Adventure-sport motorcycles are the perfect fusion of ruggedness and power. They’re meant to conquer

 

deserts and mountains, but can also do a pretty good job of getting you through city traffic. These are

 

the pick of the crop that is available in India:

 

 

 

Ducati Multistrada 1200 Enduro

 

 

 

 

Apart from its beautiful Italian design elements, the Multistrada is a strong contender for the king of this segment. The bike’s 1198cc V-twin engine generates a mind-boggling 152 bhp. Add features like ABS, four different ride modes, dual spark ignition and semi-active suspension, and you’ve got yourself the perfect adventure bike. Indeed, many reviewers call it the best all-round motorcycle you can buy.

 

Price – Rs 17.44 Lakh (Ex-Showroom, Delhi)

 

 

 

Suzuki V-Strom 1000

 

 

What sets the V-Strom apart from the rest of the other premium adventure bikes is its price tag. You get a liquid-cooled, 1037cc 90-degree V-twin engine with a five-axis Intertial Measurement Unit, all for a price that’s less than some of the other bikes in this segment. The V-Strom 1000 is the perfect choice for someone with a passion for adventure, but who doesn’t want to break the bank for it

 

Price – Rs 13.45 Lakh (Ex-Showroom, Delhi)

 

 

 

BMW R1200GS

 

 

With its naked, in-your-face design, the R1200GS has a presence on the road that will make sure everyone else gets out of the way. The bike comes with a 1170cc engine that delivers 125 bhp, and has other nifty features like electronically adjustable ABS, traction control and suspension, making it great for cross-continent rides. The bike is also available in a much cheaper and far less powerful version, the BMW 310 GS.

 

Price –Ranges from Rs 15.85 to Rs 19.30 Lakh (Ex-Showroom, Delhi)

 

 

 

Honda Africa Twin

 

 

The Africa Twin is the very definition of an adventure sports bike. Combining an 8-valve parallel twin motor, an impressive 250mm of ground clearance and a superbly balanced chassis, it can handle tar as easily as it handles dirt. Safety-wise, it comes equipped with ABS and Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) — in other words, traction control.

 

Price – Rs 12.90 Lakh (Ex-Showroom, Delhi)

 

 

 

Triumph Tiger 800 XCX

 

 

This motorcycle has two of the necessities in this segment – power and light weight. The 800cc engine produces 94 bhp and comes with features like ABS, cruise control and an ‘Off Road’ mode, where ABS to the rear wheel is switched off, allowing for tighter cornering, better rotation and overall, a lot more fun on dirt tracks.

 

Price – Rs 12.7 Lakh (Ex-Showroom, Delhi)

 

 

 

Yamaha Tracer 900

 

 

Evolved from the Yamaha MT-09, the Tracer 900 packs the DNA of a fast motorcycle along with that adventure bike charisma. It manages to retain Yamaha’s motorcycle design cues, with those twin headlamps and curvy tank design, while still reassuring you that it can handle tar and dirt alike. The refined 847cc, inline threecylinder engine is the same as in the MT-09, and churns out about 115 bhp.

 

Price – Expected to be around Rs 12.2 Lakh (Ex-Showroom, Delhi)

 

 

 

Benelli TRK 502

 

 

The TRK 502 is also set to go the CKD route, so its price will be less than the other completely built up units. The Italian manufacturer has fitted a newly-developed parallel twin-cylinder, four-stroke liquidcooled 500cc engine with electronic injection, which puts out 45Nm of torque at 4,500rpm; it has a 6-speed gearbox, which is controlled by a hydraulic clutch.

 

Price – Rs 5 Lakh (Ex-Showroom, Delhi)

 

 

 

Royal Enfield Himalayan

 

 

The Royal Enfield Himalayan is undoubtedly one of the most successful adventure motorcycles in the country, and with good reason. Sticking to a minimalistic design, the Himalayan isn’t really a head-turner, as RE decided to focus more on practicality than aesthetics. It’s powered by a fuel-injected 411cc, single-cylinder air-cooled engine that produces 24.5 bhp at 6500rpm and a peak torque of 32Nm at 4000-4500rpm. Dual-channel ABS option is available on all models.

 

Price –Ranges from Rs 1.79 to 1.82 Lakh (Ex-Showroom, Delhi)

 

 

 

Kawasaki Versys 1000

 

 

The Versys is one of the most affordable adventure sport bikes you can buy right now, due to Kawasaki’s decision to bring it in via the CKD (Completely Knocked Down) route, instead of importing it as a completely built unit. A crossover of the Ninja 1000, the chassis and in-line four engine are designed to boost rider enjoyment. Electronic cruise control, Kawasaki Traction Control (KTRC) and Kawasaki Cornering Management Function (KCMF) all come built into the Versys.

 

Price – Rs 10.69 Lakh (Ex-Showroom, Delhi)

 

 

 

SWM Superdual T

 

 

Kinetic-owned Motoroyale brought the Italian brand Speedy Motor Works (SWM) to India, and introduced its first offering in the country, the Superdual T. With an aim to directly compete with Suzuki’s V-Strom and Kawasaki’s Versys, the SWM Superdual T comes with a Husqvarna-derived 650cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine, which generates 53 bhp of power and 53.5 Nm of torque. It comes with dualchannel ABS which can be disabled if you plan on doing some hardcore off-roading.

 

Price –Ranges from Rs 6.8 to 7.3 Lakh (Ex-Showroom, Delhi)