Adventure Bike Vs. Touring Bike for Motorcycle Touring

Touring on a motorcycle is among the favorite outdoor activities of many bikers in the U.S. A motorbike is not a necessity or a means of transport to carry out daily chores. Instead, it is widely used as a luxury machine for fun, vacation, and trips.

These motorbikes aren’t simple either. They are quite capable of going long miles, carrying luggage, and even going off-road. Many different types of motorbikes are used for long-distance touring. The most widely used touring option includes the classic touring bike.

Touring motorcycles are spacious, large, heavy, and comfortable bikes. American riders are fond of these kinds of bikes, especially the ones made by Harley Davidson.

On the other hand, Adventure bikes are gradually becoming the mainstream bikes. They are taller, lightweight, highly maneuverable, fancy, and versatile. They are geared towards both on- and off-roading.

Many riders are shifting towards adventure bikes for long-distance riding as they provide a few notable benefits over classic touring bikes. Keep reading this article to learn which is a better option for motorcycle touring, adventure bikes vs. touring bikes.

If you want to tour on a motorbike, both adventure bikes and touring bikes offer unique benefits. Touring bikes, as we all know, are great for long-distance riding, offering superior comfort. They are designed for paved road travel.

Meanwhile, adventure bikes are a different kind of motorbikes. They are versatile and agile. They are also big motorcycles like touring bikes, but they are also built to maneuver on dirt tracks. The choice between the two bikes depends on the rider’s preferences, but let’s have a look at which is better for motorcycle touring.

To answer the question more effectively, we must also note what type of motorbike touring we are talking about. As said, it totally depends on the rider’s preferences, his style of riding, and where he wants to go.

Similarly, power, performance, acceleration, handling, seat comfort, legroom, and storage capacity are all major factors that can influence our choice of motorbike touring.

Adventure bikes are highly versatile bikes. They can also go off-road. So, if you plan to tour on a bike that also includes a bit of off-road track, an ADV bike is a highly suitable choice. Riders who are bored with staying on the paved track will find ADV bikes much more fun and adventurous. However, one must not doubt the on-road ability of ADV bikes. They are equally good on the road compared to most bikes. So, for a versatile long-distance tour, an ADV bike can be an ideal choice.

Let’s talk about the ergonomics of an adventure bike. The ADV bike is quite spacious for riders to sit comfortably and move during the ride. The legroom is more than enough on an ADV bike. It may not be as spacious as a touring bike or a bagger, but it is comfortable than a sports touring bike. The ergos or seating position of an ADV bike is designed to ensure a perfect balance for versatile riding.

Compared to a touring bike, ADV bikes handle better than touring bikes. They are decently sporty, nimble, and maneuverable. Despite their remarkable dual-purpose ability, they still ensure a good performance on paved roads. They are much better than touring bikes when it comes to cornering or riding on twisty roads. You can also turn a corner at high speed, unlike a touring bike. If your tour involves a route that has many twists and turns, then it is wise to go with the ADV bike.

The best thing about ADV bikes, which makes them good for long-distance rides is the upright riding position they offer. Such a riding stance is best for long-distance comfort. Sitting with an upright back posture while riding can help eliminate back pain and muscle strain. If possible, riders must try to avoid sitting in a slouched riding position with a curved back.

The suspension installed on ADV bikes are highly robust and are geared for both on- and off-roading. These long-stroke suspension offers long wheel travel for better off-roading. Most premium ADV bikes have some sort of adjustability options as well which allow riders to adjust them according to the terrain.

The ADV bikes are designed with modern engineering and tech features. These features allow ADV bikes to become equally as good on the road as other motorbike types.

ADV bikes are more sporty, quick, and nimble than touring bikes. Performance-wise, they are better in most aspects than touring bikes. If you are one of those riders who desire performance more, ADV bikes are a preferred choice. These bikes are on par with some of the touring bikes when it comes to long-distance comfort. However, performance-wise, when it comes to acceleration, low-end grunt, and top-end power delivery, ADV bikes are quite fun and responsive.

Adventure bikes are built to handle riding on paved roads, as well as off-road paths. Still, there are a few problems that come with long-distance touring on these bikes, including:

Adventure bikes are designed with tall seat heights and suspension, making them uncomfortable to spend a long time on the paved roads and highways. The seat on an ADV bike is slightly softer and narrower than the ones installed on touring bikes. So, traveling for a long distance can be less comfortable and enjoyable than touring by bike.

Windshields installed on ADV bikes are not as tall as those on touring bikes. They are likely to protect your chest area from air drag, but unlike touring bikes, they don’t cover your legs and arms in most cases. As a result, riders may feel more tired after several hours on the highways.

Because most ADV bikes are quite tall, they are not suitable for shorter riders. Riding can be tougher in situations when either moving slowly or stopping.

Though ADV bikes have the option to install side cases, top case, or panniers, their storage space is limited when compared with fully-dressed touring bikes. Touring bikes have better storage mounting positions and built-in storage compartments.

