2016 Buyer's Guide: Best Adventure Bikes

Specialized blurs the line between an endurance-focused road bike and a touring bike with its Diverge line. The Diverge Sport A1 model makes for an affordable entry point for riders seeking adventure. This model features an aluminum frame paired to a carbon fork with Zertz vibration-damping inserts. It comes with 30c Specialize Espoir Sport tires but it will fit up to 35c treads. A Shimano Sora compact crank combined with a wide-ratio 11-32 cassette offers a wide spread of gear options. 

Price: $1,150
Info: specialized.com

Specialized Diverge Sport A1, $1150.00

At a Glance

• Aluminum frame and carbon fork with Zertz inserts
• Will fit tires up to 35c wide
• Comes with Shimano Sora compact crank

Marin’s Four Corners is one of the few adventure bikes to come equipped with a simple 1x drivetrain, but it fears no climb with a 40x42t low gear. Frame and fork highlights include a Columbus Thron butted steel tubeset, thru-axles, and fender and lowrider rack mounts. Three bottle mounts mean greater range between watering holes. Schwalbe’s G-One Evo 40c tires have built-in Kevlar puncture protection and can be set up tubeless with the WTB KOM i21 rims. SRAM Rival hydraulic disc brakes complete an impressive package that’s ready to explore wherever you are.

Price: $2,309
Info: marinbikes.com

Marin Four Corners Elite, $2250.00, $2,099 at Performance Bike

At a Glance

• Comes equipped with a 1x drivetrain
• Columbus Thron butted steel tubeset, thru axles, and fender and lowrider rack mounts
• SRAM Rival hydraulic disc brakes

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Raleigh’s Tamland is everything you’ll need for light adventure riding off the beaten path. A smooth-riding Reynolds 631 frame and Clement X’Plor MSO 40c tires will take the edge off rough roads, while TRP Spyre disc brakes offer powerful yet controlled all-weather braking.

     RELATED: The Best Tires for Riding Bikes on Gravel or Dirt Roads

Handlebars with a 12-degree flare at the drops add comfort and control while riding offroad. A full Shimano Ultegra 6800 drivetrain is an impressive spec, considering the bike’s price. 

Price: $2,400
Info: raleighusa.com

Raleigh Tamland 2, $2400.00, $2,399 at Competitive Cyclist

At a Glance

• Reynolds 631 frame
• Handlebars have a 12-degree flare
• Full Shimano 6800 drivetrain

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The Moots Routt 45 comes with longer chainstays than the company's standard Routt, which offers more stability and extra clearance for up to 45c tires. Its frame is built with a stronger tubeset than Moots' 'cross and road models, too. An Enve CX Disc carbon fork handles the steering duties and comes with 12mm thru-axle dropouts. The least-expensive complete build features a smooth Shimano Ultegra 2x11 drivetrain and R785 hydraulic disc brakes. Custom options include stopless setups for wireless electronic shifting, a third water bottle mount, pump pegs, custom sizing, S&S couplers, and fender and rack eyelets—all at an extra charge, of course.

Price: $7,199
Info: moots.com

Moots Routt 45, $7199.00

At a Glance

• Comes with longer chainstays than the company's standard Routt
• Has clearance for tires up to 45c
• The frame is built with a stronger frameset than Moots' 'cross and road models

Giramondo means "globetrotter" in Italian, and that’s just what Masi’s new adventure bike is. Its double-butted chromoly frame is loaded with features that make big loads and big miles possible: full rack and fender mounts, as well as five pairs of water bottle bosses. Another nice touch we used to see on all touring bikes is a spare spoke holder. A Shimano Deore 3x10 drivetrain is paired with Microshift bar-end shifters and flared drop bars. Promax mechanical disc brakes and Clement X’Plor MSO 40c tires mean you can stop big loads with control and even explore unpaved routes.

Price: $1,090
Info: masibikes.com

Masi Giramondo, $1090.00

At a Glance

• Giramondo means "globetrotter" in Italian
• Double-butted chromoly frame
• Full rack and fender mounts
• Five pairs of water bottle bosses

Salsa designed its Cutthroat to tackle the faster side of adventure riding, making it specifically for ultraendurance, mixed-surface riding and racing. Its carbon frame is lightweight and designed to pass miles quickly. Ride compliance is built-in with tall, thin flexing stays that are designed to bow outwards on impact. Since it's made for speed and distance, the Cutthroat only has rear rack mounts, but sizes medium through extra large each come with five water bottle mounts. Every size is designed for maximum frame-bag volume, too. The X9 model comes outfitted with a SRAM X9 rear derailleur mated to Apex shift/brake levers and Avid BB7 mechanical disc brakes. Notubes Rapid 25 wheels are paired with Schwalbe Thunder Burt 2.1-inch tires. Salsa’s Woodchipper 2 handlebar is a drop style that's designed specifically for offroad use; it has bends along three planes for extra width at the lower portions, while maintaining a shallow drop.

