Adventure motorcycles are a dedicated category of motorcycles which designed to allow riders to ride on uneven surfaces where the asphalt ends and the unpredictable terrain begins. Not only that adventure motorcycles are exclusively designed to tackle a wide range of terrains from smooth and paved highways to rugged off-road trails. Hence adventure motorcycles come with some dedicated features in terms of frame, wheel, and suspension systems. Consequently, here we will try to describe the best wheel setup for adventure motorcycles.

The Best Wheel Setup For Adventure Motorcycles

Adventure motorcycles are considered as all-terrain riding capable machines. Therefore, these types of motorcycles come with some exclusive and dedicated features to be capable of rolling over almost any terrain. Hence, wheel setup is a very important feature for adventure motorcycles and usually, those come with extensively different setups, unlike the regular street motorcycles. So here we’re describing the eligible wheel setup for adventure motorcycles.

Larger Wheel Setup

Larger wheel setup is always preferred in off-road capable motorcycles like dual-sport or adventure category motorcycles. Hence 21”/18” and 19”/17” wheel sizes are very common in dedicated ADV motorcycles. Larger wheels ensure superior stability and comfort, particularly when riding for long distances on varied terrain or surfaces. Larger wheels easily roll over obstacles more effortlessly, give better shock absorbing benefits, and give a smoothing feel even when running over rough roads.

Moreover, larger wheels usually offer better traction and stability on loose surfaces like gravel or sand and enhance rider confidence in sudden surface changes. It also helps for higher ground clearance which is very essential in adventure category motorcycles. It provides an added advantage especially when chasing rough terrains by reducing the risk of bottoming out. Thus, a larger wheel setup provides a more comfortable and confident riding experience in adventure motorcycles and allows the riders to push their limit confidently whether they are on or off-road.

Spoked Wheel Setup

Spoked wheels are a very common and widely accepted type of wheels for the off-road and adventure category of motorcycles which still is the best choice in these classes of motorcycles. Spoked wheels are better for adventure motorcycles for several reasons. Spoked wheel design offers superb flexibility and durability, which make them capable to withstand the rigidities of rough terrains. It easily absorbs the terrain impacts and distributes the stress evenly; thus, it reduces the possibility of wheel damage when encountering obstacles like rocks, roots, or potholes.

Secondly, one of the primary advantages of spoked wheels is their easy repairability. As adventure motorcycles are designed to hit the uneven terrain surfaces, they often chase the obstacles and roughness of the terrain. That’s why their wheel setup needs to be flexible, shock-absorbing, and most importantly easy repairable. Therefore, spoked wheels are most eligible and preferred type of wheel setup for adventure bikes which repairable even in the remote in regular workshops or with basic tools.

Steel vs Alloy Rim Setup

Off-road motorcycles very commonly come with steel rims in their wheel setup. It not only reduces the cost but also those are strong, flexible, shock-absorbing, and easily repairable. That’s why not only dirt bikes but also dual-sport and heavy adventure bikes also feature steel rims in their wheel setup. However, in the recent years, alloy wheels also have gained popularity both for adventure bikes besides regular street bikes for their lightweight construction and advanced features.

In the street bikes, alloy wheels are differently featured which come in one-piece construction and they don’t have conventional steel spokes. Similarly, some adventure motorcycle also features the same type of one-piece alloy wheel which is actually not preferable for off-road oriented adventure bikes as those can’t come with a larger wheel setup and have no shock absorbing capability.

Consequently, only aluminum alloy rims can be a preferred alternative to conventional steel rims. Those simply can replace the steel rim part and hold the same spoke, hub, and tire setup like the conventional steel rim setup. These aluminum rims are lighter in weight, flexible, shock-absorbing, highly durable, and also repairable. Moreover, these aluminum rims can hold both tubed and tubeless type tires which adds a great advantage and versatility in modern adventure bikes.

So here we described the most commonly acceptable type of wheel setup for adventure motorcycles. But at present, we can see versatile adventure bikes are available in the market that feature versatile wheel setups. Here one thing we should consider that is some adventure bikes are designed road-biased and some are off-road biased. Therefore, the wheel setup may come with varied specifications. But if you are looking for a highly capable all-terrain ADV motorcycle then our described wheel setup should match you best, that’s it.