Exploring the Best Adventure Bicycles for Travel
7 Handpicked Bikes for Touring, Off-Road Bikepacking, and Adventure Cycling
> Touring vs. gravel vs. plus vs. MTB vs. Recumbent vs. folding
Choosing the Best Touring Bike
Once upon a time, adventure cycling enthusiasts relied on road bikes and randonneur bikes, and even military bikes were employed by early touring pioneers.
Then came the touring bikes, and it seemed like the ultimate solution was found.
What could surpass a bike specifically designed for touring? Surely, touring bikes were the pinnacle for touring adventures. But the landscape of touring evolved with the emergence (or perhaps the revival) of bikepacking setups and the growing desire to explore off-road trails.
Consequently, bike geometries diversified, bringing gravel bikes, plus bikes, fat bikes, light tourers, hardtail mountain bikes, and hybrids into the adventure cycling scene.
Even recumbents and folding bikes have proven to be excellent for travel. In this carefully curated article, we’ll delve into their pros and cons as well.
So, what is the best bike for touring in 2024? The answer varies based on how, where, when, and how long you plan to tour.
Join us as we explore all categories of travel bikes, highlight our favorites in each category, and provide resources to help you find the perfect bike for your touring adventures.
New to this? Check:
> How to Travel by Bicycle: a Beginners’ Guide to Start Bike Touring
> How Much Does it Cost to Cycle Around the World?
7 types of adventure bikes for touring: an overview
- 1. Touring bikes
Our pick: Kona Sutra - 2. Plus Bikes
Our pick: Salsa Fargo - 3. Gravel Bikes
Our pick: Cannondale Topstone - 4. Fat Bikes
Our pick: Surly Pugsley - 5. Mountain Bikes
Our pick: Salsa Timberjack - 6. Recumbent Bikes
Our pick: Azub Max - 7. Folding Bikes
Our pick: Tern Verge X11
1. Touring bikes
Let’s begin with the obvious. Touring bikes are built for long-distance travel. They are robust, durable, comfortable, and easy to handle when carrying heavy loads.
While various brands and models of touring bikes may feature different designs and materials (such as steel, aluminum, or even titanium), they share certain common characteristics and serve as a compromise.
Touring bikes perform reasonably well across a range of terrains but don’t particularly excel in any specific one. They are typically heavy and can feel a bit cumbersome when ridden without a load.
Key Characteristics of Touring Bikes
- Long Wheelbase: Provides stability and comfort.
- Extended Chainstay: Allows for better weight distribution and load carrying capacity.
- Upright Riding Position: Enhances comfort during long rides.
- Optimal Performance When Loaded: Designed to handle best with heavy loads.
Touring bikes are the best bikes for long distance cycle touring expeditions
Our touring bike pick:
Kona Sutra – (from $1,700)
The Kona Sutra is a highly regarded and well-known name in the world of long-distance bicycle touring. It’s a dependable bike that has taken adventurers to some of the most remote locations on the planet.
The components are perfectly suited for bike touring, with Shimano parts being easily accessible worldwide, making replacements and servicing hassle-free.
The Kona Sutra remains a standout option for long-distance bicycle touring in 2024, with notable updates and refinements. Known for its reliability and solid construction, the Kona Sutra has been a trusted companion for adventurers worldwide.
Key Features of the Kona Sutra 2024:
- Frame and Geometry: The Kona Sutra features a chromoly steel frame, praised for its durability and comfort on long rides. The bike offers an array of mounting points for racks, bags, and fenders, making it highly versatile for various touring setups. The geometry ensures a stable ride, with a relatively slack headtube angle and long chainstays for added stability.
- Components: The 2024 models go from the basic Sutra SE, priced at $1,700 and equipped with a Shimano Deore 3×11 to the Sutra LTD ($2,900) featuring a SRAM Rival 1 group 1×11.
Considerations:
- Modern vs. Traditional: The transition to a 1×11 drivetrain and STI levers brings the Sutra LTD closer to contemporary gravel bikes, which might not appeal to all touring enthusiasts. The mechanical simplicity of the cheaper models is somewhat more appealing for the traditionalists.
- Tire Clearance and Versatility: The bike can accommodate up to 700x50mm tires without fenders, making it suitable for off-road adventures as well as pavement touring. This flexibility is a significant advantage for those looking to explore diverse terrains.
Overall, the Kona Sutra 2024 blends the classic touring bike ethos with modern enhancements, making it a robust and reliable choice for adventure cyclists.
