BMW R1200GS

Want to spend your budget on fuel rather than depreciation? These used adventure bikes have taken the hit so you don’t have to…

£4000-£8000

This is the sweet spot budget-wise when it comes to buying a used adventure bike, where you can expect to see a huge choice of machines — and a decent range of electronic rider aids. If you want a BMW R1200GS, you can get the final generation of the air-cooled motor with its double overhead cams (introduced in 2010) at the top end of this budget in either standard or Adventure guise. As long as you are tall in the leg, the Adventure is the better option as its 33-litre tank means you have a genuine 350-plus mile range for long-distance touring. Price varies depending on mileage and extras and it is always better to buy a fully loaded BMW with miles on it than a poorly accessorised stocker.

The bargain of the bunch is Aprilia’s unfairly overlooked Caponord 1200, which comes with a sweet-sounding, flexible and forgiving 123bhp V-twin. In Rally spec, you get wire wheels but the optional Travel Pack model adds semi-active, self-levelling suspension for the ultimate in one or two-up ride quality. It’s a great bike, though the size of Aprilia’s dealer network is always a nagging worry.

The original Triumph Tiger Explorer was a huge-seller and enormously popular with owners. If you can find one that’s been cared for then it’s a belter — though be aware those early bikes suffered a few reliability issues. If you’re looking for a solid alternative (with the emphasis on the solid) we’d look at a Honda Crosstourer. Very much a road bike, its 1237cc V-four packs masses of torque, and if you want to impress a pillion with seamless, magic-carpet-smooth gearchanges, then go for the optional DCT gearbox.