The common perception of touring motorcycles is that they are large boats that favor comfort over chassis dynamics and speed. That might have been the case at one point, but nowadays speed, handling, and all-day comfort are no longer strangers, today, touring motorcycles are not necessarily large and heavy, with huge fairings and couch-like seats.
Manufacturers are re-purposing sports and adventure bikes, easing riding positions, adding comfort and weather protection, and removing off-road centered features from adventure bikes, such as 21-inch front wheels, and substituting sizes for which road-specific tires are available. The modern touring bike, whether designed as a dedicated touring machine or modified from a bike from another class, is as fast as full-on sport bikes were a few years ago, with handling that wouldn’t leave you embarrassed on a track day. For many owners, speed is still a deciding factor when choosing a bike, even while comfort and practicality are essential ingredients as well.
Updated April 2023: Motorcycle manufacturers are constantly trying to outdo each other, by releasing new models and getting rid of old ones every year. And super fast touring bikes are no exception. To keep our readers up to speed on all the latest developments, we'll be updating and adding to this article from time to time.
Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello - 135 MPH
Moto Guzzi surprised us all by dropping a gorgeous and thoroughly modern touring bike in our laps in 2023. And though it continues to utilize the typical Guzzi V-twin architecture, the rest of it is wrapped in an arresting package full of modern features and technology.
But perhaps the most surprising of all, is how sporty, yet all day comfortable it is. The V-twin is blessed with 115 hp, and can get up to 135 mph when push comes to shove. But along with all that speed come the touring features we've all come to expect from premium offerings from the likes of BMW, Honda and Harley-Davidson. The windshield can be lowered or raised with a push of a button, there are fancy wind deflectors on the sides of the tank and the semi-active suspension is plush yet sporty and fully adjustable. And hey, if it's good enough for Ewan McGregor, it's good enough for us.
MV Agusta Turismo Veloce Lusso SCS - 143 MPH
MV Agusta is the king of futuristic performance motorcycles. And the Turismo Veloce Lusso SCS is a prime example of the kind of premium cappuccino their serving up to their clients. And though it may look comparatively tame, when you consider that the Rush 1000 is one of MV Agusta's other bikes, it takes a back seat to no one when it comes to producing power and speed. The 800-cc engine produces 110 hp and can give you a head rush at 143 mph.
Yamaha Tracer 900GT - 144 MPH
The Yamaha Tracer 900GT, derived from the naked MT-09, has the underpinnings of a sporty roadster with a fairing that offers good weather protection, an upright riding position, and decent seat comfort. It’s a great combination of performance, handling, comfort, and, perhaps most important of all, reasonable price. Having said all of this, Yamaha will soon update this model, so watch this space.
Ducati Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak - 155 MPH
Are you familiar with Pike's Peak? If not, perhaps you should be, as it was for the longest time, a seminal motorcycle racing event, featuring the likes of Guy Martin and many more. It has also seen a lot of accidents and even deaths over time, which inevitably caused the annual motorcycle-centric race to be canceled indefinitely.
We are sure that's not what Ducati had in mind when the named this feral version of the Multistrada V4, Pikes Peak. There was a lot of racing pedigree associated with that name, and the Multistrada V4 is definitely the motorcycle to carry that name proudly. After all, the bike does feature a 170 hp V-four that can speed up to 155 mph, when called upon to do so. And if that's the bike you're taking to tour on, you won't be bored a single mile of your trip.
BMW K 1600 B - 162 MPH
The BMW K 1600 GTL is a monster of a bike that still manages to have excellent chassis dynamics in an all-singing, all-dancing touring bike configuration. But it’s large and it feels like it. Then there’s the K 1600 B, the ‘bagger’ version of the K 1600 range. Powered by the same sublime six-cylinder, 1,600cc, 160-horsepower engine, it just loves to rev and makes the most intoxicating sound in motorcycling, out of all character to the rest of the bike.
At 476 pounds, it’s not a featherweight, but the suspension is configured to give not only an excellent ride on the highway but also control the bulk with finesse when the road twists and turns. Comfort is second-to-none, meaning those long-distance journeys can be both relaxing and fast at the same time.
Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+ - 164 MPH
Suzuki is no stranger to both touring and sport bikes. And it was a no-brainer to take the discontinued GSX-S1000F and turn it up to 11. The GSX-S1000GT+ holds a GSX-R, 999-cc beast of an engine that will get you to 164 mph, if you can hold on to the handlebars tight enough. It also has the perfect features to be an all day, comfortable touring bike for two, as the seating is plush for the rider and the passenger. In addition, the hard luggage comes standard as do the windshield, large capacity gas tank and LED lighting.
Kawasaki Concours 14 - 165 MPH
Brilliant, almost old-school, big Japanese four-cylinder machine, which is in essence the Kawasaki ZX-14R with a few more concessions to touring. Really, the ZX-14R was already a great long-distance motorcycle, unless you couldn’t hack the very forward-leaning riding position that is admittedly a lot roomier than an out-and-out sport bike but still not all-day relaxing.
The Concours 14 addresses that issue with higher-set handlebars and a taller and larger screen to direct air over the rider’s head. Panniers were fitted, and with that, the big and beefy Kawasaki was re-designated a sport touring bike. How effective it was is a matter of opinion, but what isn’t in doubt is its speed and handling abilities.
BMW S 1000 XR - 170 MPH
While the BMW S 1000 RR has had praise heaped on it from every quarter, the touring-biased S 1000 XR has gone largely under the radar, which is a pity as it's a devastatingly fast and dynamic touring machine. Following the Multistrada in terms of its tall, adventure-like styling and stance, the XR is a disarming mixture of elements.
Comfort and wind protection is excellent while the chassis, suspension, and brakes are straight off the racetrack. If you are used to lazy, rumbling V- and boxer-twins giving a relaxing soundtrack to your touring, then the scream of a high-performance inline-four and the punch in the back it provides feels out of character, but that is soon forgotten in the mad rush of acceleration and top speed. The engine is de-tuned to give a broader spread of torque and is around 30 horsepower down on its superbike stablemate, but you’d never notice it.
Yamaha FJR1300ES - 172 MPH
Almost exactly the same as the Kawasaki, here is an old-school, big-engined sports-touring bike that is much more than the sum of its parts. The fact that the Yamaha FJR1300ES has been around for over 20 years says much about its popularity, although it is one of those bikes that are easy to overlook, mainly because it goes about its business without much fanfare from Yamaha.
This is a shame as the FJR1300ES has a lot going for it: creamy smooth power from the 1298cc, inline-four cylinder engine, large and comfortable seats, good wind protection, and excellent luggage. Again, like the Kawasaki, chassis and suspension behavior is out of all proportion to the size and purpose of the bike, and it is unlikely there is a more entertaining way of disposing of the miles.
KTM 1290 Super Duke GT - 187 MPH
Take one of the maddest naked sport bikes on the market, slap a fairing and a more upright riding position on it, along with a set of panniers, and you have KTM’s idea of a touring bike, which it calls the 1290 Super Duke GT. And, thank goodness they had the idea! Never have comfort and performance sat together so well but also so unlikely.
The seat might still be KTM-hard, but it is wide and supportive. Similarly, the riding position is on the sportier side of touring, but the wind protection is excellent, and you just don’t seem to get tired, no matter how long you ride. But, it's the performance that leaves you breathless. 0-60mph takes a decidedly non-touring bike-like 2.6 seconds and the thrust doesn’t let up until you have reached a (governed!) 187 mph. At that rate, you are circumnavigating the world in a week, let alone a continent.