10 Touring Bikes With The Longest Riding Range

Touring bikes are built to take you farther and longer than you thought was possible, and in comfort. To achieve this, they are equipped with cutting-edge technology in the engine, suspension, brakes, chassis, lighting, navigation…. But they can’t ignore the basics. Basics like a large, unstressed engine, because at the heart of the requirements of a tourer is the ability to haul a lot of weight up inclines without the engine screaming bloody murder.

A large engine will be thirsty for the most part, so traversing roads where gas stations will be scarce. Then, touring motorcycles are by definition fitted with large fuel tanks, both to feed the large engines, and to make sure you can go a long way on a single tank of fuel. This means that touring motorcycles are capable of some incredible figures on a single tank of gas. We’ve listed ten of them with the longest range, but to keep things within reason, we’ve limited the pool to motorcycles that you’d actually be capable of doing that mileage without a single stop. Or without fatigue setting in.

To ensure accuracy, the information compiled in this article was sourced from the respective manufacturers, as well as other authoritative sources. We’ve ordered them from least to most range to give the list some order.

10

Indian Roadmaster

Range: 236.5 miles

The Roadmaster has been in the headlines recently, as it has got a significant update with respect to its engine. However, the traditional Roadmaster remains powered by Indian’s largest engine. The Thunderstroke 116 is the quintessential tourer engine, a large-capacity, long-stroke narrow-angle V-twin with gobs of torque that offers a claimed 43 MPG. This, coupled with the large 5.5 gallon fuel tank, contributes to the Roadmaster Limited’s impressive-for-the-size-and-weight 236.5 mile tank range. It is also equipped with a full electronics suite and a giant 7-inch TFT touchscreen display flanked by easy-to-read analog dials on either side.

9

Honda Gold Wing Tour

Range: 244 miles

The Gold Wing celebrates a half-century of being one of the finest touring motorcycles in the world this year. It is surprisingly similar to the Roadmaster when it comes to claimed efficiency (43.6 MPG vs 43 MPG), fuel tank size (5.6 gallons to 5.5 gallons), for a range of 244 miles to the Indian’s 236.5 miles. They’re even priced within a few hundred dollars of each other. However, they couldn’t be more different when it comes to the driveline.

The Gold Wing is powered by a liquid-cooled flat six engine that has the option of the world’s first and only seven-speed DCT dual-clutch automatic gearbox feeding the rear wheel through a driveshaft. This is definitely one of the most luxurious tourers you can have, and the legendary refinement and reliability associated with the badge are a given. Prices run through $29,700 for the DCT and $33,500 for the airbag-equipped DCT model.

8

Harley-Davidson Ultra Limited

Range: 258 miles

The Ultra Limited will soon make way for the Street Glide Ultra, but for now, it remains on sale until stocks last. It’s a pity, because it remains one of Harley’s finest tourers, powered by one of its most high-tech engines, the Twin Cooled Milwaukee Eight 114. This engine is good for 43 MPG in the Ultra Limited, and with 6 gallons of gas available, should net you 258 miles. Of course, the Ultra Limited will offer a full range of electronics, goodies like an audio system, and the passenger has a seat that rivals the rider’s for comfort and opulence!

7

Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide ST

Range: 264 miles

The CVO Road Glide ST sits pretty at the top of the Harley-Davidson motorcycles with an eye-watering price of $45,000. It is not just a tourer, but a performance motorcycle in its class – a race-modified version races in the King Of The Bagger series. In street form, this engine manages 44 MPG. With a 6-gallon tank, that should be good for 264 miles if you manage to restrain your right wrist, which will take as much self-control as a monk. Being top of the Harley heap, you will have all the best creature comforts and electronic nannies that money can buy.

6

Harley-Davidson Street Glide/Road Glide

Range: 264 miles

It’s strange that the Street Glide and Road Glide have the exact same figures as the CVO Road Glide ST of 44 MPG. They are powered by a very different engine, the Milwaukee-Eight 117, which has oil cooling for its heads. The smaller displacement and lower output probably contribute to the high efficiency figure, which means you get a 264 mile tank range, despite all the weight that they invariably lug around as full-dress tourers.

5

Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide/ CVO Road Glide

Range: 270 miles

This 270-mile range from the CVO Glide twins is commendable. This is, after all, Harley-Davidson’s largest engine on sale today. The variable valve timing helps contribute a broad torque spread, meaning lower throttle openings and lower revs for a given situation. This means 45 miles per gallon, and the 6-gallon tank means you can go a fair distance without stopping. You won’t need to, once you see the creature comforts and electronic nannies that are both standard and optional on the CVO Street Glide and CVO Road Glide.

4

Kawasaki Vulcan 900 LT

Range: 291 miles

The Vulcan 900 is the surprise entrant here; not just because of displacement, but because it is at least a few generations older than the rest of the machinery here. It has remained essentially unchanged in the 19 years since its launch, and yet its liquid cooled V-twin’s 55 MPG and large-ish 5.3 gallon fuel tank combine for a range just shy of 300 miles. It is modern in other ways, however. The suspension is adjustable for preload at both ends, and the engine merely looks air cooled to meet the Fat Boy-type aesthetic. We would love to see how much more Kawasaki could eke out of a tank of gas if a sixth speed was added to the gearbox!

3

BMW K 1600 GT

Range: 318 miles

The BMW K 1600 GT is powered by one of only three six-cylinder engines available in motorcycles today. And at 160 horsepower, it is the most powerful production six-pot on sale today. So many cylinders, so much power… that’s not a recipe for great efficiency, and the K 1600 GT is thirsty, at under 40 MPG. However, a massive tank gives it a 318-mile range. If you’re worried about 8 gallons of gas sloshing about at the top of your K 1600, well, BMW has thought about it already. The engine is canted forward at 55 degrees, so the fuel tank sits low in the chassis, and the effect a full tank has on handling is minimal.

2

BMW R 18 B

Range: 365 miles

Another BMW presents itself on our list, this time with a third of the cylinders. We’re talking about the R 18. The large boxer twin engine makes 120 pound-feet at a low 3,000 RPM, which no doubt contributes to its 50 MPG fuel efficiency figure. Couple that with a 7.3-gallon tank for a 365-mile range. BMW also offers a full-dress tourer variant in the R 18 Transcontinental, but in all forms the R 18 offers a similar experience. That of a massive BMW cruiser with all the bells and whistles possible, and its own distinctive touches like the exposed driveshaft.

1

BMW R 1250 RT

Range: 376 miles

The R 1250 RT is the only sport tourer on this list, and it slots in right at the top, thanks to the fantastic 1,254 cc boxer twin engine that also has done duty in the R 1250 GS adventure bike. In the R 1250 RT, it possesses variable valve timing on the intake valve for a lot of torque across the rev range. The peak power is still quite high up compared to the other models on this list, though.

Still, 49.5 MPG and 7.6 gallons means you can go a staggering 376 miles before needing fuel again. Befitting its premium status, you get everything except the kitchen sink with the R 1250 RT, including the Telelever front suspension, single-sided swingarm, optional electronic suspension, radar-guided adaptive cruise control, and a humongous 10.25-inch TFT color screen. An under $20,000 starting MSRP is the icing on the cake.