What Makes Your Overlanding Adventure Motorcycle Unique?

Overlanding is a fun-filled adventure. Most adventure lovers love exploring new places using sophisticated overland trucks. It is all good and thrilling but have you ever tried overlanding with an adventure motorcycle?

That is where all the joy and excitement for overlanding kicks in. Bike enthusiasts will have a fabulous time exploring the woods or the desert in their stunning adventure bikes.

However, how will you know the best adventure motorcycle to try out the new trails you discovered? Worry not, as we have has you covered. It looks at the characteristics of these bikes to help you secure the perfect one that suits your personal needs.

You will also learn some adventure motorcycles examples and choose the ideal one.

What Is An Overland Adventure Motorcycle?

An overland adventure motorcycle is a bike for hitting the off-road. These motorcycles are ideal for overlanding, even though you can cruise with them on paved roads. They are made to hit the grassy sand dunes, encounter boulders, steep climbs and descends, cruise the woods and even ride via deserts.

With bike overlanding, the main goal is not getting to your destination but instead feeling and enjoying every vibe, temperatures change and smell on the way. The adventure bike does not have to be an expensive one. You can overland with any dual-purpose motorcycle as long as it has a robust suspension, reliable engine and solid carrying ability.

But you may ask why some people prefer overlanding with their bike rather than getting a 4×4?

Well, with a motorcycle, you are out in the open. You are not enclosed inside a vehicle. That means you will feel everything in your area of exploration. If it is hot, you will feel the heat of that place, unlike in a vehicle where you will switch on your AC.

If the place is raining, you will get wet and have a fun experience. You will even smell what the place smells like, which gives you the exact vibe and feeling of that area. All your senses are involved here, unlike in a vehicle where you will primarily use your eyes.

How To Select the Perfect Adventure Motorcycle?

Off-roading on a bike requires specially built and designed bikes. Not all the motorcycles labelled adventure bikes are perfect for your off-road itinerary. Again, you do not need to go for the biggest motorcycle with insane engine capacity.

There are things you need to consider when getting an adventure bike. It may not be as easy, but you should be okay when you follow these hacks.

Finding the Right Engine Size

The cylindrical volume of an engine is known as a cubic centimetre (cc). Bigger cc means that the engine can take in extra air and fuel, meaning it can convert more energy. That means it has a more considerable engine power. However, there may be other factors such as performance, ascertaining power and number of cylinders.

The ideal engine capacity for an adventure bike is a 650cc engine. The bikes strike a perfect balance between size, weight, fuel efficiency and durability. If you need a smaller bike, ensure you pick one above 450cc. Do not go below that.

Bike Suspension

If your bike has awful suspension, then your overlanding itinerary will be tedious, dull and frustrating. The suspension of a bike is critical as it offers you safety and comfort and contributes to the braking and handling of the bike. If the suspensions are okay, the bike will easily cope with the boulders and potholes off-road.

Look for off-road bikes with sturdy suspension to make the exploration trip fun and memorable.

Motorcycle Recovery Ability and Weight

When riding on muddy surfaces, wet grounds or sandy deserts, it takes only a little effort to bring you down. Even the least instability instances will make you lose your balance. That is why you are advised to get an adventure motorcycle with recovery ability.

Once you fall, if no one is around to help lift the bike, you may have a rough time if it is a heavy bike. That is why you should go for a lighter adventure bike if you know you are not strong enough to lift your bike alone if you topple over.

What Are The Characteristics Of An Adventure Bike?

There are some unique characteristics that every off-road bike ought to have, as included in the list below:

• Spoked Wheels – spoked wheels are mandatory on all adventure off-road bikes. The main reason is that these wheels are more durable compared to the single-piece cast wheels. They are much more rigid and can handle higher horsepower amounts and higher speeds.

• Beaks – most of the adventure motorcycles you come across today will have beaks. These are the front mudguards on top of the front wheel, and their main aim is to guide airflow towards the oil cooler. It cools down the engine, especially if you discover new trails in a desert.

