It may be the state of our roads that draws us into adventure motorcycling so strongly. The go-anywhere feature, comfortable ergonomics, and fantastic touring skills all come together to make tiny ADV motorcycles both enjoyable and valuable. We have witnessed some intriguing proposals in this category in recent years.
These days, models like the BMW G310 GS, RE Himalayan, Benelli TRK 502, Hero Xpulse 200, and the newest addition, the KTM 390 Adventure, are included in this category. Other adventure motorcycles that might be appropriate for our kind of situation are available in overseas markets.
Affordable Adventure and Dual-Purpose Motorcycles
We would love to see the following reasonably priced ADV motorcycles available in India:
1. Honda CB 500 X
The Honda CB 500 X’s charm and touring skills have made it extremely popular on international markets. This Honda’s 471 cc liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine produces 43 nm of torque at 6,500 rpm and 47 ps of power at 8,600 rpm. Although it only sounds somewhat spectacular on paper, it continues Honda’s tradition of building smooth motorcycles. The Honda motorcycles have made previous indications that they may introduce the complete 500cc family to India later this year, which makes it intriguing.
2. Suzuki V-Strom 250
We had been fervently hoping that this tiny Suzuki would arrive in India. It presents good highway touring characteristics, carrying over the genes of the V-Strom brand rather nicely. Its 250cc liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine generates 23.6bhp and 22Nm, but based on the specs sheet, you would expect more. However, Suzuki India already has a 250cc bike available; all it has to do is install one in the V-Strom to provide us with an elegant and reasonably priced ADV.
3. Honda CRF250L Rally
You must be familiar with the Honda CRF250L Rally if you spend your weekends searching for new trails to destroy. This small rocket from Honda’s stable is a deadly tool for off-road enthusiasts—a 249.6cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine producing 24.4 bhp and 22.2 nm of torque powers this motorbike. With a curb weight of 145 kg, this makes it an extremely capable dual-sport motorbike.
4. Honda CRF 150L
The CRF 150 L is the smaller sibling of the CRF250L, but don’t let that fool you into thinking that because of its small size, it lacks off-road capability. The CRF 150 L’s 149.15 cc single-cylinder engine bike produces 12.91 PS at 8000 rpm and 12.43 Nm at 6500 rpm of power. It will be a perfect substitute for the Hero Xpulse if it ever makes it to India.
5. Yamaha WR 155
The Yamaha WR 155 is a single-cylinder, 155cc motorcycle designed for small-capacity dual-sport riding. It can produce 14.3 NM at 6,500 rpm and 16.5 HP at 10,000 rpm. It looks fantastic, particularly in the Yamaha blue hue, and would be a thrilling addition to Yamaha India’s lineup of 150cc motorcycles, which already includes the outstanding R15 and MT-15.
