The V-Strom 1000 and 650, shown here with the XT packages that include tubeless spoked wheels, have the distinction of being direct competitors despite, or perhaps because of, their different sizes and prices. Which one works better overall" Photos by Kevin Wing.
How does one decide on an adventure-touring bike" All of the choices out there can turn your mind into Play-Doh. One way to narrow them down is by the front wheel size that suits your riding style.
Planning a lot of off-road riding" You need a skinny 21-inch front to carve up the loose stuff and roll effortlessly over ruts and obstacles–you’ll find one on a Honda Africa Twin or Kawasaki KLR650.
No dirt in your future" A 17-inch front wheel will give the bike sharper handling on the street and a good variety of sport-touring tire choices–the Ducati Multistrada 1260, Yamaha Tracer 900 GT and larger Kawasaki Versys models all have 17s up front. Read our Comparison Review between the V-Strom 650 and Versys 650 LT.
For most of us a compromise is in order. You have dreams of conquering the Atacama Desert or Dalton Highway, but will probably spend most of your time in the lower 48 on paved roads, and about 10 percent on dirt byways and 4×4 trails connecting them. That reality has made 19-inch fronts common among ADV bikes because they’re a (mostly) happy medium between street and dirt.
Now, winnow out the expensive European machines with 19s and the pricey (and kinda heavy)...