The question of what is the best adventure bike is kind of like the question what is the best camera? It boils down to the one you’re going to use. I have a friend that rides a heavy ass Harley Davidson on crazy adv routes. She’s even take it over Cinnamon Pass which was insane. I wouldn’t recommend that. I started with a 2016 KLR 650 which I bought new and has worked well. I still have that bike. I also purchased a KTM 1290 Super Adventure T and I still ride that bike as well.
For me I find that like cameras I can’t find the perfect adventure bike. I want a bike I can ride on the highway to get me to the trails I want to ride. I want to be able to use the same bike to ride the trails and then come home on the highway again. I ride state to state to ride these trails so I do a lot of street plus a lot of dirt. So far, neither of the bikes I own is perfect for what I want to do. The KLR is slow on the street and the KTM is heavy on the dirt. I just test rode the new KTM 790 Adventure and that bike has potential but I could tell riding it that it’s not going to be perfect either.
I have a problem with bluetooth headphones, cameras and adv motorcycles I just can’t seem to find one that I would consider perfect for everything I want to do. So like me, you probably won’t find the perfect ADV bike either. The one you love to ride, the one you will ride, the one that can get you there and back safely is the one to choose. People have ridden every type of motorcycle you can think of ADV style and some have done round the world trips on bikes you wouldn’t even think of taking on that trip. The best adventure motorcycle is the one your going to ride!
I am a pretty big fan of KTM right now, they are building some great bikes and they are hitting the sweet spot for a lot of riders. However, a KLR works just fine, a Suzuki DR650 or V-Strom works, obviously a lot (the majority) of ADV riders are having a love affair with BMW right now. I’m not sure the dirt capabilities of BMW stack up to KTM but the road capabilities are off the chain. Those are comfortable ADV machines! The new Honda Africa Twins are pretty badass and the 2020 sport model would be a bike I’d consider. If I was going to do a rtw trip I’d take my KLR. Knowing that you won’t find the perfect machine find the one that is suited to your riding style and where your spending the most time either dirt or road.
In the end you can make any bike work some are just better at it than others. Ride what you have and don’t worry about what everyone else is doing. I steered clear of BMW because it’s the fad right now. I’ve steered clear of Harley my entire life because who wants to follow the crowd? I would if the crowd were choosing the best machine but I’m not sure they are or do. The best adventure bike? There are a lot of great ones out there. Choose the one you can afford and afford to maintain, the one you’re going to ride, the one that’s going to make you want to get out and go exploring. I’ve had life altering rides to remote and beautiful places on the KLR and the KTM and I still like to ride them both. The best adventure bike is the one you’re going to ride!