For some people, adventure is about finding your way through the unknown to see things no one has and doing things most haven’t. But unless you plan on walking, you need the right tool to get there. This is where these adventure touring machines comes in and sweeps you off your feet in the most humble and matured way.

Here are our top ten adventure tourers of 2018 that come with some impeccable versatility to trout the lands across the globe. With the looks and utility of a capable off-roader and the balance and handling of a sport-standard, adventure motorcycles are a bipartisan look at how to tackle paved roads and dirt. Big and powerful engines, long travel suspensions and a higher riding position with multiple rider aids adorn these machines.

Triumph Tiger 1200 XC

After their Bonneville range, it’s the Tiger models that give the British brand their numbers. For 2018, the British biker has updated the range, and the first thing you notice is that name. Previously all the Tigers running on the 1215cc motor had the ‘Explorer’ badging on them. But for 2018, Triumph has made things easier by just sticking to the 1200 branding.

Thanks to the new bodywork, wheels, side panels, details, fit and finish and that all-LED surround lights, the 1200 looks fresh and uptight. It borrows the TFT screen seen on the new Street Triple that can be controlled using the new backlit switchgear. The LED headlights get all-new innovative Triumph Adaptive Cornering Lighting for enhanced visibility when cornering. The heated grips and seats, and electrically-adjustable windscreen give in for rider comfort under cold conditions. Add keyless ignition to that.

The 1215 in-line triple boasts of having the most potent shaft-driven engine in its class that belts out 140 bhp and 91 lb-ft of torque. For 2018, the engine receives significant updates to allow it to expel immediate power delivery lower down the rev range. It also gets new Triumph Shift Assist for smooth clutchless gear changes and a lightweight Arrow titanium and carbon fiber silencer gives it a better soundtrack.

Adding to rider confidence is the new seat compounds, revised handlebar positioning and updated frame geometry for an enhanced rider ergonomics and comfort. Rider aids on the 2018 models include an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), integrated braking system (developed with Continental), optimized cornering ABS & traction control, hill hold, ride-by-wire throttle, cruise control. There are up to six riding modes including the new “Off-Road Pro” mode, which allows the rider to disengage the electronic rider aids.

Other mechanicals includes top-of-the-line units like the Triumph Semi-Active Suspension incorporating WP adjustable front and rear suspension and Brembo Monobloc 4-piston radial calipers. The 2018 range of Triumph Tigers are some of the most versatile machines that gives you so much for the price you pay. While the Tiger XCX comes with a price tag of $ 19,550, the top-of-the-range, and the most expensive of the Tiger series, the Tiger XCA will fetch for $ 21,750.

Ducati Multistrada 1200 Enduro Pro

Unlike the urban design of the standard Multistrada 1200, the new Multistrada 1200 Enduro claims to expose the wild side of Ducati, with its pure adventure appeal. To allow treading on even less-beaten track, the Pro features rally tires, new tank bars, new color schemes, type-approved titanium exhaust sets and more.

Easily being the wildest looking motorcycle to roll out of the Borgo factory, the Enduro bears all resemblance to the original 1200 Multistrada but changes its game with more kit and accessories to take on the less-beaten roads too with aplomb. The Enduro Pro here takes that philosophy to a much deeper terrain in a shade of Sand.

With what we call it as a 90-degree V-twin, the Enduro Pro churns out plenty of torque with 94 lb-ft at 7,500 rpm, and 74 lb-ft comes as early as 3000 rpm. But it really shines in the horsepower department. At 9,500 rpm, a total of 155 ponies gets unleashed from the stable, and you had better be hanging on. All the power is sent to the rear via a hydraulic-assist “slipper” clutch variety designed to limit back-torque and prevent loss of rear-wheel grip during aggressive downshifts. The six-speed transmission and chain drive handle the final drive ratios.

