Adventure Bikes for Oz in 2023
As the manufacturers continue to recover from the disastrous effects of Covid, 2023 won’t exactly be the most exciting year for new releases. If you are in the market for a new adventure bike, the choice, although not as wide as what’s available on the European continent, it’s still pretty damn good.
Some models simply won’t make it to Oz just yet, some are still on the ‘maybe’ list, but here’s a look at the models that will arrive, although some not ‘til late in the year.
Benelli
Hopefully the recent release of the Leoncino 800 Scrambler will fare well for Benelli in 2023. One of Europe’s best sellers, the TRK502 will remain in their line up here and the Chinese owned Italian brand is still persisting with the rumour of the TRK800 coming to Australia.
Let’s hope common sense prevails and they send us the TRK702 instead. A quick look at the specs on both bikes will explain why.
BMW
Well the big “Bavarian” 1250 still hasn’t turned into a 1300 for 2023 but like its stable mates, it has a few new tricky bits.
The 2023 Motorradhaus consists of the 1250 GS and GSA, the 850 GS and GSA, the 750 GS and the 310 GS.
CF MOTO
These guys have been around for much longer than most realise. About 30 years longer.
CF Moto burst onto the Aussie adventure market with the 800MT in late 2021. Their flagship should remain unchanged in 2023 but will be accompanied by the recently released CLX 700 Adventure. A scrambler type, the CLX Adventure sports a brilliant 700 parallel twin and represents a whole heap of fun.
Ducati
The two real adventure bikes in Ducati’s stable are of course the Desert X and the all new Multistrada V4 Rally. The brilliant Desert X is Ducati’s most capable adventure weapon, combining reasonably light weight with amazing handling and it will return after a very well received debut in 2022.
The 2023 model will have minimal changes but will be sporting new livery.
The Multistrada V4 Rally is an insane monster (but in a good way). The all new rival to anything in the heavy weight adventure bike department, sports no less than 170 hp in ‘warp’ mode but like all the current heavy weights, it tones down dramatically in off-road mode. Its 30 L tank, wire wheels and large front wheel put this bike right on top of the heavy weight heap.
Harley Davidson
The 2023 Pan American will remain relatively unchanged although the question on many people’s lips is when will we see the 975 version?
While America is buzzing with the rumours of maybe even a third variant of the Pan AM on the way, any such model certainly won’t make it to Australia before at least late 2023.
Honda
A few little updates here and there but no big surprises from Honda. With the initial 2023 list being the good old Africa Twin still strutting it’s stuff, the CB500X taking care of the light weight adventure tourer sector and the brilliant CRF300L Rally ending the list.
The highly anticipated new Transalp won’t be making any noise here in Oz til well into the second half of the year.
Husqvarna
The Husky camp really only has two adventure bikes. The 701 (full-on adventure sport) is sporting some minimal changes and the very underrated 901 Norden (adventure tourer) will remain relatively untouched for 2023.
Kawasaki
KLR fans will rejoice in yet another year for the 650 tractor. Although if you are so woke that you have been feeling the need to step up to a fuel injected model, since they arrived 12 months ago, I hope you like green, as its the only colour for 2023.
Adventure beginners, perhaps one of the better light weight adventure tourers on the market is Kawasaki’s Versys 300X.
A well set up 300X could have you seeing half of Australia before you even know what you are doing.
KTM
KTM’s 2023 range is pretty much it’s 2022 range with the 890 being one exception having a few upgrades including suspension, all new ABS control, new TFT and a whole stack of new functional body bits.
Although KTM always hold a great range, at this point, there’s not a lot that’s new forthcoming in 2023.
Anything is possible though and these guys don’t seem to care too much about annual media launches, so who knows what may pop out the doors of one of their European or Chinese factories in 2023.
Moto Guzzi
The Moto Guzzi V85TT has been made even nicer for 2023 with an extra two ride modes, giving it five, tubeless rims and best of all more torque in the low and medium rev range.
Royal Enfield
While RE are rumoured to be working on a whole string of new models, there will be no changes to their one and only adventure bike, the Himalayan in the new year.
Suzuki
Amazingly, the Suzuki look like the big movers and shakers in the adventure bike world for 2023.
While these guys have a reputation for minimal change, they are having a rare crack in 2023 with updates on both the 1050 and 250 V-Stroms. The 1050DE will basically be the same old stalwart with a 21” front wheel and suspension that it always should’ve had.
The 250 has been restyled into quite a good looking adventure bike, sporting a single cylinder powerplant that puts out more horsepower than its parallel twin predecessor.
The baby Strom also weighs less and is actually cheaper than the old model to buy at $6,490 ride away.
As far as big moves go, the V-Strom faithful will be graced with a slightly porky and weirdly named 800 V-Strom with its all new parallel twin …. go figure!
Unfortunately the much loved DR650 is no more and the 650 V-Strom will reappear unchanged.
Triumph
The Tiger range is probably the most accommodating on the market and will stay unchanged throughout 2023.
The 900 and 1200 Rally-Pro variants being the most desirable amongst adventure tourers.
We can only hope that Triumph has the intention to do something more adventure orientated with its 660 platform, but that seems very unlikely during the ongoing Covid recovery.
Yamaha
Flagship duties for Yamaha in the adventure sector are now well and truly in the hands of the Tenere 700 and an updated version is on the horizon.
The T7 World Rally with its significant updates in suspension, fuel capacity and electrical package has had some nasty rumours surrounding it regarding its elimination from the Australian line-up.
Currently the new version is well and truly on Yamaha Australia’s 2023 list so fingers crossed it accompanies the unchanged T7 to our shores. The mighty Tenere 1200 looks set to remain for 23 as well, although its time seems to be running out.
Well that is pretty much 2023 wrapped up for Australia. Here’s hoping you find the adventure bike of your choice under the Christmas tree this year.
Have a merry Christmas and a very adventurous New Year from all of us at ABMT.
