Any motorcyclist will tell you there’s nothing like experiencing the countryside aboard two wheels. But it could also be argued that any motorcycle, be it a Panigale V4 R or a Honda Trail125, can be used to that end, and to muddy the waters even more, the touring segment has continued to splinter into ever-more specialized segments. You got your sport-tourers, your big-boat luxury tourers, your adventure-tourers, your baggers, etc., etc., so here we’re just aiming to round up a couple of examples from each category.Although this list is just the tip of the iceberg, the good news is that today’s purpose-built tourers are more capable and better equipped for the long haul than ever, boasting modern features like ABS, traction control, and rider modes, and at the upper end, even more advanced systems such as adaptive cruise control, heated seats, electronically adjustable windscreens, plus turn-by-turn navigation systems, to name just a few. We didn’t have room for every possible model, so feel free to list your choices in the comments below.Long-Haul Luxury

2025 Honda Gold Wing Tour DCT 50th Anniversary | $30,200A perennial rider and magazine-editor favorite, the Honda Gold Wing has been soldiering on in one form or another for more than four decades. But today’s Gold Wing is a fully modern machine, and it’s received regular technological and mechanical updates that have helped keep it comfortably atop the long-haul category. For 2025, Honda has released the Gold Wing Tour 50th Anniversary edition in either Bordeaux Red Metallic or Eternal Gold. The only notable update from the previous year is that the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity is now wireless.Key attributes include a 1833cc flat six-cylinder engine good for 90 hp on our dyno, and an electronically adjustable double-wishbone fork, both of which contribute to an uncannily smooth power delivery and ultra-stable footing, even while fully leaned over. On the Gold Wing Tour DCT 50th Anniversary model, Honda’s Dual-Clutch Transmission will do the shifting for you, but for 2025 you can also choose from the Gold Wing DCT 50th Anniversary (auto shift, no top trunk), the Gold Wing Tour (with top trunk but no DCT), and the top-of-the-line Gold Wing Tour Airbag DCT 50th Anniversary, which adds an airbag to the auto shift and top trunk.All trims carry a full-color 7-inch TFT screen and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration, four ride modes, dual disc brakes with ABS, a 5.5-gallon tank, and LED lighting. Add an electrically adjustable windshield, keyless ignition, lockable luggage, cruise control, standard navigation, and even a low-speed reverse feature and it’s easy to see why the Wing is still a top choice for touring riders everywhere.

2025 BMW K 1600 GTL | $27,745Another six-cylinder example that rivals the Wing for smoothness and sophistication, BMW’s flagship K 1600 GTL mile-muncher has also made our Ten Best list more than once. Updated for Euro 5 emissions regs recently, the transverse six-cylinder mill pulls you along with a mighty 160 hp on tap, backed by a head-snapping peak torque of 133 lb.-ft. If those numbers aren’t impressive enough, check out the big K’s electronically adjustable suspension and an adjustable windscreen along with a huge 10.25-inch TFT color display with integrated navigation.You also get adaptive headlights, tire pressure monitoring, and programmable handlebar buttons, and standard equipment now includes engine-drag torque control and dynamic traction control aided by input from the six-axis IMU. The 7-gallon tank, BMW’s Partial Integral ABS, and five-level heated grips (and seat) go a long way toward keeping pilots comfortable and safe. Passengers won’t suffer either, as the K’s large top case is well padded with a backrest that extends all the way up, and combined storage equals 29.9 gallons.If you want the same 1649cc powerplant with fewer gizmos, look to the K 1600 GT (which skips the top case), the bagger-inspired K 1600 B, and the K 1600 Grand America, which shares the B’s subframe and adds a top case.Classic Touring Twins

2025 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Ultra | $30,749If you’re looking for the largest-displacement, top-case-equipped Harley-Davidson touring machine in the Grand American Touring lineup, the Street Glide Ultra is the bike. It is equipped with the powerful Milwaukee-Eight 117 engine, which cranked out 90.35 hp at 4530 rpm and 116.58 lb.-ft. of torque at 2840 rpm at the rear wheel the last time we had a standard Street Glide on our in-house dyno.The chassis features a pair of Showa outboard emulsion-technology shocks with remote hydraulic preload adjusters and 3 inches of rear-wheel travel. A 49mm dual-bending valve fork is used at the front and is home to a pair of axially mounted four-piston calipers. Cast aluminum wheels are mounted with a 130/60-19-inch front and 180/55-18-inch rear tires.In terms of touring amenities, the Street Glide Ultra gets a 4-inch-taller windscreen than the standard Street Glide and is said to further reduce helmet buffeting by 60%. The cockpit is designed for two-up, all-day comfort, with a plush passenger backrest with armrests. The King Tour-Pak top case is standard and when combined with the saddlebags provide 4.9 cubic feet of storage space. The lower fairings provide good protection and have adjustable air vents to control airflow to the cockpit.The dash is a huge 12.3-inch full-color display with Harley’s latest Skyline OS, it offers built-in navigation, and the ability to take and place calls, listen to music, and control helmet communicators. Cruise control is standard, as is Vehicle Hold Control.

