Top 5 Lightweight Adventure Motorcycles in 2024/2025
In this article you’ll find a summary of the top five lightweight adventure motorcycles available in New Zealand in2024 for less than $10,000, a bonus scrambler for comparison, and a fairly comprehensive comparison spreadsheet that I’ve put together as part of my own research into buying a new motorcycle.
I’ve hit the mid-life crisis stage of my life, so it’s time to start looking at motorcycles. Why fight it, right?
I didn’t grow up around bikes, instead having my first taste of bikes in the PC game Full Throttle, then later in the PS4 game of Days Gone. I’d stop doing the stories in the games and instead just play around on the bikes. That’s an origin story that seems to be a world away from many of New Zealand’s current motorcycle riders, with many seeming to have either grown up on farms with access to motorcycles, or having had ridden them less… legally… in their teenage years.
More recently, YouTube encouraged me to start following the adventures of Australian motorcyclist Joe Ryan during his time in New Zealand on a Royal Enfield Scram 411. His awesome videos really hammered home what I was missing out on, between sitting behind a desk in Christchurch and following local trails in North Canterbury on my mountain bike.
@motolincoln
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As a resident of New Zealand’s South Island, I’m regularly told that 80% of our roads are gravel, and there are some incredible motorcycle trails right on our back doorstep. Another motorcycle influencer on YouTube, Adam Riemann, called New Zealand “one of the planet’s ultimate offroad playgrounds.”
Joe’s videos helped me settle on the idea of either a scrambler or an adventure motorcycle, but as someone who had never sat in the business seat of a motorbike, I knew I would have a lot to learn. My position as a marketing manager in the car industry has taught me a lot about the need for research (did you know car buyers spend an average of 15 hours researching cars before they make a purchase?), so I turned to Google.
Initially starting with the Scram 411, I very soon realised just how many options there were on the market. Luckily, for every type of motorcycle, there are thousands of video reviews on YouTube.
Researching motorcycles was proving quite different to researching cars. Some realisations were:
- The New Zealand version of the world’s motorcycle brand websites are pretty lacking, many with limited specs, some with missing pricing, and some even missing current models
- New Zealand’s motorcycle dealer websites aren’t all that better, with most just linking back to the national website when you click ‘new models’ and hosting no information of their own
- Unlike cars, motorcycles don’t seem to have spec sheets. The closest you might find being more of a brochure-style PDF with a short table of key highlights (I assume because there are less features to talk about)
- Motorcycle promotions are very different to car promotions due to the smaller price tags; e.g. a “Save $15,000” offer on a new car translates to more like “Save $500” on a motorcycle, as you’d expect as a percentage of the total price, of course
- There tends to be less stock of a particular model bike in the country versus a car model. A new car model may have a few hundred units in the country, while a specific new bike model may have in the tens.
Some big positives were:
- Motorcycles seem to offer good resale value, with $9,000 brand-new bikes selling three or four years later for $7,000 to $8,000
- Many people buy a learner approved motorcycle (Learned Approved Motorcycle Scheme, or LAMS) and then only use it for a few thousand kilometres, then when they get their full licence they upgrade to a new bike and put their LAMS model on the market
- There are some great reviews on YouTube, and some even better motorcycle films that are hugely inspiring and encouraging
- Some motorcycle experts are big fans of smaller bikes in the LAM category, often recommending them to both new and experience motorcycle riders thanks to their low cost, light weight, but high levels of manoeuvrability and fun to be had
I’ve found the research part of my motorcycle journey to be pretty exciting. With each new video I discovered a new potential motorcycle to explore, and once you start talking about motorcycles with your friends, family, and colleagues, all of the motorcycle enthusiasts come out of the woodwork, and so far they’ve been almost as enthusiastic as I am about my potential new purchase (thank you for your support to date, Shaun Grob, Lee Parkinson, and Neil C!). It’s a hugely supportive and tight community.
The negative in that has been the feeling of guilt in going down this road. In a family with two young children, investing in such a substantial purchase that only you will get enjoyment out of comes with, for me, high levels of guilt. After all, working parents get to spend so little time with their kids to start with, so to add solo motorcycle adventures into that mix only reduces that time further, let alone the expense of the bike purchase, the lessons, the gear, the registration, and the insurance. You have to balance that with the enjoyment you’ll get from the bike and the benefits to your mental health, plus the fact that the bike and the gear are assets that can be sold later on in life.
