Adventure Motorcycles Launched In 2020: KTM 390 Adventure, Royal Enfield Himalayan BS6 And More

Here are all the ADVs that made it into the Indian market this year

The adventure motorcycling space has been heating up in the past couple of years. We were expecting quite some activity in this space in 2020, and had it not been for the pandemic, we would have seen some bikes arrive sooner. Nevertheless, here’s a compilation of all the adventure tourers that arrived this year:

KTM 390 Adventure

Launch month: January

Price: Rs 3.06 lakh

The most hyped motorcycle launch of 2019 was delayed until the start of 2020 and did not really live up to the hype. Yes, the KTM 390 Adventure wasn’t the adventure motorcycle we all dreamed off. Its harsh suspension, manic power delivery and naked-like ergonomics made it a handful for off-road riding. That said, it does prove to be a pretty good, fast highway tourer. Here’s what we think of the bike.

KTM 250 Adventure

Launch month: November

Price: Rs 2.48 lakh

Following in the footsteps of its elder sibling, the 250 Adventure promises an accessible and friendly adventure touring experience. We have ridden the bike but our opinions are embargoed until tomorrow. So check this space out for when the review goes live. 

Triumph Tiger 900

Launch month: June

Price: Rs 13.70 lakh - Rs 15.50 lakh

Triumph’s middleweight kitty underwent a major overhaul to meet EU5 regulations. The motor’s displacement was upped, the engine characteristics were altered, the foundations were made even better and the Tiger became easier to live with than before. 

Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin

Launch month: March

Price: Rs 15.35 lakh - Rs 16.10 lakh 

Honda had received a great response from Indian enthusiasts for its CRF1000L Africa Twin. All that was missing was the manual gearbox for purists. With the updated CRF1100L Africa Twin, not only did Honda bring in a manual gearbox variant but also the bike in its adventure sports avatar. That means a bigger fuel tank, more tech, and larger bodywork. 

Ducati Multistrada 950 S

Launch month: November

Price: Rs 15.49 lakh

With IMU-aided electronic aids, semi-electronic suspension and more performance on tap, Ducati’s Multistrada 950 S makes a terrific case for someone who wants to go adventure touring. While it isn’t purely an off-roader, it can handle most of the imperfections that Indian roads are notoriously famous for.

BMW S 1000 XR

Launch month: July

Price: Rs 20.90 lakh

As divided as the opinions may be on the styling of the 2020 S 1000 XR, the bike continues to remain a pure thoroughbred for those seeking a sporty touch to their adventure touring. Yes, the XR isn’t going to take you off road, but the long-travel suspension and sportbike-derived heart are going to make your next tour that much faster.

BMW F 900 XR

Launch month: May

Price: Rs 11.50 lakh

Even though its launch preceded the S 1000 XR’s, the smaller F 900 XR is BMW’s attempt at making the format more accessible. Its 895cc parallel-twin motor is decently powerful and should work well for most highway stints. Plus, if you opt for the Pro version, you get semi-electronic adjustable suspension to add that extra bit of sophistication to the riding experience.

BS6 Updates

We also got quite a few BS6 updated adventure motorcycles this year. Surprisingly, the ones that really made a mark were the small-capacity ones. The Hero XPulse 200 has significantly better refinement and thanks to the changes to its fueling, it is also peppier than before. The Royal Enfield Himalayan, the OG in this business, became heavier but that didn’t hamper its off-roading credentials by a lot. It did get ousted as the best in the business by the BMW G 310 GS. Yes, the Bavarian small-capacity GS motorcycle made a big impact, both on- and off-road. We have a review coming on the bike soon.

In the big bike space, the Kawasaki Versys 650 and Versys 1000 received their fair share of updates, the latter now getting better electronic rider aids. Lastly, the Suzuki V-Strom 650XT was the final adventure motorcycle in 2020 to get its BS6 updates.