MCN Test: Finding the best hardcore off-roader

The adventure sector is almost buckling under the weight of incredible machinery it offers. There’s so much choice, from entry-level A2 all-rounders to eye-wateringly powerful (and expensive) rangetopping weapons.

Yet, right in the middle ground, there’s a sweet spot: the hardcore, sub-litre off-roader. These bikes are premium, packed with tech and have enough performance to tackle just about anything, but with a touch less bulk and weight than we’re used to from the biggest adventure beasts.

They’re a hoot to ride too, able to do just about everything both on and off-road.

And, just as importantly, they’re reasonably priced. We’re talking about the most hardcore, middleweight adventure machines to grace showrooms today: Ducati’s DesertX, Triumph’s Tiger 900 Rally Pro, KTM’s 890 Adventure R, Husqvarna’s Norden 901 Expedition and Yamaha’s Ténéré 700 World Raid.

From price to power and even engine configurations, these bikes differ dramatically, yet they have one thing in common – they’ve all been built to tackle the very toughest terrains that can be thrown at them. So, that’s exactly
what we’ve done…