars are only seven-eighths of an inch in diameter, so could well bend if the bike toppled over.
In my opinion, this bike would be a fairly good choice for a beginner who is looking for the looks of an adventure bike but will be mainly riding on tarmac.
The X 300 is built on the design of the Ninja 300, using the same chassis but longer suspension, so although it looks like a different designed bike, it shares the same design underneath. The engine also comes from the Ninja 300.
All in all, this is a good solid bike that would suit a beginner well, and what shouldn’t be forgotten that this is a relatively cheap bike at approximately $5350 for the non-ABS version.
SPECIFICATIONS KAWASAKI VERSYS X 300
| Engine | Parallel-twin |
| Capacity | 296 cc / 18.1 cu in |
| Lubrication | Forced, Wet Sump |
| Bore x stroke | 62 x 49 mm |
| Torque | 26 Nm / 19 ft/lbs (10,000 rpm) |
| Power | 29.3 kW / 40 hp at 11,500 rpm |
| Compression ratio | 10.6:1 |
| Fuel | EFI w/ two 32mm throttle body |
| Cooling system | Liquid cooling |
| Transmission | 6 speed gearbox |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Front suspension | 41 mm fork 5.1 inches Non-adjustable |
| Rear suspension | Linkage-assisted spring-preload adjustable 5.8″ |
| Wheels | Aluminum, multi-spoke |
| Tires | Trail Winner GP 210 |
| Front tire | 100/90 x 19 M/C 57S |
| Rear tire | 130/80 x 17 M/C 65S |
| Front brake | 290mm petal disk w/ 2 piston caliper |
| Rear brake | 220 mm petal disk w/ 2 piston caliper |
| Front wheel travel | 130 mm / 5.1″ |
| Rear Wheel travel | 147 mm / 5.5″ |
| Gear Ratio | 1st 2.714 (38/14), 2nd 1.789 (34/19), 3rd 1.409 (31/22), 4th 1.160 (29/25), 5th 1.000 (27/27), 6th 0.857 (24/28) |
| ABS | Optional at extra cost |
| Wheelbase | 57.1″ |
| Rake | 24.3 Degrees |
| Trail | 4.3″ |
| Seat height | 815mm (32.1″) |
| Ground clearance | 180mm (7.1″) |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 20.45 Liters |
| Wet weight | 175 Kg |
| Exhaust | Two into One |
| Emissions standard | Euro 4 |
| Starter | Electric |
| Frame | Backbone, High Tensile Steel |
| Diamensions | Length 2169 mm / 85.4″ Width 861 mm / 33.9″ Height 1389 mm / 54.7″ |
Royal Enfield Himalayan 411cc
The Royal Enfield Himalayan may not be one of the bikes you think of when considering purchasing an adventure motorcycle. However, this is an excellent choice as a beginner’s adventure motorcycle.
There are plenty of adventure motorcyclists using these motorcycles to travel worldwide with huge success. Just search Youtube, and you will find a whole host of them.
Many positive aspects make this adventure motorcycle a good choice for a beginner looking to purchase an adventure bike, one of them being the excellent Dual Channel ABS as standard. This means that you can turn the ABS off at the back wheel if you wanted to when maybe taking this bike off-road.
However, please bear in mind that this is a budget motorcycle and the breaks are not the best, but they are adequate to get the job done.
The Royal Enfield Himalayan has a nice comfortable low seat at 800mm, and the bike is light as well, so it is easy for any new motorcyclist to handle. If you wish, you can purchase a full luggage option, which won’t set you back an arm and a leg!
The riding position is nice and upright, allowing you to view the road all around you. The bike has excellent positioned footpegs and handlebars, which reduces fatigue, and the floor being in easy reach for your two feet to balance the bike upright when stopped or riding through traffic.
This motorcycle only has 5 gears and can be a bit clunky. It would really benefit from a 6th gear but, with its 411cc engine, this motorcycle will get you to where you need to be as long as you are in no hurry to get there!
With 220mm of ground clearance, 21″ front and 17″ rear wheel, you should have no trouble riding off-road, and as the handlebars are a little taller than normal, taking this bike off-road whilst standing up means that you can easily reach and control the motorcycle whilst traveling down dirt roads, etc.
If you are looking for a motorcycle that can practically take you anywhere, including longer trips away, then this bike will do it all, including comfortably cruising at around 60 mph.
If, however, you are looking for a motorcycle as a commuter having to ride the freeway every day, I don’t think this bike will be for you.
There is quite a lot of vibration through the footpegs and handlebars at speeds over 60 mph. Due to the way the engine performs, there isn’t really any acceleration available to get you out of any problems if the need arose whilst on the freeway.
The fuel consumption is also good. The Royal Enfield should return an average of about 55 mpg depending on how you use the bike, of course.
With a price-tag starting from only $4999, Royal Enfield has done an excellent job of putting together a motorcycle at this price point. This certainly is an excellent option for any budget-conscious beginner motorcyclist to consider buying.
SPECIFICATIONS ROYAL ENFIELD HIMALAYAN 411CC
| Engine | Single cylinder, 4 Stroke, SOHC, Air cooled, fuel injected |
| Displacement | 411 cc |
| Bore x Stroke | 78 mm x 86 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 |
| Max Power | 24.3 bhp (17.88kW) @ 6500 rpm |
| Torque | 32 NM @ 4000 – 4500 rpm |
| Ignition System | Digital electronic ignition |
| Clutch | Wet, multi-plate |
| Gearbox | 5-speed constant mesh |
| Lubrication | Forced lubrication, wet sump |
| Engine oil | Semi-synthetic |
| Fuel supply | Electronic fuel injection |
| Air cleaner | paper element |
| Engine start | electric |
| Chassis type | Half-duplex split cradle frame |
| Front suspension | Telescopic, 41 mm forks, 200 mm travel |
| Rear suspension | Monoshock with linkage, 180 mm wheel travel |
| Wheelbase | 1465 mm |
| Ground clearance | 220 mm |
| Length | 2190 mm |
| Width | 840mm without the mirrors |
| Height | 1360 mm (flyscreen top) |
| Seat height | 800 mm |
| Kerb weight | 199 KG ( with 90% fuel and oil ) |
| Fuel capacity | 15 Ltr |
| Tires front | 90/90 – 21″ |
| Tires rear | 120/90 – 17″ |
| Brakes front | 300 mm disk, 2 piston floating caliper |
| Brakes rear | 240 mm disc, single-piston floating caliper |
| ABS | Dual-channel ABS ( switchable to single-channel ABS- Rear-wheel ABS control deactivation) |
| Electrical system | 12 volt – DC |
| Battery | 12 volt, 8 AH MF |
| Head lamp | 12V, H4-60/55W |
| Tail lamp | 12V, 4/1W |
| Turn signal lamp | 12V, 10W X 4nos |
COMPARISON TABLE
Just click on the motorcycle brand to be taken to their website.
| Motorcycle | Engine Size CC | Wet Weight KG | Tank Fuel Size Litre | HP | Seat Height |
| Honda CB500X | 471 | 196 | 17.5 | 49 | 810mm |
| KTM 390 Adventure | 373 | 172 | 14.5 | 43 | 855 |
| BMW G 310 GS | 313 | 169 | 10.9 | 34 | 835 |
| Kawasaki Versys X 300 | 296 | 176 | 17 | 39.3 | 815 |
| Royal Enfield Himalayan | 411 | 190 | 15 | 24.5 | 800 |
