With time the biker’s community here in India has risen by many folds. People have started noticing and enjoying lives with an open stretch of road and wind blasting on their face. The motorcycle is more than just a two-wheeler to transport people.
Earlier we used to have just a motorcycle without categories, but today, we have more option in the two-wheeler than 4-wheelers. Racing motorcycles, commuter motorcycles, naked motorcycles, tourers, and then comes the go-anywhere or adventure motorcycles.
So, if you are one of those who seek adventure and want a companion to go wandering into the wild? or explore our beloved yet diverse India, off-roading or adventure motorcycles are the ones to choose. Let’s make it easy for you. Depending upon your riding experience here are the top 10 motorcycles in the Indian market those are just for the right purpose.
Beginner Motorcycles
Here are some motorcycles to get you starting with Off-roading or adventurous riding. The bikes listed are in increasing order when considering power.
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Hero Xpulse 200 | Price: ₹ 1.13 Lakhs (ex-Showroom)
Technical Specs
Engine 200CC, Oil cooled with 2 valve head Transmission 5-speed Power 17.8 Bhp @ 8,500 rpm Torque 16.45 Nm @ 6,500 rpm Weight 157 kgs Suspension Travel (Front/Rear) 190mm/170mm Starting we off-roading? We highly recommend the Hero Xpulse 200 as it offers the perfect bang for your buck. The motorcycle is light on your pocket, despite that the motorcycle has no compromises what so ever. High ground clearance, long suspension travel, adjustable suspension, ample power, the Hero Xpulse 200 has it all.
More so, you can purchase an additional ‘Rally Kit’ from Hero that adds even more suspension travel and also lifts motorcycles. In addition, this kit also included adjustable front suspension. Hero, though spot-on for off-roading lacks the punch for highway cruising.
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Royal Enfield Himalayan | Price: ₹ 1.91 Lakhs (ex-Showroom)
Technical Specs
Engine 411cc, Oil cooled with SOHC Transmission 5-speed Power 24.3 Bhp @ 6,500 rpm Torque 32 Nm @ 4000-4500 rpm Kerb Weight 199 kgs Suspension Travel (Front/Rear) 200 mm / 180 mm If you seek is highway cruising and a lot of off-roading, Royal Enfield Himalayan is the one to go for. like the Xpulse, this gets high ground clearance, more suspension travel that can just glide over the rough section of roads and no roads. In addition, the Himalayan gets a bigger engine making it quick off the bat and also a decent highway cruiser. The sad bit is, unlike the Hero, it doesn’t get the rally kit that the Xpulse boasts off.
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Husqvarna Svartpilen 250 | Price: ₹ 1.84 Lakhs (ex-Showroom)
Technical Specs
Engine 248.76cc, Liquid Cooled Transmission 6-speed Power 29.5 Bhp @ 9000 rpm Torque 24 Nm @ 7500 rpm Kerb Weight 154 kgs Ground Clearance 145mm A new entry around the block is the KTM owned Husqvarna Svartpilen 250. Before you say anything let me tell you, this is not a hardcore offroader, instead, it is a go-anywhere scrambler motorcycle. Unlike the previous motorcycles, Svartpilen only has on and off-road tyres from the factory, and that rounds up the off-roading kit. In addition, the motorcycle also gets a tank rack to attach a tank bag. The riding position is spot on coupled with the energetic engine that is liquid-cooled.
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BMW G310 GS | Price: ₹ 2.85 Lakhs (ex-Showroom)
Technical Specs
Engine 313cc, Liquid Cooled with DOHC Transmission 6-speed Power 33.3 Bhp @ 9250 rpm Torque 28 Nm @ 7500 rpm Kerb Weight 175 kgs Suspension Travel (Front/Rear) 180 mm / 180 mm Recently German carmaker, oh! motorcycle manufacturer launched the two 310s. The new 310cc twins got a slight makeover with the talking point being the price. Both the motorcycles got a drastic price cut than their BS4 siblings. Let’s not deviate and talk about one the potent motorcycles, the ‘BMW G310 GS’.
Packed with the right amount of kit like high ground clearance, long suspension travel and ample power. And the most important bit, the ‘BMW’ badge, that is a symbol of elegance. The entry of G310 GS makes it the cheapest adventure offering from the BMW brand.
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KTM 390 Adventure | Price: ₹ 3.04 Lakhs (ex-Showroom)
Technical Specs
Engine 373.2cc, Liquid Cooled with DOHC Transmission 6-speed Power 44 Bhp @ 9000 rpm Torque 37 Nm @ 7000 rpm Kerb Weight 158 kgs (Approx.) Suspension Travel (Front/Rear) 170 mm / 177 mm The Austrian Motorcycle brand KTM is known to make some hooligan motorcycles, just like the KTM Duke 390. Recently KTM entered the adventure and off-road motorcycles with the 390 Adventure. Till now, KTM 390 Adventure is the most advanced motorcycle in the list. Along with the usual bit like the ground clearance, and long suspension travel, ride by wire.
This adventure motorcycle also boasts cornering ABS and TC along with conventional Anti-Lock Braking system. This is the motorcycle, that one can buy to taste the actual glimpse of an advanced motorcycle. Well, this motorcycle is not at all recommended for a rookie.