A great expedition tourer
2. Plus Bikes
Plus bikes have carved out a niche in the adventure cycling world, offering a unique blend of features that appeal to bikepacking enthusiasts. These bikes are characterized by their sloped geometry and exceptionally wide tire clearance, accommodating tires up to 3″ or more, though not quite as wide as fat bikes.
Key Characteristics of Plus Bikes:
- Wide Tire Clearance: Plus bikes are designed to handle large tires, providing enhanced traction and comfort on rough terrains. This feature makes them ideal for off-road adventures where stability and control are crucial.
- Mountain Bike Geometry: These bikes typically have a geometry similar to mountain bikes, offering a stable and controlled ride, especially on challenging trails.
- Simplified Gearing: Often equipped with 1×11 or 2×10 drivetrains, plus bikes feature simplified gearing systems that are easy to maintain and operate. This setup is practical for the varied demands of adventure cycling.
- Versatility in Handlebar Options: While many plus bikes come with drop bars, there are also flat bar options available, catering to different riding preferences.
Functionality and Use:
- Adventure Focused: Plus bikes are designed primarily for adventure cycling and are highly favored by the bikepacking community. They excel with bikepacking bags but can also accommodate traditional touring setups with panniers and trunk bags.
- Versatile Load Options: Whether you prefer the streamlined style of bikepacking or the more conventional touring approach, plus bikes offer the flexibility to handle both methods effectively.
Plus bikes are perfect for extended tours on difficult mountain roads where their wide tires and robust construction can handle the rugged conditions. Their adaptability makes them a great choice for cyclists looking to explore challenging off-road routes over long periods.
By combining elements of mountain biking with the necessities of long-distance touring, plus bikes provide a versatile and capable option for the modern adventure cyclist.
Our Plus Bike Pick:
Salsa Fargo (from $2,600)
The 2024 Salsa Fargo Apex 1 is a versatile drop-bar off-road touring bike designed for adventurous riders. Built with a durable triple-butted CroMoly steel frame, it offers exceptional comfort and stability on rough terrain.
The bike features a carbon Firestarter 110 fork, which is both lightweight and robust, equipped with multiple mounts for additional gear like water bottles and camping supplies.
The Fargo Apex 1 is designed with a geometry that caters to both singletrack and gravel riding, providing a comfortable upright position and ample standover clearance.
It boasts a SRAM Apex 1 drivetrain, which is known for its reliability and simplicity, making it an excellent choice for long-distance touring. The bike’s wide tire clearance can accommodate tires ranging from 27.5 x 2.8-3.0″ to 29 x 2.2-3.0″, ensuring a smooth ride on various surfaces.
The bike’s Alternator Dropouts allow for multiple drivetrain configurations, including single-speed setups, making it highly adaptable for different touring needs.
The Salsa Fargo is just what I would use for extreme off-road bikepacking expeditions
3. Gravel Bikes
Gravel bikes are now a key choice for ultralight bikepacking, offering an agile alternative to tourers and plus bikes. They handle center-weighted loads and a range of non-extreme surfaces effectively.
Touring on a gravel bike has its perks. These bikes are versatile, handling a range of surfaces from pavement to gravel, making them great for exploring diverse routes. Their lightweight and agile design is ideal for ultralight bikepacking, allowing for efficient, long-distance travel.
However, gravel bikes offer less comfort compared to traditional touring bikes, especially on rough terrain, due to their aggressive riding position and narrower tires. They also have limited carrying capacity for panniers and gear, which can be a drawback for extended tours.
Characteristics of Gravel Bikes
- Road inspired
- Disk brakes
- eyelets and mounting points
- Longer chainstay
- Compact gearing
Gravel bikes are great for short and fast-paced bikepacking trips
Our Gravel Bike Pick:
Cannondale Topstone Alloy – (from $1,200)
The Cannondale Topstone is a highly versatile bicycle firmly rooted in the gravel category.
Designed to blend the best features of road racing and cyclocross bikes, it excels as both a mixed-surface tourer and a year-round commuter.
With just a few adjustments, you can easily set it up for a camping trip or join your road cycling friends on a group ride.
Its generous tire clearance accommodates tires up to 42mm wide, providing comfort, grip, and adventure-ready capability.
The front fork, although lacking eyelets for cages, is a sleek carbon fiber design with a longer-than-usual rake (55mm) for added stability and hidden full-fender mounts. This lightweight, high-performance fork is a rare find in this price range.
Equipped with mounts for three water bottles and top tube storage, the Topstone is built for long rides. Multiple bottle cage positions on the downtube also allow for easy configuration with large frame bags.
