Motorcycle for Travel

In the motorcycle world, there are many hot topics, and one of them is "long-distance trips" and choosing a motorcycle for travel. In this article, we will gather as much information as possible about the different types of motorcycles for long-term trips for those who don’t know where to start.

It’s no secret that you can travel on anything — as long as you have the desire — the internet is full of impressive stories. But we need motorcycles specifically for travel, so to speak, motorcycle resources.

What is a motorcycle journey like? We will have to answer a whole series of questions to understand what we actually need. Let's go!

WHERE DO YOU PLAN TO TRAVEL ON A MOTORCYCLE?

If your journey will take place without tackling roadside ditches and ravines, and the main challenge your motorcycle will face is smooth asphalt, then you can travel on any motorcycle without concern. Note that we are specifically talking about roads. However, if, for example, you plan a motorcycle trip across the Tibetan Plateau (where there is no asphalt at all), then motorcycles covered in plastic, like the HONDA GOLD WING, will turn into a pitiful sight after a couple of falls on gravel roads. In this case, you need a heavy or light enduro (e.g., BMW R1200GSA). In general, modern heavy enduros are the most popular among motorcycle travelers — just look at travel reports posted online.

Conclusion: if the roads are good, there are no restrictions. If you plan to ride on dirt roads, it’s more reasonable to take a motorcycle with at least some off-road capability, or be prepared for slow travel. You don’t need a GS to ride on dirt roads, but you will have to do it carefully and slowly — that's all.

HOW MUCH WILL THE MOTORCYCLE WEIGH?

A logical next question. You, plus luggage, plus a passenger — totaling 150-200 kg. Add another 420 kg for a Gold Wing, and that’s quite a significant weight. Yes, at speed, any motorcycle handles reasonably well (the difference disappears after 10 km/h), but pushing such weight with your feet can be very uncomfortable, and sand or even minor off-road conditions can ruin your trip.

Conclusion: the less weight, the easier it's to handle, but also the lower the load capacity and power. The heaviest motorcycles should stay on highways, while saving every kilogram makes sense if you have little strength or if your route rarely includes good roads.

HOW MANY DAYS WILL YOUR MOTORCYCLE TRIP LAST?

This question is crucial for determining how much luggage you’ll need to carry. Almost all motorcycle models are adapted to carry some luggage (though on many, you have to choose between a passenger or baggage). But for multi-day trips, the best motorcycles are those equipped with hard cases — metal or plastic. Based on experience, modern touring motorcycles allow you to bring the minimum essentials for two people.

Motorcycle Case – a motorcycle bag designed for mounting on a motorcycle, which may or may not have a lock and can be made from leather, synthetic leather, plastic, metal, a combination of these, a jerry can, a barrel, a suitcase on wheels — there are factory-made cases and DIY cases.

If desired, any luggage can be replaced with money, allowing you to buy what you need on the go, though this can be costly. Naturally, people’s needs vary greatly, but keep in mind that essential items include a canister of oil, gasoline, a toolset, a pump, a tire repair kit, and possibly some spare parts. Plus, each person will need a change of clothes, warm clothing, a raincoat, and basic hygiene items. All of this fits into three cases with a total volume of 90 liters, leaving some extra space. However, you must accept the idea that motorcycle travel = minimal belongings.

Conclusion: a one- or two-night hotel trip, a camping trip for the same duration, and a two-week seaside vacation are three different journeys requiring different amounts of luggage space. On the one hand, more is better. On the other hand, more means heavier and bulkier. If you plan to travel beyond 300 km one way, especially with a passenger, then three cases are essential.

By the way, motorcycle trailers exist. They can have one or two axles and vary by manufacturer, price, and size, but that’s a topic for another article.

WHO WILL YOU BE TRAVELING WITH?

If you’re riding alone and feel comfortable sitting on a motorcycle for days, then you can travel freely. But if you have a passenger, the trip on some motorcycle models can turn into pure torture for the second rider. Just look at the rear seats and passenger positioning on sports bikes or sport-touring motorcycles. After a few days, you might have to continue the journey alone. Think not only about yourself but also about your travel companion. Also, luggage for two is bigger than for one.

