10 Bikes That Redefine Comfort For Couples Who Like Long Rides

When it comes to the utmost luxury and comfort, nothing can topple the experience that stretched-out land yachts, a.k.a. touring motorcycles, offer. The cruiser-based touring bikes are the ones that hit the right spot of coziness and plush appeal. This list includes ultra-premium tourers from Harley-Davidson, Indian Motorcycle, and even Honda and BMW that not only offer the best of two-wheeled luxury for the rider, but also for the pillion.

The effort these motorcycle makers put into dialing up the comfort and luxury appeal for the pillion is commendable. However, this list also includes a few surprises, including a sub-$10,000 two-up touring bike that punches above its weight in terms of comfort for two, and a Japanese tall-riding touring bike that even manages to include a sporty side to the mix. This is a vibrant list of touring bikes that ace comfort and luxury, but also bring more to the table.

Harley-Davidson Tri Glide Ultra

Price: $37,999

Harley-Davidson

An off-beat entry on this list is this famed Harley-Davidson trike. The Tri Glide Ultra is the most expensive and powerful trike from Harley, and is a clear winner when it comes to comfort, convenience, and practicality. Thanks to its two-wheeled layout at the rear, it offers the largest luggage space among any Harleys.

Specs

Moreover, the rider and pillion also sit in utmost comfort and luxury, courtesy of its expanded footprint. Powering this three-wheeled Harley is a 1,868 cc twin-cooled V-twin producing 93 horsepower and 120 pound-feet of torque.

Indian Roadmaster

Price: $32,999

Indian Motorcycle

This couple-friendly touring bike beautifully fuses old-school charm with mile-munching comfort. The sheer dimensions of this Indian touring bike are what primarily contribute to a cozy saddle that not only keeps the rider comfortable, but also the pillion passenger. The standard top box comes with integrated back and arm support, elevating pillion comfort.

Specs

The riding ergonomics are sorted, and the rider sits uninterrupted by the equally comfortable pillion. Powering the Roadmaster is the biggest V-twin on an Indian Motorcycle. It is a seasoned air-cooled 1,890 cc V-twin that produces 126 pound-feet of torque, enough to gobble up miles all day long.

Indian Pursuit Limited

Price: $31,999

Indian Motorcycle

For about $1,000 cheaper than the aforementioned Roadmaster, Indian offers an equally comfortable yet more powerful Pursuit Limited. It is powered by a modern 1,834 cc liquid-cooled V-twin producing a commendable 126 horsepower and 133 pound-feet of torque. This land yacht has a similar wheelbase to the Roadmaster and, hence, offers a cozy seating space for both the pillion and rider.

Specs

The standard top box gives the pillion added back support, and a tall windscreen takes care of wind blast. Redefining two-up touring is the segment-first assistive feature on this American touring bike. Notable ones include Blind Spot Warning, Tailgate Warning, Rear Collision Warning, Bike Hold Control, and a combined brake system.

Harley-Davidson Street Glide Ultra

Price: $30,749

Harley-Davidson

Coming in as an affordable replacement to the coveted yet outdated Ultra Limited is the Harley-Davidson Street Glide Ultra. Apart from packing a versatile and seasoned Milwaukee-Eight 117 V-twin, this Harley is one of the coziest touring bikes for two. Despite having one of the shortest wheelbases in this lot, Harley has managed to slot into a saddle that keeps both the rider and pillion comfortable.

Specs

The riding triangle is relaxed and comfortable. The pillion is cocooned in the utmost comfort, courtesy of back and arm support integrated into the large and wide top box. Dialing the comfort levels further are features like heated seats and adjustable highway pegs. All of this from the most affordable full dresser from Harley-Davidson is commendable.

Honda Gold Wing Tour

Price: $28,700

Honda

As the only Japanese luxury touring bike with the brawn and street cred to lock horns with the legacy of Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycle, the Honda Gold Wing Tour certainly flexes its muscle. Firstly, it packs a unique yet powerful boxer six-cylinder engine that produces 125 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque. The low-slung design of this engine also lowers the center of gravity, which helps dial up this 845-pound land yacht’s riding dynamics.