Ducati runs a set of electronic semi-active Sachs 48 mm forks in the traditional, right-side-up configuration and it comes not only with a longer overall length. The rear suspension on the Enduro likewise comes with a 7.9-inch stroke from the Sachs monoshock, and both ends benefit from the Ducati Skyhook Suspension (DSS) feature. The ride comes with a 265 mm disc and twin-pot caliper in back, and carry Brembo, four-bore, Monobloc calipers up front with a pair of 320 mm discs. All of the brakes across the board come with cornering ABS as part of the standard package for a little extra traction protection.

The new Multistrada 1200 Enduro also comes with a range of electronics on offer, including the cruise control, hands-free ignition, four different riding modes, cornering ABS with three mappings and 8-levels Traction Control and Wheelie Control. MSRP for the Ducati Multistrada Enduro fell at $21,295. Now the Pro comes in at $23,295.

BMW R 1200 GS Adventure

For 2018, you can take the 1200 GS Adventure even further to the remotest corners with the facelift measures in the BMW Motorrad program. Starting with the optional TFT instrumentation, Emergency Call, and the new paintjob, the new edition of the Adventure showcases modern tech bits with a reminiscent of the first generation GS moniker.

Although from a distance the 2018 GS Adventure looks like its previous avatar, the chaps at BMW have done it up with going further back in history to bring back the ethos of the GS nameplate. Take that fuel tank for example. The colors here are all new, and BMW has decided to go back on showing off their massive fuel tank rather than masking it with sleeker styling elements like before.

The same 1170cc, air/liquid-cooled, four-stroke, flat-twin engine with balancer shaft does the work here. Revised exhaust path and engine mapping takes care of the emissions without hindering the power output which even today stands at 125 hp and 92 lb-ft of peak torque. Not a lot compared to the competition but BMW have, however, mastered the art refinement and delivery. It gets the new wet clutch with anti-hopping function and electromotive throttle actuator, and one can equip it with an optional bi-directional ’Shift Assist Pro’ quickshifter too.

The bettered out Paralever 37mm front hydraulic forks, and cast aluminum single-sided swing arm with Telelever have made the steering on this Beemer for quite some time now. The four different riding modes can be retrieved just at the press of a button on the switchgear. You can also get the optional “Dynamic Pro” and the “Enduro Pro” mode. The Pro riding mode continues to feature ABS Pro, dynamic brake light, Dynamic Traction Control DTC as well as Hill Start Control HSC.

The bike comes with dual 305mm disc brakes at front and a single 276mm disc brake at the rear, coupled up with the ABS. Four-piston Brembo monobloc front calipers are top of the line kit delivering massive power and control. The 2018 R 1200 GS Adventure is being retailed by BMW at a very commendable price point of $ 19,145.

MV Agusta Turismo Veloce 800 Lusso SCS

Famed as the most versatile Agusta, the Turismo Veloce 800 gave the Italian a fresh breed of customers wanting to venture the outback and the hills. This is basically the standard Veloce 800 but takes the excitement up a notch with a semi-auto clutch from Rekluse. The “SCS” stands for “Smart Clutch System” and is a proprietary technology that took MV 2 years to develop and is finally debuting on a production motorcycle.

Although the Schiranna brand is giving you a touring motorcycle, they are not any less in style and class. The Turismo Veloce can be immediately recognized as an MV Agusta, thanks to the chiseled front fascia resembling the MV Agusta F4 that has a sharp and rakish full LED headlight element flanked by strips of DRLs’. Being a Lusso, it gets 15-liter aluminum panniers for the rear, heated handgrips, concealed GPS sensor and central stand as standard features.

MV’s 798cc three-cylinder engine is regarded as the most advanced and powerful mid-sized power unit to have ever been built. The in-line 798cc motor produces a phenomenal 110 hp at 10150 rpm and 59 lb-ft of peak torque at 7100 rpm. 90% of this is available at only 3,800 rpm. The performance at high revs is superlative due to double overhead cam timing system with four titanium valves per cylinder. The SCS gives you the option of shifting normally as you would on any other bike by flicking the lever when your purist heart desires. It also makes use of a new and the EAS 2.0 up and down with-blipper shift system that can be controlled by the TFT instrument panel.