Advanced Motorcycles
Now, with the beginner motorcycles out of our way, here are the motorcycles that can be considered by a pro rider and have some experience with off-road riding and adventure touring.
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Kawasaki Versys 650 | Price: ₹ 6.79 Lakhs (ex-Showroom)
Technical Specs
Engine 649cc, Liquid Cooled with DOHC, Parallel-Twin Transmission 6-speed Power 68 Bhp @ 9000 rpm Torque 64 Nm @ 7000 rpm Kerb Weight 216 kgs Suspension Travel (Front/Rear) 150 mm / 145 mm To begin with, Kawasaki Versys 650 is one of the potent motorcycles to exist in the adventure-touring category. As of now this bike is in its own league and has no such direct rival. But, there might be a tough competition in later after some time. Let’s keep that for some other day, as this motorcycle has got a lot to boast about. Kawasaki Versys 650 not only gets long-travel suspension but also comes equipped with adjustable front suspension out of the box.
When touring on this motorcycle, one has to stop less for re-fuels as it gets a 21-litre fuel tank. What it misses out are different riding modes. But in the end, one knows with Kawasaki, no one can go wrong, as they are super reliable.
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BMW F900XR | Price: ₹ 10.50 Lakhs (ex-Showroom)
Technical Specs
Engine 895cc, Liquid Cooled with DOHC, Parallel-Twin Transmission 6-speed Power 99 Bhp @ 8500 rpm Torque 92.1 Nm @ 7000 rpm Kerb Weight 219 kgs Suspension Travel (Front/Rear) 170 mm / 172 mm It is impossible to talk adventure without BMW in the picture. That said, BMW Motorrad manufactures some of the finest machines of every category, adventure or off-road bikes being one of them. The BMW F900XR entered our shores late, but it’s always late than never. Enough of the story, let’s jump in what the F900XR has on offer.
For starters, this gets all-LED headlights, with an adjustable windshield, a TFT screen to display a bucket load of features, including riding modes. You might think at this price this Bimmer will get an adjustable front and rear suspension. Well, let me explain that you get an electronically adjustable (Pre-load and damping) suspension. Indeed, at this price, you get a really fine machine.
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Triumph Tiger 900 | Price: ₹ 13.70 Lakhs (ex-Showroom)
Technical Specs
Engine 888cc, Liquid Cooled with DOHC, l-3 Transmission 6-speed Power 93.9 Bhp @ 8750 rpm Torque 87 Nm @ 7250 rpm Kerb Weight 194 kgs Suspension Travel (Front/Rear) 180 mm / 170 mm There likes an undisputed king or rather Tiger of off-roading and adventuring, that is the Triumph Tiger 800. With its 800cc inline 3 cylinder motor, the motorcycle was capable of going anywhere. Sometimes it was the rider that limited this mean machine. But with BS6, Triumph has dialled the game up a notch with the ‘Tiger 900’.
Now that motorcycle gets a bigger engine, more features, or in short, better than the previous legend. What are the changes? You may ask. For one, you get a new front look with LED-headlights, a coloured screen is also an addition on the new Triumph Tiger 900. Cruise control, heated grips, fully adjustable suspension and spoked tubeless tyres are some of many features the new Tiger 900 flaunts.
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Honda Africa Twin | Price: ₹ 15.35 Lakhs (ex-Showroom)
Technical Specs
Engine 1082.96cc, Liquid Cooled with OHC, Parallel Twin Transmission 6-speed MT/ 6-Speed DCT Power 97.8 Bhp @ 7500 rpm Torque 103 Nm @ 6000 rpm Kerb Weight 249 kgs / 239 kgs
Africa Twin, the motorcycle that has its roots from the legendary Dakar rally. For those who are not aware of Dakar Rally, it is among the toughest, dangerous yet serious rally racing on the entire globe. This rally takes part across the entire Sahara Desert. Honda Africa Twin, we hope now you know why it is called the Africa Twin. With that clear, what all features this Honda have on offer? Starting with 2 displays, a coloured screen that shows all the information starting from riding modes to the RPM and the other monochrome that display that depicts the gears and other warning lights.Honda Africa Twin also gets heated grips, cruise control, and an automatic transmission (Optional). The motorcycle also includes the common bit like the adjustable suspension, long suspension travel, and more.
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BMW R1250GS Adventure | Price: ₹ 18.25 Lakhs (ex-Showroom)
Technical Specs
Engine 1250cc, Liquid Cooled, Boxer-2 Transmission 6-speed Power 134 Bhp @ 7750 rpm Torque 143 Nm @ 6250 rpm Kerb Weight 268 kgs Suspension Travel (Front/Rear) 210 mm / 220 mm There are motorcycles that do not need any introduction, BMW S1000XR is one of them. Mostly all the latest features one can think of in a motorcycle, this BMW beast already has it. On the contrary, the 1000cc gem of an engine is one of the most powerful engines seen on a two-wheeler.
That said, the BMW S1000XR calls for serious business as riding this is no joke. A person at least needs 3-4 years of experience with the advanced motorcycle to extract all the horses out of this gem engine. Keeping that aside, the motorcycles like the other high-end bikes get, cruise control, all-LED headlights, riding modes, coloured screen and more.
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So, these were the 10 motorcycles to go off-roading or go wandering in this beautiful country called India.
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