A mystic combination of dual sport and cruiser, with a little bagger sprinkled in for good measure, adventure bikes are the ultimate Swiss army knife of motorcycling. Beyond the ability to make long treks comfortably, a good ADV bike has enough dirt prowess to tackle gravel roads and fire lanes, all without sacrificing its street manners for average city commuting.

But if you?re light on riding experience, there?s nothing attractive (or appropriate) about a bulky 600-pound machine with a 35-inch seat height. To quote the internet, you?re gonna have a bad time. Making adventure bikes more accessible means dropping seat height, ccs and some serious heft, and, thankfully, we?re seeing more and more options in this category. If you?re pretty green in the saddle and interested in the ADV lifestyle, these five bikes from 300 cc to 400 cc are worth considering.
Royal Enfield Himalayan Air-cooled and affordable, Royal Enfield?s Himalayan goes 100% against the grain of conventional ADV wisdom, but hey, that can be a good thing. Staking its claim in the market with mechanical simplicity and rugged, military-esque charm, the Himalayan is one of the most affordable ways to get off the beaten path.
Equipped with a large 4-gallon fuel tank, an engine skid plate and racks front and rear, the Himalayan certainly looks the part. The tall front windscreen fronts a combination of analog and digital gauges, including Royal?s Tripper navigation system, which is based on Google Maps. A wid...