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10 Adventure Motorcycles You Can’t Buy in the USA

These enticing ADV Bikes from around the world are off limits for Americans.

Published on 05.13.2014

10. Honda Crosstourer Highlander

Honda Crosstourer Highlander
Source: Honda

Engine: 1237cc Liquid-Cooled, V-Four
Horsepower: 127.4 hp @ 7750 rpm
Torque: 92.9 lb.-ft. @ 6500 rpm
Wet Weight: 685 lbs. (311 kg.)*
Fuel Capacity: 5.7 gallons (21.5 l.)
Seat Height: 33.5 inches (850 mm.)
* DCT Version

The Honda Crosstourer brings V4 performance and a sophisticated dual clutch transmission (DCT) to the Adventure Bike Market. The Crosstourer is a big-bore, shaft driven competitor to the BMW R1200GS that includes electronic aids like switchable on/off traction control (TCS) and combined ABS (C-ABS). The bike is built on the VFR1200 Sport-Touring platform and offers impressive performance on pavement. The Crosstourer comes equipped with wire spoked wheels for better durability off-road, but you probably shouldn’t venture too far off pavement with this heavy Adventure Bike. It’s surprising Honda never brought the Crosstourer to the U.S. to compete with BMW, but we can only hope that they are waiting to bring something more capable of grabbing market share from the R1200GS like a new Africa Twin.
 

Author: Rob Dabney


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Rob Dabney started a lifelong obsession with motorcycles at the age of 15 when he purchased his first bike – a 1982 Honda MB5. Through his 20’s and 30’s he competed in off-road desert races, including the Baja 250, 500 and 1000. Eventually, his proclivity for exploration led him to dual sport and adventure riding. Rob’s never-ending quest to discover what’s around the next bend has taken him on Adventures in Latin America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and throughout the American West. As a moto journalist, he enjoys inspiring others to seek adventure across horizons both near and far.

Author: Rob Dabney
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adrian
adrian
May 13, 2014 9:36 pm

Every thing is true except stiff suspension, in fact its very soft and sags about 2 inches upon mounting bike by 180 lb rider. Very torquey and agile upon take off. Power bleeds oft very slow past 100 kph or 60 mph, which doesn’t it cant do 75 mph. I think 65 cruising speed is spot on, but who knows, still in the break in period.

James R Barndt III
James R Barndt III
January 1, 2018 9:48 am
Reply to  adrian

This perplexes me, as my 2014 XT250 which makes 5 hp less, can cruise all day @ 70mph true speed. (I currently have 34,000 miles on it)

Amin Virani
Amin Virani
December 20, 2022 11:26 pm
Reply to  adrian

This is correct

Bill W.
Bill W.
May 14, 2014 7:26 pm

Bring the mini Tenere please!!

trackback
10 adventure motorcycles you can’t get in the US. | thats him officer
May 15, 2014 4:58 am

[…] my post about the motorcycles of Costa Rica, here is a link to a great article from ADV Pulse about 10 adventure motorcycles you can’t get in the […]

David
David
May 18, 2014 9:14 pm

Great article! Enjoyed it!!!

rod mckeithan
rod mckeithan
August 31, 2014 3:51 am

Also not available to us is the Kawasaki Versys 1000 based upon the ninja1000 with the Versys body work could be had with a full range of luggage was a good looking bikermckeithan@fayettevillefire.org

Fabricio
Fabricio
October 20, 2014 12:27 pm

Hi Friends,

Sorry, but I have to respond to this matter.
Unfortunately you have no idea of how our national bikes are bad.
If one day our bikes arrive in america you will understand the drug of bike we have in our market.
This bike has several manufacturing problem that are not repaired by the manufacturer.
Outside the high value q costs.
Just to have an idea this bike would cost in america
Based on the value she and sold here in Brazil Honda XRE-300
R $ 15.500 Reais (Rate $1,00 = R$ 2,50 )
$ 6.200

Sorry for my english, I hope I have expressed myself well

Rob Dabney
Rob Dabney
October 21, 2014 11:58 am
Reply to  Fabricio

$6,200 does seem a bit expensive to pay for a 300cc motorcycle. But here the Suzuki DR-Z400 is $7,300 so it’s not completely out of the question. Thanks for sharing your experience.

Marcos Spínola
Marcos Spínola
October 20, 2014 5:00 pm

Hey guys… be careful with what you wish for! There are great bikes on this list, but there are some of them that are nothing but pure crap (such as shinerays).