     RELATED: Salsa's 2016 Bikes Are Adventure-Ready

Price: $2,999
Info: salsacycles.com

Salsa Cutthroat Carbon X9, $2999.00

At a Glance

• Designed to tackle the faster side of adventure riding
• Carbon frame
• Only has rear rack mounts
• Sizes M-XL each come with five water bottle mounts

This flat-bar machine is ready for adventure with a tough aluminum frame and carbon fork. The Toughroad comes stock with rear and front lowrider racks. A SRAM GX/X7 2x10 drivetrain and Shimano M395 hydraulic disc brakes will reliably get you out there and back. Like many of Giant’s other models, the Toughroad utilizes the D-Fuse seatpost with the flattened back portion for fore-aft flex and a smoother ride.

Price: $1,300
Info: giant-bicycles.com

Giant Toughroad SLR1, $1300.00

At a Glance

• Aluminum frame
• Comes stock with front and rear lowrider racks
• Shimano M395 hydraulic disc brakes

Depending on how you build it, Litespeed’s titanium Ku:wa can be many things, including a drop-bar adventure machine. This ultra-versatile bike can also be outfitted with flat bars and 27.5-inch wheels with up to 2.35 inch-wide tires for a mountain bike-like setup. It even has internal routing for a stealth-style dropper seatpost. Straight-wall, cold-worked, 3AL/2.5V, size-specific (whew!) titanium tubes are used to make this frame burlier than Litespeed's gravel-specific models, and better at handling big loads. Plus, the frame is handmade right here in the USA. The complete bike is offered with a SRAM Rival 2x10 drivetrain and Avid BB7 mechanical disc brakes.

     RELATED: The Coolest Cycling Gear Made in the US

Price: $4,500
Info: litespeed.com

Litespeed Ku:wa

With a beefy aluminum frame and thru-axles front and rear, Trek’s 920 is made for multi-day adventures that start where the pavement ends. Its Bontrager Duster Elite wheels are also up to the task, and wear fast-rolling 2.0 XR1 tires. This bike is ready to explore with front and rear racks and a grand total of five water bottle mounts. TRP Hylex hydraulic disc brakes will resist water and dirt contamination better than mechanical versions for more consistent operation. Bar-end shifters operate a wide-ratio SRAM X7 2X10 drivetrain.

Price: $1,989
Info: trekbikes.com

Trek 920, $1989.00

At a Glance

• Designed for multi-day off-road adventures
• Aluminum frame
• Thru axles front and rear
• Comes with front and rear racks and five water bottle mounts

Kona’s Sutra comes right off the showroom floor ready for action, with a rear rack and full-coverage fenders. The Sutra’s butted chromoly frame features thinner seatstays for a smoother ride, but stiffer, heavier-gauge tubing elsewhere to better cope with heavy loads. Its new fork features tapered blades (also for a smoother ride) and comes complete with rack mounts and bottle cage bosses. Geometry is based on Kona’s cyclocross bikes, but the Sutra has a taller headtube, longer top tube, and longer 50mm fork offset for better tire clearance and reduced toe overlap. Hayes mechanical disc brakes provide all-weather braking power while a Shimano 3x9 Deore/Alivio drivetrain offers a wide spread of gears. Clement Xplor'r 40c tires provide multi-surface capabilities, and a leather Brooks B17 saddle offers hours of comfort—after you break it in.

Price: $1,399
Info: konaworld.com

Kona Sutra, $1399.00

At a Glance

• Comes with a rear rack and full-coverage fenders
• Butted chromoly frame and geometry that puts the rider in a more upright position
• Shimano Alivio 11-34t 9-speed cassette and 28/36/48t triple chainset
• 700x40c tires

Rocky Mountain designed its Sherpa to be the ultimate off-road bikepacking rig, suited for getting you deep into the backcountry even over challenging trails. Not only does it have 95mm of rear suspension travel and 120mm in the front, but it also sports high-volume 27.5+ tires that add even more cush, traction, and control to the ride. WTB Scraper rims, at 45mm wide, give the WTB Trailblazer 2.8-inch-wide tires plenty of support, even at pressures as low as 12 psi. Its carbon-fiber front triangle is light and stiff, with a taller headtube that's designed to put the rider in a more comfortable riding position for long hours in the saddle. The drivetrain is a 2x10 Shimano SLX/Deore/XT mix with a 24-36t low combo for crawling up the steeps.

Price: $3,499
Info: bikes.com

Rocky Mountain Sherpa, $3499.00

At a Glance

• Designed to get you deep into the backcountry over challenging trails
• 120mm of front suspension; 95 mm of rear suspension
• High-volume 27.5+ tires

Novara’s Safari is a more versatile version of the REI house brand's road-focused Randonee model that's souped up with higher-volume tires and disc brakes. With 48c Vittoria Randonneur tires, this bike will have no trouble tackling dirt roads, mellow trails, or whatever your adventure has in store. Wraparound mustache-style handlebars offer multiple hand positions for long-range comfort, while old-school thumb shifters offer solid reliability. Powerful TRP Spyre mechanical disc brakes will slow nearly any load, and a Shimano Deore 3x9 drivetrain delivers a gear for nearly any occasion. The double-butted chromoly steel frame features four sets of water bottle mounts, as well as front and rear rack mounts. Plus, a rear rack is included. The Safari is already quite affordable, but become an REI member and you can take advantage of discounts and an annual dividend, making this bike an even better deal.

Price: $1,099
Info: rei.com

Novara Safari, $1099.00

At a Glance

• Wraparound mustache-style handlebars
• Chromoly steel frame
• Front and rear rack mounts and four sets of water bottle mounts
• Rear rack included