The issue of seat comfort has been debated for years. The motorcycle industry offers solutions, mainly centered around the word "gel". However, overall ergonomics are also important. While a cruiser lets you stretch out your legs and recline almost like in an armchair, a sport-touring bike may not offer the same comfort. You might argue that it allows faster travel, but that often means breaking speed limits :) It’s also important to note that the comfort of the rider and passenger are two different things.

Conclusion: for two-person travel, it's better to choose more relaxed and heavier bikes — they provide much more comfort for the passenger. Though "relaxed" is a relative term — a Gold Wing can exceed 200 km/h.

If you’re traveling solo, you have far more choices and fewer limitations.

ARE SPARE PARTS AVAILABLE, AND HOW EASY IS IT TO REPAIR YOUR MOTORCYCLE?

Think in advance about how you would repair your motorcycle during a trip. Machines are machines, meaning breakdowns can happen at any time. There’s not much advice to give here. Newer motorcycles are more reliable, but they are also often more complex. You can clean a carburetor in the field, but what about an injector? Some engines last longer than others. However, all of this is relevant only if you have at least some repair skills. If you know nothing about mechanics, simplicity won’t help you.

Conclusion: regular maintenance and thorough inspections can help you detect and prevent most issues. Besides replacing consumables, there are also special devices that can assist on the road, such as cruise control or an automatic chain oiler.

HOW FAR CAN YOUR MOTORCYCLE TRAVEL ON ONE TANK?

The question of maximum distance per tank rarely concerns weekend riders.

But for hardcore motorcycle travelers who cover over a thousand kilometers in a day, fuel tank capacity and fuel consumption can be more important than food and water. In remote areas where gas stations are over 200-300 km apart, fuel reserves can become a matter of survival.

Manufacturers rarely provide precise fuel range data because fuel consumption depends heavily on the rider's style. This is quite simple to explain: the engine power, torque, luggage case load capacity, and fuel tank capacity are easy to calculate. However, fuel consumption — and consequently, the distance that can be traveled without refueling — are individual factors that largely depend on the rider's driving style. That's why motorcycle manufacturers provide only average fuel consumption figures. However, minimal fuel consumption for a long-distance touring motorcycle is just one of two important factors. The second is a spacious fuel tank.

However, if you don’t consider yourself the owner of an "iron backside" and aren’t planning to venture into the wilderness just yet, it’s enough to know your average fuel consumption, refuel on time, and carry at least one extra canister for every couple of motorcycles.

But what’s even more interesting is that the time between refuels might be determined not by the motorcycle, but by the driver or passenger's tired butt. So, having a giant fuel tank isn’t necessarily an advantage if you can’t sit long enough to empty it.

Additionally, lower fuel consumption often means a smaller engine displacement and less power, which can be a problem when overtaking on the highway. And let’s be honest, breathing in the exhaust of a 40-ton truck isn’t exactly pleasant either.

Conclusion: if you’re traveling on highways with frequent gas stations, you can choose fuel consumption and tank size based on your comfort. If you’re heading into remote areas, the larger, the better.

SO WHAT DO WE NEED?

To answer this question, we’ll use the classification that led to this article. It’s important to understand that the boundaries between categories are quite arbitrary and blurred, just like with cars. Moreover, motorcycles have such a convoluted classification mainly because the categories themselves have vague definitions and no clear-cut distinctions.

SO, WHAT’S SUITABLE FOR TRAVEL BY MOTORCYCLE?

LUXURY TOURERS

Jokingly called "half a car", luxury tourers can surpass even a full-fledged automobile in terms of equipment.

A six-cylinder opposed engine, ventilated disc brakes on all wheels with ABS, a navigation system with voice command support, a music system, a separate four-channel 80W-per-channel amplifier with automatic volume adjustment based on speed, heated leather seats, cruise control, a microchip ignition key, an airbag… Think this is the options list for a luxury sedan? Nope. All of this comes standard on the Honda Gold Wing.

Luxury tourers are a small, elite class of motorcycles. The number of these "moto-limos" released over the last 30 years can be counted on one hand. They stand apart from their more modest motorcycle brethren thanks to their noble pedigree. While sport-touring bikes (fat sportbikes) fuss over shaving off mere minutes on city-to-city sprints, and massive, comfortable cruisers try to impress passersby with their thunderous exhaust roars (descendants of the great Harley!), luxury tourers imitate cars in every way — and not cheap ones at that. No wonder they’re jokingly called "half-cars" or autocycles.