4. Fat Bikes
Fat bikes are exactly what they sound like—bikes equipped with very wide tires, typically 3.8 inches (97 mm) or even wider.
Designed to tackle all terrain conditions, including snow, ice, and thick sand, fat bikes offer natural suspension and are built with mountain bike geometry. However, they are quite heavy, and sourcing replacement parts can be challenging.
Characteristics of Fat Bikes:
- Wide Tires: Ideal for all-terrain riding.
- Natural Suspension: Provides a smoother ride over rough surfaces.
- Mountain Bike Geometry: Ensures stability and control.
Fat bikes are best suited for unique adventures, such as riding across deserts, snowy mountains, or Arctic landscapes in winter. For other types of terrain, you might want to consider different bike options.
Our favourite fat bike for touring
Surly Pugsley – (from $1,900)
This bike is specifically engineered to excel in sand and snow, and Surly calls it the “ultimate expedition bike for off-road touring and exploration.”
Featuring an impressive tire clearance of 26″ x 4.8″ in the rear (with some drivetrain limitations) and 26″ x 4.3″ in the fork, it allows you to adjust tire pressure for comfort on almost any surface.
The rims are custom-made by Surly, with an 80mm dual-hole pattern and are Tubeless Ready. They are paired with Surly Edna 26×4.3 60 TPI Tubeless Ready Tires, making for a robust combination.
The longer chainstay provides ample heel clearance for panniers, though it’s best to use a dedicated rack, like the Surly Nice Rack.
All the necessary eyelets are brazed onto both the inside and outside of the frame, and the fork is ready for bikepacking cargo cages.
The Surly Moloko Bar offers multiple hand positions and space for electronics, ideal for extended bikepacking adventures.
The drivetrain is a 1×11 setup, featuring an 11-46 rear cog and a 30T chainring.
At $1,900 USD, the Surly Pugsley is relatively affordable for its class.
5. Mountain Bikes
Mountain bikes have a long-standing role in bicycle touring. Rigid mountain bikes from the 80s and 90s have been popular among budget-conscious travelers for decades, and refurbishing an old mountain bike remains a cost-effective option if a high-end bike is out of reach.
Modern mountain bikes are also well-suited for bike touring, especially if you plan to spend significant time off-road. Suspension systems are particularly beneficial in such scenarios.
Today’s hardtail mountain bikes are often better suited for bikepacking with a frame bag setup rather than traditional panniers. However, a well-designed hardtail for multi-day adventures can still handle two small rear panniers effectively.
Full-suspension mountain bikes can be challenging to load but are suitable for extreme weekend bikepacking trips. Frame bags designed for full-suspension bikes are available to help with this.
Aluminum and steel hardtail mountain bikes are versatile and perform well on long expeditions, making them excellent for extensive tours. For adventurous trail rides, a mountain bike is hard to beat.
Full-suspension mountain bikes excel in short bike camping trips and intense overnighters, providing comfort and control on rugged terrain.
Our favourite hardtail MTB for touring
Salsa Timberjack – (+/- $1,700)
The Salsa Timberjack is one of the most touring and bikepacking-friendly hardtail mountain bikes available on the market.
Excelling in singletrack and trail exploration, the Timberjack is also designed with bikepackers in mind, featuring numerous braze-on mounting points and a robust construction with 32-hole rims.
Its geometry is surprisingly comfortable for a trail-focused bike, boasting a long top tube and wheelbase, a low bottom bracket, a slack head tube angle, and a steep seat tube angle. These features contribute to both stability and maneuverability, making it a versatile choice for various terrains.
A complete build can be purchased for as low as $1,699, offering excellent value for a bike with such a comprehensive range of features.
6. Recumbent Bikes
Ah, recumbent bikes… aren’t they amazing?
Recumbent bikes are among the fastest pedal-powered vehicles, which led to their ban by the UCI. Beyond their impressive speed, riding a recumbent bike offers an excellent view of your surroundings, keeps your back relaxed, and eliminates saddle soreness.
The semi-reclined position of recumbent bikes and trikes makes them suitable for individuals with lower back pain (always consult your therapist if you have a herniated disc or other serious injuries).
However, recumbents aren’t as efficient on steep climbs. With the rider’s center of gravity positioned lower and further back, pedaling up hills requires more effort than on a traditional bike.
It’s important to note that riding a recumbent bike is a different skill than riding a regular bike. While balance can be quickly learned through practice, it should be mastered before embarking on a tour. Additionally, the muscle groups used in recumbent riding differ and need specific training.