And of course, there’s a risk of injury when it comes to motorcycles, but then other hobbies I’ve had include rock climbing, mountain biking, and solo hiking, and each of those come with plenty of risks. Is the alternative to sit safely on your sofa
Criteria for the ‘top five’ list
To make this list of top five lightweight adventure motorcycles, I’ve focused on criteria of:
- Bike must be learner approved (LAMS in New Zealand, A2 Licence elsewhere)
- Bike must be available for under $10,000 New Zealand dollars
- BIke must be under 600 cc (for newbies, and also keeping the price down)
- Bike must review well
- I need to be comfortable sitting on it, at 6ft 2in tall
- Bike must be visually appealing
Obviously the latter is subjective, but I’ve also taken on board styling comments from professional motorcycling enthusiasts and journalists.
My Motorcycle Buying Comparison Spreadsheet
I over-research any significant purchase (my wife will testify to this), so I fired up a spreadsheet and started comparing specs. You can view this fairly substantial spreadsheet here, which includes a lot more models than on this top five list.
Note that at time of writing this is a working file with more details to follow, and note that – as you’ll find – I started on Scramblers and then moved to Adventure and Touring bikes, with a couple of roadsters for comparison. I’m interested in a bike that I could feel OK riding across the South Island on, including some lighter offroad riding, so there’s no serious dirt-oriented bikes in there, and I have realised since that some of the bikes included wouldn’t be suitable for my needs, especially as someone who’s 6ft 2 tall.
A big disclaimer here is that a lot of specs are missing from the brand and dealer websites, so I’ve had to piece together the specs available from the official channels with specs I’ve found on review websites and videos, with some of those being for slightly older models or for overseas spec bikes, so take some of these with a pinch of salt.
The details are also subject to change, with the information included mostly relevant to models available in New Zealand and in 2024.
I wouldn’t buy any of them they are all underpowered and you will soon be looking for something with a bit more performance. At 6ft2 with the exception of the 400 Trumpy as I have never sat on one so cant comment the rest must seem like sitting on a mini bike, I’m only 5ft7.. Have you looked at some of the larger 650 + lams bikes in the dual purpose range, or some of the more enduro / off-road oriented bikes? With a more road suited tyre or a set off 17 inch rims it makes for some pretty good road handling. For a first bike I would never go new, the first time you drop it will suck big time. At the end of the day it’s your money and your bike so whatever you decide its a motorbike and it gunner put a smile on you dial so you can’t go wrong.
Disclaimer This is just my opinion and like arseholes we all have one :)
Thanks heaps for the input, Michael. I’m with on the size thing, but I also need to balance that with being on a learner licence and on a budget, while also preferring to buy new. Funnily enough, I asked this in a Facebook Group and a *lot* of people suggested a dual sport bike instead of the adventure/tourers that are on my shortlist, but I really have my heart set on the look of the bikes in this list. I’m going to have quite a limited amount of ‘bike time’ available to me and don’t want to be worried about maintaining an older bike or modifying a new one, I just want to get out there, with that being open, winding roads and a few flat dirt and gravel trails, nothing too serious at all. I’m more set on a bike that would suit this purpose well while I’m learning and then potentially for a few years after that. Still, food for thought. Appreciate your input, thanks again.
Hey Mark,
Great review on the bikes. I thought I over analysed bikes, but this is on another level (in a good way!) I’m Christchurch based too, if you ever want to discuss bikes or go for a ride once you get an ADV bike, you can contact me on IG at @_wesleyjames_
I’ve been seriously looking at the new Himalayan as a potential new bike. Don’t discard the second hand market either, you can get some great deals, as long as the owner has legitimate service history evidence etc.
My honest opinion. It’s between 3 models, the Triumph 400x if you want style, and a bike that suits 6″2. I’m 6″2 myself and found it very comfortable. Then the Himalayan & CF Moto are very strong contenders too. I think the CF Moto is probably the winner, but I’m a visual guy, and it just doesn’t look as good as the other 2.
Good luck with your decision!