The Lusso version also features MV’s Skyhook algorithm that supplies all the key parameters for the semi-active suspension adjustments. 43mm Sachs semi-active units handle the front while progressive Sachs with electronic dampers monoshock at the rear suspension. Braking units are taken by the Brembo radial-type monoblock with twin 320 mm discs in the front and a 220 mm at the rear clutched by 4 and 2 pistons respectively.

Three engine settings, ride-by-wire, Bosch 9 Plus with RLM and Pirelli Scorpion Trail II tires adorn this machine. The MV Agusta Turismo Veloce 800 Lusso SCS is made available in America dealerships for a premium price of around $21,000. The Lusso SCS will be available in Fire Red & Dark Metallic Opaque Grey, Pearl White & Avio Grey color options. You will also get MV’s accessory lounge access to customize your bike to your needs. You can install bags, carbon fiber mudguards and silencer covers, seats and stands.

Honda Africa twin Adventure Sport

For 2018, the Japanese Red Winger has updated the Africa Twin and added another model by giving it a more off-road focused equipment list that will include a larger fuel tank, crash cage and more. The 2018 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin Adventure Sports or CRF1000L2 Africa Twin. A protective cowl bar or crash cage makes the bike look beefier than before.

Incidentally, the Adventure Sport gets a 1.5 gallon larger fuel tank which will eventually increase its mileage to around 300 miles from 200 miles provided by the current CRF1000L. Apart from these, it gets a 22mm higher suspension travel, riding position and ground clearances to let you wade through unforgivable terrains. Thanks to the now wider bash-plate, you can go on bigger rocks than ever before without having to worry about your engine bay getting marked off.

Rest of it remains the same including the 998cc parallel-twin engine making 94hp, and 73 lbs-ft of torque. This engine was built from the ground up and has been focused on having the optimum balance between power, torque, mass and physical dimension with mass centralization and low center of gravity, giving the rider a better handling dynamics. A quick shifter is now available as an option. You also get Honda’s exclusive automatic six-speed Dual-Clutch Transmission (DCT).

Adding comfort, the Adventure Sport gets wider and flatter seats instead of the split ones seen on the original. The fairings too get a larger area to protect the body of the rider, and the wider footpegs give for increased control. The heated grips adds to that satisfaction on those cold adventures one wishes to take. Mechanically, the Adventure Sports shares updates with the 2018 edition of the Africa Twin. It includes Throttle By Wire engine management with four riding modes, expanded Honda Selectable Torque Control parameters, and revised intake and exhaust for a stronger mid-range response.

The 21-inch front and 18-inch rear spoked wheels are now made from stainless steel. Apart from these, it gets a 22mm higher suspension travel, riding position and ground clearances to let you wade through unforgivable terrains. The 2018 Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin Adventure Sports will be available in the 30th anniversary Tricolore paint scheme and will be priced at $15,099.

KTM 1290 Super Adventure S

KTM 1290 Super Adventure S
KTM

Released for MY2017, KTM built the “S” to deliver long-distance comfort for riders who are looking for more than they can get from one of the Dukes. Wind protection, storage options, and electronic safety systems take care of the usual ride-ability concerns and distinctive KTM looks.

The bike is heavily kitted with a huge equipment list that includes LED headlight with integrated cornering light and daytime running light (DRL), Multifunction dashboard with 6.5" TFT display, RACE ON (Remote Key System), Waterproof phone pocket with USB, Adjustable ergonomics, Easily adjustable windshield height, Immobilizer, Luggage rack and floating case brackets, Handguards, TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) and much more.

Power comes from a 1301cc V-twin that provides a happy 156hp and 103 lb-ft to play with and comes with MTC (Motorcycle Traction Control) and Cruise Control. A six-speed transmixxer crunches the ratios with a nice-and-long overdrive top gear that is there for a less-frenetic engine tempo on the super slab.

