The perfect motorcycle for couples who love road trips in 2025

A full-dresser touring motorcycle is a no-brainer if you want to travel as a couple. As a rider, you get a luxurious seat and your partner also gets a spacious saddle with good back support. Thanks to the popularity of the idea, there is no shortage of such motorcycles on the market today.

From your American favorites to European and Japanese giants, most of the big names have a representative in this segment. However, they are all built differently, so choosing one can be a real headache. Luckily for you, we’ve done the donkey work for you to tell you the perfect motorcycle for couples who love road trips. This is what you need to take into account.

The Indian Roadmaster PowerPlus is the perfect motorcycle for couples who love road trips in 2025

Price: $31,999

American giants have always had a talent for full-dresser touring bikes, and this will also be evident in 2025. So our choice is the Indian Roadmaster PowerPlus Limited. There are a few reasons for this, starting with the new liquid-cooled engine choice. You can get this with the PowerPlus 108 or the flagship PowerPlus 112. Both give you tons of power and torque, significantly more than other traditional full-dressers available today. This way you can easily carry yourself, your partner and the luggage with you. At the same time, there are plenty of luxury features, safety has been taken into account and, most importantly, the price is competitive: $31,999 (for the 108).

Honda

The Honda Gold Wing Tour DCT comes in a close second. The proven tourer makes its case by offering an ultra-reliable six-cylinder powerhouse, all your necessary amenities and a segment-defining dual-clutch transmission. The latter gives it a big advantage over its rivals, because you don’t have to worry about shifting gears. If you feel the need to do so, you can also shift gears manually via the paddle shifters. However, what works against it is its age and complexity. The Gold Wing has remained largely unchanged since 2018 and has unique parts throughout, which can make your long-haul experience a bit tricky if something goes wrong.

Harley Davidson

Finally, there is the Harley-Davidson Street Glide Ultra. It’s Harley’s only full-dresser at the moment, and it’s built around the new Street Glide. That means you get a lot of new parts, like the huge instrument cluster, the new design and all the advanced electronic wizardry. Where it falls short, however, is in overall value and performance. You see, Harley has given the Ultra its Milwaukee-Eight 117 engine, instead of the new 121 VVT. That means only 105 hp, even though the price is only $1,250 less than the Indian. You’ll also miss out on some important features, like heated seats.

Indian has provided a lot of two-up comfort on the Roadmaster PowerPlus

With no shortage of comfort or safety features

Indian

For road trips with two people, comfort is essential. And the Roadmaster promises a lot of it. First and foremost, there is a one-piece saddle with thick foam, so you can sit for hours without fatigue. The chair also has a heating function. Both occupants then receive back support. The driver’s seat is folded, while the passenger rests his/her back on the cushioned top case. Also present are large floorboards for both parties, and the co-driver can even opt for an armrest with cup holders from the accessories list.

Indian

Once seated comfortably, it’s time to enjoy the features. We already told you about the heated seats, but you also get an electronic windshield, adjustable cockpit vents and a four-speaker audio system. A large digital screen forms the instrument panel, surrounded by analogue dials for a neo-retro cockpit. This display also gives you access to electronic aids such as riding modes, ABS, traction control, hill hold and linked brakes.

Key features of the Indian Roadmaster

• Heated seats

• Heated grips

• Remote lockable saddlebags

• ABS

• Traction control

• Hold hill

• Linked brakes

• TPMS

• Keyless ignition

• USB ports

• Electronically adjustable windshield

A new liquid-cooled engine powers the Indian Roadmaster PowerPlus

Either 108 cubic inches or 112 cubic inches

Indian

The Roadmaster is not only comfortable and premium, it is also powerful. You can get it in two engine options: PowerPlus 108 or PowerPlus 112. Both mills are liquid-cooled and promise more than 120 horsepower and nearly 130 pound-feet of torque. The 112 in particular is one of the most powerful American engines today, beating out the Milwaukee-Eight 121 and Honda’s six-cylinder mill from the Gold Wing. All that power reaches the steering wheel via a six-speed gearbox, linked to a belt drive.

Indian Roadmaster PowerPlus Engine Specifications

A simple chassis and suspension package forms the basis of the Roadmaster

Frame type: double cradle

Indian motorcycle

In typical American touring fashion, the engine is housed in a double-cradle steel chassis. It rides on 43mm USD forks and a monoshock, with only the rear offering adjustability. This is topped with 19/16-inch alloy wheels, housing two 320mm rotors at the front and a single 298mm rotor at the rear. You’ll also need all the braking power, as the Roadmaster weighs over 400 pounds with full fuel. However, the saddle is low, because you sit only 26.5 centimeters from the ground. So all that weight has to be easy to handle when stationary.

Dimensions and underpinnings of the Indian Roadmaster PowerPlus