A few weeks ago we published a story titled “Are Adventure Riders The New SUV Driving Soccer Moms?” The story was a reaction to a general perception that most Adventure Bike owners never use their Adventure Bikes off-road.

Is the perception true? Where is the data to support this generalization? We created an online survey that would help us discover the truth about how Adventure Riders actually use their bikes. The results have been tallied and here’s what our survey reveals.

Survey Question #1

The first question shows what types of bikes respondents are riding. The survey was filled out primarily by owners of Adventure Bikes that are 650cc or greater. Very few of the respondents ride small dual sport bikes that could have skewed the results more towards off-road use. The greatest number of participants ride liter-class Adventure Bikes, which we would expect to skew the results more towards street use.

Survey Question #2

The results of the second question were surprising. The survey showed 99% of participants ride some type of off-road terrain. Over half said they ride 25 days or more off-road each year on average. That’s a lot of dirt!

Survey Question #3

The third question reveals the type of off-road terrain respondents ride. Respondents were able to select all the different types of terrain they typically ride. The results show 82% of our participants are riding off-road on at least maintained gravel or dirt roads. We were surprised to see that almost as many are riding on more aggressive unmaintained dirt roads.

A large number of respondents are riding on more extreme trails and single track as well. Although most of these respondents were owners of smaller Adventure Bikes.

The Truth About How We Ride
The results of this survey contradict the stereotype of Adventure Bikes not getting used for their intended purpose. The number of Adventure Riders that use their bikes off-road was even higher than we expected.

Possibly there were more off-road oriented Adventure Bike owners that felt compelled to answer the survey than street oriented riders. But even if the survey is slightly skewed, the numbers show an overwhelming majority of Adventure Riders use their bikes off-road. Results showed even riders of large Adventure Bikes are spending significant time in the dirt.

Why does all this matter?
Adventure Bikes are comfortable and versatile motorcycles that make great street bikes. They can be just as much fun on a twisty asphalt road as they are on a trail. No one should be judged for how they choose to use their Adventure Bike.

But if this stereotype about how “most” Adventure Riders use their machines persists, it could influence the design direction of future models. We’ve already seen it happen to SUV’s. They started out as lighter, rugged, off-road capable vehicles. Over the years more luxuries were added until they became too bloated and heavy to be of much use off-road.

The same trend toward more expensive, heavier, less off-road capable Adventure Bikes seems to be taking shape in our own industry. Fast forward five years from now and the Adventure Touring segment could suffer the same fate as the SUV. It’s important that we let our voice be heard so that Adventure Bikes are designed around how we actually ride and not based on a stereotype.

* Number of survey participants 506

Author: Rob Dabney

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.