Top 5 Adventure Motorcycles of 2022.
The ADV scene has seen huge growth recently, with several manufacturers jumping in the
category and producing some fine motorcycles.
It makes sense—what better way to see the world than on two wheels?
And for those times when a paved road ends and a dirt road begins, an Adventure bike
is the perfect vehicle to take you to the corners of the globe.
The big displacement ADVs are as popular as ever, with a few new models entering the ranks.
At the same time, the established players in the field have had to step up their game
to compete.
The result is a huge field of motorcycles, all aimed at taking you wherever you want
to go.
Today, Lone Rider is going to take you through our pick of the top seven adventure motorcycles
of 2022.
Now, picking only seven bikes means we’ve left some models off the list, but we think
you’ll agree all of these deserve to be included.
They are here in alphabetical order, but don’t mistake this for a review of each bike.
Rather, consider this a quick guide to get you up to speed on what each model offers.
2022 BMW R 1250 GS Adventure - starting at $20,345.
This list may be alphabetical, but starting things off with the grand-daddy of the adventure
category only seems right.
Many will argue the BMW GS created the adventure craze to begin with more than 30 years ago.
Fortunately for us BMW hasn’t let up, and the Adventure version of the R 1250 GS is
the one better suited for touring and getting dirty.
Powered by BMW’s tried-and-true boxer engine.
Its 1254cc displacement is bold in itself, but its Shiftcam variable valve timing gives
you power anywhere you want it.
Gas stops will be few and far between since it has a huge 7.9-gallon fuel tank, and of
course, being a BMW, the GS Adventure is loaded with tech like ride modes, electronic suspension,
ABS, traction control, and even a 6.5-inch TFT display that’s so clear, colorful, and
bright, you could watch a movie from it.
2022 Ducati Multistrada V4 S - starting at $19,995.
Even Ducati, a brand most well known for its high-performance sportbikes, isn’t ignoring
the adventure market.
The Multistrada 1260 Enduro still has a spot in the family tree as its top-dog V-twin ADV,
but for 2021, Ducati surprised many of us when it unveiled the all-new Multistrada V4
S, powered by the new V4 Granturismo engine.
It’s very close to the V4 in the flagship Panigale sportbike, but Ducati veered away
from decades worth of tradition by giving the Granturismo engine traditional valves
and valve springs!
The result is a 170 hp engine with service intervals pushed out to every 36,000 miles!
Ducati’s traditional desmodromic valves could never go that long.
The changeup with the engine and its valve actuation is the biggest sign Ducati is serious
about making the Multi V4 a departure from the norm.
If Ducati is willing to use traditional valve springs, what else will it do?
Granted, the Multi V4 tries to do it all, both on pavement and in the dirt, and comes
with tech like a navigation system, radar-assisted blind-spot monitoring, and much more.
In the dirt you can opt for the wire-spoke wheels and benefit from the high ground clearance,
electronic suspension, ergonomics that were actually designed to be comfortable while
standing, and an electronics package that keeps the off-road rider in mind by allowing
generous amounts of spinning.
2022 Harley-Davidson Pan America – starting at $17,319.
You never thought you’d see a Harley-Davidson on an Adventure bike list, did you?
The fact that it’s here should tell you all that you need to know about how hot the
Adventure bike market is.
But not only did Harley build an Adventure bike, they built one to go toe-to-toe with
all the heavy hitters in the category!
The Pan America 1250 represents a bold new direction for Harley-Davidson, but one thing
that remains is the V-twin engine.
The all-new Revolution Max is a 1252cc V-twin, but this ain’t your grandpa’s V-twin Harley.
This one is liquid-cooled with overhead cams, tuned to make 150 horsepower.
It’s also a stressed member of the chassis, reducing weight.
Designed with Adventure touring in mind, the Pan America can easily cruise down the highway
(it is a Harley, after all), but when the urge comes to veer off the paved path and
head into the dirt it’s ready for that, too.
Long-travel, semi-active suspension, a 19/17-inch wheel set, and a full array of electronic
goodies ensure you have a good time no matter what sort of terra is underneath you.
2022 Honda Africa Twin – starting at $14,499.
The Honda Africa Twin occupies a unique spot in the “big” ADV space.
While many of the other players have gone with the “bigger is better” mantra and
stuffed huge engines into their frames, when Honda re-introduced the Africa Twin in 2016
it came with a “small” 1000cc parallel twin.
For 2020, Honda has beefed up the engine a tiny bit to 1084cc thanks to a longer stroke,
but has also thoroughly revamped the bike.
It’s now slimmer, lighter, and comes with a Bosch IMU.
Available in both the standard and Adventure Sports varieties, you can also get the Africa
Twin with either a traditional transmission or Honda’s Dual Clutch Transmission, both
gearboxes getting further updates as part of the 2020 refresh.
As far as adventure chops go, the AT gets 9.1 inches of suspension travel and the Adventure
Sports gets electronic suspension.
There are six different ride modes, Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC), adjustable
engine braking, wheelie control, cornering ABS, and the ability to connect the bike to
your iOS device to use Apple Carplay.
Virtually everything is adjustable via the bright 6.5-inch touchscreen TFT display, too.
2022 KTM 1290 Super Adventure R – starting at $19,499.
If we’re talking about the big boys of the adventure category, then it doesn’t get
any bigger than the KTM 1290 Super Adventure R.
The 1290 in its name actually sells itself short, since its V-Twin engine comes in at
a monstrous 1301cc.
KTM claims 160 hp and a crazy 103 lb-ft of torque!
It’s wrapped in KTM’s signature trellis frame, with long-travel 48mm, fully adjustable
WP suspension.
Further off-road chops include tubeless, wire-spoked wheels measuring 21 inches in the front and
18 inches in the back, Brembo brakes, and a 6.1-gallon fuel tank ensuring you won’t
have to worry about gas very often.
You can control everything on the bike, like the cornering ABS, traction control, ride
modes (including a dedicated off-road mode), and a whole lot more from the 6.5-inch TFT
display which is bright and colorful even in direct sunlight.
There’s so much to cover with the 1290 Super Adventure R we couldn’t possibly fit it
all into this tiny space.
But we think you get the idea.