After the last year or so, and on top of what was announced at this week’s EICMA show in Italy, could we be in a Golden Age of Travel Bikes. Bikes that actually make practical, long-range, all-terrain overlanders, not 150-hp flagships you can’t pick up without a winch. Bit of a rush job this, as I’m heading out for a fortnight of diesel and desert dust. I’m sure I’ve missed a few so come back for an update later in November.
CFMoto 550MT-X
CFMoto look to be the best iof the Chinese bikes and there was nothing badly wrong with the best-selling 450MT I ran for a year, including the power. If anything the economy was a bit poor, so I’m not fully convinced by the 550 MT-X version (there’s also a non X road model with a 19″ front). If anything, they should have gone the other way, trying to strip down the 450’s mass and bulk, but weight may indeed have dropped a bit.
Royal Enfield 750 Himalayan
It was bound to happen and here it is, a 230-kilo, retro styled, low saddled touring plodder. I was a bit disappointed by the 650 Interceptor I tried years ago. This would suit me better, but of course on the dirt it’ll be a tank when things turn rough, as they do. £7000 in the UK.
BMW F450GS
Another mini-GS, only it looks a lot better all round than the also Indian built 310GS I rode for years in Morocco. A buzzy 420cc twin with 6 gears but with a serious attempt to keep weight under 180 kilos with a brimmed 14-litre tank. Wheels are tubeless but the front is a 19-er; watch out for a 21-inch F450 Adventure in a year or so. From just under £7000 in the UK. Looks great, if nothing else.
Yamaha XT 400 ‘Tenerette’
How long have we been waiting for a mini-Tenere? I’d day since the 1980s. Well here it is in concept form. You wonder what Yamaha are waiting for, approval? It’s got to be a new engine, no? The highly strung 450 YZ/WR/F race engines won’t be suited to a trail bike any more than the short-lived Honda CRF450L was. In that case there’ll will be a spread of models: Scrambler, Super Moto, Sport and so on, like Triumph with its 400s.
KTM 690 Rally
We all miss the classic 640 Adventure= of 20 years ago (well, those who didn’t ride it). Finally KTM have rallyfied the 690 with a 20-litre fuel capacity and a screenlette. Expect about 175 kilos tanked up, a seat height fit for nose bleeds and a dizzying £11,500. Ducati may have tried, but there is still nothing like the do-it-all 690 motor.
Kawasaki KLE 500
At only six grand in the UK – a grand less than the proven NX500 – the new KLE P-twin has six speeds and an 18-litre tank with a 21-inch front and is 194kg wet, about the same as the tubeless, cast 19-er Honda. I’m not fully convinced by the KLE, but in the US where the KLR big single was their ‘Tenere’, they seem to be more excited by it.
Suzuki DRZ4S
In the US the price dropped $1000 for 2027, but in the UK it’s still a ridiculous £8k so they’ve doubtless tons left over. Shame, as the word is underneath it’s a great trail bike and at least it’s here, unlike Yamaha’s T4.
Yamaha RW 350
Yamaha have stuck the creamy CP2 T7 engine in an RW 700 dirt scooter to go up against Honda’s pricey X-ADV, and even thought I didn’t gel with the hefty, DCT X as a trail bike, I’m partial to a Yamaha.
So I wonder how bad could the 327cc single, CVT gearbox RW 350 be for what I do? These dirt scoots come in heavy but they’re also low and automatic, plus the vid below shows proper off road standing on the RW’s pegs, as well as FF boards. Wet it’s 192 kilos they say and the wheels are small and tubeless, like the X. And that saddle! Riders are not so keen on the similar X-ADV 350 on the dirt so bring it on, I say. If it’s a turkey, I’ll eat it.
KTM 390 Adventure X and KTM 390 Adventure R
R is tubed, tall and 15% costlier, both have 14 litre tanks and weigh around 176kg. Tke your pick with more here.
| MODEL | Adventure SW (2024) | Adventure (2024) | Adventure X (2025) | Adventure R (2025) | Enduro R (2025) |
| Weight | 170kg | 173 | 176 | 176 | 165 |
| Tank | 14.5 litres | 14.5 | 14 | 14 | 9 |
| Seat | 855mm | 855 | 825 | 870 | 890 |
| Wheels | 17/19 | 17/19 cast TL | 17/19 cast TL | 18/21 | 18/21 |
| Suspension | 170/177mm | 170/177 | 200/200 | 230/230 | 230/230 |
| Price UK | £5600 | £5200 | £5400 | £6100 | £5700 |