Here in Brasil we have the XRE and all Yamaha’s bikes listed. I’ve had a Tenere 250 myself and that is such a great bike! Terrible brakes though and the suspension is not good indeed…. But they are reliable as f***! Great fuel economy and sure a great bike for a low budget adventure ride.

Honda’s XRE have a chronic issues in the overhead cam. I don’t have the proper vocabulary to explain it in english… but I can tell that this bike is manufactured here in Brasil since 2009 and Honda STILL HADN’T found a solution for it (or didn’t want to find one solution). However, I suppose they woud treat the american consumer differently from what HOnda consider “fair” to treat brazilians consumers.
Nevertheless, it’s a great bike if you do not depend on it for your daily duty.

Rob Dabney
Rob Dabney
October 21, 2014 12:01 pm

Good to know that there may be some problems with the XRE 300 in case someone tries to import one of these things. Honda should protect their reputation for reliability, no matter what country they are selling in. Thanks for the information!

Vitor
Vitor
July 7, 2015 2:28 pm
Reply to  Rob Dabney

I own a xre300,the biggest “problem” this bike has had in Brasil,is that people don’t know what it means to check valve clearence.. it’s as simple as that.. check valve clearence every 8.000km and you will have a very,very reliable machine. I’m embarassed to admit that my fellow countrymen don’t know what it means to check valve clearence,and then calling a great bike as bad.

rich sanborn
rich sanborn
April 30, 2020 10:44 am
Reply to  Vitor

can you help me find a efi tuner for a new xre 300 I just bought
thx- rich rozmyslovicznm@yahoo.com

trackback
Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB
November 27, 2014 1:59 pm

[…] That was the G/S not the GS! Huge difference and a new era R80G/S: 1980-1987 R80G/S: 1987-1994+1996 (After all R80GS (not the R80G/S) is the best adv-bike ever produced so this is important ) What about the army-KTMs did you get them? Maybe not but you had the army-HD and they are rare in Europe. We also had the famous Norwegian part of motorcycle-history, the Tempo: Mostly smallish bikes: 10 Adventure Motorcycles You Can't Buy in the USA � ADV Pulse […]

C. Junior
C. Junior
September 6, 2015 5:12 pm

Unfortunately, the Brazilian legislation about security is very bad. Because of this, the Honda XRE300 have a chronic defect since 2009, year of its launch in the Brazilian market, and today, in 2015, has not yet been fixed. Break valve cover, cylinder head, oil leakage occurs, valve breaks, etc.
But as Brazilian politicians are more interested in theft and corruption, they are not able to formulate laws which provide quality products sold here.
Another example: There is a Chinese motorcycle being sold here, Dafra Kansas 150cc since 2008, the underbody “chassis?” (below the seat) breaks while the pilot is riding !!! Can you believe it? How many people have died without knowing why?
Another example about security: Most bikes here do not have disc brakes. The bikes that have disc brakes are at least 70%-80% more expensive.
Therefore Honda does not sell certain motorcycle models to the United States, whose laws are stricter for these absurdities defects that can even kill the pilot.
Hugs, from a sad Brazilian biker.

Trent
Trent
July 1, 2016 12:50 am

I live in Texas, I ride dirtbikes all the time. I want a adventure bike but none seemed to look right, but this thing has the perfect combo, street legal and looks similar to a dirtbike with the slickness of a street. But the I can’t find one.. Wtf

Waldemar Wosiński
Waldemar Wosiński
July 14, 2016 5:43 am

M1nsk TRX 300i is chinese and is available here:
http://www.cscmotorcycles.com/CSC-Motorcycles-RX3-Adventure-p/zrx3.htm

Nate Hamilton
Nate Hamilton
July 14, 2016 8:48 am

@Waldemar, they do explain it is Chinese in the article. Also, look at the date of this article. In 2014 the bike had not been brought to the US.

James R Barndt III
James R Barndt III
January 1, 2018 9:46 am

I’ve got a 2014 XT250 that I’m extremely happy with, save the lack of range, some weather protection and oil cooler (and some increased hp.) that this 250 Tenere has.
Bring it to the USA YAMAHA!…I’d gladly pay extra for the 3 things I mentioned above.
Unlike the WR250R, the XT is soooo simple in design and maint. needs. (and no parts are needed for valve adjustment)
PLEASE!…bring it into the States. Honda has their 250 rally and Kawasaki has the 300 Versys, what the heck are you waiting for?

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