10 Perfect Touring Motorcycles That Are Ultimate Choices For A One-Bike Garage

The motorcycle market has changed significantly over the past few years. With such a high demand for versatile motorcycles that can fulfill several roles, more specialized bikes take a back seat. In the touring class, this is most accurately represented by the influx of middleweight sport-tourers.

This middleweight class has seen significant growth, and there is now a sport-tourer that will appeal to just about every kind of rider. While there is undoubtedly still a place for more specialized motorcycles, they don’t often work as a one-bike garage. If you are in a position where you only have enough space for one motorcycle in your life, it is well worth considering one of these bikes.

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 Kawasaki USA, Honda, and Yamaha Motorsports. The motorcycles on this list are rated according to MSRP.

BMW S 1000 XR

MSRP: $17,995

If your “one-bike garage” needs to handle the odd track day, we can scarcely think of a better option than the S 1000 XR. It offers a comprehensive electronics suite as well as all the modern comfort features we have come to expect from a modern motorcycle. Oh, and a 170-horsepower superbike engine! It is still light enough to use during the week, although that inline-four will get a little hot in traffic.

Specifications

Yamaha Tracer 9

MSRP: $12,599

The Tracer 9 is a somewhat deceptive bike in the sense that it is not the most exciting-looking motorcycle. Beneath its decidedly gray exterior lies the CP3 engine. An engine that Yamaha now puts in the spiritual successor to the legendary R6 supersport. So you can be sure that once you get the revs up a little, this is a motorcycle that will spring to life. It also offers a long list of great comfort features, and even with all those features, it is still relatively light.

Specifications

Triumph Tiger Sport 800

MSRP: $12,495

Only a handful of motorcycles got a brand-new engine this year, and this is one of them. Its frame is from the 660, albeit heavily modified to accommodate the new triple, so not much weight has been added to the platform. As a result, the power-to-weight ratio is exceptional, and so is the value proposition when you factor in the comprehensive features list.

Specifications

BMW F 900 XR

MSRP: $11,995

Compared to the aforementioned S 1000 XR, this represents the more pragmatic choice. While it might be the more budget-oriented option, it still offers the same BMW build quality and all the modern features you might need. It will also be a far more effective commuter, thanks to its more efficient parallel-twin.

Specifications

Honda NT1100

MSRP: $11,899

This might be one of the most interesting additions to the touring segment. It is not necessarily the most exciting motorcycle, per se, but the value proposition Honda has put together is quite exceptional. Giving it DCT transmission as standard fitment was a stroke of genius, and is just one of many features you will find on the NT1100. With a dry weight of 547 pounds, it is a little heavy for commuting, but for some, that might be a price worth paying for the added touring comfort.

Specifications

Kawasaki Versys 650 LT ABS

MSRP: $10,099

Not long ago, this was pretty much the only middleweight touring bike on the market. How times have changed. In an effort to combat all the competition, Kawasaki has thrown pretty much every conceivable feature at the platform. In some respects, this has had an adverse effect on the overall value proposition, thanks to the fact that it is now more expensive than its direct competitor.

Specifications

Triumph Tiger Sport 660

MSRP: $9,695

For the last few years, this has been a major thorn in the flesh of the Versys. This year, Triumph added even more value to the platform by giving it a quickshifter and cruise control. At this price point, it resembles fantastic value, with few motorcycles offering anything close to the balance between specification and performance the Tiger Sport 660 is able to achieve.

Specifications

Honda NC750X

MSRP: $9,499

Out of all the versatile touring options, we feel that this might be the most city-friendly. The NC750X actually runs on a maxi-scooter platform, and as a result, the engine lies flat in the chassis. But, instead of a traditional scooter seat, Honda added loads of built-in storage, effectively adding a frunk to the bike. A recent refresh also brought it bang up to date in terms of design and specification.

Specifications

Moto Morini Calibro 700 Bagger

MSRP: $6,799

Chinese bikes have come a long way, but in some respects, they also still have a long way to go. The Calibro 700 Bagger sums this up pretty well as it offers some great features, but still misses the mark in terms of overall build quality. Mechanical reliability won’t be much of an issue thanks to its reworked Kawasaki engine, and at this price, we can certainly forgive it for being a little rough around the edges.

Specifications

Suzuki SV-7GX

MSRP: N/A

Although there will be some that dismiss this model out of hand, our love for the SV650 platform runs deep. To see it reinvented as a lightweight tourer might actually prove to be a stroke of genius. Suzuki has done this type of thing before – think GSX-S1000GT+ – and what it brings to the table is unrivaled value. If this comes in at under $10k, it is worth waiting for.

Specifications