We know what you’re wondering: a luxury motorcycle under $15,000 isn’t possible. And you’re right to an extent. Luxury motorcycles usually cost a bomb, especially because the mind instantly starts thinking of handmade Ducatis and MV Agustas. But luxury doesn’t just depend on the brand or how exotic the motorcycle is. It can also mean a machine that spoils you with a variety of amenities left, right, and center.
When you think that way, $15,000 suddenly seems like a large enough amount to source some impressively luxurious motorcycles. Among these, touring bikes inevitably offer the most amenities in this aspect. They’re designed to keep you comfortable for long miles and offer usable performance to lug around all that heft at the same time. We’ve also taken into account the official accessories on offer, since they can make your life on the bike even more luxurious. Let’s dive in.
The Yamaha Tracer 9 Is The Best Luxury Motorcycle Under $15,000 In 2025
We surprisingly had plenty of bikes to research on, and our pick post all that is the Yamaha Tracer 9. Why, you ask? Well, because it offers the best blend of everything. You get a proven triple-cylinder engine with oodles of torque and horsepower, along with proven long-term reliability. This is topped with an army of modern features, including massive integrated and color-matched saddlebags.
Last but not least, its MSRP is set at a competitive $12,599, which leaves ample budget for personalization in the $15,000 total sum. As an example, you can get Yamaha’s official two-way quickshifter and heated grips for about $400. That still leaves $2,000 to play with—enough to get an exhaust, Yamaha’s touring windshield, and a set of touring seats.
In a close second, we have the Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+. It trumps the Yamaha in terms of performance by offering a Gixxer-derived inline-four engine with 150 horsepower. You also get a quickshifter as standard here, along with saddlebags, a six-axis IMU, and some other usable features. But there are two big things to keep in mind.
First, it sells for $14,399, which means you’re sort of maxing out the budget here with very little room for personalization. Second, the GT+ has a less sophisticated electronics package, and it has had no notable updates in half a decade now. That helps with its reliability, but also means you’re not getting a dated package compared to the comparatively more up-to-date Tracer 9.
Last but not least is the CFMoto Ibex 800 E. This gets a shoutout for being one of the most loaded bikes around the $10,000 mark. Not only do you get bits like a humongous TFT instrument cluster, but CFMoto has somehow thrown in a rear radar here as well. However, there are a few worrisome points. For instance, the KTM-sourced engine isn’t the most reliable out there, you don’t get saddlebags here, and performance is simply a step below both aforementioned bikes.
The Yamaha Tracer 9 Comes Loaded With Several Niceties As Standard
Diving deeper, it’s only fair we tell you how the Tracer 9 spoils you first. The cockpit comprises a seven-inch TFT instrument cluster with smartphone connectivity and three display modes. This display is also how you toggle through all the electronic aids. Speaking of which, you get five riding modes (three preset, two rider-specific), four power modes, four wheelie control settings, four traction control settings, four slide control settings, and cornering ABS. You can also turn everything off. There’s no quickshifter, however, so do budget in an extra $200 for that.
A Handful Of Creature Comforts Sweetens The Pot
Then there are the creature comforts. You get two sizable saddlebags as standard, both of which can carry a full-sized helmet each. This is topped with a cubby storage for your smartphone, which also has a USB Type-C port inside. The lighting is all-LED, meanwhile. Here, the turn signals have a quick, continuous, and self-cancelling function, while the headlight has a cornering function.
The Yamaha Tracer 9 Rides On Adjustable KYB Suspension
Coming to the underpinnings, Yamaha has looped in the specialists at KYB here. You get 41 mm USD forks at the front and a monoshock at the rear, both of which offer manual adjustability. They attach to 17-inch cast alloy wheels, shod with road-biased rubber. The centerpiece, meanwhile, is the aluminum deltabox chassis. This, along with the aluminum subframe, ensures a curb weight of 483 pounds. That’s 10 down on the GSX-S1000GT+.
Accessibility Runs High On The Tracer 9
The Tracer 9 has balanced ergonomics in a typical crossover fashion. Your tushy goes on a slightly tall 33.3-inch seat, while the feet rest on mid-set footpegs. The wide, tubular handlebars round things off. Once on, you’ll also appreciate the adjustable windscreen and handguards to keep wind blast in check.
Yamaha’s Proven Inline-Triple Engine Powers The Tracer 9
Finally, there’s the powerhouse. This is an 889cc, triple-cylinder powerhouse, good for 117 horsepower and 68.6 pound-feet. All that oomph reaches the wheel via a six-speed transmission driven by a chain. Interestingly, Yamaha sells an optional automatic transmission for the Tracer overseas, but that’s not available in the US yet. If it were, we think it’d add even more luxury and comfort to the tourer.
The Total Tank Range Is Over 230 Miles
The engine has impressive performance, but it also offers decent efficiency. Yamaha claims you can eke out an average of 48 miles per gallon. Add to that its five-gallon tank capacity, and you have a theoretical range of 240 miles. If you ride sanely, you might just see over 250 miles.