From Tibet to PNG, touring Asia-Pacific on two wheels

HANOI -- In the West, motorcycles are less a means of transport than a recreational pursuit. People use them to escape everyday life and to discover the unusual -- a phenomenon that has given rise to a unique form of tourism combining riding, nature and culture: adventure bike riding, referred to by enthusiasts as ADV.

ADV motorcycles -- street-legal machines that can go off-road and cover long distances in relative comfort -- are the fastest-growing segment of the global motorcycle market. Worth $300 million in 2021, ADV sales are projected to hit $500 million by 2027, according to a 2024 report by Marketsandmarkets, a business information provider based in Pune, India.