Monday, May 19, 2014

Top 5 Motorcycles For Long Distance Traveling

Many people have their own riding styles and have pre-selected their prefect fit bike. Of course, the type of motorcycle they want depends on riding style and rider capability. When touring, some people may want a more laid back cruiser like a fully dressed Harley Davidson or Honda Goldwing. For me, those bikes are too heavy and not agile enough. I have put together a list of the top 5 motorcycles for touring – in my opinion.


The Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Touring is an exceptional bike. Ducati is known for their stability, comfort, and speed and this bike is no exception. Aside from its sporty looks and sleek design, the Multistrada ranks number one on my list because of its handling and balance. These characteristics make the perfect recipe for a bike that is eager to hit the twisties and hug every turn.




So I have expensive taste. However, the 1200 RT comes in second due to its cutting edge technology that is integrated into the machine: such as GPS, traction control, and a patented air/liquid cooled boxer engine. Because of the price and weight relative to the Ducati Multistrada, this bike takes second on the podium, but is still an excellent ride.




Talk about more bang for your buck, the Honda ST1300 is fast, well balanced, and sleekly designed. My dad owned this motorcycle for a couple years and my Kawasaki ZRX 1200r didn’t have a chance to keep up – around turns and on straights. Although it lacks some of the minor technologies of the BMW, it is a great contender; in fact, I could say these two bikes are tied in the world of sport touring motorcycles.





So Kawasaki has fallen a little behind in the sport touring class. Their 2014 Concourse lacks the agility and comfort of the other motorcycles. However, its price tag is much easier to swallow. At a few thousand dollars cheaper, the concourse makes the list because A.) I am a Kawasaki fanatic, and B.) The price tag gives it value.





Without a doubt, Harley Davidson has a brand name that is trustworthy and reliable. Their motorcycles are built with such quality that the aforementioned motorcycles look like toy against them. That said, the 2014 Harley Davidson Street Glide comes in last place due to its price tag and weight. Because everything is chrome and metal, the bikes weight substantially more then its competitors and has more of a cruiser feel than a sporty feel. This makes it less enjoyable around tight corners. However, if long-straight roads and flashy chrome is your style, you might want to consider this bike.

Those are my favorite sport touring motorcycles. Comment below and tell me what you are riding or what you want to ride!

3 comments:

  1. Glad to see H-D on this list. I didn't know that you rode, Randy.

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  2. The Ducati would be one cool bike to try out, but I would probably have to go with the Street Glide just for the Harley experience. I have only ridden a few street bikes in the past I would love to try out one of these!

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