What if we told you that £3k is all you need to buy a brilliant used adventure bike?

Tall, upright and comfortable, adventure bikes make for great tourers – and that’s the secret of their enduring success.

If you are after a bike to carry you and a pillion on a tarmac trip away, adventure bikes make great travelling companions.

• Get the look: Best riding kit for adventure bikes

But with the latest crop of tech-heavy machines devouring upwards of £20k, buying one is a very serious commitment.

Which is where these five bikes step in. Costing less than £3k, these five adventure-style bikes are packed with practicality and won’t bust your budget.

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MCN Recommended: Honda Varadero (2003-10) – £1,800 – £4,000

Honda’s road-going V-twin has so much to offer

Spec

• Power 92bhp
• Engine capacity 996cc
• Seat height 838mm
• Kerb weight 262kg

The Honda Varadero 1000 is a brilliant workhorse that has a good reputation for reliability and build quality. The Firestorm-based V-twin engine has lots of lovely midrange and is smooth with an easy going nature – but it can be a thirsty old beast.

That said, a huge 25-litre tank means you can still expect to cover over 200 miles between stops, even at under 40mpg. Extremely comfortable and with a three-position screen, the Varadero is built to cover miles and if you are after a practical machine that won’t let you down, it’s a great option.

Honda Varadero used buying advice

● Opt for the updated fuel-injected 2003-onwards model as it has a six-speed gearbox.
● The side-mounted radiators can trap dirt at their bottom edge, so check them well for corrosion and potential leaks. Pack a torch so you can get a good look.
● There are reports of cam chain tensioners requiring changing and rec/regs failing, but nothing you wouldn’t expect on an older bike. If the engine is anything other than silky smooth, be cautious.

Some of our more recent owners’ reviews for the Honda Varadero show that buyers really like their bikes. The only real issue might be if you don’t look after it properly. This comment from a review left in 2021 seems to sum it up nicely: “Nothing has ever failed, but do cover it in ACF50 to keep the rust at bay in those hard to clean places under the rear wheel arch and where the road spray splashes up from the front wheel.”

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Kawasaki KLV1000 (04-06) – £2,500 – £4,500

It’s a Kawazuki… short-lived rebadge has a lot to offer

Spec:

• Power 98bhp
• Engine capacity 996cc
• Seat height 840mm
• Kerb weight 232kg

The result of a collaboration between Suzuki and Kawasaki in the early 2000s, the Kawasaki KLV1000 is a re badged V-Strom 1000 with an adjustable screen and improved styling. Only built for two short years before both parties admitted it was a pretty poor decision, the Kawasaki KLV is well worth searching out but don’t pay a premium over a V-Strom.

Kawasaki KLV1000 used buying advice

• The stator’s magnets can come loose as the glue that holds them in place degrades. While a new stator is £60, an errant magnet can write off the whole engine!
• There are a couple of reports of subframes becoming excessively rusty, so remove the seat and check all is well. Inspect any areas where water can become trapped.
• Ensure the lower oil-cooler radiator isn’t damaged as it often gets struck by stones flung up from the front wheel.

Reading through our Kawasaki KLV1000 owners’ reviews, it’s clear there have been some issues with reliability you’ll want to consider before making a purchase. One review states “Corrosion of the subframe is very common, corrosion of magneto cover as well.”

Others complain of poor paint and build quality, but some argue these problems aren’t evident on their bikes, so it’s going to pay to look closely.

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BMW R1150GS (2000-2003) – £2,000 – £4,500

The last old-school GS is a proper modern classic

Spec:

• Power 85bhp
• Engine capacity 1130cc
• Seat height 850mm
• Kerb weight 249kg

Effectively an R1100GS that has been treated to a capacity hike and a sixth gear, the BMW R1150GS is the last of the old-school models before the R1200GS introduced CAN-bus and more tech. Raw, lumpy and pleasingly analogue if also slightly unrefined, this model of GS is a great belt-and braces adventurer with a degree of off-road ability. It’s about as rugged as they get.

