10 Great Motorcycles for Travel 2024

[Hugh Janus]

There’s no better way to explore the country than on a motorcycle. When considering your travel choices, think about comfort, weather protection, range, and luggage options. (Harley-Davidson/)

Ask any rider and they’ll tell you there’s nothing like a view of the countryside from the saddle of a motorcycle. But you could also argue that any motorcycle can be used to that end, so it often comes down to your own parameters; where you intend to go, how you ride, and what you’re bringing with you. Which means our list is just a small sampling of all the great travel bikes out there, serving instead as a kind of highlight reel for the wide variety options that are available. You can narrow down your choices by opting for those that include provisions for cargo (whether it comes with bags or can accept them later), decent fuel range, and at least a modicum of weather protection. Creature comforts and up-to-date electronics can make your ride even more enjoyable, with features like traction control, rider modes, navigation, adaptive cruise control, and more.

We include a few true tourers, some adventure machines, and a couple of sport-tourers, so there’s a little bit of something for everyone. Obviously there are a multitude of other options, so feel free to list your faves in the comments below.

Long Haulers

Bikes that are made to devour long highway miles, with plush accommodations, room for a passenger, and gobs of cargo capacity. All come equipped with big engines that can easily move your loaded rig with authority.

Related: 10 Great Motorcycles for Travel 2023

Any compilation of touring bikes is bound to have a Honda Gold Wing near the top of its list. You can thank the Wing’s combination of refined comfort and silky smooth power. (Honda/)

2024 Honda Gold Wing Tour Automatic DCT | $29,700

The Honda Gold Wing has been soldiering on for more than four decades and has won more Cycle World Ten Best awards than we can count along the way. For taming highways and chomping up huge miles, we said the Gold Wing and its nearly two-liter engine are “the gold standard of two-up touring.” Key attributes include a 1,833cc flat six-cylinder engine and an electronically adjustable double-wishbone fork, both of which contribute to an uncannily smooth power delivery and ultra-stable footing. On the Tour Automatic DCT, Honda’s Dual-Clutch Transmission will do the shifting for you, but all trims carry a color 7-inch TFT screen, four ride modes, dual disc brakes with ABS, a 5.5-gallon tank, lots of protection for rider and passenger, and plenty of storage space.

Price: $29,700

Fuel capacity: 5.5 gal.

Claimed fuel mileage: 42 mpg

Estimated range: 231 mi.

Standard luggage: Yes, 121L of storage (approx. 31.9 gal.)

Navigation: Yes, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible

The K 1600 GTL may be plush and sophisticated, but its inline-six engine can also bring the heat; it’s rated at 160 hp. (BMW/)

2024 BMW K 1600 GTL | $27,295

BMW’s flagship K 1600 GTL has also made our Ten Best list more than once, and for good reason. With an inline 1,649 cc six-cylinder mill cranking out a mighty 160 hp, backed by a head-snapping 133 lb.-ft. of torque, the big K also offers electronically adjustable suspension and an adjustable windscreen along with a huge 10.25-inch TFT color display with integrated navigation. Other amenities include adaptive headlights and even engine-brake control and dynamic traction control aided by input from the six-axis IMU. The 7-gallon tank, ABS, and heated grips (and seat) go a long way toward keeping pilots comfortable, and their passengers can revel in the K’s large top case with padded backrest, and a combined storage capacity of 29.9 gallons.

Price: $27,295

Fuel capacity: 7.0 gal.

Claimed fuel mileage: 40 mpg

Estimated range: 280 mi.

Standard luggage: Yes, 29.9 gal. of storage space

Navigation: Yes, Garmin

Harley’s Grand American Touring category has lots of good travel machines, but the M-8 114-powered Road Glide Limited is one of the better-equipped examples if you’re taking a passenger. (Harley-Davidson/)

2024 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Limited | $32,499

There are other bikes in H-D’s Grand American Touring series, but the Road Glide Limited is great for long-haul, two-up travel thanks to its powerful Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine, frame-mounted fairing, and plush passenger accommodations. The 114ci motor cranked out 76.3 hp and 108 lb.-ft. last time we had it on our dyno, and there’s plenty of storage space for two people, with a huge Tour-Pak trunk to swallow all your black T-shirts (4.7 cubic feet of capacity in total). Your passenger gets armrests and speakers to keep backseat complaints on ice, while the bike’s solid ride quality, heated grips, cruise control, and a 6-gallon fuel tank will get you where you wanna go in comfort. Class-leading paint and that distinctive fairing also make for a sharp-looking, well-equipped V-twin tourer.

