Words: Matthew Shields

In Australia the adventure motorcycle genre is one of the most varied groups of machines on the market and there is certainly a machine for every type of rider or condition. CycleOnline.com.au takes a look at some of the best multi-cylinder machines to cross Australia on in the most adventurous way possible.

Image: Greg Smith (iKapture).

8. Aprilia Caponord 1200 Rally:
The Aprilia Caponord 1200 Rally is designed with the power and performance that Aprilia is famous for. Tailored for more off-road use, it is one of three Caponords in the Aprilia line-up and the one with a penchant for the dirt more than the others. It runs active dynamic suspension to tune to the road as you are riding it while the ergonomics are comfort-focussed though present a great set-up for riding standing up.

7. Triumph Tiger 800XCa:
The most off-road touring focussed of Triumph’s Tiger 800 range, the Tiger 800 XCa brings all the good stuff from the XCx, but has a whole lot more for touring. There are three riding modes, switchable ABS, cruise control, engine, sump and hand guards, a centre stand and power socket like you get with the XCx. Add to that an uprated alternator for heating equipment, heated grips, heated rider and passenger seat, LED fog lights, CNC machined footrests, pannier rails for aluminium panniers, aluminium radiator guard, GPS mounting kit and third power socket and you have quite a machine!

6. BMW F 800 GS Adventure:
Alongside BMW’s legendary R 1200 GS series, the F 800 GS Adventure is more than capable of any big off-road expedition. BMW has updated the F-series GS range for 2017 and the F 800 GS Adventure gets a raft of improvements to refine it for its intended use. The 798cc engine is now Euro4 compliant and there’s now a ride-by-wire throttle for improved response. An added boon is the Rain, Road, Enduro and Enduro Pro riding modes to cater for individual rider preferences.

Source: Supplied.

5. Ducati Multistrada Enduro:
It has taken more than just a set of knobbies and a bigger rear sprocket to create the Multistrada Enduro. Sure, Ducati has worked from a great base in the Multistrada 1200, but a lot of care has gone into the details to make the Enduro a better machine off-road. As such, unlike the rest of the model range, there is one model variant and what you see is what you get. You can accessorise the Enduro with a heap of gear from the genuine accessory catalogue, but you aren’t going to get a better performing motorcycle on the road, track or trail than Ducati has built.

4. Suzuki V-Strom 1000 XT:
For 2017 the V-Strom 1000 will be available in a wire-wheel variant, the V-Strom 1000 XT. With new bodywork and ergonomic design, standard hand-guards and bash-plate, radial-mounted four piston Tokico brakes and top-notch Bosch electronics, the V-Strom 1000 XT is the more off-road focussed adventure tourer we knew the previous machine could always be, but better! Traction control, ABS, riding modes and the low-rpm assist feature make it all the more rider friendly.

Source: Supplied.

3. KTM 1290 Super Adventure R:
KTM unveiled an updated V-twin Adventure range at Intermot in 2016 with each bike in the five-model range receiving various refinements to clearly define them to a very different type of adventure rider. Of the three 1301cc Super Adventure models, the 1290 Super Adventure R runs on 21-inch front and 18-rear wheels shod with Continental TKC80 knobbies. It is the most off-road focused Super Adventure with fully adjustable WP suspension that is stiffer in the front and has a progressively damped PDS rear shock. Hill hold control, motor slip regulation and up-and-down quick-shifter are now available as options and it’s a hard act to follow in this class.

2. Yamaha Super Tenere:
When it comes to the off-road, Yamaha knows what it is doing. Since the 1960s they have forged their off-road success off the back of the DT-1 and nowadays its competition-spec WRs and YZs rule the roost. At the big end of the adventure side of Yamaha’s range is the XTZ1200 Super Tenere. If you want a big bike that could cut single-trail with ease, this isn’t it. This machine is a long-haul adventure tourer that will go from Sydney to Perth out of the box without you having to touch a thing. It’s a big bike in tricky off-road situations, but will effortlessly eat up hundreds of kilometres of dirt roads between fuel tank top-ups loaded to the hilt.

1. Honda Africa Twin:
Honda’s new generation Africa Twin – only released at the start of 2016 – is a really competent off-road machine that does just as good a job on the tarmac. With conventional and DCT (automatic) gear-boxes, the Africa Twin excites and satisfies a huge range of adventure bike riders. The underlying geometry, the choice of suspension, the riding position and even the texture of the handgrips has been honed by a team of people who really know what they are doing. At the end of day Honda has succeeded in creating a superb adventure and touring machine.