It gets adjustable semi-active WP suspension units that adapt the damping rates in real-time and Brembo brakes with MSC featuring cornering ABS. According to KTM, the 1290 Super Adventure S offers ’buttery smooth cruising’ atop of their extremely grippy and durable Pirelli Scorpion Trail II’s kitted onto 19" and 17" cast wheels.

It looks like U.S. buyers can expect to shell out a total of $17,999 for a 2018 1290 Super Adventure S. Naturally, color choices range between black-and-orange, or orange-and-black with white details. I probably should criticize them for such a basic palette.

Suzuki V-Strom 1000XT

Suzuki hits MY18 with a shiny new V-Strom 1000 after a one-year hiatus, and it seems the factory spent that time wisely. The range retains the V-Strom 1000 and adds the off-road-tastic 1000XT to the adventure mix for the folks who favor the road (or non-road) traveled by few. Overall, the new V-Stroms look to be a little more capable and user-friendly than the previous gen with more top-shelf goodies even if the top-end is currently showing a flat growth curve.

Both models lead off with the typical adventure-beak feature at the front of the fairing that gets backup from the high-side, a full-length fender that mounts to the fork feet and doubles as a fork guard to protect the swept area of the inner fork tube from grit and debris that could destroy the fork seal. The headlights come in an over-under arrangement recessed in the front of the new fairing design with an adjustable windshield that comes vented to smooth out airflow and reduce turbulence at the border of the rider’s pocket and the slipstream.

The V-Strom is powered by a 4-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 90? V-twin engine with a displacement of 1037 cc which is slightly more than its predecessor. This engine generates 99 hp of peak power at 8000 rpm while 76 pound-feet of torque at 4000 rpm. The six-speed transmission keeps the engine in the usable rpm range with a slipper clutch to help prevent excessive back-torque during downshifts and protect the integrity of the rear contact patch.

A set of 43 mm, USD KYB forks supports the front end on the whole Trinity of adjustments — compression/rebound damping and preload — and the rear monoshock is almost as flexible with adjustable rebound damping and a remote, hand-operated spring-preload adjuster for quick and easy tweaks. Tokico supplies the anchors with a pair of four-pot calipers and dual 310 mm discs up front and a twin-pot binder out back.

You can score a new V-Strom 1000 for $12,999 or a 1000 XT model for another three bills at $13,299. They come with a 12-month unlimited mileage warranty with extended programs available and enough cool accessories in the factory catalog to balloon the price significantly.

Yamaha Super Ténéré ES

Launched in 2010, the Super Ténéré and its stablemate, the Super Ténéré ES return for 2018 with all the adventure goodness that gave the Ténéré its name. Named after the Ténéré desert region in the Sahara, the Super Ténéré and Super Ténéré ES from Yamaha give you on-road and off-road confidence wherever your journey takes you.

The Super Ténéré comes with off-roadish features such as a skid plate, handlebar brush guards, and the adventure-bike suspension that gives you a bit more wheel travel than a street-only bike. I like the grooved footpegs that, when seated, give you a cushy peg underfoot. When you get into more technical riding and you stand up, the cushioning compresses under your weight and gives you more sure footing on the underlying metal pegs.

The 1,199 cc, water-cooled, inline twin uses a 46 mm, Mikuni throttle body and a downdraft intake to produce 86 pound-feet of torque. Yamaha’s own ride-by-wire system provides a number of useful features. The Yamaha Chip Control (YCC-T) controls the throttle by smoothing out the discrepancies between response and demand, and adjusts according to throttle-grip position 1000 times per second. A hydraulic clutch makes the connection to the six-speed transmission, and a final shaft drive completes the running gear.

