If you enjoy touring with your partner and having fun on the weekends, you’d need two motorcycles at a minimum. But not all of us have the time, money, or space to manage two motorcycles. Between cleaning the chain every week, regular service, and other tasks, you might end up not giving enough time to your partner, which would be counterproductive.
That doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice performance or pillion comfort. You just need to pick a bike that can handle both duties without much struggle. Given how far bikes have come, such motorcycles are not hard to come by. There are even full-dress tourers now that can get down and dirty in corners! So, here are ten such motorcycles that you can take on solo adventures as well as two-up tours.
To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from authoritative sources, such as Indian Motorcycles, Kawasaki, and Honda Powersports. The models are listed based on their starting prices, from lowest to highest.
Royal Enfield Himalayan 450
Starting Price: $5,999
In the sub-500cc adventure segment, there’s hardly anything more balanced than the Himalayan 450, to the point where it might make you wonder why you’d ever need anything else. When you want to have fun, you can take it off-roading and exploit all that Harris Performance’s chassis and suspension have to offer. When the mood strikes to tour, add your bags, and the Himalayan 450 is good to go for miles. The new Sherpa engine has more than enough pep to keep up with highway speeds, while the suspension keeps things planted.
Performance Specs
|
Engine Type |
Single-cylinder |
|---|---|
|
Displacement |
452cc |
|
Power Output |
39.5 HP @ 8,000 RPM |
|
Torque Output |
29.5 LB-FT @ 5,500 RPM |
|
Seat Height |
31.7 in. (lowest position) |
|
Curb Weight |
432 LBS |
Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 Celestial
Starting Price: $7,899
The Super Meteor 650 offers an incredible cruiser package, powered by a lovely parallel-twin engine that delivers refined, linear power with ample low- to mid-range torque. It feels calm and relaxed at highway speeds, even if you’re with a pillion. The bike adds to that with neutral handling and relaxed ergonomics. And for touring, the Celestial adds a touring windscreen to keep the wind off your chest and a pillion backrest to give a bit of support to your pillion. Not to forget, it has a proper big bike road presence, so there shouldn’t be any lack of space for your saddlebags, too. It’s a terrific cruiser that can handle both long tours and weekend rides up a mountain.
Performance Specs
|
Engine Type |
Parallel-twin |
|---|---|
|
Displacement |
648cc |
|
Power Output |
46 HP @ 7,250 RPM |
|
Torque Output |
38.57 LB-FT @ 5,650 RPM |
|
Seat Height |
29.1 in. |
|
Curb Weight |
513.3 LBS |
Kawasaki Versys 650
Starting Price: $10,099
If the identity crisis came with two wheels, it would be the Kawasaki Versys 650. It sits somewhere between an adventure tourer and a sport tourer, but that’s a good thing, as it can be whatever you want it to be. The Ninja 650-derived engine and 17-inch wheels allow you to have fun in the corners, while the tall windscreen, relaxed ergonomics, and large seats make it excellent on the highway. The long-travel suspension also allows you to go over rough roads without dropping to first gear. This will never blow your mind, but it can take you wherever you and your pillion want without any complaints.
Performance Specs
|
Engine Type |
Parallel-twin |
|---|---|
|
Displacement |
649cc |
|
Power Output |
67 HP @ 8,500 PRM |
|
Torque Output |
44.8 LB-FT @ 7,000 RPM |
|
Seat Height |
33.3 in. |
|
Curb Weight |
482.9 LBS |
Triumph Tiger Sport 800
Starting Price: $12,645
If you want something like the Versys 650 in a sportier package, look towards the Tiger Sport 800. What makes this bike so good is its inline-triple engine, which is known for its versatile character with strong mid-range torque and high-end pull. Compared to the Tiger Sport 660, this 800 also has 33 more horsepower and an upgraded suspension. It rounds this out with cruise control and a bidirectional quickshifter. Know that, while you can do a two-up tour on this bike, it leans slightly more toward the sporty side.
Performance Specs
|
Engine Type |
Inline-triple |
|---|---|
|
Displacement |
798cc |
|
Power Output |
113 HP @ 10,750 RPM |
|
Torque Output |
70 LB-FT @ 8,250 RPM |
|
Seat Height |
32.7 in. |
|
Curb Weight |
471 LBS |
Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+
Starting Price: $14,299
The Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+ is one of the finest examples of sports tourers currently on sale today. It undercuts most of its competition while bringing a surprising level of comfort and performance. For starters, it takes its inline-four engine from the Gixxer superbike, giving you access to 150 horsepower. Additionally, Suzuki says that the superbike-derived frame handles corners with ease. Meanwhile, the suspension and bodywork are designed for the long haul, with a large windscreen up front, standard side cases, and large seats. This is perhaps the closest you can get to a touring bike without compromising on sporty performance.
