Sport touring motorcycles is the combination of a touring bike with the capabilities of a sportbike. It is precisely what you are looking for if you want to go out on exciting adventures while remaining at ease and comfortable the entire time. It is ideal for long trips on the road and can give you all the thrills you might be searching for.
Unlike your usual sports model, a sport touring motorbike tends to have more wind protection and a larger fuel tank for an increased range. On the other hand, compared to a full touring model, a sport touring bike usually has less storage, better overall performance, and lower weight.
Adventure bikes, on the other hand, are built for more rugged terrain and comes with the ability to go off-road while still carry a decent amount of luggage. Which type of bike is best for your touring needs? Read on to find out.
15 Yamaha XT1200Z Super Tenere
Featuring a six-speed transmission, excellent traction control, advanced fuel injection, and a compact two-cylinder engine with eight valves, this Yamaha bike is the perfect choice for both on and off-road adventures. You can also enjoy your icing on the cake with the incredible comfort this bike has to offer.
14 Triumph Tiger 800 XCx
This bike can power up to 95 hp and can produce up to 58 ft-lbs of torque. It also features traction control, ABS, and ‘Off-Road Pro’ riding mode in case you want to try something crazy off the paved path. With a lightweight architecture and triple-cylinder engine to boast, this attractive motorbike might just be the one.
13 KTM 1290 Super Adventure R
This bike is an off-road monster and easily one of the best touring motorbikes in the market. It can maintain a fair amount of steadfast traction on pavement and features a 1301cc engine, which can produce up to 148 hp. It also comes with adjustable fuel mapping and top-shelf suspension - what else could one ask for?
12 Honda Africa Twin
The Honda Africa Twin is one of the most aesthetically pleasing motorbikes out there. However, it comes with a lot more than great looks - an immense amount of power and excellent performance metrics too. It can produce 94 hp at 7500 rpm and has the admirable ground clearance and a strong suspension system to offer too.
11 BMW R1200 GS Adventure
With adventure in the name, you need not look further. Its features include fantastic traction control, adjustable ABS, and an incredible appearance. It is capable of producing an outstanding 125 hp and has a brilliant 400-mile range too. With functionality and power in store, this bike might just be your dream come true.
10 Suzuki V-Strom 1000 ABS
The V-Strom 1000 is one of the more affordable options on this list. It has a lot to offer - ranging from ABS, two-stage traction control, and plenty of other advanced technology too. The best part? The four-stroke, liquid-cooled 1037cc 90-degree V-twin engine.
9 Kawasaki H2 SX SE+
This beast is one of the most comfortable and high-performing bikes present on this list. It can produce up to 300-horsepower, do we need to say more? Besides this, other features include LED cornering lights, high-grade leather seats, and a quickshifter for clutchless up and downshifts. There are also four different modes you can pick from: manual, rain, road, and sport.
8 BMW S1000XR
The S1000XR gets its power from a de-tuned model of the engine in BMW’s S1000RR sports bike and can reach up to 162bhp - a staggering amount of power. The latest model of this bike is fairly advanced, consisting of LED lighting, electronic suspension, and cornering ABS too. We have little doubt that it will be just as successful as its predecessor.
7 Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX
The popular Z1000SX has at least found its way into the Ninja club. It has a lot of new aspects to boast - such as a more comfortable seat, LED lighting, an updated 4.3” TFT dash, and cruise control as well. This bike has a lot of power in store too, with 140bhp under its belt.
6 Yamaha Tracer 900 GT
The Tracer 900 GT is considerably more expensive than the old Tracer 900. However, it is worth the additional cost with everything new it has in store. It comes with heated grips, quick release panniers, cruise control, and the color TFT dash from the MT-10 SP too. It is most certainly incredible value for money.
5 Ducati SuperSport
The Ducati SuperSport is, without a doubt, the best looking bike on this list. If aesthetics are your priority, your problem has been solved. It has more than looks to offer - various riding modes, Brembo brakes, and a single-sided swingarm too. If you can afford to spend £1,300 more, you can invest in the SuperSport S with a quick shifter and an Ohlins suspension.
4 Honda VFR800
The Honda VFR800 is a stand-out on this list due to the powerful compact V4 engine with Variable Valve Timing. Since it was released in 2001, all of its upgrades until 2017 have been successful on the market. It is no surprise, as who wouldn’t want a sport touring bike that can produce up to 104 bhp?
3 Yamaha Tracer 700
The Yamaha Tracer 700 doesn’t have much power to offer as the other bikes on this list. It is limited to just 74bhp, making it a better suit for solo touring. It doesn’t have a lot of technology in store either, but what makes this an excellent bike is the solid build quality.
2 KTM 1290 Super Duke GT
The 1290 Super Duke GT has a lot of equipment in store, ranging from different ride modes, cruise control, cornering lights, tire pressure monitoring, semi-active suspension, and self-canceling indicator. It can also produce up to 170 horsepower, making it quite a powerful and advanced bike to have.
1 Yamaha NIKEN GT
With the Niken GT, Yamaha was hoping to produce a sporty naked bike. However, they ended up creating a very powerful sport-touring bike instead, a move we are in full appreciation of considering the capabilities of the bike. It has an extra wheel for added grip and improved braking, and the MT-09 engine is everything you can ask for.