2025 Indian Roadmaster PowerPlus Limited | $31,999For 2025, Indian is offering a brand-new 112ci (1834cc) variation of the PowerPlus engine in the Roadmaster as a $3000 option. Claimed output is 126 hp and 133 lb.-ft. of torque at 3600 rpm, an increase of 4 hp and 5 lb.-ft. of torque compared to the 108 version. This fully liquid-cooled engine has four valves per cylinder with a SOHC design. This is the same engine that won the 2024 MotoAmerica King of the Baggers race series.The Roadmaster’s chassis features an inverted fork with 5.1 inches of travel and a single rear shock with 4.5 in. of travel and electronic preload adjustment. Stopping this 937-pound machine are a pair of Brembo four-piston calipers pinching 320mm discs in the front. Included with the 112 version of the bike is the Rider Assist package that encompasses electronic-linked braking and hill-hold control. The bike uses a six-axis IMU for lean-sensitive ABS and traction control. Also new for 2025 is the rear-facing radar that enables blind-spot detection, tailgate warning, and flashes the rear character lights to drivers as a rear-collision warning.This bike is all about long-distance touring comfort. Upfront the large frame-mounted fairing houses an electronically adjustable windscreen, while the lower fairing has vents that allow the airflow to be tailored to preference depending on the conditions. Heated seats for rider and passenger can be independently adjusted, while the bike comes standard with heated grips. The top box and side cases combine for 36 gallons of storage, and they are remote lockable with the fob. The 7-inch full-color display is managed by Ride Command and features include turn-by-turn navigation and Bluetooth connectivity. The PowerBand audio system has six 100-watt speakers and a dynamic equalizer.The Sporty Tourers

2025 Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX SE ABS | $29,100There is no question that the Ninja H2 SX SE falls into the “Sport-touring” class (capital “S,” small “t”), and can be equipped with optional hard bags that help make that argument. The hypersport Ninja is all about power, which it brings courtesy of a supercharged 998cc inline four-cylinder engine tuned here to deliver thrust in the low to midrange—though it did pull a whopping 166.1 hp on our dyno. The sub-600-pound H2 also has provisions for a passenger, so your adrenaline-loving partner can share in pulling G’s as you shoot out of corners.The H2 is packed with some of the most advanced rider tech you’ll find on a bike today, with four rider modes, traction control, electronically controlled (and fully adjustable) suspension, an Advanced Rider Assist System (ARAS) with multiple radars, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning system and blind-spot detection, and Auto Hi-Beam (AHB). If you’re into testing every corner of the canyon surrounded by the latest high tech, the sporty H2 is likely right up your alley.But if you don’t need all that wizardry, the $19,499 Versys 1000 SE LT is a more affordable, upright, street-oriented adventure option, and hard bags are included.

2025 Yamaha Tracer 9 | $12,599For 2025, Yamaha has decided to sell just one entry-level variation of the Tracer 9, which replaces the Tracer 9 GT+ that won a Ten Best in 2024. While the 2024 model was a technological tour-de-force, the Tracer 9 has been scaled back a bit in terms of electronic wizardry, which has lowered the price by almost $4000. This year the bike loses all of the radar features (Adaptive Cruise Control and Radar-linked Unified Brake System), the semi-active suspension, heated grips, QSS (quickshifter), navigation, and the backlit handlebar switches.The one thing that we’ve always loved about this model is the 890cc CP3 inline-three engine. In the Tracer 9′s light overall package, this engine provides exceptional balance, delivering really good performance throughout the rev range. This year the chassis received updates in the form of a new aluminum Deltabox frame, and the now manually adjustable suspension includes a 41mm KYB inverted fork and single rear shock. A larger manually adjustable windscreen, new handlebar angle, new seat, and revised rider triangle improve long-distance comfort.A new 7-inch TFT display offers three available visual themes, a smartphone storage compartment, and USB-C plug. There is also Yamaha’s new Variable Speed Limiter that allows the rider to police themselves by presetting a speed that they don’t want to unintentionally exceed. The Tracer 9 does come standard with cruise control, but as mentioned isn’t the radar-enabled adaptive setup that we loved on the GT+.

2025 Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+ | $14,299Since we’re talking value, you might find even more of it on Suzuki’s sole sport-tourer. It may not have the high-zoot IMU or 200-hp (claimed, not CW dyno figure) rating of the H2, but the 2025 GSX-S1000GT+ does come with hard bags as standard equipment. It may not have the adjustable windshield or huge TFT display, but it is still a lightweight (at under 500 pounds claimed weight) among touring machines.OK, so those other tourers win the feature-set wars, but for bang for the buck, it’s hard to find fault with the Suzuki’s overall competence, especially considering the price tag. For under $15K, you get the immortal, race-bred GSX-R1000-based K5 engine (updated for modern duty) with a nimble, lightweight chassis on a true sport-touring bike. The last time we had a GT+ on the dyno it made 135 hp at 10,360 rpm and 73.15 lb.-ft. of torque at 9190 rpm. All the basic touring goodies are here, including an 999cc DOHC engine tuned to be more low-and-midrange accessible, three ride modes, cruise control, traction control, and a fully adjustable inverted fork carrying dual, ABS-equipped four-piston front disc brakes.Other welcome bits include those 25.7-liter integrated side cases and two-up capability via a more plush passenger seat, while the full-color 6.5-inch TFT panel displays basic bike info as well as giving you access to contacts, maps, music, and the phone via Suzuki’s mySPIN app.Adventuring On