Wes
Awesome, thanks Wesley! And very handy to hear from another local who’s the same height! I get you on the visual side as well. I know there are a lot of practical reasons to get other bikes, but I also want something that looks good and matches my style. It’s the heart vs brain thing there. I’m going to drop by CMG this week and look at their new CFMOTO 450MT and sit on the BMW G 310 GS while I’m there, and will also get to First European to check out the new Himalayan 450.
And thanks for that – I’ve subscribed and followed on YouTube and Instagram! Love the way you’ve put your videos together – I’ll add your recent Triumph 400 video to this page and my spreadsheet.
Hi Mark
Great reviews and comparisons, very thorough.
I’ve still got the blue lake Himalayan 22, and enjoying it, apart from low seat height, and have been contemplating a bigger bike.
Like me, yes, CF moto a contender although haven’t visited a dealership, – the new Himalayan 450, we’ll, yes, very strong and still appealing to me especially in the Kamet white with seat hoisted up.
I have progressed to restricted and picked up thise knobbly tyres – working well. I thought you might be on the Scram for a short time before something else took your attention. Hey – the 310 GS BMW, nice but too small.
Scramblers- I love – the Bear 650 looks worth a look.
Have a good Christmas
Signed,
Peter
OPAWA
still up for a relaxed gravel ride?
Fantastic veiws and information. I am a short 5’5″ 60yr old beginner-ish rider @ 135lbs wet. I previously owned a Honda GB500 and loved it. In a new bike I want feet firmly on the ground, a bike for my 85% road and 15% easy fireroads/ trails. With this said, a bike most comfortable on 2-3 hour road edventures/ cruising. Lots of choices and your article helped, thank you.
Hey Mark
Great article, and wonderful spreadsheet. I’m in a similar scenario today to you six months ago … facing mid-life head on, and embracing the need to have some freedom on the road
I see from your socials you went for the Scram 411? What steered you that way? I’m a big fan of the Scrambler style, and like (love?) the Triumph 400x, though I’m 5’6″, so the Speed or the Honda CL500 with lower seat heights appeal. A Ducati Sixty2 (second hand) is another idea. I’m looking forward to some test rides after the holiday season
Christchurch based here too, as I pull the trigger on buying a bike in February, hopefully see you on the roads
Thanks again for the hard work into your article & spreadsheet !
Kyle
You’ve got the basis there for a genuinely comprehensive comparison. Well done on the construction of the spreadsheet although I’ve yet to be able to view it on a proper screen.
One area you might like to add is the price AND availability of common breakage spares & maintenance items…Eg…OEM mirrors, front brake & clutch levers, handguards, engine oil filters.
In respect of the bikes themselves it’s actually pleasing to see how many options there are in the sub 500cc category…I wasn’t even aware the 300cc Kawasaki existed…but there again I’ve never been a big fan of Kawasakis.
The Triumph 400X is an “interesting” bike and there were reasons why your fellow industry gent at CMG was so quick to proffer the 450MT in its place, dealer margins being the prime one…LOL? The Triumph 400s have a reputation for bugginess which Triumph themselves seem unable or uninterested in getting on top of. You need to be aware the 400X “Scrambler” is by no means a genuine off roader but merely a marketing exercise. The bikes Owners Manual even prohibits the bike being jumped or rock/log hopped. It’s fine for harder packed unsealed roads…but you could probably say that of most road bikes too. Show it anything slippery, deep in gravel or genuinely off-road gnarly and you will wish you’d stayed on your MTB bike or purchased a donkey.
The Suzuki hoses all over the lot of them in terms of price and it’s price advantage is even greater with the local distributors Summer Fest pricing.
The 450MT attracted an almost curiously large amount of good press before anyone in this country…and others…had even had a chance to sit on the bike let alone test it. It’s certainly sold well since arriving in NZ but I’m wondering if there’s not a lingering suspicion about the model & the brand itself’s longevity…which leads me to the…
KTM390. The KTM factory & its tech heavy parent group are in genuine financial dodo at present. Reliability issues with other KTM models and an apparent tardy factory response to the problem hasn’t helped their cause. In respect of the 390 these are made by Bajav Industries in India, (the same factory that makes the Triumph 400s), and build quality especially in respect of paint and trim longevity is reported as being suspect. The 390’s appearance is challenging for some including yours truly with the headlight assembly in line for some sort of industry Oscar for pure out of place ugliness!
