Although any bike can be used for touring, an ideal touring bike is designed to offer better comfort, fairings, a tall windshield, luggage, and a competent engine for long-distance trips. With the changing needs and requirements of touring, the ingredients of touring bikes have also adapted and one such factor is speed. These days, riders are looking for fast touring bikes which are capable of covering long distances in a short time with the latest safety features.
To accommodate the needs of the riders, motorcycle manufacturers, including the Japanese big four, have designed modern sport touring bikes to be as fast as sport bikes while staying comfortable. Japanese motorcycle manufacturers are well-known for producing some of the most reliable and technologically advanced motorcycles in the world. The motorcycles are capable of delivering extreme performance coupled with advanced safety features. So we have curated a list of the fastest touring motorcycles from Japan.
10 Honda NT1100 - 132 MPH
As an alternative to its flagship tourer Africa Twin, Honda extended its road-biased adventure-tourer lineup with NT1100. The new bike sits comfortably between the Africa Twin and the Gold Wing, offering versatility for commuting or touring. It is powered by a 1,084 cc parallel-twin engine tweaked to deliver a peak power of 100.5 horsepower and 75 pound-feet of torque. Honda NT1100 is also surprisingly good value and easy on the pocket to run and maintain.
To enhance the touring capabilities, Honda has designed the bodywork and suspension with larger fairings and shorter suspension travel with 17-inch wheels at both front and back. The bikes come with multiple standard features, including cruise control, heated grips, panniers, and adjustable windshield.
9 Honda VFR1200X - 136 MPH
Honda has discontinued the ‘CrossTourer’ VFR1200X, however, it still stands among the fastest Japanese touring bikes. The Adventure touring bike is powered by the smooth 1,237 cc V4 engine belting out 127 horsepower and 93 pound-feet torque. You also get both 6-speed manual and automatic Dual Clutch Transmission options. Its tall stance and comfortable seating offer a sporty ride along with an upright riding position.
A large fuel tank, tall windshield, and aerodynamic fairing make VFR1200X a competent fast long-distance tourer. Additionally, Honda has also provided Selectable Torque Control, adjustable suspension, and an array of accessories to enhance comfort and performance.
8 Honda Gold Wing - 140 MPH
When it comes to long-distance touring, the Gold Wing is considered the gold standard for its cutting-edge technology and comfort. Over the years, Honda has consistently improved its flagship tourer with performance enhancements and feature additions. The latest model comes with a 1,833 cc flat six-cylinder engine capable of delivering a peak torque of 130 pound-feet and 125 horsepower. You can easily do zero-to-60 mph in under four seconds and reach a top speed of 140 mph.
Its unique comfort-oriented bodywork also aids in better aerodynamics and the tall windshield helps deflect the air away from the rider and pillion. The bike comes with a plethora of electronic support and features including a 7-inch full-color TFT and LCD instrument display, reverse and walking mode, audio system, and more. Additionally, Honda is said to be developing a self-balancing Gold Wing to avoid accidental drops.
7 Kawasaki Versys 1000 SE LT+ - 145 MPH
The Kawasaki Versys 1000 SE LT+ is the flagship adventure motorcycle from the Versys lineup offering unparalleled performance, safety, and comfort. The drivetrain of the bike has a 1,043 cc, liquid-cooled inline 4-cylinder engine churning out 75.2 pound-feet of torque. It also offers Electronic Throttle Valve control and Quick Shift for an enhanced riding experience.
This sport tourer has the unmistakable modern Kawasaki design language with a bird’s beak fender, tall windshield, and sharp fairings for enhanced aerodynamics. The large comfortable seats for both rider and pillion along with standard luggage make it ideal for long-distance touring.
6 Yamaha Tracer 9 GT+ - 149 MPH
The brand new 2023 Tracer 9 GT+ is Yamaha’s first radar-equipped motorcycle and comes with many sport touring features as standard. The bike has been made available in other parts of the world, and it is expected to be launched in the USA soon. The radar placed at the front of the bike helps with adaptive cruise control, stability control, and unified braking system features. Although the bike is powered by an 890 cc inline 3-cylinder engine offering 118 horsepower, it can easily reach a maximum speed of 149 mph.
The bike is further equipped with an advanced electronic support package including multiple riding models to choose from for different terrain. Additionally, the 7-inch TFT display offers smartphone connectivity and full-map navigation enabling you to stay connected.
5 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 SX - 155 MPH
The Kawasaki Ninja 1000 SX is a multipurpose sport touring motorcycle, which you can race around the track as well as tour long distances. It is powered by a 1,043 cc inline four-cylinder fuel-injected engine producing 140 horsepower and 81.7 pound-feet of torque.
Launched in 2020, the bike is regarded as among the fastest and most reliable touring motorcycles which can easily keep up with other higher cc bikes on the highway. Additionally, it offers a relaxed riding position with a comfortable seat and hardware for mounting luggage.
4 Suzuki GSX S1000GT+ - 164 MPH
The Suzuki GSX S1000GT+ comes with an array of additions compared to its previous version. The sport tourer comes with a K5 GSX-R derived 999 cc liquid-cooled 4-cylinder engine producing 150 horsepower with 80 pound-feet of torque.
To enhance long-distance touring Suzuki has provided a bigger fairing, comfortable seating, a large fuel tank, a more upright riding posture, and integrated side cases. It also features a 6.5-inch TFT dash with Suzuki’s mySPIN offering connectivity, navigation, weather, and music controls.
3 Kawasaki Concours 14 - 165 MPH
The Kawasaki Concours 14 is a modified version of the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14 for touring, with an elevated handlebar and taller windshield. The elevated handlebars provide you with a more upright and comfortable posture for long-distance riding. You also get saddlebags as standard fitment with the bike and an electrically adjustable windshield.
The sport tourer borrows the 1,352 cc, four-cylinder engine from Ninja ZX-14 in a different state of tune for touring requirements. With the engine producing 100.5 pound-feet of torque and 150-plus horsepower, you can expect incredible speed. Kawasaki also offers a 36-month limited warranty for added peace of mind.
2 Yamaha FJR1300ES - 172 MPH
The FJR1300ES is an ultimate sport touring motorcycle from Yamaha, which is feature loaded and offers superior long-distance touring comfort. Its 1,298 cc, liquid-cooled inline four-cylinder engine delivers 141 horsepower and 99 pound-feet of torque helping it attain a top speed of 172 mph. Additionally, the six-speed transmission features evenly spaced gear ratios for sporty riding, including a tall 6th tall gearing.
The bike comes with standard hard side cases fitted to the subframe with quick-release mounts. Furthermore, it has a glove box built into the upper fairing with a 12v outlet to charge your phones and other electrical devices. You also get factory-fitted standard heated grips for those cooler weather rides.
1 Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX SE - 209 MPH
The Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX SE sport-tourer tops the list for its incredible performance and a top speed of around 209 mph. The bike's 998 cc four-cylinder balanced supercharged engine produces 230 horsepower and 84.6 pound-feet of torque. The engine delivers balanced power optimized for both daily commuting and long-distance highway riding.
The bike was designed to provide utmost touring comfort while protecting the rider and pillion with sharp aerodynamic fairings and an effective windshield. As an update, the latest model comes with Auto Hi-Beam (AHB) and an advanced rider assist system with adaptive cruise control, blind spot detection, and forward collision warning.