10 Motorcycles That Nail The Sweet Spot Between Comfort And Reliability

Have you ever heard the saying “with great power comes great responsibility”? That’s true, but in the world of motorcycles, you should also consider: with more features comes less reliability. And in the process of making things more comfortable, motorcycle manufacturers often tend to pack their products with more and more tech and features. This is especially true of segments like touring motorcycles, where weight isn’t a penalty and added features are viewed as a bonus.

This might seem like progress for the consumer at first glance, but the more things there are, the more things there are to go wrong. So choosing a motorcycle that is both comfortable as well as reliable can become tricky. Worry not, however; we have drawn up a list of ten motorcycles that nail the sweet spot between comfort and reliability for you. We’ve also managed to sneak in that all-important motorcycle feature: fun!

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 Honda Powersports, Yamaha Motorsports, Kawasaki Motorcycles, and BMW Motorrad USA. They are arranged in order of increasing price to give the list some order.

Kawasaki KLR650

Price: $6,899

The KLR650 is a bike that leans into reliability more than it does comfort, but the peace of mind it brings with its indestructible nature is also a source of comfort! It hasn’t changed much over the decades it has been in production, running the same 652 cc thumper with liquid cooling it has had since its initial launch. It has since added fuel injection and non-switchable ABS to its features, and if you get the KLR650 Adventure ABS, then you can get as standard hard luggage, fog lamps, a 12V outlet, and a tank pad.

Honda NX500

Price: $7,399

The NX500 doesn’t get enough love because it doesn’t pretend to be anything it isn’t. It is a comfortable tourer that can handle a little off-road work without complaint. It doesn’t chase a high horsepower figure either, opting instead for some incredible tank range figures. You get a 5-inch TFT display, Bluetooth, navigation, traction control that can be switched off, and ABS as features. There really isn’t a more comfortable or reliable model in its segment, although you might find something with more exciting performance.

Kawasaki Vulcan S

Price: $7,399

The Vulcan S is a cruiser, and by default, that means it is a comfortable motorcycle. It is also surprisingly fun, because it shares quite a few components with the Ninja 650 and Z650. Making things more comfortable is Kawasaki’s ‘Ergo Fit’ feature, which allows for different positions of the handlebars and footpegs. This means riders of varying heights will find a comfortable rider triangle. The driveline is shared with other Kawasaki models, and it has been in production for a long time, so there is no question about its reliability.

Suzuki SV650 ABS

Price: $8,149

The SV650 was originally conceived to be a Japanese version of the Ducati Monster at a lower price, and it has proved itself to be more than up to the task. It has been a bundle of fun at a reduced price, and it isn’t an aggressive bike, so comfort is high on its list of features. It might not have any modern features like a slipper clutch or a TFT display, but it has been on sale for a few decades now, and the V-twin engine powers adventure models as well, so reliability is 10/10.

Triumph Bonneville T100

Price: $10,995

The Bonneville is one of the surprise models on this list, but its easygoing, friendly nature has endeared it to a lot of riders looking for retro charm without the retro reliability issues. Suffice it to say that Triumph has done a good job of it, judging by how popular the Bonneville series is. It is available in different versions and with different engine sizes, but the Bonneville T100 with its simple, unstressed 270-degree parallel twin embodies the comfort and reliability that have helped make the brand popular.

Yamaha Tenere 700

Price: $10,999

The Tenere 700 focuses on a broad torque spread rather than a headlining power figure. 72 horsepower puts it near the bottom of the power outputs for a midsize ADV, but its light weight compensates for it. This year, it got additional goodies like a by-wire throttle, ride modes, switchable ABS, switchable traction control, and an optional two-way quickshifter that can be shifted up or down whether the throttle is open or closed.

BMW R 1250 GS

Price: $17,600

The R 1250 GS might be an outgoing model, but it still has extremely strong performance from its engine, with a peak output of 136 horsepower. It was the first engine in BMW’s adventure lineup to get variable valve timing, which is why it gets a strong 106 pound-foot torque figure as well. With its double wishbone front suspension, shaft final drive, and proven electronics, this is not only one of the most popular adventure bikes, but one of the most reliable as well.

BMW K 1600 GTL

Price: $27,745

The 1600 cc inline six cylinder engine that powers the K 1600 series of motorcycles from BMW has been on sale for nearly a decade and a half now. With 160 horsepower on tap, the K 1600 GTL really doesn’t need any additional power. There are an incredible number of features available as well, including levelling suspension, reverse assistance, cornering headlamps, and keyless ignition. However, with the platform being on sale for so long, its reliability has been established.

Harley-Davidson Road King Special

Price: $24,999

Another possible surprise on this list is the Road King Special. We know Harley-Davidsons have been known for their lack of reliability a lot of the time, but the Road King uses the simplest and lowest output version of the Milwaukee Eight 114 engine. In other forms and states of tune, it currently powers Harley’s trikes, showing exactly how much stress it can handle. Its simple construction, air cooling, and final belt drive all make it a reliable product.

Honda Gold Wing

Price: $28,700

The Gold Wing has been around for over half a century now, and has gone from strength to strength. The current generation and version of the Gold Wing has been on sale since 2018, so there really isn’t anything left for it to prove. The engine is unstressed, the dual clutch automatic gearbox has been around in one form or another for a couple of decades, and the shaft final drive contributes its fair share to the reliability. Despite all its features, it is, after all, a Honda.