There is no objective, universally agreed top ten, but a few adventure-bike lineages stand out for shaping the category, connecting production motorcycles to rally or overland riding, or balancing road travel with off-road ability. This editorial selection follows those criteria. It includes production bikes and, where noted, models whose competition history helped define the production machines that followed.
What makes an adventure bike one of the greatest?
“Greatest” is a judgment, not a measurable title. Here, the selection favors influence on the adventure category, a documented competition or overland lineage, and the idea of a motorcycle that can travel on roads and continue onto rougher terrain. The entries are not a universal ranking, and the available histories do not support a like-for-like specification comparison across generations.
The history below relies on manufacturer accounts, so claims about a brand creating a segment or a model’s influence are attributed to that company. Rally machines are identified as competition bikes rather than passed off as production adventure motorcycles.
10 greatest adventure bikes ever made
1. BMW R 80 G/S
BMW dates the beginning of its GS story to 1980, when it presented the R 80 G/S in southern France. The company describes its production-ready motorcycle as helping create a new segment. That makes the R 80 G/S a natural starting point for this list, while the origin claim remains BMW’s account rather than a claim that no motorcycle before it combined touring and off-road ambitions. BMW’s GS history
#1 Best Overall
- Polycarbonate/ABS Shell construction
- Integrated face shield
- Height adjustable helmet shield
- Padded Chin Strap with Double-D safety lock
- Meets DOT FMVSS 218 and ECE 22.05 safety standards
2. BMW R 1150 GS Adventure
BMW’s history identifies the R 1150 GS Adventure, introduced in 2002, as a model aimed at long-distance travelers. It represents the touring side of the adventure idea: not just reaching a trail, but setting out for a long journey on a motorcycle built around the GS concept. The account does not provide a comparable specification set for this list. BMW’s GS history
3. BMW R 1200 GS
The R 1200 GS is another milestone in BMW’s account of the line, which describes it as a redesigned GS. Its place here reflects the continuing development of the family that began with the R 80 G/S; the source does not establish a separate performance or sales distinction for this model. BMW’s GS history
4. Honda XRV650 Africa Twin
Honda’s production Africa Twin grew out of experience with the NXR750 factory rally bike, but it was a distinct production model. Honda says the 1988 XRV650 had a 24-liter tank. The company also reports that production Africa Twins placed first and second in a 1989 Paris-Dakar production-bike marathon class; 18 of the 50 invited amateur riders completed the event. These are Honda’s historical claims, and the marathon result should not be confused with the NXR750’s factory-racing record. Honda’s Africa Twin history
Rank #2
- SHELL: Advanced Polycarbonate Shell developed and engineered, by ScorpionEXO to be lightweight, strong and maximize impact displacement. CAD-refined aerodynamics result in a streamlined profile and balanced footprint, minimizing both lift and turbulence for a smoother, quieter, and more stable ride. Advanced multi-layer EPS provides superior energy absorption and channels throuhgout EPS foam provide increased airflow.
- COMFORT: Aero-tuned ventilation system features one large intake vent on top, forcing cool air in, while exhaust vents maximize movement of hot air out of the helmet. Dual Position mouth vent allows the 1st position to act as a defroster and 2nd position acts as defroster & ventilation (closeable from the inside). KwikWick C moisture wicking liner fabric keeps you cool and dry. Liner is easily removable and washable. KwikFit 3D sculpted cheek pads accommodate most eyeglasses.
- VISION: Everclear shield offers fog-free technology. Anti-scratch hardened coating. 95% UV-A & UV-B protection. ScorpionEXO’s shield system pulls the shield securely against the eye port, ensuring a proper seal. Wide eye port allows for greater peripheral vision and downward visibility. When the shield is removed the eye port accommodates most sizes and brands of goggles (Eyeport is 11cm Tall). Retractable interchangeable Speedview drop down sun-visor with an easy-sliding mechanism.
- VERSATILITY: Easy-use Flip-up Chin Bar features a single lever release which allows the chin bar to be raised or lowered with either hand. External peak visor can be easily removed to improve the aerodynamics for long distance touring. Block off plates included for use when visor is not on helmet. Includes breath deflector and aero skirt (chin curtain) helps reduce wind noise. Seamlessly integrates with the EXO-COM Communicator Kit or your favorite Bluetooth system (sold separately).
- SAFETY: Speaker pocket Size: 50mm/5mm (round). Weight: ± 1858 grams / 4.09 lbs. (size medium). 5-year warranty. Equipped with U.S. DOT Certification and the ECE 22.06 Safety standard, which requires a wider range of testing than the previous 22.05 certification.
