10 Bikes That Make Summer Road Trips Better Than Flying
Flying is the ultimate expression of luxury while traveling. Yes, even if you buy one of the economy seats. After all, you are much safer than if traveling in a car, and you get there quicker than any other mode of transport. But traveling isn’t just about the destination; the journey is just as important, and in the summer, a motorcycle can enhance your experience like nothing else. You do need the right motorcycle for the best experience possible, though. If you’re on board with the idea, neither of these 10 bikes below will be a bad pick.
Yamaha Tracer 9
Price: $12,599
Yamaha has developed the Tracer 9 from the MT-09, which is an extremely playful motorcycle. And it has left not just the character in, but also all the electronics, including the six-axis IMU. It has added a massive seven-inch TFT instrument cluster, luggage, and room for a pillion as well, making this an ideal touring bike for real-world conditions. Comfort is in heaps as well, and the creature comforts only make the ride better in the long run.
|
Engine Type |
Crossplane I3 |
 15 autotech Displacement |
890 cc |
|
Max Power |
117 HP @ 10,000 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
68.5 LB-FT @ 7,000 RPM |
Kawasaki Versys 1100 LT SE ABS
Price: $19,499
If you prefer comfortable speed, the Versys 1100 will do 500-mile days without complaints. When Kawasaki bumped up the Versys 1000’s engine capacity, the focus was on increasing torque across the rev range rather than a high power figure. Luxury and comfort were priorities, too, and Kawasaki has achieved that with its six-axis IMU, semi-active Showa long-travel suspension, adjustable windscreen, heated grips, and cornering lights. So you won’t complain after doing that sort of distance on it, either.
|
Engine Type |
I4 |
|
Displacement |
1,099 cc |
|
Max Power |
133 HP @ 9,000 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
82.5 LB-FT @ 7,600 RPM |
Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Explorer
Price: $23,795
The Tiger 1200 GT Explorer’s calling card is its massive 7.9-gallon fuel tank, which allows it to quietly eliminate range anxiety. However, you also have extreme rider and pillion comfort. So it has massive seats for both occupants, topped with bits like heated grips, an adjustable windscreen, and a sizable seven-inch TFT. Sweetening the pot is a powerful, torque-laden three-cylinder engine with a T-plane crankshaft, brakes from Brembo, suspension from Showa, and all the electronics that you can think of to keep the rubber side down.
|
Engine Type |
T-Plane I3 |
|
Displacement |
1,160 cc |
|
Max Power |
147 HP @ 9,000 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
95 LB-FT @ 7,000 RPM |
BMW R 1300 GS Adventure Automatic
Price: $28,575
The R 1300 GS Adventure appeals to the same audience as the Tiger above. It has a boatload of electronics, BMW’s Telelever front suspension, and the Paralever single-sided swingarm with electronic control. It also has the longitudinal boxer twin engine with variable valve timing on the intake valves and the option of an automated manual gearbox, which takes it to another level of usability. Not only does this bike feel effortless at highway speeds, but you can also just as easily use it to commute now.
|
Engine Type |
Longitudinal boxer twin |
|
Displacement |
1,300 cc |
|
Max Power |
145 HP @ 7,750 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
110 LB-FT @ 6,500 RPM |
Ducati Multistrada V4 S
Price: $29,995
If you look at the engine and suspension specs of the Multistrada V4, they read like a sport bike’s. That is a V4 engine with a counter-rotating crankshaft, paired to a standard six-speed gearbox with a two-way quickshifter. The suspension is electronic, semi-active, and preload can be adjusted remotely. Even the brakes are Brembo items with a radial master cylinder for the front. With 170 horsepower at your disposal, this is a motorcycle that rules every road and can truly give flying a run for its money.
|
Engine Type |
90° V4 |
|
Displacement |
1,158 cc |
|
Max Power |
170 HP @ 10,750 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
91 LB-FT @ 9,000 RPM |
BMW R 1300 RT Automatic
Price: $30,000
If the R 1300 GS is too big or high for your liking, then there is the R 1300 RT—a more traditional sport tourer. It has the exact same driveline as the GS, which means you also get the option of the automatic gearbox, but in a smaller, slightly lighter chassis with more engaging dynamics on road. It still runs the wishbone front suspension and single-sided swingarm at the rear with shaft drive, along with a full suite of electronics, which makes it pretty much the ultimate touring bike for real-world riding.
|
Engine Type |
Longitudinal boxer twin |
|
Displacement |
1,300 cc |
|
Max Power |
145 HP @ 7,750 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
110 LB-FT @ 6,500 RPM |
BMW K 1600 GTL
Price: $30,095
The K 1600 GTL is a full-dress tourer. That means BMW spares no expense, making it one of the most luxurious bikes it has ever made. Even by those standards, the GTL exceeds expectations. It has the world’s only inline six-cylinder engine in a motorcycle, paired with top-drawer standard features like self-leveling electronic suspension, cornering headlamps, keyless ignition, and even reverse assistance. Oddly though, BMW has left out the two-way quickshifter. Still, if you like riding around corners and still want your all-day comfort, the GTL will make long rides feel short.
|
Engine Type |
I6 |
|
Displacement |
1,649 cc |
|
Max Power |
160 HP @ 6,750 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
132.7 LB-FT @ 5,250 RPM |
Honda Gold Wing Tour DCT
Price: $30,500
The Gold Wing continues to be more dependable than any other luxury tourer. It sticks to the basics: a smooth engine with a lot of power and torque, a smooth transmission (especially when you opt for the automatic gearbox), and all the creature comforts that you need to feel luxury without going overboard. They thought about the little things as well; both the manual and the automatic offer assistance to move it around both forward and backward in a parking lot, and it has some unique features like a gyroscope-based GPS that will work even when you’re riding through a tunnel, and the option of adding, of all things, a CB radio.
|
Engine Type |
Longitudinal flat six |
|
Displacement |
1,833 cc |
|
Max Power |
124.7 HP @ 5,500 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
125.3 LB-FT @ 4,500 RPM |
Indian Pursuit Elite
Price: $44,999
The Pursuit is Indian’s biggest, baddest full-dress tourer, and the Pursuit Elite is the ultimate American V-twin touring bike. It essentially loads up the Pursuit Dark Horse with pretty much all the options available, so you get the biggest liquid-cooled production V-twin in America coupled with flagship electronics. They include warnings for tailgating, blind spot, rear collision, hill-hold control, linked brakes, and an electrically adjustable windscreen. It also has electronically adjustable Fox rear suspension. The audio system is maxed out as well, and the icing on top is the paint scheme with hand-painted accents.
|
Engine Type |
60° V-twin |
|
Displacement |
1,834 cc |
|
Max Power |
126 HP |
|
Max Torque |
133 LB-FT @ 3,600 RPM |
Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide Limited
Price: $51,999
The CVO Street Glide sits at the top of Harley’s touring range and, simply put, it’s the touring bike that dominates America’s longest highways. Not only has it got one of the most potent engines in the lineup with the Milwaukee-Eight 121 with variable valve timing, but it is also matched with inverted front forks, brakes with radial calipers at the front, and an electronics suite that is second to none. Meanwhile, the cockpit has a massive 12.3-inch TFT display with Bluetooth, electrically adjustable everything, heated grips and seats, and great cargo space via a new Tour-Pak top box.
|
Engine Type |
45° V-twin, VVT |
|
Displacement |
1,977 cc |
|
Max Power |
115 HP @ 4,500 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
139 LB-FT @ 3,000 RPM |
Sources: BMW USA, Harley-Davidson USA
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