10 Motorcycles Built For Riders Who Want It All

Every relationship is a compromise, because there is no perfect person. Owning a motorcycle is much the same; if you want a motorcycle that will do everything for you, you need to look at how you’ll feel about it on the bad days. So the bike cannot afford to be a one-trick pony. Lucky for us consumers, motorcycles are getting more versatile than ever today.

Sport bikes are becoming more comfortable, tourers are getting more enjoyable to ride quickly, and large bikes are getting rideable to the point where you could recommend some of them to a beginner. And they’re all taking cognizance of the fact that nobody likes a large maintenance bill. We’ve come up with a list of ten motorcycles spread across segments, including adventure bikes, cruisers, and even electric, that are built for riders who want it all.

To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from authoritative sources, such as BMW Motorrad, Yamaha Motorsports, and Harley-Davidson USA.

KTM 390 Enduro R

Price: $5,499

The 390 Enduro R is the first of a completely new type of small dual sport bike. It shares components with other KTMs, which means it can offer features previously unheard of at the price. Like the TFT color screen, which shows what ride mode you’ve selected. You can also spec it with a two-way quickshifter, and the power and gearing will allow you to cover highway miles with relative ease. The six-axis IMU also offers safety at a price, making it a great value.

Moto Morini Calibro 700

Price: $5,999

The Calibro 700 is for those who want value and performance at a low price. You can get a V-twin cruiser at the same price in the form of the Benda Chinchilla 500, but its horsepower figure is nowhere near the Calibro’s 69 horsepower. The Moto Morini also uses a 270-degree crank, so its liquid-cooled, fuel-injected engine isn’t short on torque either. The six-speed gearbox has a slipper clutch, and a Gates carbon belt transfers power to the wheel. ABS is standard.

Royal Enfield Himalayan 450

Price: $5,999

For the same price as the Calibro 700, the Himalayan 450 makes a good case for itself as an adventure bike alternative. It is frugal enough to be a daily bike, but it is sturdy and has enough performance to deal with a long trip as well. Royal Enfield has developed its first liquid-cooled engine, and it gets a by-wire throttle with ride modes. ABS is standard and can be switched off at the rear. Showa provides the suspension, with separate function front forks. It might have newfound manners on tarmac, but it still retains the ruggedness and off-road ability of the original Himalayan.

Yamaha YZF-R9

Price: $12,499

Sport bikes have become more well-rounded products of late, letting go of their single-minded racetrack focus for a wider range of abilities. The YZF-R9 is one of the best examples of this, offering enough performance for a track, while still being practical enough to be ridden for the commute. At the heart of the R9 is the CP3 crossplane inline three engine, supported by features like a six-axis IMU, ride modes, various electronics like engine brake control and slide control, and wings for downforce.

Yamaha Tracer 9 GT

Price: $12,599

The Tracer 9 uses the same driveline as the YZF-R9, and it has the same playful nature as the sport bike despite being a sport tourer. In fact, some might find it a little too aggressive as a tourer because of the identical engine tune. Still, if you like bombing about on a trip, you can’t get any better than this because Yamaha has left all the electronics in as well, including the slide control. You get a 7-inch TFT color screen, customizable ride modes, and standard luggage as well at the price.

Stark Varg EX

Price: $12,990

The Varg EX is part of the new wave of electric dual sport motorcycles. There’s a liquid-cooled motor, and it generates 80 horsepower and 760 pound-feet of torque. No, that isn’t an error. It also sports fully adjustable KYB suspension, Brembo brakes, IP69K waterproofing and shock resistance, and over-the-air updates. You can run for a maximum of six hours on a single charge, as per Stark.

Harley-Davidson Street Bob

Price: $15,999

We go from a futuristic electric dual sport to a cruiser that is firmly rooted in the past: the Street Bob’s recent price correction has made it quite a good value for money. You get the traditional Harley cruiser frame powered by the most relaxed tune of the Milwaukee Eight 117. It also sports all-LED lighting, cruise control, and forks by suspension specialist Showa. Maybe the best thing about the Street Bob, besides its value, is the fact that the potential for customization is limitless.

BMW M 1000 R

Price: $21,695

We jump right back to a futuristic motorcycle: the M 1000 R is probably the world’s most advanced ICE naked bike. It has a full 205 horsepower, so you’d better have a strong neck if you want one of these! There is a massively long list of standard features, some of which are keyless ignition, cruise control, and automatic suspension damping adjustment. Optional equipment includes carbon fiber wheels, the passenger package, a titanium muffler downpipe, and an anti-theft alarm, among other things.

Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory

Price: $26,499

The RSV4 1100 Factory is pretty much all the sport bike you’ll ever need. First, there’s the engine with a stonking 220 horsepower. Then there’s the chassis: we know it’s a little long in the tooth now, but you can still move the swingarm pivot point to suit your preferences, and the APRC electronics suite has been turned up to 11. There is an electronic Öhlins steering damper, lap trigger, pit lane speed limiter, adaptive and predictive wheelie control, and all the electronics can be calibrated to each corner of a racetrack!

Harley-Davidson Street Glide

Price: $27,749

The Street Glide is the ‘one size fits all’ if you want a traditional touring bike. It has a large V-twin in the form of the Milwaukee Eight 117, with a six-speed gearbox and belt drive. It has the fully faired look, with hard luggage and floorboards. Modern conveniences like a six-axis IMU and a massive 12.3-inch TFT touchscreen display also come standard. Of course, the accessories list is long and tempting, too!