10 Motorcycles Perfect For Long Holiday Weekends
After decades of seeing adventure and touring bikes grow with more safety features, tech, and power, we finally arrived at a point where these motorcycles just became impractical. While comfortable, these bikes became too heavy to be used for anything other than long highway rides, and almost as expensive as the high-end American tourers that are designed for that purpose.
Modern riders wanted something more practical, and the answer came in the form of the middleweight segment. Today, more middleweight motorcycles are sold than ever. They are significantly more versatile motorcycles and can even double up as economical commuters for those inclined. But, above all else, they are affordable to own and run, which means you can actually afford to take that long weekend trip when the opportunity arises.
BMW F 900 GS
MSRP: $14,395
On paper, the middleweight BMW ADV looks like a great deal compared to the other premium European brands, but the out-the-door price will most likely be a fair bit more than what is indicated here. Several nice-to-have options are left optional, including the paint you see on the model pictured here.
It is a frustrating strategy, and it only serves to detract from what is an otherwise impressive package. The latest F 900 GS is one of the best middleweight adventure bikes currently on the market. You just need to go into the dealership knowing exactly what you want, and you need to be willing to wait for that bike and not settle for the bike at the dealership that comes with a bunch of expensive features you don’t really need.
Yamaha Tenere 700 World Raid
MSRP: $12,999
Back in 2019, the Tenere took the world by storm when it made its global debut. It was the lightweight, back-to-basics middleweight everyone thought they wanted, but it was a little rough around the edges. Other more feature-rich models also came out and put pressure on Yamaha to add more features to the platform.
The base model still offers great value, but the additional $2k for the World Raid is money well spent. With the inclusion of an IMU, it is transformed into a high-tech, modern ADV, and the fully adjustable KYB suspension adds a level of refinement only usually found on more expensive bikes.
Triumph Tiger Sport 800
MSRP: $12,845
For those more interested in carving up the odd canyon than taking the dirt road shortcut, a lightweight sport tourer makes a degree more sense. The Tiger Sport 800 actually makes use of the same lightweight frame as the 660, which means you get a fair bit more punch without adding much weight. Unlike the 660, which makes use of a reworked sport bike engine, this is a newly developed lump.
It has clearly been brought out in an effort to take on all the other upper middleweight bikes competing in this space. Unfortunately, simply adding power to a frame that isn’t even all that sophisticated is rarely a recipe for world-class handling. So while the bike is fun, experienced riders will find its limits.
Yamaha Tracer 9
MSRP: $12,599
Out of all the value-packed bikes in this space, it is the Tracer 9 that really stands apart thanks largely to the fact that you don’t need to spend anything on it. It is touring-ready straight from the factory, promising one of the most high-value packages in its class.
At the same time, you get a decent set of hard cases as standard. This might not sound like a big deal for a touring bike, but in its segment, several bikes leave the luggage to the aftermarket. This is truly a hard-to-believe proposition in 2026.
Aprilia Tuareg 660
MSRP: $12,499
Aprilia surprised everyone with how good the Tuareg was when it came out. It has now been around for a while, and has also proven to be more reliable than pretty much anyone expected it to be. After the other 660s had a little wobble in the first year of production, these concerns were merited.
Sadly, no matter how good this Italian middleweight is, its biggest struggle is the simple fact that Aprilia has a relatively small dealer network. So, when compared to its rivals, it is harder to find a dealership in the first place, harder to get parts, and generally not worth the effort unless you really want a Tuareg.
Kawasaki Versys 650 LT ABS
MSRP: $10,399
Just like the aforementioned Tracer 9, the Versys 650 is ready to go straight from the factory. In the past, this was pretty much the default choice in this space, but back then, it was a lot cheaper. As much as the modern Versys is loaded with features, it is also underpowered compared to some of the alternatives.
It also is not the most interesting motorcycle in the world. But what it lacks in charm and power, it more than makes up for in versatility. It really does live up to its name, able to handle pretty much anything you throw at it, from the daily commute to cross-country road trips. Owners have been known to add knobby tires and even use these bikes as light-duty ADVs, but if you are after something like that, there is a better alternative.
Honda Transalp E-Clutch
MSRP: $10,199
Out of all the middleweight adventure touring bikes, the Transalp offers the most value. Not only is it one of the most powerful bikes in this price range, but it is also one of the most comfortable. While its 21-inch front wheel might promise a certain level of off-road competence, that isn’t necessarily its main attribute.
It is more of a light-duty ADV, which is better suited to longer cross-country trips as opposed to heavy off-road use. In reality, this is the kind of ADV most adventure riders actually need. If you want a more off-road-oriented bike, a big bore dual-sport might be a better bet.
Honda NC750X
MSRP: $9,499
For reasons that we suspect are purely to do with marketability, Honda categorizes the NC750X as an ADV. It isn’t. It is actually much closer to a maxi-scooter, because that is what it shares a platform with. And it rides on 17-inch wheels, which means crossover behaviour rather than an ADV.
Some scooter haters will balk at this fact, but the reality of the matter is that it makes the bike even more practical. The fact that the engine is laid flat in the frame means it wears its weight pretty low, which improves maneuverability through town, and also allows for all that extra storage space you get.
Suzuki SV-7GX
MSRP: $8,599
Suzuki is incredibly good at extracting value out of a platform, and the SV-7GX is a fine example of this. While there will be those that just see this as a more touring-friendly SV-650, it is so much more than that. What it is is an accessible, approachable tool for motorcycle travel.
To put things into perspective here, this is the same price as most other Japanese middleweight naked bikes. That means this undercuts all the direct competition by such a big margin that it almost removes them from the argument entirely. Bonus points for the overall dependability and likable blend of features, even at this price.
Moto Morini X-Cape 700
MSRP: $8,299
The only bikes with a modicum of touring potential that are cheaper than the aforementioned Suzuki are from China. While there is another lightweight ADV from China that has been making waves, we are not convinced it will offer the same long-term reliability as the X-Cape 700. The simple reason why we are willing to trust this more than the average Chinese bike is that it makes use of a reworked Versys 650 engine.
This stroke-out version of the venerable Kawasaki engine is a key point of difference and helps Moto Morini offer us a dependable adventure-tourer on a budget. The build quality is nothing to write home about, but at this price point, it is tolerable.
Sources: Various manufacturers
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