Price: $32,499

Fuel capacity: 6.0 gal.

Claimed fuel mileage: 43 mpg

Estimated range: 258 mi.

Standard luggage: Yes, 4.7 cu. ft. (approx. 35 gal.)

Navigation: Yes, Boom! Box GTS

Indian’s Challenger bagger serves up V-twin style with the power to match, and a healthy set of standard features to boot. (Indian Motorcycle/)

2024 Indian Challenger | $26,499

If you still want the mile-munching capability but without the hassle (or bulk) of a full-dress touring rig, the Indian Challenger bagger might cure what ails you. Pair the bike’s muscle car looks with equally impressive performance—we’ve wrung 103.1 hp  out of the 1,768cc PowerPlus motor on our dyno—and add an impressive list of standard features, like locking saddlebags with 18 gallons of storage, a 43mm inverted fork, and a frame-mounted fairing, and the long road won’t seem like a grind. There’s also an electrically adjustable windshield, LED lighting, cruise control, and ABS, while the 7-inch touchscreen display with Ride Command features navigation and Bluetooth connectivity. For the Indian V-twin vibe but with a top trunk, opt for the Pursuit model, which is essentially a full-dress Challenger.

Price: $26,499

Fuel capacity: 6.0 gal.

Claimed fuel mileage: 43 mpg

Estimated range: 258 mi.

Standard luggage: Yes, 18 gal.

Navigation: Yes, Ride Command

All-Road Rigs

For those riders seeking more versatility from their traveling machines, an adventure-tourer might fit the bill. You’ll get excellent on-road capability as well as a bike that can get a little dirty if the situation calls for it. Creature comforts and great ergos abound in this category as well.

Backed by a parallel twin, the 800DE Adventure is Suzuki’s entry into the middleweight adventure category. (Suzuki/)

2024 Suzuki V-Strom 800DE Adventure | $13,049

If we’re talking about value propositions in the all-roads segment, the discussion has to include Suzuki’s new middleweight adventure bike, the V-Strom 800DE. It may not have a high-zoot IMU or 200 hp rating, but this newest iteration of the long-running V-Strom ditches the V-twin engine layout and adds ride-by-wire, fully adjustable suspension front and rear, switchable ABS, and quick-release aluminum hard bags as standard equipment. So really, you don’t have to spend 20 grand to buy a ready-to-rip adventure bike; the 800DE Adventure comes loaded with crashbars, a skid plate, hand protectors, and pretty much all the features you need to get you out exploring the wilds for under $14,000 out of the box.

Price: $13,049

Fuel capacity: 5.3 gal.

Claimed fuel mileage: 53.4 mpg

Estimated range: 280 mi.

Standard luggage: Yes, 37L of capacity

Navigation: No

Lighter, more compact, and more powerful, BMW’s new R 1300 GS is well-positioned to contain its reign over all roads. (BMW/)

2024 BMW R 1300 GS | $18,895

You can’t talk about adventure-touring motorcycles without including the standard-bearer (and creator) of the ADV segment: the BMW GS. Germany’s latest iteration of the hallowed globe-trotting rig is almost entirely new for 2024, boasting amplified power, reduced weight, upgraded suspension, a fresh frame, and the integration of radar technology. The new ShiftCam-enhanced 1,300cc boxer engine churning out 145 hp and 113 lb.-ft. of torque should make short work of both highways and crumbly dirt tracks, while its combination of excellent handling, all-day comfy ergonomics, and delightful balance is better than ever. A full suite of electronics includes four ride modes, active cruise control, collision warning, and more, all displayed on the 6.5-inch TFT screen. Unfortunately luggage is extra, but the new GS looks determined to reclaim its dominance of the ADV world. For even more of the same, check out the brawnier GS Adventure.

Price: $18,895

Fuel capacity: 5.0 gal.

Claimed fuel mileage: 58.9 mpg

Estimated range: 294 mi.

Standard luggage: Optional

Navigation: Optional, BMW Connected App; ConnectedRide Navigator

The KTM 1290 Super Adventure lives up to its name, with an absolute beast of an engine in a mile-munching package with comfortable ergos. (KTM Motorcycles/A. Barbanti/)

2024 KTM 1290 Super Adventure S | $20,999

It’s no secret we’re big fans of KTM’s brawny 1290 Super Adventure S. We gave it top marks in our Open-Class Adventure Comparison due to its versatility and power, and for sporty adventure travel, there’s almost nothing else like it. Not only does it pack class-leading tech like adaptive cruise control and semi-active suspension to help you gobble up highways, but it’s also plenty competent in the dirt (with a different set of tires). Excellent rider-focused ergonomics are a boon for long-distance pilots, and the 6.5-inch angle-adjustable TFT display gives you info on all the IMU-enabled tech that comes standard, which includes adaptive cruise control, traction control (both on and off-road), and lean-angle-sensitive ABS.