While both of the Super Ténéré models run on 43 mm, USD front forks, the ES allows you to adjust preload and damping at both ends of the bike at the touch of a button. Dual, four-pot calipers bind the 310 mm, petal-cut rotors up front, and a single-piston caliper pinches the 282 mm rear disc. Yamaha’s proprietary ABS system prevents wheel lockup due to over braking or slippery conditions, and the Unified Brake System (UBS) that balances the braking effort yet gives you the option of separating the brakes for traditional function on the fly.

MSRP on your Super Ténéré is $15,099 or $16,199 for the Super Ténéré ES. Both come in Team Yamaha Blue for 2018. Yamaha covers your new ride with a one-year limited factory warranty.

Kawasaki Versys 650 LT

As opposed to the oddball and controversial design of its previous version, the new Versys 650 LT is now a more striking and sharp motorcycle to look at. This is all due to the new sharp design philosophy, which is on the lines of the liter class Ninjas.

The front vertically stacked circular headlamps of the last Versys 650 LT have now been replaced with a dual horizontal as well as angular headlamps, which look like those of the Ninja 1000 and are the same as that of the standard Versys 650. The semi-fairing, into which the dual headlamps are incorporated, extend back to the fuel tank and seems like it is amalgamated to it. A tall and transparent front adjustable visor above the headlamps gives it the much-needed potential to withstand the wind blasts at high speeds. Both the palm grips have an excellent, top-notch feel to them and come with crash protectors in front of them, something which are missing on the standard Versys 650.

Under the skin, the Kawasaki Versys 650 LT is the same machine as the standard Versys 650 – the motorcycle sources its life from the parallel twin, liquid cooled, 649cc engine, which also powers the Ninja 650 and ER-6n. Mated to a 6-speed gearbox, this parallel twin mill churns out 69 hp of maximum power and 40 pound-feet of maximum torque.

The Versys 650 LT sits on a diamond type frame and is blessed with 41mm upside-down hydraulic telescopic forks at the front and an offset laydown with remote spring preload adjustable monoshock at the rear. This suspension setup is finely tuned for tackling rough terrains as well as soft tarmacs with equal ease, a package which makes the Versys 650 LT a hugely practical proposition for a middleweight adventure bike. The Versys 650 LT is equipped with ABS as standard, which is a boon for an adventure motorcycle of this demeanor. The bike comes with dual petal 300mm disc brakes at the front and a single petal 250mm disc brake at the rear.

MSRP on the 2018 Versys 650 is $8,099; add $900 on to that for the LT. Kawasaki covers your new Versys with a 12-month limited warranty and offers the option of additional 12, 24, 36 or 48 months through Kawasaki Protection Plus™.

Honda NC750X

Honda finally decides to bring the NC750X to American Shores. And gets a host of new upgrades with a slew of improvements. The 745cc version of Honda’s midsize crossover adventure tourer is a motorcycle with a compelling all-around appeal. Take it for commuting, touring or simply ride for pleasure, and the NC750X behaves.

With large windscreen for better weather protection and key-less ignition, the NC750X is one of the most practical bikes I’ve come across. But what sets it apart from the rest is that tough-looking bodywork which has a 22-liter "Frunk"(front + trunk), a storage compartment that could fit in a full-sized helmet and a utility rail built onto its lid. A contemporary negative LCD dashboard layout complements all LED lighting. The LCD unit can be customized to sport a myriad of colors to complement the rider’s mood of the day. Fancy.

It is powered by a 745cc (up from 670cc) liquid-cooled, SOHC 8-valve parallel twin-cylinder engine that belts 54 hp and 50 lb-ft of torque, and gets most of its power in the low-to-mid range. Honda’s automatic Dual Clutch Transmission (optional) makes life simpler, and the 7,500 raised rpm will allow the rider to even hoon around in manual mode.

Showa Dual Bending Valve components up front and rear monoshock give excellent control over the bike’s movements. 320mm petal discs with two-piston brake caliper and two-channel ABS deliver plenty stopping power on all surfaces. For 2018, the bike also gets a 2-level Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC, a.k.a. traction control).