10 Affordable Motorcycles Built For Cross-Country Rides

Long-distance riding doesn’t have to drain your savings account. The sweet spot between affordability and genuine touring capability is wider than most riders realize, and the current market is proof of that. Whether you’re drawn to the freedom of open highways or the challenge of mountain passes, there’s a capable, budget-conscious motorcycle waiting to carry you there — no lottery win required.

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We’ve put together a list of touring motorcycles that balance cost and capability. Some are lightweight adventure-touring motorcycles, others are laid-back tourers, and yet others are sport tourers that reward a higher pace with a grin on your face. Here then are ten affordable motorcycles that are built for cross-country rides.

KTM 390 Adventure X

Price: $6,499

The current 390 Adventure is a stark departure from the one it replaced, and it feels like a more complete adventure bike this time around. KTM has divided it clearly into the off-road-focused 390 Adventure R and the tarmac-biased 390 Adventure X. The latter gets a 19/17-inch alloy wheel setup, and the WP suspension offers the same travel as the 390 Adventure R, though the only adjustment available is rear preload. You also miss out on adjustable levers, a third ride mode, lean-sensitive traction control, and a TFT color display — trade-offs that help keep the price impressively low for the performance on offer.

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Displacement	399 cc
Max Power	44 HP @ 8,500 RPM
Max Torque	28.7 LB-FT @ 6,700 RPM
Transmission	6 speeds, assist and slipper clutch
Final Drive	Chain drive

Moto Morini Calibro 700 Bagger

Price: $7,199

Moto Morini

The Calibro 700 Bagger is one of the great price-to-performance bikes available today. It offers a liquid-cooled 270-degree parallel twin engine and belt drive for under $7,000, a combination that is unique for the segment. It also has an intelligent combination of features: ABS is present, as is hard luggage and a fairing. All-LED lighting and a six-speed gearbox round out the package. If you’re on a budget but want a traditional tourer with all the useful features and none of the embellishments, the Calibro 700 Bagger is for you.

Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650

Price: $7,899

Royal Enfield

The Super Meteor 650 is the very definition of ‘retro’ and ‘stripped back’. You get an air-cooled parallel twin engine that is cost-effective to manufacture, yet its 270-degree firing order delivers strong, usable torque. Add fuel injection for cold-start reliability, a six-speed gearbox with a slipper clutch, and ABS. If you’d like to tour on one, opt for one of the two Celestial paint packages. They’re $500 extra, but well worth it — they add a windscreen, a touring seat with extra padding, and a pillion backrest. Throw in the soft luggage for $670, and you’ll be ready for that long ride.

Honda Transalp E-Clutch

Price: $10,199

Honda Powersports

The Transalp is like a monocoque SUV: it looks the part, it can handle off-road work surprisingly well, but it is happiest on tarmac. You get 21/18-inch spoke rims, an LED headlamp, self-canceling indicators, and a 5-inch TFT display. Its standout quality is the effortless character of the 755cc parallel-twin engine — the same unit found in the CB750 Hornet. The six-speed gearbox features an assist and slipper clutch for added smoothness.

Kawasaki Versys 650 LT ABS

Price: $10,399

Kawasaki

If you’re stepping into touring or adventure riding but have enough experience to want something more substantial than a small-displacement machine, the Versys 650 LT will serve you well. It is one of the most easygoing, enjoyable, and forgiving motorcycles on the market, and its long production run speaks to its rock-solid reliability. Recent updates include three-level traction control, an adjustable windshield, and a TFT display with Bluetooth connectivity for music control and navigation prompts. The factory-fitted luggage also features quick-release mounts, a genuinely handy touch.

Honda Rebel 1100T DCT

Price: $11,599

Honda

The Rebel 1100T is the touring variant of the Rebel 1100 cruiser. Much like the Calibro 700 Bagger, it adds a fairing and luggage to an already capable platform to make it genuinely comfortable for long highway hours. A manual Rebel 1100T retails at $10,799, but it is worth the extra $700 to step up to the six-speed dual-clutch automatic of the Rebel 1100T DCT. Recent updates include a 5-inch TFT display with Bluetooth connectivity and Honda RoadSync, a revised seat, and an improved rider triangle.

Honda NT1100 DCT

Price: $11,999

Honda Powersports

If you like the idea of the Rebel 1100’s engine and automatic gearbox but prefer to cover ground at a much brisker pace, Honda has an answer: the NT1100 DCT. This sport tourer runs the Africa Twin’s 100-horsepower state of tune, rolls on 17-inch rims shod with grippy rubber, and delivers an upright, comfortable seating position capable of all-day two-up riding. Honda has kept the price in check by including a solid suite of safety technology while omitting a six-axis IMU.

Yamaha Tracer 9

Price: $12,599

Yamaha

If the NT1100 DCT isn’t a quick enough sport tourer for you, take a close look at the Yamaha Tracer 9. Equipped with the CP3 crossplane inline-three engine, it produces more power and torque and delivers the kind of eager, characterful performance that’s hard to forget. The premium over the Honda is also justified by a six-axis IMU, which enables lean-sensitive traction control and cornering ABS. Note that Yamaha currently offers only the base Tracer 9 in the US, which comes with a manual gearbox and no quickshifter.

Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+

Price: $14,399

Suzuki Cycles

The Yamaha was quicker than the Honda and cost a couple thousand dollars more. Well, this Suzuki is a couple thousand dearer than the Tracer 9 — and a lot quicker. Try 150 horsepower from a de-tuned liter-bike engine. Suzuki dropped one of these into a proven chassis, paired it with ergonomics that won’t send you to the chiropractor after every ride, a seat that’s comfortable for two, and electronics that are competitive with anything in this class. If you want to tour at a high rate of speed without breaking the bank, the GSX-S1000GT+ is hard to argue with.

Husqvarna Norden 901

Price: $14,899

V. Krisko via Husqvarna

If you want your budget tourer to be genuinely capable off tarmac as well, consider the Husqvarna Norden 901. It wears distinctive Scandinavian styling over the Austrian bones of the KTM 890 Adventure R, which makes it one of the more eye-catching machines on this list. A lightweight trellis frame, fully adjustable long-travel WP suspension, and a parallel-twin engine producing 105 horsepower from the mechanical core. A six-axis IMU unlocks some of the most sophisticated electronics in the adventure segment, including dedicated off-road modes for traction control, ABS, and other parameters.

Sources: OEMs