10 Touring Bikes That Quietly Redefine Comfort
One of the few things that has never gone out of fashion is traveling on a motorcycle. It is categorically not the easiest or most comfortable way to travel, but it is arguably the best way to travel. While planes, trains, and automobiles tend to cocoon the traveler, a motorcycle leaves you exposed to the elements.
On a motorcycle, you feel every mile of the journey, and that is not a bad thing at all. All this to say that comfort on a motorcycle is a relative thing. Too much comfort really can be a bad thing, as it will only serve to detract from the overall experience. But manufacturers have all more or less perfected this delicate balance, and offer a wide selection of touring bikes that all redefine comfort in their own unique way. There’s one great ADV alternative if you’re into that as well.
Honda Gold Wing Tour Automatic DCT
MSRP: $30,500
The previous generation Gold Wing’s wind protection was so effective that it felt more like a car than a motorcycle at certain speeds. As a result, Honda actually scaled back the wind protection on the current model in an effort to make the bike feel more like a motorcycle again.
The latest Gold Wing Tour still flies pretty close to the sun in terms of how comfortable it is, especially if you choose this automatic version. Not everyone is sold on Honda’s big push for automatic motorcycles, but there is no denying that they are here to stay, and if anything, make a degree of sense on a long-haul touring bike like this.
BMW K 1600 B
MSRP: $25,075
As far as baggers go, you don’t get much more luxurious than the K 1600 B. While the American contingent all make a good case, and will certainly appeal to those after the riding experience only a big-bore V-twin can offer, this inline-six is objectively better.
Pretty much every modern comfort feature is also present and accounted for, but with it being a BMW, there are always a few nice-to-have items left on the options list. Chief among which is the center stand, which will irk some buyers. But this is only a minor gripe, really.
2025 Kawasaki Versys 1100 SE LT
MSRP: $19,499
The Versys 1100 lives in a strange sort of limbo. While significantly cheaper than other manufacturers’ tier crossovers, it isn’t exactly that much more powerful than some of the mid-tier bikes.
Like any bike that is used for police work, it is exceptionally reliable, plenty fast, and has more storage than most riders will ever actually need. It is an excellent sport tourer, and makes the most sense for riders who plan on touring with their significant other.
2024 Yamaha FJR1300 ES
MSRP: $18,299
Yamaha has effectively discontinued the FJR, but you can still get your hands on the 2024 model while stocks last. Over the years it was in production, it evolved into one of the very best sport touring bikes, and even at this relatively steep price, is still well worth considering.
By modern standards, its LCD dash might look a little dated, but it still has electronic suspension, great wind protection, and color-coded hard cases as standard fitment. In terms of long-distance comfort, you just don’t get much better than this.
BMW R 1300 RS
MSRP: $17,095
While the boxer-twin will never be the smoothest of engines, the big advantage it has is how low down in the chassis it wears its weight. This makes any bike equipped with it feel a lot lighter than it really is once you get moving.
The R 1300 RS is no slouch, either, with 145 horsepower and a massive 110 pound-feet of torque going to the rear via shaft drive. Once again, you get a host of great electronic features, but BMW dangles the carrot by making the luggage optional.
Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello
MSRP: $15,990
The V100 Mandello is one of the most beautiful motorcycles currently on the market. It is also something of a niche offering largely thanks to its trademark transverse V-twin engine layout. Between that and its Italian name, people are a little put off by the model, but there is more to the bike than might initially meet the eye.
It is not just a pretty face, but a highly competent tourer which offers a comprehensive features list. The fact that its engine sits in the chassis like that facilitates better cooling, and allows for a smoother transition of power to the rear via shaft drive, just like the aforementioned Bavarian.
Kawasaki Versys 650 LT ABS
MSRP: $10,399
The Versys 650 proves that you simply don’t need any of the more expensive bikes. It is just as comfortable and just as capable as all the more expensive bikes on this list.
Unlike some of them, it also comes equipped with all the necessary touring fare. Unfortunately, it is a victim of its own versatility. It really is a Jack of all trades motorcycle, and just like the saying suggests, it is not a master of any.
Honda NC750X
MSRP: $9,499
We could have put the NT1100 here, and it certainly would not be out of place, but we wanted to include the NC750X for a reason. It is essentially a maxi-scooter loosely disguised as a regular motorcycle.
The beauty of this design is that you still get the added storage and convenience usually associated with big scoots. While bikes like this have not really caught on in North America, they are all more comfortable than most tourers, and more fun to ride than any of the haters would like to admit.
Suzuki SV-7GX
MSRP: $8,599
Out of all the “new” motorcycles out this year, none stand out quite like the SV-7GX. Suzuki has not reinvented the wheel with this light-duty tourer, but in our opinion, they are offering the kind of value other manufacturers simply can’t.
There is no denying that this V-twin is as old as the hills, but it is also as robust as those hills, and that much more fun to ride than any parallel-twin. Adding a bit of wind protection and some tech to what has always been a very comfortable naked bike platform is a stroke of genius.
ADV Alternative: Ducati Multistrada V4 S
MSRP: $29,995
For decades, Italian motorcycles were the butt of pretty much every reliability joke, and for good reason. While pretty, Ducati motorcycles were infamously unreliable machines, often seen stranded on the side of the road.
The Granturismo V4 has helped shift this perspective. Since it came into production, it has proven to be exceptionally reliable, without sacrificing power. The latest Multistrada is an exceptional sport touring bike that proves you can have your cake and eat it, as long as you are willing to pay for that kind of cake.
Sources: Various manufacturer websites
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