Top 4 adventure bikes for beginners

Introduction

Adventure bikes are an interesting genre of two-wheelers as they allow you to explore different types of landscapes. There are bikes such as the BMWR 1250 GS and the Honda Africa Twin which are the pinnacle of ADVs. However, their high performance and gigantic dimensions might intimidate those who are just stepping into this segment. For such riders, here’s a list of the top four beginner-friendly adventure motorcycles that make for a great companion on your explorations while being highly accessible in all areas. 

1. Hero Xpulse 200

Starting with the most affordable adventure motorcycle in India, the Hero Xpulse 200 is known for its light weight, sturdy built quality and adventure-oriented components which can take a lot beating. Its 200cc engine has enough low end grunt to help you in having a lot of fun off the road while it’s touring speed is also decent. Moreover, it packs a Bluetooth-enabled console with turn-by-turn navigation. Priced at Rs 1.15 lakh, the Xpulse 200 is the perfect stepping stone for adventure riding enthusiasts.

2. Royal Enfield Himalayan

Climbing up in the pricing ladder, the Royal Enfield Himalayan costs Rs 1.92 lakh. When it was launched, its overall character of being simple yet purposeful attracted a lot of attention but its reliability was questionable. However, RE has closely worked on improving it and now it’s one of the most comfortable and fun-to-ride low-budget ADVs. The Himalayan’s comfort is no less than a sofa while its 411cc, single-cylinder engine has an impressive torque output in the lower rev range. It will also be updated with new features soon. 

3. KTM 250 Adventure

The KTM 390 Adventure is one of the most value-for-money motorcycles due to its performance, hardware package and features on offer. However, for those who want an adventure tourer from KTM but with a friendlier performance and a cheaper price tag, the 250 Adventure stands proudly in the Austrian bike maker’s portfolio. The 250 ADV boasts of styling and cycle parts closely similar to its larger 390 sibling, but it runs on a smaller 248.7cc, liquid-cooled engine which makes 29.bhp and 24Nm. And it is priced at Rs 2.52 lakh which is around Rs 60,000 lesser than the 390 ADV’s price. 

4. BMW G 310 GS

The BMW G 310 GS was already a good motorcycle. But with the BS6 update, BMW has made it way more desirable by tweaking its styling, bringing eye-catchy colour options, adding more features, and above all, reducing its price to a great extent. With a price tag of Rs 2.90 lakh, the G 310 GS BS6 is around Rs 60,000 cheaper than its BS4 counterpart. We recently did the first ride review of the bike by taking it on all sorts of terrains and were impressed by its punchy motor, comfort and plush ride quality. 

(All prices are ex-showroom)