#AdventureTouring

The Himalayan continues to trailblaze for Royal Enfield

by Tom Roderick

Smaller, faster, more complex

VVT and new street-focused V85 Strada

Only 500 units of the “luxury all-terrain motorcycle” to be produced

Adventure bikes weren’t really a thing in 1989, at least not in the United States. Even BMW’s venerable GS was nothing more than a misunderstood, oversized dual-purpose machine with ties to the Paris-Dakar rally, which itself was only a little more than a decade old at the time. At the back of the dealership where I worked in 1991, parked next to the tire rack, languished a 1989 Honda XL600V Transalp. Along with other two-year-only (’89 and ’90) model offerings from Honda, including the GB500 and CB-1, the Transalp was nothing more than a curiosity.

Adventure Sports variant gets more street-focused 19-inch front wheel

A more off-road capable DesertX

BMW has officially announced the R 1300 GS, introducing a new Boxer engine, updated suspension, radar-based safety systems and a 26-pound weight reduction compared to the R 1250 GS. Arriving in U.S. dealerships in early 2024, the BMW R 1300 GS will carry a price tag of $18,895 plus destination fees.

BMW will be revealing its 2024 R 1300 GS next week, but photos of the new adventure bike have leaked online, revealing its styling and other details.

MV Agusta has taken us on quite a journey with its Lucky Explorer Project adventure bikes. First, we saw the Lucky Explorer 9.5 and 5.5 in prototype form at EICMA in 2021, and last year, Alan Cathcart had a chance to test the 9.5 prototype. We’re now well into the 2024 model launch season, and still waiting for the bikes to enter production, with word that the 5.5 model has been delayed indefinitely. And now, Motorcycle.com can confirm that the Lucky Explorer 9.5 is getting rebranded with the much more MV-esque name “Enduro Veloce”.

American Honda officially announced the XL750 Transalp, bringing the middleweight adventure bike to the U.S. market. The Transalp slots into Honda’s lineup between the Africa Twin and the CB500X, while offering more off-road capability than the NC750X DCT.

Ducati has revealed the new Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour, a long-distance traveler designed for comfort and safety. Fully loaded with luggage, front and rear radars and creature comforts like heated grips and seats, Ducati describes it as the “most complete Multistrada V4 ever.” The 2024 Ducati Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour will land in dealerships very soon, with an MSRP of $28,395.

Road-going V-Strom coming for 2024

Honda has submitted certification data in Switzerland for updated Africa Twin models, with evidence of substantial changes in store for the adventure-tourer.