5. Honda Africa Twin, current U.S. listing
The Africa Twin name continues in Honda’s current U.S. model listing, which specifies a 1084cc engine. The page distinguishes the standard model from the Adventure Sports ES by front-wheel size: 21 inches for the standard model and 19 inches for the Adventure Sports ES. Those details apply to the U.S. listing, not necessarily every market or model year. Honda’s U.S. Africa Twin page
6. Yamaha XT500
Yamaha connects the XT500’s lineage to the first Paris-Dakar Rally. Its significance in this selection is that rally association: it helps explain how the company’s XT family became part of the history that later carried the Ténéré name. The cited history does not provide a model-year specification comparison for the XT500. Yamaha’s XT and Ténéré history
7. Yamaha XT600Z Ténéré
Yamaha identifies the 1983 XT600Z as the first Adventure-family motorcycle to use the Ténéré name. That is a clear link between the XT lineage and a production adventure identity, rather than a race result alone. Yamaha has called the original Ténéré one of the most influential and iconic motorcycles of the 20th century; that is the manufacturer’s characterization, not an independent consensus. Yamaha’s XT and Ténéré history
Rank #3
- Meets FMVSS-218 and DOT Safety Standards.Made of ABS shell and EPS foam to maximize protection in the event of a crash.
- Dual Visor System: Oversize, removable outer visor over an ultra-wide eye port that gives excellent peripheral vision compatible with Pinlock 30 (not included in package). Internal drop-down sunshield keeps the sun out of your eyes.
- Ventilation: The seven-position vent around this dual sport helmet in the ventilation system ensures appropriate air intake.
- The comfort removable inner lining pads have fewer seams in it to mitigate stress points on the wearer’s scalp.
- Quick Release Clasp and Removable Chin Curtain.
8. Yamaha XTZ750 Super Ténéré
The XTZ750 carried Yamaha’s Ténéré story into factory rally competition. Yamaha says French rider Stéphane Peterhansel won six times on a factory XTZ750 between 1991 and 1998. Those victories make the model a standout competition chapter in the lineage, though they should not be treated as proof that a road-going production bike was identical to the factory racer. Yamaha’s XT and Ténéré history
9. Suzuki V-Strom
Suzuki introduced the V-Strom in 2002 as what it calls a “sports adventure tourer,” with a 90-degree V-twin engine and an aluminum twin-spar frame. The company reported more than 50,000 V-Strom motorcycles sold worldwide since 2002 as of September 5, 2022; that is a dated manufacturer figure, not a current total. Suzuki also says the 2014 model year adopted styling inspired by the DR-Big Dakar race bikes. Suzuki’s 2023 V-Strom announcement
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
10. Yamaha Ténéré 700
The Ténéré 700 carries the name into a current Yamaha product listing for the 2026 model in Cyprus. That listing specifies a 689cc parallel-twin, 54.0 kW (73.4 PS) at 9,000 rpm, 68 Nm at 6,500 rpm, and a six-speed transmission. These are figures for that listed model and market, not specifications for earlier Ténérés or a guarantee of identical equipment in every country. Yamaha’s 2026 Ténéré 700 listing
Rank #4
- Integrated drop-down sun shield eliminates the need for changing face shields in varying light conditions
- Kinetic Polymer Alloy (KPA) shell provides superior impact protection while remaining lightweight
- Emergency release system allows first responders to safely remove cheek pads in case of an accident
- Secure DOT and ECE approved quick-release chin strap for convenience and safety
- Multiple intake and exhaust ports deliver effective ventilation through the EPS liner for rider comfort
Which adventure bike started it all?
For the GS family, BMW points to the 1980 R 80 G/S as the beginning of its story and says the production-ready bike helped create a new segment. That is the clearest starting point in the manufacturer histories cited here, but it is not an uncontested claim that the R 80 G/S was the first motorcycle ever to combine road and off-road capability.
How the rally bikes relate to production adventure bikes
The rally lineage is important, but a factory racer and a production adventure motorcycle are not interchangeable. Honda says Cyril Neveu won the motorcycle division of the Dakar in 1982 on a custom XR500R. Honda Racing Corporation then developed the NXR750 factory bike, which Honda says won on its debut in 1986 and captured three consecutive championships through 1988. Honda presents the production Africa Twin as informed by the NXR750’s rally know-how—not as the same motorcycle. Honda’s Africa Twin history
Yamaha’s history likewise connects the XT/Ténéré family to Paris-Dakar competition, while distinguishing the factory XTZ750 ridden by Peterhansel from the production models in the family. This distinction matters: racing pedigree can explain a bike’s identity, but it does not by itself establish a production model’s road comfort, equipment, or off-road performance.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