Currently, there’s no real alternative to the Gold Wing in the luxury tourer class. Maybe because such machines aren’t as necessary anymore? On today’s motorcycle market, any class can be "tourized" — whether it’s a cruiser, sportbike, or enduro. There’s no need to stick to a specific class if you want to travel. So, let’s move on.

CRUISERS

While Honda keeps refining its Gold Wing, the rest of the world long ago granted cruisers the title of touring motorcycles. Heavy, torquey — that’s basically all you need. In a hurry? Why, when you can enjoy the scenery? And as for cup holders and such, you can always add them later — like DLC in a game.

Here’s the thing: if we listed ALL cruisers that could be used for touring, the rest of this article would just be a catalog. Because literally ANY cruiser can be adapted for travel. For example, you could just slap on two huge saddlebags, footboards, a gel seat, and a massive windscreen, then add a tail bag, crash bars, and a few other useful bits.

However, there are also models that come factory-ready for the open road. And the first among them are, of course, Harley-Davidson bikes — where would we be without them? But Americans build their touring setups around a few base frames, so listing specific models is pointless — the name depends on the trim. These models include the Road King, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Road Glide, and others with similar word combinations.

As you can easily see, they all share the same foundation. So, when you choose a touring Harley — you’re choosing a touring Harley. That’s it. Yes, they have different styling and accessories, but at their core, these bikes behave and are equipped similarly. Not as powerful as the Gold Wing, but you’ll still get plenty of goodies — like a sound system and onboard computer.

However, it’s important to understand that Harleys follow a slightly different philosophy when it comes to engine behavior. If you’re not ready for strong vibrations at idle (which, by the way, disappear as soon as you crack the throttle) or don’t love the signature Harley sound (best imitated by muttering "po-ta-to-po-ta-to"), then this isn’t the ride for you. For comparison, the Gold Wing’s opposed six-cylinder doesn’t vibrate at all. Oh, and there’s the price, of course. It’s a Harley.

Of course, Harley isn’t the only one making prepped touring bikes.

To sum up touring cruisers: more often than not, you don’t buy a touring bike — you create one by adding exactly what you need to a cruiser. The brief idea of a tourer (i.e., a touring cruiser) is: "Get there with luggage and comfort, without losing the cruiser’s essence".

BAGGERS

A bagger is a motorcycle concept featuring large saddlebags but no top case. Strictly speaking, any bike can become a bagger with the right modifications, but factory versions exist too. These bikes can work for travel, but there’s little reason to single them out as a separate category.

SPORT-TOURERS

When talking about sport-tourers, always remember: they’re a compromise between a sportbike’s speed and a touring bike’s comfort and storage. A sport-tourer approaches comfort differently than a cruiser-based tourer, but its goal is also different: "Get to the destination quickly, but with luggage". Speed comes first, then cargo and comfort. But we’ll start with the models closest to luxury tourers: BMW K 1600 GTL, BMW R 1200 RT, Yamaha FJR1300, Moto Guzzi Norge 1200, Triumph Trophy, Honda ST1300 Pan European, Honda VFR800.

So, in theory, you could attach saddlebags to any sportbike. Would that make it a touring bike? No. A sport-tourer isn’t just about speed and luggage — it also has advanced wind protection, useful features, and a riding position that lets you stay in the saddle longer than a lap race requires.

TOUR-ENDURO

"Everyone will ride enduros" — © folk motorcycle wisdom

Any traveler quickly realizes that good roads are mostly found on highways, in regional centers, and capitals. But what if your path leads somewhere less traveled (a deserted beach, a remote resort, a mountain trail)? You need a vehicle that can handle both roads and rough terrain. If it had four wheels, it’d be called an "SUV". In the motorcycle world, this role falls to some members of the tour-enduro category.

Generally, tour-enduros are positioned as all-road bikes — not to be confused with off-road. While less capable off-road than their dirt-focused siblings, tour-enduros are faster on highways, carry more luggage, and offer greater comfort.

As a result, touring enduros are a blend of road bike, touring bike, and off-road bike. The proportions of these three elements vary significantly between manufacturers.

