At present, we are seeing something of a shift within the motorcycle world. Riders are moving away from more dedicated motorcycles and moving towards more versatile machines. The idea of riding off-road has certainly captured the imagination of many, and with that, we have seen the rise of the ADV. The unfortunate reality is that the vast majority of riders will never actually take these wonderful dual-purpose machines off-road.Although these bikes are versatile, like anything versatile, they are compromised. Off-road, they tend to be a little heavy and awkward to ride on tighter trails. On-road, they tend to be a little uncomfortable, and won’t necessarily handle very well with knobby tires. For those who don’t have any interest in taking that dirt road shortcut, one of these more dedicated touring bikes might be a better bet. All of which are far better than people would have you believe. Can-Am Spyder RT Sea-To-Sky MSRP: $33,999 Can-Am Can-Am’s line of three-wheelers is more akin to snowmobiles for the road as opposed to motorcycles. As such, these bikes are an acquired taste. Three-wheelers are often scorned in the motorcycling community, but that is mostly because they are misunderstood. The Spyder RT Sea-To-Sky is very much a niche product, designed for those after something different and simply is not meant to have broad appeal.Can-Am While expensive, it offers the same long list of comfort features you would get with similarly priced luxury touring bikes. The inline-there Rotax engine might not be the most powerful in this class, but it has almost 100 pound-feet of torque, which is more than enough to get up to highway speed without a fuss. The engine is relatively understressed, ensuring mechanical reliability. Specifications Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello MSRP: $15,990 Moto Guzzi The V100 Mandello (Mandello S pictured) is one of the best-looking bikes currently on sale. It has gorgeous lines, that unconventional transverse V-twin, and a single-sided swingarm. Just like BMW, that swingarm houses shaft-drive, which is ideal for a tourer. Sadly, this tourer is still held back by its Italian name. Even though this bike has proven to be reliable so far, it is still Italian, and is sure to have the odd “quirk.”Moto Guzzi For those unfamiliar with this kind of “charm”, the ownership experience can become tedious. But, if you are willing to be open-minded about it, you will be rewarded with a stunning sport touring bike. Its punchy twin offers linear torque delivery, making it a genuinely fun bike to ride pretty much anywhere. It also has active aero, which deflects air away from the rider – supposedly – at higher speeds. A gimmick, sure, but still a fun inclusion no major manufacturer would bother with. Specifications BMW F 900 XR MSRP: $12,695 BMW With so many great touring bikes in the lineup, it is easy to see why the F 900 XR gets overlooked. With ample power and a relatively low weight, this sport tourer is certainly worth a second look. Like most bikes in this price range, it doesn’t come with any standard luggage. While this is not a dealbreaker, if you want to add the BMW-approved option, the price of the bike goes up a fair bit.BMW If you are willing to resist the temptation of letting loose on the infamous BMW options list, it actually can offer a lot of value, with a host of great features, including cornering ABS and lean-sensitive traction control, and ride modes. Adding your own luggage will be easy enough, but the other thing BMW left off is a little frustrating. Cruise control is one of those nice-to-have features that comes as standard on most bikes in this price range, but it remains optional here. Specifications Triumph Tiger Sport 660 MSRP: $10,445 Triumph Motorcycles If you don’t mind a little less power, you can still opt for the cheaper 2025 model, but the latest 660 gets 94 horsepower. For many, that will be $1k well spent. A 13-horsepower increase on any new motorcycle is virtually unheard of, but it stands to reason that Triumph decided to simply give all the 660-based bikes the same tune. The Dayton has made 94 horsepower since it came out, so we were all well aware of the fact that it was indeed possible.Triumph Motorcycles / YouTube Other than the increase in power, there are just a couple of new colorways. We are glad that Triumph has resisted the temptation to add a bigger TFT dash like other manufacturers. Although small, it is easy to read and everything pertinent is clearly displayed. Luggage is still optional, but at least cruise control is a standard feature. Specifications Honda NC750X MSRP: $9,499 Honda For some bizarre reason, Honda insists on marketing this as an ADV. In reality, it runs on a maxi-scooter platform, but before you judge the bike, it is important to understand it first. Maxi-scoots are among the most practical motorcycles money can buy, are easy to ride, and far more fun than you might think.Honda With the engine laid flat in the chassis, it wears most of its weight down low, which makes it feel far lighter than it actually is. It also allows for the “frunk”, which offers 23 liters of built-in storage, enough to satisfy the needs of most riders. On paper, the power output might look a little meager, but it has more than enough torque to get up to highway speed, or hustle up a mountain pass. Specifications Source: Various Manufacturers