Best Touring Motorcycles For Long Distance

Best Touring Motorcycles For Long Distance

The thought of travelling on two wheels is what brought many of us to motorcycling in the first place. A motorcycle allows a person to connect with the world in a much more physical way than, say, a car or a plane. You feel the distance travelled; you become one with it.

There are dozens upon dozens of different bikes targeted at those with wanderlust. To help you pick through them all, we’ve put together this list of our choices for the best motorcycles for covering distance. Back in 2013, when we first put this list together, we received a fair amount of criticism for focusing on expensive machines (The original list consisted of: BMW K 1600 GTL, Honda Gold Wing F6B, Harley-Davidson Ultra Glide Limited, Suzuki Hayabusa, BMW R 1200 GS). So, for this update we’ve included less expensive options within the same genre.

BMW K 1600 GTL Exclusive – Some people (like your grandad) will insist that Honda’s Gold Wing remains the unparalleled choice for covering a whole lot of miles in comfort. But while we’ve got a lot of love for the flat-six beast, there’s no getting around the fact it’s a little long in the tooth. To our mind, if you’re going to spend big bucks, the BMW K 16000 GTL Exclusive is where you want to spend them. The 1649cc inline-six-powered Beemer comes with all the bells and whistles – all of them – while serving up 160 horsepower at peak, and a skull-bashing 129 lb ft of torque. Meanwhile, both you and your passenger will be so comfortable you may throw away your couch and start watching TV in the garage. With a starting price of US $30,395, it ain’t cheap (Still less expensive than a Motus –Ed.), but, baby, you’re worth it. As an added benefit, because you’re on a BMW no one will criticize you for wearing good gear, which means you can rock an Aerostich.

Honda CTX1300 – Offering Gold Wing-like styling for almost $9,000 less than than its big brother’s asking price is Honda’s underloved CTX1300. When the bike was first released back in 2014 it was met with a certain amount of confusion. Honda tried calling it a bagger, but it didn’t fit most people’s vision of that genre and it soon floundered in the Not-This-But-Not-That Zone often reserved for bikes that are difficult to categorize. In the interim, though, it’s built a small, faithful following. It is not a bike without criticism – fit and finish is a bit plasticky, its 1261 V4 delivers only 83 hp, and some folks dislike the cruiser-like riding position – but you get shaft drive, hard panniers, and a stereo. Plus, that Honda badge means it’ll still be running 40 years from now.

Victory Cross Country Tour – A respectful nod here first goes to the $17,499 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Voyager ABS(anti lock braking system), which offers a whole lot of good things for more than $10,000 less than the Indian. But before shelling out for the Kawi we’d look into the possibility of finding a deal on a Cross Country Tour from Indian’s recently departed cousin, Victory. The Cross Country platform was the peak achievement for Victory, so valued for its comfort and durability that it was the choice of world traveller Urs “Grizzly” Pedraita for a number of record-setting rides. Polaris pulled the plug on Victory in early 2017, so dealers will be eager to clear out stock to make room for better-selling Indian models. If you enjoy driving a hard bargain, we’re pretty sure there are good deals to be had. Meanwhile, Polaris is promising 10 years of parts and dealer support.

BMW F 800 GT – Somewhere along the way, BMW’s stalwart middleweight sport tourer picked up a reputation for being anemic, its 798cc parallel twin engine delivering roughly 90 hp. We call shenanigans on this claim and point to a notorious YouTube clip of Adam Waheed riding the hell out of one as evidence of the bike’s prowess (see below). If you think the F 800 GT isn’t fast enough the problem is with you, not the bike. With styling far more in line with what we’d expect from a sport tourer the F 800 GT comes with all the plus sides of BMW ownership (good coffee at the dealership, the God-given right to tell others how to ride, etc.), but can be a little uncomfortable for riders exceeding 6 feet tall.

Triumph Tiger Explorer XRT – In the 2013 version of this list, our suggestion for a touring adventure bike was the same as pretty much everyone else’s: the indefatigable BMW R 1200 GS. The bike has a strong reputation, especially in Europe where it has sat atop the sales charts for several years in a row. But time has moved on and we feel some manufacturers have caught up and, in some ways, surpassed the mighty GS. On the road, we prefer the smooth, energetic spring of the latest generation of Tiger Explorer, which is available in six variants: XC, XCx, XCA, XR, XRx, and XRT. The XRT is the all-singing-all-dancing road-focused model, equipped with so many features and comforts it can make a person dizzy. Shaft drive, well-performing cruise control, a surprising amount of wind protection, ride modes and cornering ABS are some of the features that stand out for us. Mostly, though, we love the 1215cc inline triple’s ability to rocket you past slow-moving cars. Starting price is a salty $19,800, though, and you’ll need to fork out extra for panniers and top box.