Touring enduros are loosely divided into 3 types: light (600-800cc), mid-size (around a liter), and heavy (1200-1300cc).

Popular Tour-Enduro Models:

BMW R1200GS Adventure – the most famous tour-enduro, the legendary "goose", which recently got liquid cooling. Packed with electronic aids, a patented suspension, shaft drive, the dream of many, and Europe’s most popular tourer.

BMW F 800 GS – a lighter option for those who want a "goose" but not the weight or price. Not a boxer, but still great.

Triumph Tiger Explorer – a reliable British rival. An inline triple — an unusual but successful engine for this class.

Yamaha Super Ténéré 1200 – the Japanese take. An inline twin offers good balance, and while the shaft drive isn’t ideal for serious off-roading, it eliminates chain maintenance worries.

Yamaha XTZ 660 Ténéré – the predecessor to the "Super Ténéré", less touring, more enduro.

Yamaha TDM 900 – not quite a tour-enduro, more of a roadster with long-travel suspension, but still a popular choice. More road, less touring and enduro.

Honda Transalp 650 – there are 600cc and 700cc versions too. Why 650? The 600cc Transalps are quite old, and finding a well-maintained one is tough. Meanwhile, the 700cc has softer suspension, a smaller front wheel, etc. In short, the 700 prefers smooth asphalt more than its 650cc predecessor. But that doesn’t mean we should ignore it.

Honda XRV 750 Africa Twin – easy to ride, phenomenally reliable. The Africa seems built for bad roads, even though it was discontinued in 2003 in favor of the Transalp line.

Honda CRF1000 Africa Twin – the legend reborn, now in the middleweight class. Interestingly, at launch, it had almost no competition.

Honda XL 1000 V Varadero – a unique machine. A continuation of the Transalp line but more road-focused. More road, more touring, less enduro — the cast wheels don’t help. But it has a 6-speed gearbox. A good choice for not-so-great roads, but expensive.

KTM 1290 Adventure – a civilian version of KTM’s Dakar machine and a worthy BMW rival with its own unique design.

KTM 990 Adventure – like the "goose", the "little brother" from the orange brand.

Kawasaki KLR650 – a bike that laughs at obstacles. Somewhat similar to the Transalp — stiff suspension, decent off-road ability, but much less touring. However, with a claimed fuel consumption of 4.3L/100km and a 23L tank, it can cover about 530 km on a single fill — if you stick to highways.

Suzuki DL 650 V-Strom – this bike raises a lot of questions. It’s good overall, but there are nuances. The Transalp is clearly more reliable, the TDM is faster, the KTM Adventure handles off-road better, and the BMW F 800 GS is more comfortable. So, what exactly is the V-Strom good at?

A 650cc V-twin. A decent engine, but not a Transalp. Very noisy — compared to the Honda, it’s a tractor. There are frequent stories of gearbox issues at low mileages — neutral disappearing, etc. — though that depends on oil quality and how hard the bike’s been ridden. Cast wheels are a clear downside; a proper tour-enduro should have spoked wheels (if only because fixing a slight bend from off-road antics is easier with spokes). On the plus side, the stock seat is said to be very comfy, and wind protection is excellent. So, the V-Strom is a solid enduro, but there’s always something better.

CONCLUSIONS

Luxury tourers: maximum comfort and cargo capacity. No other interesting traits — their specialty is traveling on good roads.

Touring cruisers: built on a highway-focused bike to increase cargo capacity. Not as loaded as luxury tourers, but more personality and retained style.

Sport-tourers: built on a sportbike to improve comfort and storage without sacrificing too much speed. Besides the class itself, key differences include factory-installed leg wind protection (part of the bodywork). Cruisers can have this too, but Harley’s the only one offering it stock.

Tour-enduros: a mix of road/off-road/cargo capacity in varying ratios. Many options — choose based on your needs.

In the end, most touring bikes evolved from specific classes (whether sport or enduro) and cater to those who want to keep their style while gaining travel capability. What to advise someone choosing their first touring bike? Think, test-ride, and find the bike that meets most of your requirements.

But the most important thing? Desire. A Gold Wing is pointless if all it does is commute to the office, flashing lights and blaring music. A GS is wasted if it never leaves the pavement. The key is desire — experience will shape your needs.