10 All-Rounder Bikes That Balance Utility, Comfort, And Fun

The correct number of motorcycles to have is a debatable thing, but the answer tends to be ‘as many as you can afford’. However, sometimes budget or parking space can be a limitation. Or merely the amount of time you have to go riding. There is also something immensely satisfying about a motorcycle that can handle anything you demand of it. Whether that means scything through traffic on the way to work, blasting along a mountain road, or moseying over to the next town at a relaxed pace.

Finding a motorcycle that can do it all isn’t too difficult today, with all the options available. All you need to do is decide on the kind of riding you’re most likely to enjoy, then look for a motorcycle, whether an adventure bike or tourer, that will do that effectively. We have listed ten such all-rounder bikes that balance utility, comfort, and fun!

Kawasaki Vulcan S

Price: $7,649

The Vulcan S is a great example of the kind of bike that can cover all bases. It might be a cruiser, but it is based on a naked bike and has the trellis frame and engine from it. As such, it is as comfy as a cruiser, but enjoys corners as well. The driveline is reliable and reasonably powerful as well. ABS is an option. It just needs the TFT display from its siblings to make it a complete machine.

Honda Transalp

Price: $9,999

The Transalp is a great value buy, because for under $10,000, you get an adventure bike that is essentially a tourer. And it can handle off-road situations as well. It’s got a great power figure, a two-way quickshifter is now standard, as is a 5-inch TFT display with Bluetooth and navigation. It also has switchable traction control and ABS, for when you want to play in the dirt. The assist and slipper clutch helps with reducing left-hand fatigue in traffic.

Honda CB1000 Hornet SP

Price: $10,999

The CB1000 Hornet SP is one of the true bargains available today. Sure, it gets a lower state of tune for the US market, but you still get a liter inline four engine with an assist and slipper clutch and a two-way quickshifter. You also get some great chassis components like Showa SFF-BP forks, a race-spec Öhlins TTX36 rear shock, and Brembo brakes with a radial master cylinder for the front!

Harley-Davidson Nightster Special

Price: $12,499

The Nightster is a great value buy, but if you can throw in the extra $2,500, the Nightster Special is a much better all-around bike. It gets the pillion seat and pegs as standard, tire pressure monitoring, and a circular 4-inch TFT display. The wheel design is also different, and the paint options are extremely good-looking. Its display gives you access to Bluetooth and navigation, which makes visiting new places infinitely easier. Of course, you get the powerful Revolution Max 975T engine with a six-speed gearbox as well.

Yamaha Tracer 9 GT+

Price: $12,599

The Tracer 9 GT always ends up on lists like these because it is a genuinely fun motorcycle. It is also a tourer, which means it is comfortable. The footpegs might be a little too aggressive for an all-day ride, but that only means that there is an amazing amount of fun to be had in the corners. You get a six-axis IMU, so there is cornering ABS and traction control, among other settings, to help. You’ll need it, too, because the CP3 crossplane engine assisted by the two-way quickshifter is always ready to play. The 7-inch TFT display has Bluetooth and navigation as standard.

Ducati Multistrada V2

Price: $16,595

The Multistrada V2 is an Italian-flavored Tracer 9. It has an identical displacement, but uses the traditional Ducati engine format. However, it has moved with the times and has valve springs and variable valve timing on the intake valves. This means much lower costs of ownership and longer periods before maintenance; all important things in a tourer. You also get the full premium experience, with a six-axis IMU, full electronics suite, and TFT display.

BMW S 1000 XR

Price: $17,995

If the Tracer 9 and Multistrada V2 aren’t enough for you, then you can get the S 1000 XR. It has the S 1000 RR’s engine but without the variable valve timing. Still, you do get more power than you’ll ever need, and a two-way quickshifter is an optional extra. You do get switchable ABS, cornering headlamps, and keyless ignition at that very attractive base price. You can always spec it up with BMW’s great accessories list, too.

BMW R 1300 GS

Price: $20,275

The default choice in the full-size adventure bike segment is so popular because it is so good at so many things. The R 1300 GS’s horizontally opposed twin cylinder engine now has variable valve timing on the intake valves, so the torque spread and power are better. You can spec it with an automated manual gearbox or two-way quickshifter if you don’t want to use the clutch or shift gears. And you get everything that makes the big GS an icon, including the electronic suspension unique to it, shaft drive, and a full electronics suite that makes it great off-road.

Indian Challenger PowerPlus

Price: $27,999

The Challenger PowerPlus might seem a little overpriced at first, but you have to remember that this is Indian we’re talking about. It offers a lot more features than the competition does. First, the PowerPlus is a wholly liquid-cooled engine, so you get consistent performance. You also get inverted front forks, electronically adjustable Fox rear suspension, and Brembo brakes. More control is provided by the six-axis IMU, cornering ABS, and traction control. Features like tire pressure monitoring, keyless ignition, a large TFT display, Bluetooth, and satellite navigation are standard, too.

Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide ST

Price: $44,999

The CVO Road Glide ST is ostensibly a tourer, but it has been fettled with the knowledge Harley-Davidson has gained from racing in the King Of The Baggers series. It gets a version of the Milwaukee Eight 121 engine that is focused on power for the best performance, Showa suspension with inverted front forks, Brembo brakes, and a six-axis IMU and Harley’s full electronics and safety suites. There might be bigger, badder racing-derived Harleys available, but the CVO Road Glide ST is the only one that comes across as a bargain.

Sources: Harley-Davidson USA, BMW USA