Touring on a motorcycle is one of the best things you can do. Traveling hundreds of miles each day to get to a specific destination or nowhere at all can be an absolutely transformative experience.
While I’m of the opinion that you can tour on any motorcycle, I do understand that it’s much more enjoyable on the right machine. You want to be comfortable while you ride and that means you’ll need a bike that was built to eat the miles with aplomb. Don’t simply hop on your hardcore sportbike and expect to cover hundreds of miles comfortably. You need a touring machine, and these are some of the best out there.
Harley-Davidson Road King
The Harley-Davidson Road King has to be on this list. It was designed for touring, and many riders who own one do just that. They take their classic-looking machines on epic road trips all across the country. The Road King really is the king of the road. It comes packed with features and offers some top-quality comfort while you ride.
Powering the bike is the Milwaukee Eight 107 engine which is 1,753cc. It makes 111 lb-ft of torque. The motorcycle has plenty of power for any touring duties and it is a fantastic touring machine with its large windscreen and hard bags that are ready to tote your stuff around. There’s also plenty of accessories.
Harley-Davidson Ultra Limited
If I was going to ride cross country and I had around $30,000 to spend, then I would seriously consider the Harley-Davidson Ultra Limited. It’s one of the most touring-ready Harleys out there and has all of the farkles and features you’re going to need. It’s also not as expensive as some of the CVO models, which is important to me and should be important to you.
The bike features the big Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine, which makes an even more impressive 114 lb-ft of torque. This is the bike that will gobble up miles with ease and you’ll get to ride along in pure Americana bliss while it does.
Indian Roadmaster Limited
When you think of American V-twins you think of Harley-Davidson, but lately, Indian Motorcycle has been beating HD at its own game. When it comes to touring models, the Indian Roadmaster takes the cake, and the Roadmaster Limited is the best version of the bike to buy. Talked about in hushed whispers in biker bars and internet forums for a long time in 2020, it’s now here and on the road in 2021.
The Roadmaster Limited is powered by Indian’s Thunderstoke 116 engine that manages to churn out 92 hp and 126 lb-ft of torque. Pair that with plenty of features and some generous storage as well as some of the comfiest seating in the business, and you have a touring machine that’s hard to find a fault with.
Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Standard
I know some folks will disagree with me on this one and say I should have picked some other Harley-Davidson model here, but they’re wrong. The Electra Glide Standard is the only motorcycle in Harley’s lineup I’d pay the asking price for. It’s a good simple touring motorcycle. Harley stripped it of a bunch of crap to leave, wait for it, just the important parts.
The engine, lights, comfortable saddle, hard bags are all here and not much else. It’s the best of what makes a Harley. You get the strong 1,753cc Milwaukee Eight 107 V-twin engine that chugs out 111 lb-ft of torque. Power is sorted via a six-speed transmission, and you have a nice fairing to keep the wind from blasting you 24/7.
Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Voyager
Kawasaki can’t be left off this list. The Vulcan 1700 Voyager is a fantastic touring motorcycle that brings metric cruiser charms to a vehicle that’s in it for the long haul. The bike is comfortable, big, and equipped with some fantastic luggage and power.
The bike comes with a 52-degree 1,700cc four-stroke, a V-twin engine that’s liquid-cooled. It makes 72.5 hp and 100 lb-ft of torque. Out there on the open road, you’ll benefit from the large windscreen and fairing as well as the comfy saddle and the various electronic systems like cruise control, ABS, satellite radio, and so much more. It’s not the most advanced machine on sale today, but it does offer some great features.
Honda Gold Wing Tour
Long thought of as the quintessential touring motorcycle, the Honda Gold Wing has a cult following and for good reason. It’s one of the most comfortable, easy-to-ride for long distances, and feature-packed motorcycles on sale today.
The Gold Wing Tour features plenty of luggage space, a 1833cc liquid-cooled SOHC flat six-cylinder engine that mates to a six-speed or Honda’s DCT, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on its extensive infotainment system that has a slew of other features. If you want to ride to the end of where pavement can take you, this is the bike to do it on. It’s just plain lovely.
Yamaha Star Venture
Part of the Transcontinental Touring lineup for Yamaha, the Star Venture may seem like it belongs head-to-head with some of Harley’s machines, but in truth, this model looks more modern than the Harley fare. It’s packed with features and it has a massive air-cooled V-twin engine.
Speaking of engines, the Start Venture features a 1,854cc air-cooled OHV V-Twin that makes around 85 hp. It’s not an insane amount of horsepower, but if you’re interested in cruising along at highway speeds, then you have nothing much to worry about. Also, the 120 lb-ft of torque will rocket you around and help get you up to speed quickly. All told, this is a great bike.
BMW K 1600 Grand America
Any of BMW’s K 1600 motorcycles would make the cut for “great touring motorcycle,” but the Grand America version is in my mind the one to buy. It’s a motorcycle that’s sporty in the right ways, comfortable in all the right ways, and has some fantastic storage areas and features. The large windscreen and fairing shield you from the wind and the seat keeps your backside comfortable for mile after mile.
Powering this bike is BMW Motorrad’s six-cylinder inline engine. Its smoothness is something that BMW riders won’t shut up about, and I can’t really blame them. It’s good. The engine has a 1,649cc capacity and it makes 160 hp and 129 lb-ft of torque, so you’re never wanting for power. With a reasonably low seat height of 29.5 inches, it’s a reasonably approachable machine, too for being so large.
Wow you really got the specs wrong. K1600b develops 160 bhp and 129 ft-lbs of torque. Not sure where you got 92 hp???
Whoops, Mark. Updated
Maybe because it tops out at 100 mph?
Nicely done, but check your hp numbers on the Beemer, please.
You, sir are correct! Article updated
Out of eight bikes listed, three are Harley’s and only one is from Indian and it’s not the Challenger! That alone makes me question the validity of the list.
Hey Ken,
Then Challenger is a hell of a bike. If I were to add to this list, it would definitely be in the top 10.
I think that the bmw has more than 150 hp
The Kawasaki Concours belongs on this list.
Did HD pay you? Where is the Concours? Gold Wing easily wins. No comparison!!
Yeah this article is a joke and so is Harley
Sorry you feel that way, Brian. What bikes would you include?
No love for the RT 1200? Just wondering.
I left off a few that I consider to be more sport-touring bikes. Will likely do a sport-touring list later on.
Not sure when you will get it. The 2020 Goldwing is not a “comfortable” ride. Check out the forums… hardcore goldwing fans are having the seat reworked…. I’m just saying.
I can appreciate the HD love, but imho the kawasaki vaquero is also a good touring as well as cruiser bike. And is stylish as well. Plus the price point is good for people who want a champaign bike on a beer budget.
Thankyou author I like your take and also appreciate your tolerance for the harshly judgemental ones lol. Also I dig a Concourse and Sport Glide also. I’m 60 fwiw
Harleys retain so much value as well. They’re the small block Chevy of motorcycles. 10 years from now, the metrics are gone and parts availability spotty at best. My 03 Electra Glide still plunks right along and I’ve never had a problem with it. And, I got hit by a car oncethat was running 35 mph while stopped to turn. What’s funny, whenever I ride it, someone wants to buy it. Completely stock except for Rinehart exhaust.