Price: $20,999

Fuel capacity: 6.0 gal.

Claimed fuel mileage: 43.6 mpg

Estimated range: 261 mi.

Standard luggage: Optional

Navigation: Yes, via KTM Connect App

Go Fast, Go Long

Sometimes it’s about the ride and not the destination, and there’s nothing wrong with traveling light and ripping twisties. That’s where sport-touring machines come in, offering sporty rubber, upright seating positions, and yes, even the occasional side case.

The middleweight—but not middle-of-the-road—Tracer 9 GT+ has a sort of do-it-all vibe, but leans on the sportier side of the touring equation. (Yamaha/)

2024 Yamaha Tracer 9 GT+ | $16,499

That the sport-touring class has undergone a huge evolution in the last decade is clear to anyone old enough to vote, and the Tracer 9 GT+ is a prime example. The latest trends of the class are on full display in Yamaha’s middleweight sport-tourer, which gives you the upright seating position and neutral ergonomics of an ADV bike, a sporting inline-triple engine, and a full suite of electronic aids including adaptive cruise control and semi-active suspension (backed by a six-axis IMU) all stuffed in a light, nimble package. Heated grips and cornering lights are standard, and yes, Virginia, those touring hard cases are also included. With its leaner profile and sportier intent, the Tracer 9 GT+ can eat up the miles as easily as it tackles the curves.

Price: $16,499

Fuel capacity: 5.0 gal.

Claimed fuel mileage: 49.0 mpg

Estimated range: 245 mi.

Standard luggage: Yes

Navigation: Optional, via Garmin Motorize app

You won’t be just sport-touring, but hypersport-touring on the Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX SE. (Kawasaki/)

2023 Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX SE | $28,000

The Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX SE claims to be a sport-touring motorcycle, but really, it’s all about raw power. Sure you can throw on a set of optional side bags, but the supercharged 998cc inline four-cylinder engine is the star of the show here, putting out a whopping 166.1 hp on our dyno. The sub-600-pound H2 also has provisions for a passenger, so your adrenaline-loving partner can share in pulling G’s as you shoot out of corners. But you also get some of the most advanced rider tech found on a bike today, with four rider modes, traction control, electronically controlled (and adjustable) suspension, an Advanced Rider Assist System (ARAS) with multiple radars, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and blind spot detection. If you’re into traveling very, very fast, the H2 is likely right up your alley.

Price: $28,000

Fuel capacity: 5.0 gal.

Claimed fuel mileage: N/A

Estimated range: N/A

Standard luggage: No

Navigation: Limited, with Spin app

Class-leading (and wallet-emptying) tech on the Ducati Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour includes front and rear radars, seat height lowering system, and that lovely Grandturismo engine. (Ducati/)

2024 Ducati Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour | $28,395

You could argue that the Ducati Multistrada set the tone (and the standard) for upright sporty touring machines when it debuted in 2003, and in V4 guise, it continues to stretch boundaries and raise the bar. New for 2024, the top-of-the-line Multistrada Grand Tour

boasts a pages-long spec sheet that includes things like adaptive cruise control, blind spot detection, a seat-height lowering system, and (thankfully) 60-liter side cases as standard. Of course part of the deal is that power-packed 1,158cc engine good for 170 hp and 92 lb.-ft. of torque, comfortable ergonomics, and the other electronics we’ve come to expect, like semi-active suspension, multiple ride modes, and traction control, all easily accessed via the 6.5-inch TFT display. Is it the best Multi for long-distance touring? Quite possibly.

Price: $28,395

Fuel capacity: 5.8 gal.

Claimed fuel mileage: N/A

Estimated range: N/A

Standard luggage: Yes

Navigation: Yes

Source

[Buckster]

Harley Davidson wins again.

[Marcel le Moose Fondler]

17 minutes ago, Buckster said:

Harley Davidson wins again.

Psssss !  Think Honda got 1 place you idiot...lol.

[Buckster]

24 minutes ago, Marcel le Moose Fondler said:

Psssss !  Think Honda got 1 place you idiot...lol.

Opening picture is the Harley so that's the winner, suck it up rat face .