Recumbents can be challenging to control on uneven terrain, though enthusiasts might disagree. Touring trikes are in a category of their own, excelling in extreme conditions where even fat bikes might struggle. However, they are not ideal for regular roads due to their low rider position and wide lane usage.
Our favorite touring trike is the Catrike Expedition.
Characteristics of Recumbent Bikes:
- Relaxed Position: Suitable for injured and elderly riders
- Excellent Performance: Best on flat or moderately hilly paved roads
- Poor Climbing and Off-Road Capability: Not ideal for steep hills or rough terrain
- Heavy and Bulky: Difficult to transport
Recumbents are fantastic travel bicycles for the elderly and injured, as well as for anyone seeking a comfortable and fast ride on suitable terrain.peed lovers
Our Recumbent Bike for Touring
Azub MAX – (from $4,599)
The AZUB Max is a high-performance recumbent bike designed for long-distance touring and all-terrain adventures.
Known for its robust construction and versatility, the Max features a durable steel frame, full suspension for a smooth ride, and an ergonomic design that ensures rider comfort over extended periods.
Its adjustable seat and handlebars provide a customized fit, while the bike’s numerous mounting points allow for easy attachment of panniers and other gear.
The AZUB Max is also equipped with reliable components and disc brakes for excellent stopping power, making it a top choice for recumbent bike enthusiasts looking for a capable and comfortable touring bike.
7. Folding Bikes
Folding bikes simplify transportation when traveling by plane, taxi, train, or bus, as they pack small and can often be checked as regular luggage.
They enable you to bypass boring or dangerous sections by easily hopping onto a train or hitching a ride, saving time for exploring more interesting areas.
Folding bikes are also more welcome in hotel rooms, where full-size bikes might be banned or frowned upon, and can even fit inside your camping tent if safety is a concern.
The main drawbacks of folding bikes are their small wheels, inherent fragility, and limited availability of parts.
Folding bikes are the best travel option for those who want to cover large distances in a limited amount of time.
Our favourite folding bike for touring
Tern Verge X11 – (+/- $2,500)
The Verge X11 is a highly appealing folding bike, known for its speed, wide range of gears, and sturdy construction.
It features a large ratio cassette and a SRAM Force 1x drivetrain, ensuring easy maintenance and gearing that mimics a road bike.
With its 22″ wheels, the Verge X11 strikes a balance between the small-wheeled Brompton M6L and the large-wheeled Airnimal Joey.
The bike is equipped with Kinetix Pro X wheels, Schwalbe Durano tires, and a durable adjustable stem.
Priced at around $2,499, the Verge X11 is a premium choice for folding bike enthusiasts.
FAQs about Adventure Travel Bicycles for Touring
What is the best type of bike for touring?
It depends what sort of bike touring:
.Touring bikes are the best bikes for long distance cycle touring expeditions.
.Plus bikes are real adventure bikes, the ideal choice when touring for an extended period of time on difficult mountain roads.
.Gravel bikes are great for short and fast-paced bikepacking trips
.Fat bikes are meant for unique adventure cycling expeditions across deserts or snowed mountains
.Hardtail MTB can be used in many styles of touring, they perform great even on months-long expeditions
.Full Suspension MTB are great for short bike camping trips in the wilderness and crazy overnighters
.Recumbents are fabulous travel bicycles for elderly and injuried people, but also for speed lovers
.Folding bikes are the best travel bikes for those who want to cover large distances in a limited amount of time
What is an adventure bicycle?
An adventure bicycle is a bike designed to handle multiple day bike camping trips on off-road paths and trails.
What type of bike is best for long distance?
When we are talking about cross continent bike trips and long distance cycling adventures, the best choices are certainly Touring Bikes and some Plus Bikes.
Which bike is best for adventure?
If we talk about Adventures with a capital A, Fat bikes are the best to literally explore off the beaten path.
Can any bike be a touring bike?
Yes. Any bike can be used as a touring bike, of course with limitations. Be sure the frame and wheels are strong and the components are always in good conditions.
What is the difference between a gravel bike and an adventure bike?
Gravel bikes are good for day adventures, bike camping overnighters, and bikepacking. For longer adventures you should look at touring bikes, fat bikes, plus bikes, and some hardtail MTB.
Are road bikes good for touring?
Not really. Road bikes are only good for ultralight credit card touring or supported cycling holidays. If you want to travel get at least a gravel.
Are touring bikes slow?
Yes, they are less performative than other types of adventure bikes. Touring bikes are not meant for speed, but to be reliable on extended bike trips.
