Adventure Touring

BMW Motorrad has unveiled the official competition motorcycle for the upcoming 2026 International GS Trophy in Romania: a specially prepared BMW R 12 G/S. Scheduled for late summer 2026, the biennial event will challenge international team riders across Romania's diverse off-road terrain, ranging from mountain tracks and forests to river crossings.

Norton Motorcycles announced its comeback last November at EICMA, and just last month, launched a new flagship sportbike in the Manx R (if you haven’t read Troy’s review of it yet, shame on you!). Norton has now released more details about its next two models, the Atlas and Atlas GT adventure bikes.

Yamaha is hosting a new adventure riding event for owners, August 6-9 at Tamarack Ski Resort in Idaho. Yamaha is branding the event the Ténéré Trek, but it will be open to owners of all Yamaha dual sports and adventure bikes larger than 250cc.

Harley-Davidson announced plans to move production of its Revolution Max models back to its facilities in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, including machining, powertrain assembly, painting and final assembly. The transition is expected to be completed sometime in 2027, impacting model years 2028 and beyond.

American Honda announced the 2026 Transalp will come standard with E-Clutch, as well as a new aluminum skid plate and updates to its suspension. The move to an electronic clutch from a manual follows a similar decision made for the CB750 Hornet. The U.S. also joins other markets such as the U.K., Italy, and Spain, in offering the E-Clutch as standard equipment on the Transalp, while others, such as France, offer it as an option.

Southern California might have a reputation around the world of being a place with ideal weather, sunny skies, and bespoke lattes held by smiling people on every corner. Adventure riders, however, know this isn’t always the scene. Fun trails, interesting sites, and deep history can be found all over the lower-left corner of the U.S., but it might take some work to get there. Adverse weather, locked gates, and challenging routes are often on the adventure menu.

Harley-Davidson filled out its 2026 lineup with the reveal of new full-dressed touring models, a new Pan America 1250 Limited model, plus its latest premium Custom Vehicle Operations (CVO) models.

KTM's heavyweight ADV models are finally about to land in the U.S., with the 2026 1390 Super Adventure R due to arrive in February, and the 2027 1390 Super Adventure S EVO (which we reviewed just before the holidays) will follow in March.

Back in November, Harley-Davidson announced its carry-over motorcycles, while confirming a second announcement to come in January for its new and updated 2026 models. The Motor Company teased these upcoming models on its official website, identifying them by name and showing several images of bikes covered by tarps. Well, Motorcycle.com has managed to get a peak under the covers and secured official photos of all the new 2026 Limited, Trike and CVO models, plus some additional details ahead of the official January 14 announcement.

Backcountry Discovery Routes is introducing a new four-day 550-mile loop in Northern California. Dubbed the Lost Coast BDR-X, the route is designed for a wide range of skill levels, taking them through dramatic ocean vistas, mountain towns, and redwood groves.

The Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro became a quick favorite during our second trip to Northern Ontario, and not just because it was outfitted with heated seats (rider and passenger) and grips – but it surely helped. We all have a soft spot for a stout Triple and Triumph’s latest Rally Pro middleweight ADV is its most capable to date with Showa suspension, a willing chassis, a robust electronics package and creature comforts to boot. Let’s dive into what stood out while we piloted the Hinkley-bred machine through the Great North.

CFMoto announces its flagship ADV

Complete with dystopian AI images

Kawasaki announced a new KLE500 adventure bike with rally-inspired styling and a lightweight chassis. The KLE fills a gap in Kawasaki’s adventure lineup between the Versys-X 300 and Versys 650, but it’s interesting the company opted against using the Versys branding on the 500. The name harkens back to the original KLE500, which was in production from 1991 until 2007 when it was replaced by the Versys 650 (which uses the model code KLE650).

Last November, at EICMA, KTM announced a number of new street models based on its 1390 and 990 platforms. Not long afterwards, KTM announced it was entering into self-administration under the weight of its growing debt. Production was halted, which means those new models planned for the 2025 model year have been pushed back to 2026.

Last November at EICMA, Moto Morini presented a new 450cc Twin-cylinder adventure bike, called “Alltrhike”. The name is supposedly a combination of “All-Terrain” and “Hike,” but that doesn’t excuse the people at Moto Morini, or its owners, the Zhongneng Vehicle Group, from coming up with a name that makes Suzuki’s GSX-S1000GX sound less awkward.

Why is it that OEM lighting too often seems subpar? That’s not to say every brand or model on the road these days has a headlight that comes up short, but in my experience, on two wheels or four, manufacturers rarely put an emphasis on their vehicle’s ability to provide ample lighting. Thankfully, there are a handful of companies out there making great auxiliary lighting options for motorcycles. Some are new, and some have been well-tested over time in rigorous conditions. If you’re looking to add some lumens to your stock setup, here are some of the best LED lights for motorcycles. 

Adventure motorcycle helmets blend the features of on-road and off-road helmets, providing adventure riders with versatility that mirrors the capabilities of their machines in the great outdoors. Manufacturers of all kinds have entered the ADV helmet market, offering riders a wide array of options. To simplify your decision, we've compiled our top three picks of the best adventure motorcycle helmets, based on our extensive review and testing process, along with feedback from trusted enthusiasts and fellow journalists. When it comes to safety, we do our best to avoid recommending budget options, so below you'll find three picks that we believe are very similar in performance quality. As a result, these recommendations are listed in no particular order, and choosing the right one for you will largely depend on personal preference in terms of style and fitment.