Adventure bikes are funny things.
Everyone thinks they know what one is. Big tank. Tall screen. Spoked wheels. Maybe a world map sticker and a bit of mud for effect.
But choosing the right adventure bike isn’t about how it looks parked outside a café. It’s about how it feels at the exact moment you realise you’ve picked the wrong one.
Usually that moment comes when:
- You’re trying to paddle it backwards uphill
- You’ve stalled it on a camber
- You’ve dropped it somewhere awkward
- Or you’re just knackered after a long day and it suddenly feels very big
So before you get caught up in spec sheets, YouTube opinions and “this is what everyone else rides”, it’s worth slowing down and thinking honestly about what you actually want — and what you’re realistically going to do with it.
Size, Weight and Bulk (The Bit Most People Underestimate)
Let’s start with the big one: size.
Adventure bikes have crept up in weight over the years. Electronics, big tanks, crash bars, luggage — it all adds up. And while a 240–260kg bike feels fine rolling along, it feels very different when it’s stopped, leaning, or not quite where you want it to be.
This isn’t about strength. Plenty of strong riders struggle with tall, bulky bikes in the real world.
Ask yourself:
- Can I comfortably get one foot down?
- Can I move it around a car park without stress?
- Can I lift it enough if it goes over?
- Do I feel relaxed on it, or slightly on edge?
Smaller and lighter adventure bikes aren’t “beginner bikes”. They’re often more capable, especially once the surface stops being tarmac.
Bigger isn’t better — it’s just bigger.
Road vs Off-Road (Be Honest With Yourself)
Most adventure bikes spend most of their lives on the road. That’s fine. Nothing wrong with that at all.
But there’s a big difference between:
- Road-focused adventure bikes that can handle a gravel track
and
- Off-road capable adventure bikes that just happen to be road legal
If 90% of your riding is road, comfort, wind protection, cruise control and luggage options matter more than suspension travel.
If you genuinely want to ride lanes, trails, ACT routes or just rough stuff without constantly worrying about dropping it — weight, balance and suspension matter far more than horsepower.
Neither choice is “right” or “wrong”. Problems only happen when people buy one while secretly wanting the other.
New or Used? (This One’s Easier Than People Think)
New bikes are great. No history, full warranty, shiny everything.
But used adventure bikes make a lot of sense:
- They’re usually already set up
- They’ve taken the first depreciation hit
- They often come with luggage, protection and sensible extras
And here’s the big one — if you’re going to ride an adventure bike properly, it’s probably going to get used. Scuffed. Dropped. Loved.
Many riders enjoy their bikes more once they stop worrying about that first scratch.
Cost Isn’t Just the Price Tag
The purchase price is only part of the picture.
Also think about:
- Insurance
- Servicing
- Tyres (adventure tyres aren’t cheap)
- Fuel range
- Accessories you’ll inevitably add
A slightly cheaper, lighter bike that you actually use more will almost always deliver more value than the expensive one that intimidates you a bit.
Experience Matters More Than Spec Sheets
Here’s the truth you won’t always hear online:
The best adventure bike is the one that makes you want to ride it tomorrow.
Not the most powerful.
Not the one with the longest spec list.
The one that feels right when you sit on it and think, “Yeah… I could live with this.”
That’s why we don’t push one brand, one size or one style.
Where We Fit Into All This
At Ryder Motorcycles, adventure bikes aren’t just something we sell — they’re something we actually ride.
That’s why our showroom has:
- A wide range of used adventure bikes from all manufacturers
- Different sizes, weights and styles
- Bikes that make sense in the real world, not just on paper
And it’s also why we’ve added Kove to what we do.
Kove isn’t about chasing trends or building bigger and heavier bikes for the sake of it. They’re focused on performance, weight and proper off-road capability — without forgetting that people still need to ride these bikes on real roads.
They sit alongside everything else we do. They don’t replace it.
Because adventure riding isn’t one thing — and neither are the bikes.
Final Thought
If you’re thinking about an adventure bike, don’t rush it.
Sit on a few. Ask awkward questions. Be honest about where you’ll ride and how you’ll use it. Ignore the noise.
And if you want to talk it through properly — without being sold to — that’s exactly what we’re here for.