Best Adventure Bike Reviews Of 2018
Highlights
- 2018 was a great year for adventure motorcycles
- The Tiger 800 and the Africa Twin are good middleweight ADVs
- BMW G 310 GS is the most affordable ADV launched this year
There is no beating the practicality that an adventure bike offers. These can handle city rides, bad roads and long distance rides as well and 2018 was a great year for adventure motorcycles for there were a bunch of these which were launched in India and a few which we rode and are expecting to be launched in 2019. With more people taking adventure motorcycling seriously in India and a plethora of options as well, this segment is just starting to grow in India. There are a bunch of adventure motorcycles coming to India in 2019 too and we have already listed them for you. You could read the story by clicking the hyperlink at the end of this paragraph. But just to recap, here are the top adventure bike reviews from carandbike.com for this year.
Also Read: Upcoming Adventure Bikes In 2019
Triumph Tiger 800
The Triumph Tiger 800 is one of the most popular adventure bikes on sale in India. In fact, it is one of the best-selling adventure bikes around the world too with over 68,000 units sold since 2010. When it comes to motorcycles being versatile, it's the adventure bikes, which offer a lot of it; be it mile-munching, mild or hard-core off-roading or even riding on a daily basis. And the Triumph Tiger 800 has been one of the favourites when it comes to a one size fits all kind of motorcycle. We loved riding the updated Tiger 800 and we are sure, you would love riding it too.
Honda Africa Twin
The Honda Africa Twin completely changed the middleweight adventure bike segment when it was launched in 2017. For India, only one variant was introduced - the one with the automatic dual clutch transmission - and it exceeded expectations in the way it was received by adventure-hungry enthusiasts. With very good off-road capability and a segment-first automatic transmission, the 2017 Honda Africa Twin impressed us with its easy ride-ability and instantly likeable off-road manners. Now, a year later, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) has introduced an updated version of the same CRF 1000 L Africa Twin. And the changes on the 2018 model make an already capable adventure bike even better.
Ducati Multistrada 1260
Ducati introduced the Multistrada 1260 in India this year and it is a significant update from what the Multistrada 1200 offered. The headliner is the updated engine which is a 1,262 cc L-twin motor which is the same as the one on the Ducati XDiavel. With updated components such as new con-rods, crankshafts and cylinders, the DVT Testastretta engine makes about 158 bhp at 9,750 rpm and pumps out 129.5 Nm at 7,500 rpm. Other big updates include the chassis, swingarm and the cycle parts. The steel frame on the chassis led to an increase in rake from 24 degrees to 25 degree and the swingarm grows in length, thereby elongating the wheelbase by 56 mm, to 1,585 mm. The brakes too have been updated with twin 330 mm front discs being gripped by Brembo M50 monobloc four-piston calipers, along with a 265 mm disc at the rear working in tandem with a Brembo calliper. A proper top-notch full-blown adventure motorcycle it is!
Ducati Multistrada 1260 S Review
BMW G 310 GS
The BMW G 310 GS aims to bring a lot of riders into the fold of BMW Motorrad's well-known GS family with a bike which is accessible, well-built, and looks the part of a true-blue adventure tourer. With qualities which make it equally easy to ride in the city, on the highway, and on the occasional gravel and rocky mountain road, the BMW G310GS promises to be the ideal upgrade for those looking for a capable long distance tourer, with respectable off-road capability and at a more affordable price point than other big adventure bikes.
Triumph Scrambler 1200
The Triumph Scrambler 1200 was three years in the making and the company wanted to create a motorcycle that resonated with the old TR5 Trophy from the 1950s. Therefore, the design had to be such that not only the Scrambler 1200 looked the part, but also have exceptional off-road ability. In fact, Triumph itself calls the Scrambler 1200 a cross between a modern classic and an adventure motorcycle. It is a classic case of function over form! The Triumph Scrambler 1200 might not the best-looking retro motorcycle, but it means business! The Scrambler 1200 XC gets the same 1200 cc high power parallel-twin which is liquid-cooled and pumps out about 90 bhp at 7,400 rpm and a massive 110 Nm of peak torque at a very low 3,950 rpm. Yes! The full surge of torque comes in before you hit 4,000 rpm. There is a 6-speed gearbox with a torque-assisted clutch that is smooth. It has the ability to make all big adventure bikes redundant with its easy going nature.
Last Updated on December 24, 2018