Touring motorcycles are frankly some of the best things you’ll ever encounter on two wheels. They have creature comforts that would otherwise rival a five-star hotel, have the ability to cruise at highway speeds all day, and be ready to go once again with another tank of gas, and they, quite simply, look cool. However, if you’re a serious touring rider, you’ll want a two-wheeled companion that can stand the rigors of continuous touring.
Tourers see varied terrain and weather, so the limits of reliability are tested. Getting yourself a tourer that is both reliable and yet not old school in a bad way is a fine line that has to be walked by the customer. Happily, there are products for all sorts out there today, and here are ten touring motorcycles built for riders who go far and often.
Models are listed in ascending order based on starting price, from lowest to highest.
Suzuki GSX-S1000GX
Price: $18,749
The Suzuki GSX-S1000GX is the crossover in the brand’s lineup. That means it has a comfortable rider triangle, and you can ride it all day. Heck, you can even take a pillion and luggage along.
It has liter sport bike components, which make it a lot of fun to ride – but it is also very reliable. With creature comforts like smart cruise control, electronic suspension, and a 6.5-inch TFT display, it definitely should be high on your list if you ride far and often.
|
Engine Type |
I4 |
|
Displacement |
999 cc |
|
Max Power |
152 HP @ 11,000 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
78.2 LB-FT @ 9,250 RPM |
BMW R 1300 RT
Price: $22,645
The R 1300 RT really doesn’t get enough love. This is a sport tourer in the traditional sense, but powered by the R 1300 GS engine. The result is a comfortable tourer that can also be hustled along at a surprising pace.
And just because it is quick doesn’t mean it isn’t luxurious; everything imaginable on a tourer is available here, including the self-leveling electronic suspension, automatic gearbox, and radar-based active cruise control.
|
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 R 18 Transcontinental
Price: $24,395
The R 18 Transcontinental is BMW’s contribution to the segment usually dominated by American full-dress tourers, and the Gold Wing. In typical BMW fashion, it marches to the beat of a different drummer, with its massive boxer engine, exposed shaft drive, and its ‘Rock’ and ‘Roll’ ride modes.
You’ll need to get a few options, like the reverse assist, hill start assist, and a locking gas cap. But the charm of a tourer as different as this, with things like the power reserve meter and the ‘Berlin Built’ signage, is unique.
|
Engine Type |
Longitudinal boxer twin |
|
Displacement |
1,802 cc |
|
Max Power |
91 HP @ 4,750 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
120 LB-FT @ 3,000 RPM |
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Harley-Davidson Street Glide
Price: $24,999
The 2026 Street Glide is a mostly cosmetic update, with new colorways and a few new options added to the list. It never needed any more performance, with the Milwaukee Eight 117 providing enough shove even for this 811-pound behemoth.
You’ll need to dip into the options list, because even a pillion seat isn’t available as standard at the price. Be judicial, though — it is quite possible to double the price of the Street Glide with the right set of options!
|
Engine |
45° V-twin |
|
Displacement |
1,917 cc |
|
Max Power |
105 HP @ 4,600 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
130 LB-FT @ 3,250 RPM |
Honda Gold Wing DCT
Price: $26,500
The Gold Wing just keeps rolling, more than half a century after it wowed the American public. In its current avatar, it has an updated engine, double wishbone front suspension, and, of course, the dual-clutch six-speed automatic gearbox.
The nice thing about the Gold Wing is that even at its base price of $25,500 (for non-DCT), you don’t need to add a single option to it – it is a luxurious, world-beating product right out of the box.
|
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 |
BMW K 1600 GTL
Price: $29,995
The K 1600 GTL is BMW’s cost-no-object tourer. It has a sporty bent of mind despite being a full-dress tourer, thanks to its massively powerful inline six-cylinder engine.
It also has all the premium features you’d imagine, like electronic suspension that levels automatically, cornering headlamps, reverse assist, and a massive 10.25-inch TFT display. The options list has a two-way quickshifter, keyless ignition, central locking, and armrests for the passenger.
|
Engine Type |
I6 |
|
Displacement |
1,649 cc |
|
Max Power |
160 HP @ 6,750 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
132.7 LB-FT @ 5,250 RPM |
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Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX SE
Price: $29,999
Kawasaki’s supercharged engine might be a decade old, but it still has no real equivalent on the market even today. Even the sport tourer makes just as much power as liter-class sport bikes, and it outdoes them handily on torque.
This being a premium sport tourer, the Ninja H2 SX SE is filled to the gills with features. On the list is semi-active electronic suspension, a two-way quickshifter, blind spot detection, forward collision warning, self-healing paint, a 6.5-inch TFT display, and our favorite to scare pillions, launch control!
|
Engine Type |
Supercharged I4 |
|
Displacement |
998 cc |
|
Max Power |
207 HP @ 10,000 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
101 LB-FT @ 8,500 RPM |
Harley-Davidson Road Glide Limited
Price: $32,999
The Road Glide Limited has made a comeback as a standalone model to the 2026 Harley-Davidson touring lineup. This is a full-dress tourer that is just a little short of being a CVO model. Hence, the ‘Limited’ trim. It also gets variable valve timing for the engine, which hasn’t made a big difference in the peak outputs but should offer a better torque curve and higher fuel efficiency.
Most creature comforts are standard, including the trunk, heated grips, and the chrome trim. However, expect to dip into the options list even at this price if you want to have blacked out components and anything other than the gray colorway.
|
Engine |
45° V-twin, VVT |
|
Displacement |
1,917 cc |
|
Max Power |
106 HP @ 4,600 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
131 LB-FT @ 3,250 RPM |
Indian Roadmaster Thunderstroke
Price: $34,999
The Roadmaster is one of the last old-school tourers, with its torque-heavy air-cooled Thunderstroke 116 engine with two valves per cylinder. It successfully marries it with tech like a by-wire throttle, ride modes, and rear cylinder deactivation.
You also get a seven-inch TFT screen, adaptive headlamp, electrically adjustable windscreen, and seats that aren’t just heated but cooled as well. Oh, and if you prefer a more modern driveline, the PowerPlus liquid-cooled engine is an option as well!
|
Engine Type |
49° V-twin |
|
Displacement |
1,890 cc |
|
Max Power |
92 HP |
|
Max Torque |
126 LB-FT @ 2,900 RPM |
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Harley-Davidson Street Glide 3 Limited
Price: $39,199
Harley has ignored its trikes for a while, but in 2025, it brought them bang up to date, and there are significant changes that make it a better product. One is the change to the Milwaukee Eight 117 with variable valve timing.
Another is that the front end has been brought into line with the 2025 model year’s looks. There is a new De Dion rear axle that allows for more suspension travel, more than doubling it at five inches – meaning comfort has taken a giant leap ahead.
|
Engine |
45° V-twin, VVT |
|
Displacement |
1,917 cc |
|
Max Power |
105 HP @ 4,600 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
129 LB-FT @ 3,250 RPM |
Sources: Various manufacturers