BMW, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Indian, and Yamaha all offer premium, full-dress motorcycles made for comfortable long-distance touring. It’s easy to get lost in the multitude of options available from each manufacturer. It’s even tougher to evaluate the cost-per-dollar ratio of each of the specific models and their respective packages.
In light of Honda's new 2018 Gold Wing release, we thought it would be beneficial to take a closer look at the grandest of the grand—the cream of the crop—in all their five-figure glory. For the sake of simplicity, we've broken this chart into three separate categories: brand, model, and price.
While it's easy enough to compare these models on paper, personal preference will always be more subjective. As Social Media Specialist Brian Hatano stated in his Yamaha Star Venture review, "The flip side to the touring/cruiser paradox has nothing to do with practical amenities, power, or price. It's more about heritage and emotional attraction to the machine. Whether [a specific model] checks those boxes, of course, depends on the individual."
We want your opinions. What do you look for first and foremost in a touring motorcycle? Are comfort and storage worth more to you than engine performance and mileage? Do you favor one brand over others? How do you tour? Leave your comments below.
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