Engines installed in ADV bikes are generally rough. They tend to produce more vibrations than the smooth engines installed in touring bikes. This can be uncomfortable during extended trips.

Compared to touring bikes, ADV bikes have less fuel carrying capacity. Since the fuel tanks on certain ADV bikes are small, you need to stop often to refuel when riding far distances. Having a bigger gas tank can affect the range of your bike, which it can cover. The range is a vital factor when it comes to travelling long distances.

There is no better bike when it comes to extreme long-distance comfort on paved roads. If you want the most relaxing bike that can take you cross country, there is no other preferred option than the touring bike. These bikes are built with many touring parts to maximize touring performance.

When it comes to ergonomics and comfortable seating position, there is no better bike than the touring bike. The legroom is the most spacious, thanks to its big and wide size. The seat on the touring bike is wide and cushioned, ideally designed for long-distance comfort.

The handlebars are wide and highly swept back to fall within a comfortable reach of riders. Riders don’t have to sit even a bit forward to grab the bars. They fall within a perfect range to ensure a relaxed riding stance.

Touring motorcycles feature ample wind protection thanks to the wide fairing and integrated windscreen attached to these bikes. These large windscreens are capable of blocking the incoming wind from hitting riders’ chest, arms, face, and even legs in most touring bikes. Riders feel less fatigued even after touring for continuous hours.

Touring bikes are among the best motorcycles for two-up riding. If you love to go on a long motorcycle tour with your partner, there is no better choice than a touring bike. It is more than spacious and comfy for the rider and passenger to sit comfortably. The large engine, along with extended wheelbase and adequate seating space, allows for a relaxed two-up motorcycle touring experience.

Touring bikes are large and powerful enough to carry loads of luggage on a motorcycle tour. Due to having a wider frame and extended wheelbase, these bikes provide ample space and mounting positions to install multiple luggage items. Touring bikes ensure excellent torque delivery to easily carry the load across long distances.

Though touring motorcycles are heavy, these bikes have a low seat height, which is beneficial to riders in certain ways. They feel more stable and easy to operate as riders can comfortably place both their feet on the ground without any issue. Unlike adventure bikes, they feel more balanced while cruising down highways and open roads.

Touring bikes provide good comfort and torque over long distances, but still have some cons when it comes to motorbike touring compared to ADV bikes.

Touring bikes are only built for paved roads and highways. They are not meant for rough, off-road paths. You are bound to stay on the paved road and even avoid bumps and potholes. Even a small bump or pothole can make you lose your stability. Their heavy design, low ground clearance, and smooth tires are not at all suitable for adventures.

Touring bikes feature large engines, lots of bodywork, storage options, and touring parts. As a result, they are among the heaviest bikes compared to every other type of motorcycle. Due to being heavier, touring bikes are the most difficult to control in tight areas. They are not suitable for leaning or turning corners. They are best for straight-line use only. Riding for a long time may become tiring for a rider.

Out of most production bikes, touring bikes are very expensive. There are many reasons why they are expensive. Touring bikes feature large engines, wide fairings, infotainment systems, and stock luggage options, which makes them quite costly. They usually cost more than ADV bikes.

Touring bikes are very comfortable and smooth on the road and highways. However, they are not suitable for riding in city streets and less-maintained roads. Those who want a do-it-all bike should opt for an ADV bike.

The advanced nature of touring bikes means that costs for maintenance and repair will be much higher. It costs more to upkeep a bike with advanced electronics, features, big fairings, and many accessories.

Whether you choose an adventure bike or a touring bike for touring on your motorcycle depends on:

• Your riding preferences.

• The type of trip you plan.

• Kind of land you want to explore.

Having an ADV bike allows you to ride on roads as well as off-road paths with comfort. Built to handle bumpy terrain, ADVs are a popular choice for riders wanting to visit places away from the main paved roads. These bikes may not be as comfortable for long-haul journeys or cross-country rides, but they are the most versatile and do not compromise on the performance of paved roads. Though the ADV bikes are suitable for touring, the seat design and wind protection are not ideally built for this purpose.

Touring bikes, however, are engineered to help you travel far on paved roads. The emphasis is on the max comfort, stability, and carrying loads of luggage. Enjoying a relaxed ride on the highway or open roads is much easier and comfy on touring bikes. This is the reason why they are the most popular among the U.S. riders. They are still the best option for riders who prefer comfort over off-road ability. However, for most riding conditions, touring bikes are much heavier and less flexible than ADV bikes.

Ultimately, it all depends on what kind of touring the riders prefer. Anyone looking for a bike to take them on long-haul tours and on uneven paths should consider an ADV bike. If you prefer a comfortable ride on long routes, highways, and don’t mind going far, a touring bike is the best choice. Before deciding, riders should evaluate their choice of touring destinations and their typical riding habits to ensure the bike suits them best.