The Honda 230…(now a 300?) is possibly one of the more tech compliant genuine off roaders but comes with a price tag that reflects a higher spec machine.
The BMW G310GS, most likely made in China, has some semblance of having genuine “adventure” credentials but suffers in my book from having an overbloated look to it.
The Honda CB500X is yet another of those “platform” bikes whereby the factory attempts to get maximum marketing & sales mileage out of a single donk. There’s nothing especially good or bad about it and in decades to come may well be regarded as the CB200 of it’s era…stolid, unspectacular but comfortable & reliable.
My pick…The Suzuki DS250 V-Strom 250SX. Cheap & cheerful, reliable, light, totally fit for purpose and having the advantage of being a brand that’s now being around for 75 years.
If I were in your boots, I would check Honda dealerships asap. They had Honda CB500X adventure bikes on run out for just a touch over $10K. They are real “sweet spot” bikes, much superior in every respect to any on your shortlist IMO. As an experienced, older rider, I recently bought the new model replacing it – Honda NX500. It’s a gem of a machine. But don’t take my word for it. Read the rave reviews they get. By the way, LAMS is NOT restricted to 600CC. It’s done on power to weight ratio now. Some are up to 700CC on the NZTA approved list. Good luck & ride safe.
Thanks Hoppy! Appreciate your insights on the Honda. Will be sure to check it out when the time comes to upgrade/switch!
Thanks Kyle! Awesome to hear it, and by now you will have bought your bike. Hope you’re enjoying it. I ended up with the Scram 411 in kind of a full circle, given it was Joe Ryan’s videos on a Scram 411 that made me first start considering a bike. I’d actually grown keen on the Triumph 400X Scrambler but buying new turned out to be pushing my limit, and a used 2022 Scram 411 was listed locally and ended up being a good compromise. It’s turned out to be perfect for what I want to do, and I do like the scrambler-style bike. I think I’ll reserve buying the more adventure-style bike until I’ve got my full licence and know more about what I want from a bike.
See you out there!
Damn, thanks Terry. That’s some very details insights you’ve provided there, I really appreciate it. Sorry it took so long to approve and reply – usually the comments are inundated with spam so they go into a queue for approval, and in all honesty I rarely get genuine comments so don’t check it very often! A pleasure to find that this article had attracted some quality feedback, though. Thanks again and see you on the road.
Paul, thanks for your comment! So glad the article could help in some way. Stay safe out there :)
Thanks Peter! Great to hear you’re progressing through your licence and enjoying the ride. See you out there!
Here I am, responding to some guy, named Michael Verner, (who might not even be wrong) on the internet.
But why you might ask?
First of all, I googled ‘small adv’ and this site was on top, and I assume that others searching for ‘small adv’ might click this link as well. Congratulations Mark, you made it to the top of the internet.
Secondly, he wrote ‘you will soon be looking for something with a bit more performance’, which always triggers me. I will get to that.
What is an adv bike?
Adv bikes are just like shoes you wear while running, the become running shoes. Try running without them, and you will know why.
Robert Pirsig and Ted Simon prooved this, way before the term ‘adv bike’ was thought of in a BMW marketing department, in the late 70’s.
Thousands of globetrotters, on 125cc bikes and scooters, have prooven this since.
In short, an adv bike is any bike that is freed from the daily transit from A to A and taken from A to B and onward instead.
I would suggest riding from A to A for a while, before proceeding towards B.
The size of the bike?
The physical size of the bikes, is quite often, but not always related to the engine size.
You should always be able to reach the ground with both feet and never be cramped in your riding position.
The weight of the bike?
The weight of the bike is also, but not always, related to the engine size.
There are no benefits to weight, the lower the better.
Manufacturers can counter weight issues by using clever (read expensive) materials, but at a cost.
BMW has mastered this by adding both at the same time (extremely heavy and extremely expensive) Other manufacturers are watching and learning :-)
Where do you want to go?
Are you planing on riding thousands of miles/km at high speed on the autobahn/highway?
