Skip the loud pipe and the bolt-on bling and invest your cash here instead.
It's a rare rider indeed who starts their two-wheeled journey by jumping straight into adventure riding. For that reason, we're going to make a few basic assumptions about the sort of person reading this guide.
First, you already know your way around a motorcycle on the street, and second, you already own a basic set of street gear. If both those things are true, your first purchase should be a good pair of off-road boots, regardless of your budget.
"Most gear lessons are learned through experience, but we hope sharing ours helps newer ADV riders know where to invest, where to save, and which expensive mistakes to avoid."
From there, where you should concentrate your spending will depend on the bike you're riding, the size of your budget, and your skill level in the dirt.
Here's our step-by-step adventure gear shopping list for new ADV riders by order of importance.
What Adventure Gear Should You Buy First?
Your first priority for adventure riding is a proper pair of off-road boots.
After that, you'll focus on protection for your bike, terrain-appropriate tires, and rider training classes to ensure you can safely and confidently ride your bike in the dirt.
Why are Boots Most Important for Adventure Riders?
"Buy as much boot as you can without completely blowing your budget."
While crashing is (hopefully) a rare occurrence on the street, it happens regularly off-road, especially on loose terrain. Because most crash-related injuries occur below the knee, you need as much protection as possible from the knee down.
This is precisely the sort of protection that motocross and enduro boots are designed to provide, which is why we strongly recommend either a dedicated off-road boot, or an adventure-style boot with trickle-down off-road tech built in.
Look for tall boots with hinged ankle protection, crush-proof soles, and minimal flex.
If you can get some touring comforts included as well (a waterproof membrane, for example), more power to you, but protection trumps comfort when you're going off-road.
"Our founder Eric swears by the AStars Tech 10 motocross boot."
Higher-end examples of these boots include Alpinestars' Tech 7 Enduro Drystar or Sidi's Adventure 2 Gore-Tex, while more affordable examples include the Alpinestars Tech 3 Enduro Waterproof.
If your riding destination/climate doesn't necessarily require waterproofing, you may want to consider buying the most protective moto-style boot possible (Sidi Crossfire, AStars Tech 10) and skipping the weather protection to save some cash.
How Important Is Basic Motorcycle Protection for ADV Riding?
"Factory skid plates are rarely adequate. Don't skimp on protection."
If you're doing any amount of off-roading on your adventure bike (gravel roads count), some basic motorcycle protection is paramount. If you buy nothing else, make sure you've got a good skidplate underneath you before you hit the dirt.
Crash bars and handguards can also pay for themselves the first time you drop your bike, and the same goes for radiator protection.
If you're just getting started, however, a skidplate is enough to get you out there.
Do You Need to Replace Your Factory Tires?
"Good tires are the most cost-effective upgrade you'll ever buy."
There's no single upgrade that will transform the performance and capability of your motorcycle more than a good set of tires. Before you buy that shiny exhaust or Power Commander, make sure you've got quality rubber.
OEM tires aren't all bad, and if your riding isn't overly technical, they may do the trick.
If you're interested in going beyond basic fire/gravel roads, however, we recommend stepping up to something more aggressive before spending money elsewhere.
Is ADV Training Worth the Money?
"Our two-day training class is both invaluable and cheaper than premium riding gear."
When most folks put their ADV wishlist together, they focus on building up their bike with exhausts, footpegs, luggage, and protection. If you aren't confident in your riding skills, however, what's the point of building a more capable machine?
A good ADV training course is a performance upgrade that works with every bike you'll ever own.
Anyone can drop a chunk of change on a shiny new GS, but being the guy in your group who knows what he's doing in gnarly terrain? That's priceless.
What Adventure Motorcycle Purchases Can Wait?
Once you've got the bike, the boots, and some riding skills under your belt, you've got a little more flexibility on how to allocate your remaining budget.
These aren't immediate must-haves, but you'll want them eventually for your rides.
Should You Buy Luggage for Your Motorcycle?
"Tusk's soft bags are undefeated in bang-for-the-buck."
We've done our fair share of riding with duffel bags and bungee cords, but investing in a good set of soft bags is a logical next step in your spending.