Suzuki V-Strom 650 – The Wee-Strom is an established mile-muncher, known for delivering comfort and durability in an affordable, fuss-free package. Its looks don’t stir the soul, even after its 2017 makeover, and engine performance won’t get your heart rate up, but it will happily haul two people and luggage from here to there and there and there and there and there (with a few diversions along the way) without fault. As part of its recent overhaul, the 650 has been equipped with traction control and “Low RPM Assist,” thereby making its more expensive 1000cc big brother even more pointless. Sure, the big ‘Strom promises 100 hp against the 650’s claimed 71, but truthfully such numbers are irrelevant for a V-Strom owner. No one ever gets stupid on a ‘Strom; instead, they tour the whole of Canada, staying at reasonably priced campsites. Suzuki offers an XT version of the 650, with lots of breakable plastic bits for $500 more than the standard model’s $8,799 asking price. We say you’ll be better served buying accessories from the aftermarket.

Harley-Davidson Road King – Part of the romance of crossing great distances on a bike is the idea of feeling the wind in your face, which is why some folks prefer to do away with wind protection and keep things relatively simple. If you have not at least once in your life daydreamed of a road trip on a Harley-Davidson there is something deeply wrong with you. In truth, we feel the Harley-Davidson Wide Glide would be even more appropriate from a style point of view, but it lacks some of the touring-friendly features of the Road Glide and is not (yet) powered by the new Milwaukee Eight 107 engine, which is vastly superior to the outgoing Twin Cam 103. So, take the screen off a Road King, strap a few bags bought at an Army surplus store to the passenger seat, and set out into the world to find yourself. The bike’s mighty 1753cc engine doesn’t produce a mind-melting amount of go, but always-available torque and the deep, iconic rumble of a Harley V-twin will mean you won’t really care.

Triumph Bonneville T120 – An iconic name that stretches back decades, the recently overhauled Bonneville T120 is so much more than it appears to be. In aesthetic and spirit it is a simple, pure, old-school machine, but in performance, reliability, technology, and comfort it is thoroughly modern – boasting such tour-friendly features as riding modes, heated grips, USB socket, and (accessory) cruise control. Like the KTM it is chain-driven, which means having to carry tools and cans of chain lube on the Key-West-to-Seattle run, but at least here the center stand comes standard. And we can’t help feeling that doing a little shadetree maintenance is a part of the experience with a bike like this. Modern Triumph reliability and 10,000-mile service intervals mean you won’t be doing too much other work, though, so you can focus your energy instead on finding the perfect leather saddlebags. Be sure to also pack a camera and take lots of pictures; in the future your grandkids will be bragging about how cool you were.

  Kawasaki Versys 650

    The Versys 650 used to be the entry-level model in Team Green’s adventure motorcycle         portfolio, but it will now be positioned one step above the upcoming Versys-X 300. Not           much has changed on the India-spec model, other than the updation of the motor to            meet BS4 emission norms, a green/black paint scheme, and a revised instrument cluster      that now includes a gear position indicator.

    The Versys 650 chassis is based on the chassis of the outgoing Ninja 650, but it gets            high-quality suspension components. The front forks are separate function forks that can      adjust for preload as well as rebound. The rear remains a KYB mono-shock with a                remote preload adjuster. ABS is standard on the Versys 650. The high-quality                        suspension  and stiff chassis make the Versys 650 one of the sweetest-handling             motorcycles in its category on any surface, despite the wheels and tyres being biased         toward tarmac. The engine in the Versys 650 is the same 649cc parallel twin that does     duty  in the Z650 and Ninja 650, but has been optimised for the Versys.

BMW R 1200 RS

It might be big, but with its impressive 1170cc DOHC twin-cylinder boxer, air/water cooled, flat twin engine peaking at 125hp the BMW R 1200 RS is more agile and faster than you’d probably expect. With smooth handling, relaxed seating position, wind and weather protection, heated seating and grips, this sport touring bike is a great travel companion. Thanks to its fully active suspension setup, high seat and high clearance, the R 1200 RS is prepared for off-road adventure tours too. Moreover, it features BMW’s Automatic Stability Control as well as selectable power modes. The cost to own this beauty starts at $14,995.

 Suzuki V-Strom 1000 ABS

A strong adventure sport motorcycle with a 1,037cc 90-degree V-twin engine peaking at 99hp, the Suzuki V-Strom 1000 ABS has comfort and durability written all over it. Featuring fully adjustable suspension, dirt tires and two-stage traction control, it’s ready and willing to go off the road and into the dirt. The V-Strom has an upright seating position, placing the rider is high in the saddle, but it maintains low-ground clearance. This dual-sport motorcycle is a versatile mile-muncher, with a price tag starting at $12,699.

