Best mid-size adventure bikes in Australia: our top 5 for 2026
Buying Guides ·
The big-bore adventure bike had its moment. Then Australian riders worked out what the Simpson Desert regulars knew all along: a 250kg, 1250cc tourer is a handful when the track turns to bulldust and you’re 300 km from the nearest servo.
The mid-size class, roughly 700 to 900cc, is where the action is now. These bikes have enough power to sit at 110 km/h with luggage, they’re light enough to pick up on your own, and they’re cheap enough that dropping one won’t wreck the budget. Every major maker has a contender, and the gap between the best and the rest is the smallest it’s ever been.
We’ve ranked our top five for Australian conditions. That means long distances, rough dirt, heat, and dealers who may be a long way from home.
Prices are indicative ride-away figures and vary by state and dealer. Confirm current pricing with your local dealer.
1. Yamaha Ténéré 700
About $17,000–$19,000 ride-away · 689cc parallel twin
The Ténéré is the benchmark the class gets judged against, and there’s a reason it keeps turning up at every outback fuel stop.
The CP2 twin comes from the MT-07. It isn’t the most powerful engine here, but it’s the one you’ll least want to swap. Torque comes in low and stays easy to control, which is what you want in loose rocks on a tired afternoon. The chassis is tall and narrow and clearly built for the dirt, and the 21/18-inch wheels take proper knobbies without a fuss.
Recent updates have added a TFT dash and rider modes, but the Ténéré’s appeal is still how simple it is. It has fewer electronics to fail and very good aftermarket support, and nearly every bush mechanic in the country has worked on one.
Best for: Riders heading into remote country who want something bulletproof that’s easy to fix.
Watch for: It’s a tall seat, and it’s buzzy above 120 km/h on long highway stints.
2. Suzuki V-Strom 800DE
About $19,000–$21,000 ride-away · 776cc parallel twin
Suzuki surprised plenty of people with the 800DE. A V-Strom that’s actually good off-road? Believe it.
The 270-degree twin is smooth and characterful. It pulls cleanly from low revs and cruises without strain, which matters when Sydney to Melbourne is a day’s ride. Long-travel suspension and a 21-inch front make it far more capable on gravel than its road-tourer family history suggests. The G (gravel) traction mode is one of the best-calibrated settings in the class.
It’s heavier than the Ténéré and you feel it in tight going. But for an even split of bitumen and dirt, few bikes cover more ground more comfortably.
Best for: The genuine all-rounder who wants comfort and real dirt ability in one bike.
Watch for: It’s a weighty bike to manhandle in technical terrain.
3. Honda XL750 Transalp
About $16,000–$18,000 ride-away · 755cc parallel twin
The Transalp name is back, and it’s the most sensible bike in this list. We mean that as praise.
The 755cc twin has a lively top end. Honda’s build quality means it should run for years with little more than oil changes. It’s light for the class and roomy for a passenger. The 21/18-inch wheels give it more off-road ability than most owners will use. Running costs are low, and it’s an easy bike for newer riders to step up to.
Out of the box the suspension is the weak point. It’s soft and basic for hard dirt riding. Riders who mostly commute and tour won’t mind, and the money saved buys a lot of upgrades.
Best for: Commuting during the week and touring at the weekend, without spending a fortune.
Watch for: Budget suspension if you plan to push hard off-road.
4. KTM 890 Adventure / 890 Adventure R
About $22,000–$26,000 ride-away · 889cc parallel twin
If you want the sharpest tool here, this is it. The LC8c twin is the strongest engine in the class, and KTM’s electronics package, with cornering ABS, lean-sensitive traction control and rally modes, is a step ahead of everyone else.
The standard 890 is a fast, capable all-rounder. The R is the one serious dirt riders talk about, with long-travel WP XPLOR suspension that soaks up corrugations and rock steps no rival can match. The low-slung fuel tanks keep the weight down low, so it feels lighter than it looks.
It has a cost, though. Servicing is more frequent and more expensive than the Japanese bikes, and you’ll want a good KTM dealer nearby.
Best for: Experienced riders who want maximum performance on and off the bitumen.
Watch for: Higher running costs and fewer dealers in regional areas.
5. Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro
About $24,000–$27,000 ride-away · 888cc triple
The Tiger 900 is the touring pick, and that triple is the reason to buy one. It’s silky at low revs, strong in the midrange and sounds great doing it, with a refinement the twins can’t quite match.
The Rally Pro adds long-travel Showa suspension and spoked tubeless wheels, so it can handle real dirt. Its natural home is the long sweepers through the high country with luggage on. Equipment is generous: heated grips and seats, quickshifter, tyre-pressure monitoring and full connectivity. The finish is the best in the class.
It’s the heaviest and most expensive bike here, so it’s less suited to properly technical terrain. As a big-distance tourer that can still tackle the Oodnadatta, it’s hard to beat.
Best for: Long-distance touring with plenty of comfort and equipment.
Watch for: Weight and price at the top end of the class.
Also worth a look
CFMoto 800MT (about $15,000–$17,000): It uses a KTM-derived twin and comes with a remarkable amount of kit for the money. Dealer coverage and resale are still catching up, but on value alone it’s hard to ignore.
Royal Enfield Himalayan 750: It’s newly arriving, and if it keeps the Himalayan 450‘s simple, honest character at a sharp price, it could shake up the class. We’ll reserve judgement until we’ve spent proper time on one.
The RiderMates verdict
There’s no bad choice in this group, only a better match for how you ride:
- Remote outback and serious dirt: Yamaha Ténéré 700, or the KTM 890 Adventure R if budget allows.
- An even split of road and gravel: Suzuki V-Strom 800DE.
- Daily riding and touring on a budget: Honda XL750 Transalp.
- Long-distance comfort: Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro.
If we had to buy one with our own money for an Aussie lap that took in the Gibb River Road? The Ténéré 700. It’s not the fastest or the fanciest. It’s the one we’d trust to bring us home.
Use the RiderMates on-road price calculator to work out the total cost in your state, and compare any two of these bikes side by side.