Soft bags are the recommendation here because they're more versatile and affordable than hard cases.
It's also important to note that what you are and aren't able to carry depends on your luggage capacity, so knowing how much space you've got is a good idea before you start buying things like tools, camping gear, and accessories.
We've had great experiences with Tusk's Excursion and Highland rackless systems.
You can certainly spend more on a fancy Mosko Moto setup, but these bags have proven to be tough, weatherproof, and convenient.
Why Buy Standalone Body Armor for Adventure Riding?
"Standalone armor jackets work with any and all gear, and are a godsend for hot off-road work."
While your typical street riding kit will serve you well enough when you're first starting out, standalone body armor is great for adventure riding because it works with any jacket or shell on the street but also maximizes ventilation for off-road riding.
"Alpinestars' more premium options feature soft, flexible armor that's all-day comfortable."
Several brands do these jackets well, but our favorites to date are the Bionic series made by Alpinestars. If you're working on a budget, the Bionic Action V2 works great.
If you've got more cash to spend, soft armored hybrid versions are also available.
What Other Motorcycle Protection Should You Buy?
"It only takes one rock to wreck a radiator. Budget accordingly."
While a good skid plate comes first, it never hurts to beef up your bike where you can.
We mentioned hand guards and crash bars above, and those are both wise purchases, but depending on the layout of your machine, you may not want to stop there.
We'd consider items like radiator guards, engine case covers, and headlight guards prime examples, and the same goes for a high-quality handlebar if your bike came with a basic steel one from the factory.
Do You Need Dedicated Adventure Gear?
"Klim Marrakesh set is great to have in the heat, but it's also expensive for a one-trick pony."
No, but you'll likely want it anyway after a while. Sure, there's entirely too much marketing hype around the importance of "ADV-specific" gear, but there is something to be said for an all-weather kit that stays comfortable on and off pavement.
You can spend a few hundred bucks or a few thousand on a matching pants/jacket set.
The same goes for a good adventure helmet and goggle setup. The expensive stuff is great to have, in our experience, but also completely unnecessary.
What Adventure Riding Gear is Entirely Optional?
If you've got all the above sorted out to your satisfaction, congrats: now is the time to buy the fun stuff: bling for your bike, tech for your bars, or some of those sweet, sweet touring comforts. In no particular order:
Should You Buy An Exhaust For Your Adventure Bike?
"Unnecessary purchases are often the most satisfying. Get that Akrapovic off your Christmas list if it'll make you happy."
If you want one and have enough disposable income, nothing satisfies quite like the sound of an aftermarket exhaust. They also save a few pounds of weight, and in some cases can even serve a practical purpose.
Yamaha's Tenere 700, for example, has an exhaust that loves to catch rocks and slowly eat into the swingarm.
Most aftermarket pipes also add a bit of power, especially when combined with a free-flowing air filter and a proper tune.
Just please, do us one favor: Don't be that guy with the obnoxious eBay pipe that wakes up the entire campground at 7am. We hate that guy.
Do I Need to Budget for a Dedicated Motorcycle GPS?
"We've been testing the new Garmin Zumo XT3 this year. It's worth the spend if you've got the cash."
Truth be told, most riders can get by with a modern smartphone (most of which now carry GPS chips) and a good navigation app like onX or Gaia. That being said, the reliability and redundancy of a standalone GPS is worth considering.
It's an expensive addition, but getting your phone off your handlebars protects one of the most important pieces of technology in your day-to-day life.
We're partial to the new Garmin Zumo XT3, but older Zumos can be had for less.
What Touring Comforts are Worth Paying For?
"Aftermarket seats are a common, albeit expensive, early upgrade."
Heated accessories, aftermarket seats, cruise control, bar risers, windshields...
These are all things we can technically live without on the road, but living with them is much, much better. If you've gotta pick just one, we'd start with the seat.
Adventure Motorcycle Budget Examples
To better illustrate our point, let's put these ideas into practice with a few example budgets.
How Should I Spend a $500 ADV budget?
"90% of this setup is second-hand, and it's 100% than what you'd get for the same money new."
