10 Cheapest Motorcycles For Long-Distance Touring

The reality of the matter is that you really can tour on any motorcycle. People have been taking regular motorcycles all over the place since the motorcycle was invented. You can take a mini-bike through Alaska if you want to, or take a scooter off-road. However, there are certain motorcycles that are just better suited to long-distance touring.

Today, we are spoiled for choice with an extensive selection of travel motorcycles to choose from. Logically, a touring bike is going to be the best bet, but there really is something for everyone, from adventure bikes to baggers. Every conceivable base is covered. For the sake of this list, we will be excluding single-cylinder bikes. Even the best singles still tend to vibrate a little too much for long rides.

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10

Honda NT1100

MSRP: $11,899

Arguably the best value-for-money touring bike on the market, the Honda NT1100 has come out swinging with an aggressive price tag. DCT transmission as standard fitment leads a long list of impressive touring features at a price point that other manufacturers are simply not able to match. It remains to be seen which of the other big four Japanese brands will blink first. Till then, this is a no-brainer.

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9

Honda Rebel 1100T DCT

MSRP: $11,499

For those looking for a bagger, few offer as much value as the Rebel 1100T. Obviously, this is not a V-twin, but with the right exhaust, this crossplane parallel-twin sounds fantastic. We included the DCT simply because we feel it adds a degree of comfort – and accessibility – for a very reasonable amount of money. For those who want to shift, the manual is even cheaper.

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8

Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic LT

MSRP: $10,399

If the heart wants a V-twin, the Vulcan 900 Classic LT is by far the most accessible bagger-type option. It is rather heavy on chrome, which obviously isn’t an issue if you like that type of thing, but it still looks and feels like a metric cruiser from the 90s. Again, not necessarily a bad thing, but the Honda just has it beat in every department except for the passenger seat. You can technically just tick an options box, but the compact nature of the Rebel doesn’t exactly lend itself to touring with a passenger.

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7

CFMoto Ibex 800 E

MSRP: $10,299

The KTM 790 Adventure might be conspicuous in its absence, but we feel this might well be the better touring option. Obviously, it has a near identical parallel-twin, making the best part of 100 horsepower, and with it a long list of potential issues. So far, these engines have proven to be less problematic in the CFMoto bikes, but only time will really tell if all the issues have really been resolved. The one thing we can say for certain is that you will have more luck with CFMoto honoring warranty claims than KTM, which remains right on the brink of bankruptcy.

Specifications

6

Kawasaki Versys 650 LT ABS

MSRP: $10,099

The only bad thing most people can say about the Versys 650 is that it is just a little boring. In reality, boring means reliable, comfortable, and well-equipped. It comes with very effective wind protection and good-quality hard cases. For experienced riders, the power might seem a little on the low side for a touring bike, but on the flip side, that also makes it more approachable for newer riders.

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5

Triumph Tiger Sport 660

MSRP: $9,695

It is somewhat surprising that Triumph is able to price this below the Versys. The reworked Daytona 675 triple has a good deal less power than it used to, but it is also a good deal more reliable, and yet still just as characterful. Making it a modular platform is the secret to the low price, and if you are in the market for a budget-friendly touring bike, we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this.

Specifications

4

Honda NC750X

MSRP: $9,499

Much like the aforementioned NT1100 and Rebel 1100T, a DCT transmission is a nice-to-have feature on a touring bike. The marginally lighter NC750X will also double up as a highly effective commuter when it isn’t doing touring duty. But, as much as it offers a good amount of torque low down, it will run out of puff a little higher up in the rev range.

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3

Suzuki V-Strom 650

MSRP: $9,299

For many years, this served as Suzuki’s only middleweight adventure bike. One look at it won’t exactly fill you with confidence that this is a motorcycle to be taken off-road, but it certainly can go off-road, and shines on it. The ADV’s relatively small 645cc V-twin is smooth and makes the bike way more fun to ride than it looks from the outside.

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2

Honda NX500

MSRP: $7,399

Yes, this is the fourth Honda. This is arguably the most overlooked of the lot, too. While it has the least power, it is a lot lighter and quite simply doesn’t need much more power. It is a very comfortable motorcycle that can handle the off-road with ease and can handle long stretches of highway riding better than most bigger, more powerful bikes.

Specifications

1

Moto Morini Calibro 700 Bagger

MSRP: $6,799

Although Moto Morini is very much a Chinese company, the Calibro 700 Bagger actually has a Kawasaki engine. An old Ninja 650 engine built under license (not a copy) which has been reworked ever so slightly makes this a mechanically reliable option. It also offers luggage and a passenger seat (not pictured) as standard fitment.

Specifications