Ducati Multistrada

Known as the Swiss-army knife of motorcycle touring, there’s little that the Ducati Multistrada can’t do. A modern-day classic, this fully-customizable sports tourer comes with an 1198cc 90-degree V-Twin engine that reaches 160hp. Smaller, great for the open road as well for commuting to work, the Ducati Multistrada is considered by many to be the best combination of sport, touring and commuting bike available today. Highly versatile, it features high-tech gadgetry and sophisticated electronics, semi-active suspension, self-adjusting windshield, standard traction control, top-notch ABS system and integrated cruise control, just to name a few. The starting price is $19,695.

Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Voyager ABS

With a powerful 1,700cc V-twin engine and a sleek vintage design that will leave you drooling, the Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Voyager ABS is a superbike adapted for the long road. Comfortable for both driver and passenger, it offers just about everything you would need on an extended road trip: advanced ABS system, cruise control that can be activated in third gear and an intercom/headset-compatible audio system. Also known as the ‘Big Kawi,’ it offers plenty of storage room in the integrated hard saddlebags, and its top case is large enough to fit two face helmets. Price starts at $17,399.


KTM 1290 Super Duke GT 

If you’re looking for a reliable bike that will get you from point A to point B fast and safe, look no further than the KTM 1290 Super Duke GT. It is considered one of the best sports tourers that money can buy. With a 1301cc V-twin engine peaking at 173hp and large fuel tank for fewer stops along the way, long distances are not a problem. The semi-active electronic suspension with quick shifter and stable chassis will make rough canyon roads and highways seem like a walk in the park. It also features Bosch's MSC lean-angle-sensitive ABS, electronic cruise control, heated grips and Hill Hold Control, as well as plenty of gadgets. The price ranges around $20,000.

 Victory Cross Country Tour

A cruising motorcycle built for long haul rides, the Victory Cross Country Tour has a powerful 1731cc V-twin engine with six-speed transmission. The belt drive makes maintenance a lot easier and reduces operating noise. With a stylish, vintage look, bat-wing fairing and lowers, it also comes with hard saddlebags and top trunk that offer plenty of storage space. In fact, the Victory Cross Country Tour boasts the largest storage capacity among any production motorcycle. This American touring bike has a price starting at $21,999.

Yamaha FJR1300

The company’s flagship touring bike, the Yamaha FJR1300 comes with a 1298cc liquid cooled in-line four engine with six-speed transmission that combines speed and comfort for riding long distances in style. There are plenty of features, from heated seats to traction control, ABS, switchable power modes, and cruise control, folding mirrors and quick-release luggage mounts. The sport touring bike also has an electric screen, glove box and electronically adjustable suspensions. Sexy and slick, the price for this beauty starts at $16,390.

Triumph Trophy SE

A super touring model with a 1,215cc three-cylinder engine, the Triumph Trophy SEis a mile-chewer. A state-of-the-art motorbike that combines luxury, comfort and performance, both driver and passenger enjoy ‘armchair ergonomics’ on this one. This adventure touring motorcycle boasts a complete electronics suite that includes ABS, traction control, cruise control, electrically adjustable windshield and headlights, adjustable seats, ride-by-wire throttle, tire pressure monitor and anti-theft immobilizer. The starting price is $19,500.

Harley-Davidson Electra Glide

When we think of motorcycling, we often imagine badass bikers in leather jackets riding Harley-Davidsons. Indeed, the company has something for all occasions. But when it comes to motorcycle touring, the Electra Glide takes the prize. Guaranteeing a smooth and mellow ride, it is built for extremely long trips. With one-touch saddlebags, GPS, infotainment, Milwaukee-Eight 107 and Milwaukee-Eight 114 V-twin engines, the Electra Glide is a top of the line touring bike. The price starts at $24,149.

Indian Roadmaster

With a catchy vintage look, the Indian Roadmaster is the touring bike everyone wants to take out for a ride. With an 1811cc V-twin engine with six-speed transmission, leather seats, a classy dash of chrome and plenty of storage space, it is built for long distances. The Roadmaster is equipped with keyless start, power windshield, remote locking hard bags and trunk, integrated GPS, tire-pressure monitoring system, 200-watt stereo with Bluetooth and Pandora, heated seats and grips. Comfortable for both rider and passenger, it does come at a hefty price, starting at $28,999.

Honda Gold Wing

We cannot make a list of touring bikes without including the legendary motorbike that gave birth to the touring motorcycle category. First introduced in 1975, the Honda Gold Wing is all about riding in style. With a flat-six engine, it delivers all amenities you could ask for from a touring bike, from heated grips and seat to satellite navigation system, passenger’s arm rests, wide seats and low floorboards. Equipped with cutting-edge technology, it is considered an icon in the touring class. It also comes with the first factory production-line airbag in motorcycle history. The Gold Wing is pricey, starting at $23,999, but there are some extras definitely worth having, such as quality hard luggage and aftermarket suspensions