The second-hand market is your new best friend. If you're buying new, $500 will barely cover the cost of sub-optimal boots and a budget-friendly skidplate.
A lightly-used pair of premium off-road boots, on the other hand, might set you back $200.
With the other $300, you can track down a set of Continental TKC80 tires from a KTM 890 owner that pulled them off immediately, and still have enough left for either a used skidplate or an budget-friendly one from brands like Tusk or Rival.
Bargain hard enough on Marketplace and you may have enough scratch to pick up a second hand set of soft bags from brands like Nelson Rigg or Tusk.
If not, you'd be surprised what you can accomplish with Rok Straps, a duffel, and a few trash bags.
How should I Spend a $1,000 ADV Budget?
"Ride for long enough, and all boots end up brown anyway."
If you've got $1,000 to spend, we'd still recommend hitting the second-hand market as hard as possible to save wherever you can.
That being said, you can pick up a new pair of Alpinestars Tech 7 Drystar boots for $400 if you don't care about the color.
What you do with the remaining $600 depends on what you're already working with. If you've got sub-par tires on your bike, a set of new Tusk tires will set you back $150-$250.
A decent skid plate will run you about $200, or a lot less if it's used.
Assuming you've got $200 left and want to maximize your returns, we'd recommend either doubling down on the protection with an inexpensive engine guard, some case covers, or a set of metal-framed handguards to protect your controls.
How Should I Spend a $2,000 ADV Budget?
"Good tires, good luggage, good protection, good times."
If you've got a decent chunk of change to spend, we'd recommend starting with some simple questions: How confident am I riding in gravel, rocks, sand, and mud? Can I pick my bike up on a hill or change a tire in the middle of the woods?
If you're unsure about any of the above, take that first $1,000 and go book yourself an ADV training class.
This will, hands down, be the smartest money you've ever spent on anything motorcycle-related.
If you're already a skilled and knowledgeable rider, go buy yourself a nice pair of boots (in any color you like), check all your boxes for bike protection (skidplate, crash guards, handguards), and then go buy whatever tires are at the top of your wishlist.
By our calculations, you should have about $600 left to spend. That's enough for a good set of waterproof soft bags, a standalone armored jacket, and maybe a little left over for some well-deserved bling of your choice.
In Summary:
What should a beginner adventure rider buy first?
Tall, protective boots designed for off-road use should be the first thing on your list. Buy a waterproof variety if you've got the budget for it, but protection comes first.
Can I use street motorcycle gear for adventure riding?
With the exception of your boots, almost all street gear will "get the job done" for adventure riding. That being said, we recommend building your kit out of breathable/synthetic fabrics, which means leaving the riding jeans at home.
How much should I budget for adventure motorcycle gear?
You can put a solid kit of all-new gear from proven, reputable brands together for around $2,000. That's a helmet, jacket, pants, boots, gloves, and even standalone armor.
You can achieve the same results with around $1,000 if you don't mind picking up a few of the more expensive items (boots, jacket, pants, etc.) on the used market.
If you're working with a real shoestring budget, $500 can be enough to cover the basics of rider safety, but you'll have to pull most of your gear from the secondhand market.
Is ADV training more important than motorcycle upgrades?
If you're taking your motorcycle off-road, we don't recommend doing it without a decent skid plate, if only to protect your bike from expensive and/or catastrophic failure. Starting with good tires is also a smart investment.
Once that's done (and, again, we're assuming you've already got a functional set of riding gear), money spent on training is probably the most impactful thing you can work into your budget.
What ADV gear should I avoid buying used?
Motorcycle helmets are built to protect a rider from a single serious impact. For that reason, buying a used helmet is a bad idea, as it may have been dropped or crashed in without showing any clear outward evidence of such.
Aside from helmets, most all ADV gear is safe to buy used, assuming there's no outward evidence that it's been through a crash or slide. If all the stitching, seams, and zippers are intact (and it doesn't smell like a locker room), have at it.
Thanks for reading. We hope you found this useful and wish you the best on your ADV journey. If you have any additional questions leave a comment. We reply to every one of them!
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