Would you not be more comfortable, a lot safer, more relaxed, better entertained and financially better off, doing that in a car?
I am not saying a 1800cc Goldwing og comparable BMW is not a fine machine, but just stating the fact that a Hyundai I10 is better at the same task (within legal speed limits).
But back to: ‘you will soon be looking for something with a bit more performance’
For what exactly?
I have seen people doing crazy stuff on hardcore adv bikes, but rarely succesfully, if ever, with luggage attached!
Come to think of it, I have actually only ever seen people crashing while attempting to do even slightly crazy stuff with luggage attached. Like doing a slow turn on a gravel parkinglot crazy!
Would these talented individuals not be even better using a proper tool, like a dirtbike of some kind?
The right size, as light as possible, and good tires. It is that simple.
Thanks Jakob. All good comments. And yeah, this article has ended up getting some nice traffic on the topic of lightweight adventure bikes. Loving the comments and discussion it’s generating – we have a great community of motorcyclists out there.
And very true – I’ve watched all the ‘Long way…’ series with Ewan and Charley and they really show that the bigger bikes have their downsides when it comes to soft ground and picking them up after a fall! There are certainly benefits to lighter bikes.
Mark. Great work on putting this together. Most of us got into motorcycling on emotion, and quite a lot of us bought our first motorcycle based on that, rather than rational thought. I doubt you will go wrong with your choice. Hopefully you clock up a bunch of kilometres on back country roads and really enjoy the experience.
Look forward to updates.
By the way, many older riders with bikes from the Panzer Division would enjoy adventure riding a lot more with a small, light, nimble motorcycle!
Thanks heaps, Michael! You’re dead right – there’s a lot of stats and figures, and the brain can really take over, but at the end of the day if you don’t feel emotional about your purchase then you’ll either come to regret it and wish for something more, or you won’t make the decision to purchase at all.
I ended up buying a Royal Enfield Scram 411. After all this research and the great feedback and advice, I went for something that would really suit my needs at the time and – ultimately – was affordable as there was a second hand one nearby. I’ve really enjoyed it, but often wish I’d gone with the Triumph. When I get my full licence I’ll review and then make a decision about a bike that will do me better in the long-term. One that ticks the rational boxes as well as the emotional!
You’re smart to focus on the weight. Get the tool for the job. Even at 6’2″ if you are a new rider pay attention to the seat height as well if you plan to do even a little rough off-roading, anything close to 400cc or more is plenty. Even a 250 is fine if you are just doing day trips, but if you want to be like more trip, load up I’d go for the KTM or the CF Moto, I love those. I have a BMW F700GS and I wish I would have gotten the lower version and I’m 6′ I have bigger bikes, but not off roaders, it’s almost ready to swap out for a better off road tire. I bought used, but still had more street oriented tire. I swap bikes with friends, I can tell you a low riding more sport or cruiser bike can be easier to handle than a tall dual sport. You’ll end up getting another bike, you can get a bigger one later and you’ll still love riding the smaller one sometimes. If you have room to keep them, I’m old. Sold my first old HD before leaving the country and always regretted it. Ended up finding one similar. I have 5, from electric Surron which is amazing off road, HD FXDL, F700GS, V-Rod and old Honda CB500. Never bought a bike new (except the Surron), buy used and f the banks is how I like to do it, but that’s just me. Also cool to find bikes with thousands of dollars of luggage, performance upgrades, etc because that shit is free for you. You can get good deals on used bikes with cash in hand where I live. I’m waiting for 2021/2022 LiveWire One with luggage to get in the $6-7k range and that’s it until they make a good dual sport style electric bike with 300+ miles range with level 1,2 and 3 charging and get one a few years old. Have fun dude! Get what you like and feels comfortable for your body after testing it out and has good tires and suspension for your use case. Keep the rubber side down!Vibes
Thanks Lance! Interesting to hear about your experience with the BMW F700GS, and the advice to stick with used. I don’t do that enough to be honest. You’re right in that you could get a lot more for your money, especially if someone is selling their gear with the bike. I did end up buying used in the end, but quite late model – a 2022 Royal Enfield Scram 411 with 4,500 km on the clock. I’ve just passed 10,000 km along with passing my restricted licence test. See you out there!