At 6pm on 6 October 1973, Ted Simon pulled on an old RAF flying jacket, stretched a waterproof anorak over the top and threw his leg across the saddle of a 500cc Triumph twin laden with a makeshift selection of bags, boxes and oil cans secured by bungee cords.

He then kicked the engine into life, headed off to the Dover ferry – and didn’t return to England until four years later. By then he had ridden 64,000 miles around the world through 45 countries on an odyssey that led him to write Jupiter’s Travels, a book that has since inspired thousands of motorcyclists to pack it all in and head out on a two-wheeled adventure of their own.

Among them were celebrities Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman, whose global Long Way Round and Long Way Down motorcycle tours of 2004 and 2007 respectively made BMW’s giant R1150GS adventure bike and its derivatives the best-selling large capacity motorcycles of the 21st century, bar none. 

True, such behemoths are capable of crossing continents without breaking sweat, but there’s now a growing demand for smaller-capacity adventure sports models which, thanks to their lighter weight and smaller dimensions, are less of a handful to ride. Such bikes are also more nifty around town when used as urban commuters and can fall within the A2 licence category.

Here are six of the best – and, if you need a bit of inspiration to get going, check out jupitalia.com to track down a copy of Jupiter’s Travels and to find out what Ted Simon did next. He’ll be 91 years old in May. And yes, he’s still riding…

Kawasaki Versys 650 Grand Tourer

The Versys 650 Grand Tourer is supplied with a full set of luggage, meaning it’s ready for adventure straight from the crate. The water-cooled, twin-cylinder engine makes for comfortable motorway cruising but is also sufficiently flexible to enable the bike to be ridden confidently on unmetalled roads and loose surfaces. A 21-litre fuel capacity should give a range of up to 250 miles and a full-colour instrument panel features smartphone connectivity – while optional extras include heated handlebar grips, auxiliary lighting and a USB outlet.
From £10,149; kawasaki.co.uk

Yamaha Ténéré 700

Yamaha’s first Ténéré was a 600cc, single-cylinder rally raid bike from 1983 that, with its 30-litre fuel tank, was intended as an off-the-shelf desert racer with the potential to travel up to 300 miles between refills. The Ténéré name remains synonymous with off-road adventure, and the latest, 689cc, twin-cylinder version is lithe and powerful. A slim 16-litre fuel tank gives a range of more than 200 miles and a host of optional extras are available – including a £1,860 Explorer Pack that adds pannier frames, aluminium side cases, a rack that replaces the pillion seat and a sump guard and skid plate to protect the engine.
From £9,700; yamaha-motor.eu

Royal Enfield Himalayan

he British arm of Royal Enfield might have gone bust in 1970, but the marque has been powering ahead in India since 1955 – and now builds a staggering 800,000 machines per year. The manufacturer launched its Himalayan mid-weight adventure sports model in 2016 – and it has proved a smash hit thanks to its simplicity, reliability and knock-down price tag. The 411cc, single-cylinder engine puts out just 24.5bhp but will plod along at 60mph all day and has a gentle power delivery that makes it perfect for slow-speed off-roading, while a wealth of bespoke accessories mean it can easily be equipped for overlanding.
From £4,699; royalenfield.com

Honda CB500X

Honda’s best-known adventure bike is the Africa Twin which, since its re-launch in 2016, has proved to be the strongest rival to BMW’s R1250GS as a serious, long-distance overlanding machine. The 2022 CB500X takes a few styling cues from its bigger brother but is more road orientated and intended more for the urban jungle than the actual jungle – although it’s still capable of carrying rider, passenger and plenty of luggage almost anywhere. In typical Honda style, it offers great value for money and, in all probability, cast-iron reliability. And, with 47bhp on tap from its 471cc, twin-cylinder engine, it’s A2 licence compliant.
From £6,349; honda.co.uk

BMW F850GS

BMW was the first marque to offer a large-capacity, dual-purpose motorcycle specifically designed for overlanding way back in 1980 when it launched the R80G/S. The later 1100 and 1150cc models of the 1990s and 2000s established a benchmark in the category that other manufacturers struggled to match, and the current R1250GS still leads the field. Less intimidating, however, is the F850GS that is 20kg lighter, yet still features a parallel twin engine producing a useful 95bhp. Satellite navigation and media connectivity come as standard, and it can be fitted with a host of BMW accessories.
From £10,015; bmw-motorrad.co.uk

Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled

Ducati first used the “Scrambler” name on a single-cylinder street/trail bike launched during the early 1960s – but the retro trend led to it being revived in 2015 on a new-generation, 803cc, twin-cylinder model that majored on the “cool” factor and could be configured in a variety of looks and fitted with numerous accessories to give it the personal touch. The Scrambler is not, however, just for poseurs – as demonstrated when 23-year-old Henry Crew rode one 55,000 miles around the world in 381 days, crossing 35 countries. The feat earned Crew a place in the record books as the youngest person to circumnavigate the world by motorcycle.
From £10,495; ducati.com