• Wind Protection – your adventure thirst will have you spending on highways before you get to the off-roads. If you have the naked bikes, you know how tiresome and exhausted it can be when all the wind blows to your chest and face. That is why you need to get an adventure motorcycle with a wind protection guard. Adjustable windscreens are great since they not only give your bike a sleek appearance, they protect you from the wind and unnecessary vibrations.

• Dual-Purpose Tires – tires are very critical when off-road or even on the tarmac. Tires on adventure bikes fulfil diverse purposes. That is why as you go to look for an adventure motorcycle, get a bike that comes with dual-purpose tires that can cruise the tarmac at ease and also hit the off-road.

• Long-Travel Suspension – suspensions are a vital ingredient in your adventure bike. A good number of adventure bikes will come with light off-roading suspensions. Most manufacturers fit the adventure bikes with some long-travel suspension systems to give riders comfort and manoeuvrability.

A Few Adventure Bike Examples

Royal Enfield Himalayan

This adventure bike was initiated in 2016 and represented a rugged and rudimentary modern ADV bike. Royal Enfield Himalayan employs a single-cylinder, air-cooled engine, and it is caged in a split cradle frame. The Himalayan is still perfect for freeway travel and has Bluetooth features and an onboard navigation assistant. The adventure bike has a ground clearance of 220 mm and suspension travel of 200mm to the front and 180mm rear.

KTM 390 Adventure

After many years of producing adventure motorcycles, the KTM 390 platform decided to develop this adventure bike. It is equipped with a 373.2 cc engine and has over 170mm suspension travel. It also has a skid plate and adventure-style bodywork. The bike also comes with other amenities such as WP suspension, cornering and off-road ABS, slipper clutch, several ride modes and sensitive traction control.

The adventure bike has a ground clearance of about 200mm and a curb weight of 379lbs. It has a liquid-cooled engine that is a single-cylinder. The suspension travel is 170mm on the front and 178mm on the rear.

BMW R1200GS

It is a stunning overlanding bike that strikes a perfect balance between touring, comfort and off-road performance. BMW R1200GS is a touring-worthy motorcycle with smoother and more efficient power. It has an outstanding cruising prowess when it comes to off-roading. The bike’s ergonomics are pretty comfortable, and it comes with enhanced wide bars, cruise control and an adjustable windscreen.

The bike feels fantastic and stable even when cornering. This bike is impressive in the off-road terrain and instils confidence even while cruising via dirt surfaces. It has a low centre of gravity, wide peg position and centralized weight bias. Its traction control and ABS are incredibly effective.

R1200GS is a super stable, durable and comfortable adventure bike with class-leading refinement. Its windscreen controls noise and the cruise to give you balance and avoid the wind from directly hitting your chest. As mentioned earlier, it has the perfect balance between touring comfort and dirt capability.

Triumph Tiger 800 XC

Launched in 2010, this adventure motorcycle gives adventure seekers nothing short of an incredible overlanding experience. The bike comes with 8.7 inches of suspension travel on the front, a 21-inch front wheel, 94 horsepower engine and a comfortable standing position.

It has an overall modern and classy appearance making it among the best adventure bikes for off-roading.

This bike is relatively fast and flawless even as you traverse via rocky and steep climbs. It maintains traction and responds to your input seamlessly. The bike is more balanced and soaks up the terrain much more easily.

The other great advantage of this bike is that it is reliable even after using it for a long time. It has a capable highway performance, and the 21-inch front wheel means the bike is stable. It can take on any off-road itinerary you are planning on.

Final Thoughts

Overlanding on off-road bikes should be an exciting yet challenging adventure. However, make sure you have the proper bike for this challenge. An adventure bike is the best for these off-road explorations.

Do not just go for any adventure motorcycle but make sure it has all the necessary adjustments to give you comfort and an easy time even as you discover new places.