7 of the Best Motorcycles for Long-Distance Rides
You love riding your motorcycle around town, but now you’re ready for a bigger adventure. Long-distance motorcycle rides are a thrilling way to explore the country, but they require a lot of preparation before you hit the highway. The first step is making sure you have a road-ready ride. Cycle Trader is breaking down seven of the best motorcycles for long-distance rides.
BMW K 1600 Grand America
The BMW K series is made for ambitious travel. With a powerful six-cylinder, four-stroke engine, these bikes deliver a dynamic touring performance. The K 1600 Grand America, derived from the K 1600 B Bagger, features footboards, a top case with an integrated passenger backrest and radiant LED headlights, perfect for a comfortable and safe journey whether you’re traveling alone or with a passenger.
Ducati Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour
All of the bikes in the Ducati Multistrada family are designed for high-thrill adventure travel. The Multistrada V4 S Grand Tour is outfitted with all the accessories you need for long-distance riding, as standard for the bike. These innovations include adaptive cruise control and blind-spot detection to improve safety, along with heated grips and seats for comfort, as you’re riding from day to night.
Harley-Davidson Road Glide
Harley-Davidson is well known for the brand’s touring motorcycles, including the Harley-Davidson Road Glide model. Cruise the highways smoothly and comfortably on this bike, featuring a frame-mounted fairing, floorboards and an upright riding position. The Road Glide’s sharknose fairing optimizes on-ride performance and rider comfort as a new take on the original frame-mounted fairing. Look for newer models with ride mode innovations that improve performance based on your riding conditions.
Honda Gold Wing
The Honda Gold Wing’s horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine offers a smooth, powerful ride when you’re going the distance. The Gold Wing’s unmatched suspension performance boosts rider comfort for multi-day rides, while the agile handling and available dual-clutch transmission deliver the power you need on backroads and highways. Honda is constantly innovating the Gold Wing’s cockpit features, improving meters to monitor outside air temperature, ride mode, engine temperature and more.
Indian Roadmaster
The Indian Roadmaster has all the features you need for the ultimate road trip. The model’s fork-mounted fairings, adjustable vents and push button windshield allow you to manage how much wind you take on. Additional features, such as heated seats and grips, floorboards and a plush seat, provide the ultimate comfort. The Roadmaster’s Thunderstroke V-twin engine has the torque you need to conquer long days on the open road.
Suzuki GSX-S1000 GT
Suzuki’s sport touring motorcycles combine the performance of a sportbike with the comfort of a touring ride. The end result is the GSX-S1000 GT. This bike is lightweight and nimble with an in-line, four-stroke engine that delivers smooth and consistent power for your long trips. The upright riding position and 31.9-inch seat height put you in the best position for riding.
Yamaha FJR1300ES
Another traditional sportbike brand that designs excellent long-distance motorcycles is Yamaha. The Yamaha FJR1300ES is a sport tourer that boasts a smooth liquid-cooled, 1,298-cc engine that delivers the acceleration you’ll need for hours on the road. Ride safely with consistent improvements to traction control, engine mapping and cruise control in newer models. The bike’s adjustable ergonomics and plush seating boost comfort, while the 6.6-gallon fuel tank will keep you riding longer.
When planning a long-distance motorcycle ride, you’ll need to choose your route and find the best bike that can go the long haul. The motorcycles on this list boast the optimal size, weight and engine for hours of riding, while also being comfortable. If you’re ready to begin your search for your long-distance motorcycle, browse the new and used inventory available on Cycle Trader .
Arielle Patterson
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