10 best motorcycles suitable for touring for long trips and off-road fun

Touring motorcycles are all the rage these days as this segment has the largest number of do-it-all bikes. After all, a single motorcycle that can do it all is a really attractive proposition when it comes to functionality and ease of living. This means that you occasionally take a dirt road, while still having fun on paved, winding roads. This list includes sport touring bikes that excel on asphalt and also have a versatile side, suitable for beginner-friendly trails. It’s worth noting that hardcore sports tourists are excluded from this list due to their reduced affinity for off-road travel.

To give you the most current and accurate information, the data used to compile this article is from authoritative sources including Harley-Davidson USA, Honda Powersports USA, Kawasaki Motorcycles USA, Triumph Motorcycles USA, Yamaha Motorsports USA, Ducati USA, KTM USA and BMW Motorrad USA. This list is arranged in descending price order, from the most expensive to the most affordable sport touring bikes that offer a balance between long journeys and off-road fun sessions.

Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Pro

Price: $22,095

The Tiger range is known for its off-road finesse. However, the Tiger 1200 GT Pro examples are the more road-focused versions, with smaller, road-focused tires wrapped around lightweight alloy wheels. It is equipped with a robust three-cylinder engine of 1,160 cc that produces a grin-worthy 147 hp and 95 Nm of torque.

The peak torque of 7,000 rpm is distributed linearly, which should give it a punchy urban character and a relaxed highway feeling. Despite the road-oriented formula, this Tiger has enough power, suspension travel and elevation gain to explore the beaten track with ease. The low curb weight of 540 pounds also makes it an all-in-one vehicle.

KTM 1290 Super Adventure R

Price: $20,999

Until KTM brings the highly anticipated 1390 Adventure series to America, the 2024 1290 series of “Super” bikes will remain the most powerful of the orange army. The 1290 Super Adventure R is in a class of its own and balances hooliganism and functionality. This touring bike, despite its knobby tires and long-travel suspension, has a road-derived chassis and engine combination that gives it an all-in-one character.

The 1290 Super Adventure R is powered by KTM’s top-spec 1,301cc V-twin engine, which produces a grin-worthy 160bhp and 101.7Nm of torque. There are few sport touring motorcycles that are more powerful than this KTM. A relaxed driving triangle and a low seat height contribute to mile-happy comfort.

BMW R1300GS

Price: $20,275

As the successor to the coveted BMW R 1250 GS, there is a lot at stake for the BMW R 1300 GS. But considering what this liter-class do-it-all ADV has turned out to be, it has certainly lived up to expectations. BMW has reduced the weight and dimensions without compromising the power of the big boxer and the off-road finesse of the GS.

It is powered by a 1,300 cc boxer-twin that produces 145 hp and 110 Nm of torque. Thanks to its versatile character, this motorcycle is a formidable companion on long journeys. Off-road riding is a no-brainer for this GS, thanks to a slew of electronic features and high-performance suspension hardware to tackle any terrain.

Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 ST

Price: $19,999

Harley-Davidson surprised us by building a near-perfect full-size adventure bike in their very first attempt. Now, with the more accessible and road-focused Pan America 1250 ST, things have become more fun. Compared to the standard Pan America, the ST gets a lower seat height, thanks to lower suspension travel.

It also gets a smaller, road-oriented tire-and-wheel combo, which also allows this Harley to be a solid corner carver. However, thanks to its chassis and engine, both of which are shared with the Dune Bashing Pan America 1250 Special, the ST also has hidden off-road talents that make it a solid off-road companion. Being the most affordable Harley touring bike is the perfect icing on the cake.

Ducati Multistrada V4

Price: $19,995

Interestingly enough, the most “exotic” motorcycle manufacturer offers one of the most affordable full-size adventure bikes. The Ducati Multistrada V4 leaves no stone unturned in offering a balance of sharp looks, sports bike performance, advanced technological features and athletic riding dynamics. It’s powered by the famous Granturismo V-twin engine, which produces 170 horsepower and 91 pound-feet of torque – the most powerful on this list.

Its performance is complemented by sportbike-inspired hardware and chassis components that give it flexible on-road capabilities. Despite having a tarmac-oriented suspension and tire configuration, the Multistrada V4 has an accessible off-road side, with plenty of suspension travel and a chassis ready to tackle rough terrain.

Ducati Multistrada V2

Price: $16,595

This is the sibling of the larger Multi V4 mentioned above. The V2 features a more middleweight 890cc V-twin that produces 115 hp and 67.9 Nm of torque. It also translates to a more compact form factor and a lighter curb weight.

The all-new Multi V2 is extra special because Ducati has made it significantly more usable and affordable compared to the outgoing model. Sports bike-derived hardware gives the Multi V2 ADV an athletic touch, making it easy to lean into corners. Its tall stance and ample ground clearance, along with a relaxed standing-sitting triangle, also make it trail-ready.

Yamaha Tracer9

Price: $12,599

The Yamaha Tracer 9 is a sports tourer that strikes a perfect balance between power and versatility. It is powered by a very popular CP3 inline-3 engine that also powers the Yamaha MT-09 streetfighter and the XSR900 classic roadster. It produces 117 horsepower and 68.6 pound-feet of torque.

The form factor is slim, which, combined with its low curb weight of 483 pounds, makes this Yamaha not only a comfortable mile-eater, but also a spirited urban runabout. Due to its high stance and relatively trail-ready ride height, this Yamaha does not shy away from taking the road less traveled.

Triumph Tiger Sport 850

Price: $12,290

This is the less popular Triumph Tiger. But the Sport 850 offers one of the most complete adventure touring packages among Triumph ADVs. In other words: it combines a sporty character similar to the Tiger Sport 660 with the off-road capabilities of the larger 900 and 1200 Tigers. It is powered by an 888cc three-cylinder engine that produces 83.8 horsepower and 60 pound-feet of torque.

On-road comfort is assured thanks to an adjustable seat height, a relaxed rider triangle and a range of touring-focused features and accessories. Furthermore, its tall stance and 8.0-inch ground clearance, along with capable suspension equipment, give the Tiger 850 plenty of confidence to stray off-road.

Honda NT1100

Price: $11,899

This is one of those motorcycles that ticks all the boxes and then some. The Honda NT1100 is powered by a very tractable 1,084cc parallel-twin engine, the same engine that powers the dune-bashing Africa Twin ADV. Even the mainframe is shared with it. The versatility of the NT1100 therefore comes into its own.

The icing on the cake is the standard six-speed automatic transmission that offers a whole new level of driving comfort, both on city roads and on highways. Plus, its tall stance, coupled with capable hardware, makes the Honda NT1100 worth stirring up some dirt. This is a motorcycle that is surprisingly good at everything.

Kawasaki Versys 650LT

Price: $10,099

Although it is quite old, the Kawasaki Versys 650 LT is one of the most practical adventure bikes available today. It is powered by a sports bike-derived 649cc parallel-twin engine that produces 69bhp and 44.8Nm of torque. Combine this with its sturdy chassis and swingarm setup, and the Versys 650 has enough power to do triple-digit runs all day long.

The relaxed rider triangle, the comfortable pillion saddle and the many touring-oriented accessories make it a capable mileage eater. On the other hand, its tall stance, relatively high ground clearance and low curb weight of 483 pounds also make the Versys 650 a capable trail runner.