BMW R1150GS used buying advice

● Be very cautious about any signs of clutch slip as swapping the clutch is a massive job. Always take the bike out on a test ride and feel for any hints that the clutch might be on its way out.
● Give the starter motor a good inspection (left side of the engine) as they wear out and a second hand unit costs more than £100.
● The 1150 was the last ‘base’ GS to receive spoke wheels as standard, so check for damaged or rusty spokes and dents in the rim.

In our vast selection of BMW R1150GS owners’ reviews, there are reports of paint finish issues and corrosion. One owner goes into more detail: “The clutch slaves tend to fail and they’re in a really awkward place. After replacing mine (and the hose) I then discovered the the gearbox seal behind the slave had been ruined by the clutch fluid and that had to be replaced too. Probably a well maintained GS wouldn’t give you much bother. Clutch replacement will be very expensive compared to a wet clutch though.”

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Suzuki V-Strom (2002-08) – £1,800 – £4,000

Not the most handsome bike, but actually rather good

Spec:

• Power 105bhp
• Engine capacity 996cc
• Seat height 875mm
• Kerb weight 231kg

Get over its styling and the re-tuned TL-based V-twin is a beauty and the rest of the bike excellent for hassle free mile-munching. Big, roomy and with a sumptuous seat, the Suzuki V-Strom is a brilliant tourer that pillions will adore. A touch heavy at low speed and with very soft original suspension, corners aren’t really a V-Strom’s forte but for straight-line cruising, it’s a great option.

Suzuki V-Strom used buying advice

• Brake discs rust very badly and look shabby quickly, fasteners corrode and the quality of the paint is also pretty sub-standard so check all-year bikes well.
• If the clutch rattles at under 3000rpm when in neutral, don’t worry they all do that! The noise will go away once there is a bit of pressure on the clutch lever. It’s just a quirk of the bike.
• Always check the shock’s remote preload adjuster, it can seize up if not given a twist now and then.

A quick check of our Suzuki V-Strom 1000 owners’ reviews highlights plenty of owners have done huge mileage on their bikes, and there aren’t too many prevailing problems to worry about.

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Triumph Tiger 955i (01-06) – £1,000 – £3,000

Old-school adventuring from the trusty old Brit

Spec:

• Power 104bhp
• Engine capacity 955cc
• Seat height 875mm
• Kerb weight 237kg

Very much old-school in its attitude, the Triumph Tiger 955i uses the older triple and is more adventure focused than the 1050 Tiger that replaced it. Big, tall and with quite a rugged feel, the Tiger is physically large, making it a good option for taller or bigger riders. The triple is a real beauty (aside from its clunky gearbox) but the Triumph’s soft suspension, high centre of gravity and skinny front wheel make it a bit unpredictable in corners.

Triumph Tiger 955i used buying advice

• The electrics are a bit weak on the Tiger with alternators, reg/recs and stators known to pack up.
• The two-piston sliding calipers are known to suffer from corrosion. A rebuild kit is about £30 a side.
• The Tiger is quite heavy on chains and sprockets. Have a look for hooked sprockets and see where the adjustors are set for a clue as to how much life is left in the chain.

It’s worthwhile reading our Triumph Tiger 955i owners’ reviews, because it seems this bike is a particularly reliable model. People have some seriously big miles on them without anything major breaking.

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Buying a used adventure bike – FAQs

If you’re considering buying a used adventure bike then the first thing you’ll want to know about it is whether it’s been used off-road or not. If it has, that shouldn’t automatically put you off, but make sure you learn as much as possible about how it’s been maintained.

The tyres fitted to the bike will give you an indication of its potential previous use, and also about how much the previous owner spent looking after it. Premium Pirellis? They would tend to show someone who cares enough to invest in proper rubber. Damaged ditch-finders? Maybe look elsewhere…

When it comes to aftermarket accessories, things like a taller screen, heated grips and a comfortable seat would seriously enhance your experience with the bike.