2025 Ducati Multistrada V2 | $15,995Call it a street-oriented adventure-tourer or sport-tourer, it doesn’t matter, but load this bike up with the optional sidecases ($931) and you have one of the most enjoyable machines for long, fast days in the saddle. For 2025 the Multistrada V2 not only gets a completely new V-twin engine that is a radical departure from the units before it, but it also gets a completely new chassis that has very little in common with the previous models.The engine in the Multistrada V2 is a radical departure from previous midsize Ducati units as it no longer uses a desmodromic valvetrain. The new engine now displaces 890cc with 96 x 61.5mm bore and stroke dimensions. The Multistrada is rated at a claimed 115 hp at 10,750 rpm with 68 lb.-ft. of peak torque at 8250. But more importantly is how the power is delivered for this application. Ducati claims that 70% of torque is available from just 3,000 rpm and 80% between 3500 and 11,000 rpm.As “radical” as the new engine is for Ducati, the chassis is an equally huge departure from the 2024 model. Gone is the steel-trellis main frame, now replaced by an aluminum monocoque unit to which attaches a double-sided swingarm. Combined with the new engine’s weight savings, this design greatly contributes to the bike’s overall drop of 39.7 pounds (without fuel). The S models come standard with Ducati’s Skyhook semi-active suspension system with a 45mm Marzocchi inverted fork monoshock. The base model gets manually adjustable units. Standard on both models are 19-inch front and 17-inch rear cast aluminum wheels mounted with Pirelli Scorpion Trail II tires in 120/70-19 and 170/60-17 sizes. A pair of radial-mount Brembo four-piston calipers and 320mm discs are used at the front, while a twin-piston caliper and 265mm disc are used out back.A full suite of electronic rider aids has all of the features that one would expect including lean-sensitive traction control and ABS, while the rider can select multiple modes with preset values for the rider aids.

2024 Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Explorer | $23,795When Triumph was developing the Tiger 1200 GT models, it admitted that BMW’s open-class GS models were the target. And if you look at the bikes on a spec-for-spec basis, the Tiger 1200 GT Explorer is quite competitively priced. Of the four available models, the GT Explorer fits into the touring category the best, with cast-aluminum wheels in 19-inch front and 18-inch rear sizes and more street-oriented tires, Showa semi-active suspension and almost all the features you need for the long haul.The 147 hp, 1,160cc triple-cylinder provides a broad spread of power, while shaft-final drive is reliable and virtually maintenance free. The GT Explorer comes standard with a whole laundry list of features including: blind-spot radar, cruise control, Triumph shift assist, hill hold, five riding modes, tire pressure monitoring system, Adaptive Cornering Lighting, a 7-inch TFT instrument panel with My Triumph Connectivity System.The one thing that the bike doesn’t come standard with is luggage, though it is offered as an accessory for around $1000. For those who want a more dirtworthy version of the big Triumph, there is also the Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer ($24,895) with a 21-inch front/18-inch rear tire combo, or the Tiger 1200 Rally Pro ($22,995) with the same wheel/tire package.

2025 BMW R 1300 GS Adventure | $22,745 (base); $26,715 (as shown)Since 2001, with the original R 1150 GS Adventure, this variation of the standard model has always been the bike for those seeking extra long-distance travel capability, which makes it a touring machine in every sense. The goal remains the same for this fourth-generation R 1300 GS Adventure, which is based on the R 1300 GS that preceded it a year ago.A few key changes distinguishes the Adventure from the standard model, including: a larger 7.9-gallon fuel tank (up from 5), longer-travel suspension with 8.3 inches of travel at the front and 8.7 inches at the rear (compared to 7.5 and 7.9), and it’s the first BMW motorcycle to use the new optional Automated Shift Assistant, which offers automated clutch operation and the ability to ride in a fully automatic drive mode.The GSA gets the latest 1300cc boxer engine with 106.5 x 73mm bore and stroke dimensions and a claimed 145 hp at 7750 rpm and 110 lb.-ft. of peak torque arriving at 6500 rpm. Optimizing performance for partial-load and full-load situations is the variable cam timing ShiftCam technology.Like the engine, the chassis is completely new for 2025. At its core is a new steel-sheet main frame and a lattice subframe made from aluminum tubing and forged aluminum components. Hung fore and aft are the Evo Telelever front and Evo paralever rear suspension systems. The bike is equipped with the latest iteration of BMW’s Dynamic Suspension Adjustment (DSA). In terms of electronic features, even the base model has a massive suite of rider aids and features, but the buyer can pick and choose what packages meet their wants and needs.Like the Triumph above, the R 1300 GS Adventure doesn’t come standard with luggage, but there are multiple options in the accessory catalog on the aftermarket.