10 Touring Bikes That Can Do It All

Modern touring bikes have evolved into some of the most versatile motorcycles in the industry. While we still have the ultra-luxurious full-dress tourers designed to get riders from one end of the highway to the other without breaking a sweat, that is not what we are talking about. Those motorcycles are purpose-built machines. The bikes we have in mind are a little lighter.

Every rider will have a different set of limitations, but if you are using your touring bike as a commuter, anything that weighs over 500 pounds starts getting a little cumbersome. The bikes on this list might be light, but they are not necessarily light on features. All the modern amenities will be present, but in some cases, the luggage is left on the options list.

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, Suzuki Cycles, and Yamaha Motorsports. The motorcycles on this list are rated according to MSRP.

BMW M 1000 XR

MSRP: $25,475

For those that want a comfortable commuter that can also be taken to the track, this would be our pick. While the base model is already pretty wild, the M 1000 XR turns everything up to 11. You get a proper 200-horsepower superbike that also offers genuine touring bike levels of comfort. Unfortunately, at this price, you could most likely just buy a proper 200-horsepower superbike and a commuter for the same combined cost!

Specifications

KTM 1290 Super Duke GT

MSRP: $20,499

While not quite as track-friendly as the BMW, slapping a set of fairings on one of the wildest hypernakeds is certainly a recipe for a seriously fun sport tourer. It isn’t just wind protection, either. It also has heated grips, cruise control, semi-active suspension, ride modes, and a big TFT dash that can connect to your smartphone. Suffice to say, this is a feature-rich motorcycle.

Specifications

Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+

MSRP: $14,299

Out of all the more sporty tourers, this is arguably the most balanced option. It might be an aging platform underneath, but the old K5 gixxer inline-4 is good for 150 horsepower in this more street-friendly tune. Suzuki also went to town in terms of features. The GT+ quite literally gets everything as standard fitment, including ABS, traction control, a quickshifter, and even luggage. It is a little heavy compared to the other bikes, though, and only just about sneaks under the 500-pound limit.

Specifications

Yamaha Tracer 9

MSRP: $12,599

It might be half the price of the aforementioned BMW, but it certainly isn’t half the motorcycle. The Tracer 9 is a deceptively advanced motorcycle with a host of great modern features, and while it isn’t radar-equipped, and doesn’t get the fancy suspension of the GT+, those nice-to-have features added to the cost of the bike. The value proposition here is hard to dispute.

Specifications

Triumph Tiger Sport 800

MSRP: $12,495

The Tiger Sport 800 is an all-new motorcycle, which seems to have been developed in response to the success of the Tracer 9 platform. Unlike the other bikes on this list, which almost all share a platform with different kinds of motorcycles, this is very much designed from the ground up to be a touring bike. Its frame is based on the 660, but heavily revised to accommodate its brand-new 800cc triple.

Specifications

BMW F 900 XR

MSRP: $11,995

While the F 900 XR has always been a high-quality offering, it was not the most competitive middleweight in terms of performance. A small bump in power combined with a slight reduction in weight has brought it back into the conversation, especially at this price. Unfortunately, like the Tiger Sport 800, the base model is not going to get luggage.

Specifications

Kawasaki Versys 650 LT ABS

MSRP: $10,099

To put it simply, what you get with the Versys 650 LT is all the modern features you want – including luggage – and a slightly less engaging parallel-twin. While it isn’t quite as engaging, it certainly isn’t underpowered, especially when you take into account the fact that it is a relatively light, city-friendly motorcycle. Reliability and comfort are a given here, and that is the main reason why it has such a big following.

Specifications

Triumph Tiger Sport 660

MSRP: $9,695

The Tiger Sport 660 has been making life pretty difficult for the Versys. It is both lighter and more powerful, yet differentiates itself further with its characterful triple. The old Daytona 675 engine has been extensively reworked and optimized for mid-range performance, and has more power than you will ever really need in the real world. The latest bike also has cruise control and a quickshifter as standard fare.

Specifications

Honda NC750X

MSRP: $9,499

Although the power-to-weight ratio might seem a little low, the NC750X makes a decent amount of torque and wears its weight down low. This is down to the fact that it shares a platform with a couple of maxi-scooters, and that makes it incredibly practical. It comes with more than enough built-in storage for most, and while it will obviously be good in the city, it will also happily take you anywhere you want to go over the weekend.

Specifications

Moto Morini Calibro 700 Bagger

MSRP: $6,799

If you want a lightweight bagger, this is the only factory option that comes in at under 500 pounds. Mechanical reliability will be good as it makes use of an old Ninja 650 engine (which has been stroked out). Build quality is a little less confidence-inspiring with a few cost-cutting measures evident, but you can’t fault its design. If you don’t want a Chinese bagger, consider outfitting one of the lightweight cruisers with some baggage and wind protection.

Specifications