Specs

Amidst all this, Honda also offers a cozy saddle for the rider and pillion, with the latter getting standard back support, courtesy of its standard top box setup. Features like a double-wishbone suspension up front and an available 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission put this Honda two-up luxury touring bike in a league of its own.

BMW K 1600 Grand America

Price: $28,680

BMW Motorrad

After Harley and Indian, BMW is the motorcycle manufacturer that offers the largest line-up of luxury touring bikes, courtesy of the K 1600 series. However, the one that fancies us is the K 1600 Grand America, which, as the name suggests, is an ode to American motorcycling culture. Moreover, it is one of two full-dressers in BMW’s arsenal that offer equal levels of comfort and luxury for both the rider and passenger.

Specs

Notable technology features that smooth this two-up luxury tourer further include a 10.25-inch TFT touchscreen with connectivity and integrated map navigation, LED headlamps with an adaptive cornering feature, three ride modes, and electronic suspension, to name a few. A tall windscreen up front and integrated rear support ensure both occupants are well accounted for in terms of comfort and luxury.

BMW R 18 Transcontinental

Price: $24,395

BMW

Despite not packing a V-twin engine, the BMW R 18 Transcontinental nails the old-school American charm, and even poses as a formidable threat to Harley and Indian, all while being just four years old! While it’s barebones when it comes to technology, this Beamer, however, doesn’t compromise on comfort for either the rider or the pillion.

Specs

The rider enjoys a relaxed triangle with a tall windscreen, eliminating windblast. The pillion also gets a fair share of comfort from the shield. Still, it is more comfortable thanks to a well-contoured back support integrated into the standard top box. Powering this Americanized BMW touring bike is a 1,802 cc boxer-twin engine that produces 91 horsepower and a substantial 120 pound-feet of torque.

BMW R 1300 RT

Price: $22,495

BMW

This is arguably the most futuristic-looking touring bike on this list. The BMW R 1300 RT is the successor to the popular R 1250 RT and is powered by a 1,300 cc boxer-twin that also finds its place in a sports bike and a popular dune-bashing ADV from BMW’s arsenal. Unlike the other full-dressers on this list, this Beamer doesn’t get a top box and comes standard with side panniers only.

Specs

However, shelling out an extra $1,345 for the Comfort Passenger Package flips the coin. It makes the R 1300 RT a sporty touring bike with elevated comfort and luxury for both rider and passenger. The base price of $22,495 makes this Beamer a VFM offering. And so, the extra accessory won’t detract from its overall value.

Kawasaki Versys 1100 SE LT

Price: $19,499

Kawasaki

Yet another unique entry to this list that is mainly populated with low-slung cruiser-based luxury tourers, the Kawasaki Versys 1100 SE LT punches above its weight by offering luxury without the price tag. For under $20,000, the amount of technological features on this Kawa is huge. Elevating comfort and luxury are features like power modes, heated grip, voice control for specific functions, and a semi-electronic suspension setup.

Specs

Despite this being a tall-riding and relatively compact touring bike, the Versys 1100 cleverly integrates a step-up saddle that offers a similar degree of comfort for both the rider and pillion. The panniers come in as standard, but

Royal Enfield Super Meteor Celestial

Price: $7,899

Jared Solomon / TopSpeed

For under $8,000, the Royal Enfield Super Meteor Celestial is a well-rounded touring-focused cruiser bike that excels at being a relatively comfortable motorcycle for two. For the price, there is no other bike that matches its two-up riding quotient.​​​​​​​

Specs

It is powered by the popular 648 cc parallel-twin engine, which is versatile enough to be plonked into a café racer, a roadster, and a souped-up version of which will also be powering the upcoming Himalayan 750 ADV. Making the Super Meteor Celestial pillion-friendly is a long and wide saddle and a cool-looking sissy bar. Touring capabilities can be dialed up with its optional hardcase saddlebags.