With the exponential growth we have seen in the adventure bike segment over the past few years, there is now an ADV on the market for every kind of rider. No matter if you are looking for something lighter and more off-road capable, or something that can handle more highway miles, there is something out there for everyone. Certain manufacturers have developed a reputation for building a certain kind of ADV.Suzuki has been using a couple of V-twins for literal decades. Their bikes are both pretty fun and metonymically reliable. BMW, on the other hand, has a reputation for building bikes with the best long-distance capability. If you want a bigger ADV that combines these traits, it actually exists, and it isn't even all that expensive compared to other premium bikes.To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Honda. Whereas, the opinions are our own. The Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES Has Suzuki Reliability And BMW-Level Capability MSRP: $17,799 Honda Powersports The top-of-the-range Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES has a really long name. It also adds a long list of comfort features to the already highly competent base model. The base model Africa Twin remains a little more competent off-road, but the compromises made in that department will be worth it to the right buyer looking for a bike that can do more highway miles. Naturally, there are some great alternatives from both Suzuki and BMW.Suzuki The Suzuki V-Strom 1050DE Adventure is arguably the most like-for-like alternative. Instead of a modern parallel-twin, it boasts an aging, but still marvelous V-twin. Over the years, this powertrain has proven to be metronomically reliable. The bike itself may not be much to look at, but it is what is inside that counts, and underneath that facade is a fun, feature-rich ADV. It also gets one over the Honda with its standard hard cases.Tom Smart At this price point, you will be looking at the BMW F 900 GS Adventure. It is technically marginally cheaper than the Honda, but if you want to get it to the same level of specification as the Africa Twin, you might actually end up paying more depending on which package you choose. A full-size R 1300 GS is not entirely off the table, as long as you are willing to consider a 2025 model, which is currently being discounted. The Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES Has A Reliable Unicam Twin Power: 101 Horsepower Honda Powersports Honda has a reputation for making some of the most reliable motorcycles in the industry, and thanks to the Unicam parallel-twin engine, the Africa Twin is one of them. While it doesn’t have the same proven track record as the V-Strom, this powertrain hasn’t put a foot wrong since it came out almost a decade ago. It isn’t necessarily built for speed, though. More Midrange Grunt Honda The Africa Twin is actually down on power compared to most of the competition, but like most modern parallel-twin engines, it has a flat torque curve, and the majority of its 82 pound-feet of torque is available from as low as 2,000 RPM. Pretty much all of it kicks in between 3,000 and 8,000 RPM, so roll-on power is exceptional. Overtaking is a breeze on the highway, but more importantly, it will make short work of any mountain pass. The Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES Is A Feature-Rich ADV Honda Powersports Unlike the BMW bikes, nothing is hidden behind a paywall. The most significant inclusion in recent years is the addition of an IMU, which gives the bike its lean-sensitive traction control and cornering ABS. It also has a ride-by-wire throttle, which allows for ride modes and cruise control. Honda is the only manufacturer to add a little digital meter below the TFT dash, and it might be our favorite feature. Your critical info is displayed there while using Android Auto or Apple CarPlay on the 6.5-inch display. Electronic Suspension Makes All The Difference Honda Powersports The chassis is a conventional semi-double cradle frame, common on adventure bikes, thanks to how robust it is. But you won’t be buying this bike for its chassis, but rather for its suspension. The semi-active electronic suspension is a genuine point of difference. It offers a variety of preset modes and one that you can configure yourself (good luck). While you do end up sacrificing some of the travel compared to the base model, the added convenience and comfort will be well worth the extra expense if you are going to be spending more time on the road than off of it.This neatly leads into why we didn’t choose the DCT model. While it certainly adds another level of convenience on the road, in our opinion, it reduces the off-road capability to a virtual zero. Some will vehemently disagree, but unlike the automotive world, where an automatic transmission is almost preferable off-road, it is something of a liability on a motorcycle. Not only does it add weight, but it can make low-speed maneuvering far more challenging than it needs to be.HondaA bike of this size and weight is already a handful off-road, and adding that “feature” will only make it harder to ride in the dirt. Equally, if you have no interest in riding off-road, the DCT-equipped NT1100 will be a better bet. These days, there is an ADV for every occasion, and the Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES outshines most of the competition in this competitive arena, able to balance unerring reliability, comfort, and value. Chassis, Suspension, And Weight Specifications