10 High-Dollar Touring Bikes That Are Worth Every Penny

With the rise of adventure bikes promising to take you further into more varied terrain, genuinely good touring bikes often fly under the radar. While modern adventure motorcycles are fantastic, all of them are–at their core–compromised. They are, by their very nature, do-it-all bikes, which means they will never be perfect for any one thing, especially touring. More and more motorcyclists fall into the trap of following the herd and never end up riding down that fire road. So if you know that you will stick to the “road more traveled”, there is a wide selection of fantastic touring bikes on the market. These 10 are without doubt the cream of the crop.

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10 KTM 1290 Super Duke GT

MSRP: $20,499

The old 1290 Super Duke became known as “the beast” thanks to KTM’s rather effective marketing. It isn’t just marketing though; it really is a beast, and adding some touring features to it transforms it into a genuinely fun touring bike with a split personality. If you need to settle in, you can also enjoy the heated grips, cruise control, and added wind protection. Then, with the flick of a switch, it will transform into that hooligan we all know and love. KTM calls it “Performance Mode”, but it might well be called “beast mode”.

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9 BMW M 1000 XR

MSRP: $24,295

BMW gave the already fun – and unusual – sports bike-on-stilts the “M” treatment. It is a sport touring bike with a hard edge to it and will get you to wherever you want to go in comfort, at hyper-speed. In many ways, this is what a real-world sports bike looks like, as it is practical enough to commute on, yet fast enough to lay waste to most of the sports bikes currently on the market.

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8 BMW K 1600 GT

MSRP: $24,295

This may sit below the more luxurious K 1600 GTL in BMW’s touring lineup, but we believe this is the better option. It offers a great balance between luxury and sportiness, two things that don’t often gel on a motorcycle. With a little less weight here, that buttery smooth inline-6 is able to come into its own and really get moving when and if the need arises.

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7 Harley-Davidson Street Glide

MSRP: $25,999

The Street Glide stands out as one of the more accessible motorcycles in Harley-Davidson’s rather extensive touring lineup. A big, powerful V-twin makes up the traditional element, and a thoroughly modern electronics package complements that well. The upright seating position and floorboards mean all-day comfort will be a given. If you are after a proper American bagger, this has to be near the top of your list.

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6 Ducati Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour

MSRP: $28,395

For all the Italian motorcycle fans out there, there is this more touring-focused Multi. Over the years, this V4 Multistrada has evolved into one of the most versatile platforms out there. With a full-on adventure bike at one side of the spectrum, and a pretty hard-core sport touring version at the other. Then this, slap bang in the middle. It offers the best of both worlds, with more than enough performance to put a smile on your face, and more than enough creature comforts to keep you comfortable over hundreds of miles.

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5 Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX SE

MSRP: $29,100

In our opinion, this is easily the best way to use that wonderful supercharged engine. The very idea of a supercharged motorcycle might seem ludicrous, but Kawasaki somehow pulled it off. With a truly unique power delivery, and all the usual touring amenities, it is one of the very best sport touring bikes you can buy. Considering what you get for your money here, it is also pretty hard to dispute the value proposition.

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4 Honda Gold Wing Tour DCT

MSRP: $29,700

The idea of a fully automatic motorcycle has become a lot more acceptable in recent times. It was frowned upon thing in the past and even laughed off as a gimmick. The idea is here to stay, though, and Honda currently offers the best version in the form of the DCT. It is also arguably best suited to the Gold Wing as it is where the added weight is felt the least, and only adds to the already luxury touring experience.

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3 Harley-Davidson Tri-Glide Ultra

MSRP: $37,999

A trike certainly won’t be for everyone, but, by design, it isn’t supposed to be. It is supposed to appeal to a niche market, and Harley-Davidson is the only mainstream manufacturer offering anything quite like this. Touring bikes are big and heavy. So if you have balance issues, this is certainly the way to go. It still offers the whole motorcycle experience, just with an extra wheel and more passenger comfort.

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2 Indian Roadmaster Elite

MSRP: $41,999

If money is no object, then this one might be for you. Indian came back from the grave to haunt Harley-Davidson, offering some much-needed competition in the “all-American” space. The Roadmaster Elite offers about as much luxury as might be expected at this price point (literally everything you can add to a motorcycle) with a dash of exclusivity too. With only 350 of these getting made, you will belong to a pretty elite club (sorry, couldn’t resist).

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1 Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide ST

MSRP: $42,999

Two major points of difference make the CVO stand out (no, not just the price). That high output 121 cubic inch engine is a very modern, sophisticated unit that won’t leave anyone in want of power. And, the fact that it comes with a fully adjustable suspension. On a touring bike, this is an underrated and often overlooked feature. The electronics are lovely and all, but being able to set the bike up correctly for your weight, the luggage, and possibly your passenger’s weight is critical. It can do more wonders when you’re attacking twisties on your road trip.

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