If you want to start taking weekend trips on your motorcycle, you need to trade in your city cruiser, roadster, or sport bike for a bike meant for long distances. Your best option is a touring motorcycle. There is a touring bike for everyone, from full dresser grand touring bikes to more nimble sport touring motorcycles. The one you choose is all about your comfort while riding. However, you should also consider other features, such as storage capacity and fuel economy. After all, you need to bring your belongings with you, and your trip will consist of riding many miles. These are the top 10 touring motorcycles with the best fuel economy. Riding one of these bikes will keep your cash in your pocket and not in the tank.
10 Harley-Davidson Road Glide - 43 MPG
Looking at the Harley-Davidson Road Glide, it is easy to assume that this bike is a gas guzzler. It looks physically large and bulky. However, riding the bike will reveal its performance capabilities far exceed its physical impression. This combination of looks and performance will help Harley remain successful in the years to come. As more people look to travel more affordably, Harley will be there to show them a better way. You, too, can have classic American motorcycle styling with modern fuel economy. The modern Road Glide comes with a Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine that is strong enough to give this beefy bike plenty of spunk.
9 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Standard - 43 MPG
Similar to the Road Glide, the Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Standard also comes with the Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine. So it is no surprise that it also achieves a similar fuel economy. Owners of the Electra Glide love how comfortable the riding position is. The handlebars come back towards the rider for less arm extension while the seat is deep to position your seat into the right position for support. This is an ideal bike for someone looking to take short weekend trips or wanting to ride in the city and out into the country. The low seat makes it easier to put your feet on the ground in traffic. At the same time, the large saddlebags are perfect for packing.
8 Indian Roadmaster Limited - 43 MPG
When Indian decided to compete with Harley, it needed a comfortable full dresser that offered a touch of sophisticated luxury that you can’t get with a Harley. The Indian Roadmaster Limited delivers and then some. Not only does it come packed with technology and rider comfort, but it also has impressive performance ability. The air-cooled Thunderstroke 116cc engine delivers strong low RPM power, reducing the need to crank out the throttle to get the bike going from a stop. This helps preserve the fuel in your 5.5-gallon tank. Fill up less when riding those back roads at slower speeds that go through small towns with stoplights.
7 Harley-Davidson Road King - 43 MPG
The Harley-Davidson Road King is just that, king of the road. It is the ultimate grand touring motorcycle that is ideal for riding for days on end as you work your way through the most exhilarating motorcycle road trips in the United States. Powering the Road King is Harley’s go-to engine, the Milwaukee-Eight 107. This bike tends to feel a bit lazy and slow, given how much weight and heft it needs to move. However, if you want a bike that’s built for distance, then the Road King is a top choice. The 5.9-gallon fuel tank may not seem like a lot, but you will travel on the highway for an impressive amount of time in between fill-ups.
6 Harley-Davidson Street Glide - 43 MPG
The Harley-Davidson Street Glide comes with the Milwaukee-Eight 114 V-Twin engine and Prodigy wheels. This smaller and lighter model of touring bike is popular among riders with a smaller stature or shorter legs. The low seat and center of gravity make the bike easier to balance upright and maneuver at slow speeds. The bike maintains the standard Harley fuel economy, which is slightly disappointing. One would hope that a smaller bike with a larger engine would manage to eke out a few more miles per gallon than the larger and heavier bikes. However, some owners claim they get better than the Harley-claimed fuel economy with conservative riding habits.
5 Harley-Davidson Ultra Limited - 43 MPG
The Harley-Davidson Ultra Limited comes with a twin-cooled Milwaukee-eight 114cc engine. This gives you more power and performance without sacrificing fuel economy. One reason for this is the Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI) that regulates fuel usage. The extra power is necessary because the Ultra Limited comes fully loaded and ready for cross-country touring. In addition, the vented batwing fairing retains classic Harley styling while improving aerodynamics. With improved airflow, the bike is able to slice through the wind better, reducing drag and improving fuel economy. For maximum performance, consider adding optional features like an ABS system, hill hold control, and tire pressure monitoring system.
4 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Voyager - 43 MPG
The Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Voyager tends to get overlooked when talking about touring motorcycles. Kawasaki is a Japanese motorcycle manufacturer best known for its advancements in the sport bike world. However, all of that research and technology has further reaching benefits. You can see it in the Vulcan’s performance as a touring cruiser with a 1,700cc digitally fuel-injected V-twin engine. You get more power, performance, and thrills while getting the same fuel economy as the clunkier Harley motorcycles on this list. Electronic cruise control also comes standard. So set your speed and maximize your MPG on your next highway cruise.
3 Suzuki Boulevard C50T - 41 MPG
The Suzuki Boulevard C50T is a perfect all-purpose touring bike. It is also the bike that most closely resembles old-school touring bikes of the 80s and 90s. Thankfully, the vintage design ends at the looks. Underneath that retro two-tone paint, Suzuki hid modern Japanese technology. Engineers included a cutting-edge 3D-mapped digital ignition system using a throttle-position sensor for more precise engine performance. All of this technology also translates to better fuel economy. So while you will enjoy the fuel-injected, 50 cubic-inch, V-twin engine for its torquey behavior, your wallet will appreciate its low demand for fuel refills.
2 BMW K 1600 Grand America - 41 MPG
This sport-touring motorcycle is perfect for when you want to travel with a partner. The comfortable seat extends back to your passenger with a large backrest and wide footboards. There is an additional trunk for even more storage capacity, totaling 29.5 gallons. Powering the BMW K 1600 Grand America is a 1,649cc six-cylinder inline engine. Twist the throttle and feel its smooth and controlled acceleration. This restrained yet powerful performance perfectly balances riding enjoyment and fuel efficiency. The bike is also outfitted with dynamic drag torque control and engine brake control to create steadier power production and reduce fuel wastage.
1 Indian Pursuit Limited - 37 MPG
The Indian Pursuit Limited is perfect for those who like the comfort of a traditional touring motorcycle but don’t like all of the chrome that comes with owning a Harley. They sport more color with greater use of body fairings. However, it isn’t just the looks that earned the Indian Pursuit a reputation for being the most capable touring machine on the road today. It is also the liquid-cooled PowerPlus V-twin engine. It not only delivers seamlessly smooth performance, but it also delivers a fuel economy performance that many cars wish they could achieve. What makes this bike worthy of this list, though, is the PowerPlus technology. It enables riders to maintain precise control during low-speed maneuvering for better driveability.