Performance Specs
|
Engine Type |
Inline-four |
|---|---|
|
Displacement |
999cc |
|
Power Output |
150 HP |
|
Torque Output |
79.6 LB-FT |
|
Seat Height |
31.9 in. |
|
Curb Weight |
498 LBS |
Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES
Starting Price: $17,599
The Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES is a more road-biased version of the standard model, and while it sacrifices a bit of its off-road prowess, it more than makes up for it with on-road comfort. Credit goes to its Showa EERA semi-active suspension, which adapts to road surfaces on the fly, ensuring the bike stays composed at all times. Yes, even when you’re touring with a pillion. The package is only made better by its sub-$18k price tag. Put simply, the Adventure Sports ES is a complete globe-trotting package without being too expensive.
Performance Specs
|
Engine Type |
Parallel-twin |
|---|---|
|
Displacement |
1,083cc |
|
Power Output |
100.5 HP @ 7,500 RPM |
|
Torque Output |
82.6 LB-FT @ 5,500 RPM |
|
Seat Height |
32.9 in. (low position) |
|
Curb Weight |
535 LBS |
BMW R 1300 GS
Starting Price: $20,275
Ever since its inception, the BMW GS line has set standards for the segment, and it continues to do so with the R 1300 GS. This is the most polished GS ADV yet, perfect for all kinds of adventure. It still features a boxer-twin architecture, known for its versatility and reliability, with ample power for long hours on the highway. Meanwhile, its EVO Telelever/Paralever suspension system works together to ensure comfort on all terrains, made better by the optional DSA electronic suspension. And if you think it can’t handle a bit of mountain fun, Greg Mansell would like to have a word with you.
Performance Specs
|
Engine Type |
Boxer-twin |
|---|---|
|
Displacement |
1,300cc |
|
Power Output |
145 HP @ 7,750 RPM |
|
Torque Output |
110 LB-FT @ 6,500 RPM |
|
Seat Height |
33.4 in. |
|
Curb Weight |
502 LBS |
Honda Gold Wing Tour
Starting Price: $28,700
When discussing two-up touring, we can’t forget the granddaddy of touring motorcycles: the Gold Wing Tour. This legendary motorcycle offers everything you’d ever need from your touring bike, including a butter-smooth flat-six engine, couch-like comfort for you and your pillion, and plenty of storage space. It builds upon that with electronic suspension, Walking Mode, cruise control, a complete infotainment system, and much more. Surprisingly, Honda describes this as a performance-first tourer that can handle corners and spirited rides, too, thanks to its double-wishbone front suspension, low center of gravity, and optimized chassis geometry. It’s a business-class experience that makes the near $30k price tag look value for money.
Performance Specs
|
Engine Type |
Flat-six |
|---|---|
|
Displacement |
1,833cc |
|
Power Output |
124.8 HP @ 5,500 RPM |
|
Torque Output |
125.3 LB-FT @ 4,500 RPM |
|
Seat Height |
29.3 in. |
|
Curb Weight |
866 LBS |
Indian Pursuit Dark Horse 112
Starting Price: $37,999
Spend over $30k, and you get into the serious American touring category, and few full-dressers beat the Pursuit Dark Horse. It is powered by a 126-horsepower Powerplus 112 V-twin engine, making for effortless highway cruising. Ergonomically, the scooped-up saddle promises to offer decent support for the rider, while the massive top case doubles up as a couch for your pillion. It builds on this with a massive fairing for wind protection.
Look deeper, and you’ll find a comprehensive list of features, starting with a massive TFT display and an optional 100-watt PowerBand audio system. There are also numerous rider aids, over 36 gallons of storage, and Brembo brakes. While this Indian has the power to have some fun on the road, you do sacrifice a sporty character for your pillion’s comfort.
Performance Specs
|
Engine Type |
Powerplus V-Twin |
|---|---|
|
Displacement |
1,834cc |
|
Power Output |
126 HP |
|
Torque Output |
133 LB-FT @ 3,600 RPM |
|
Seat Height |
26.5 in. |
|
Curb Weight |
901 LBS |
Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide
Starting Price: $45,999
If you must have a comfortable American tourer without sacrificing performance, the CVO Street Glide is right up your alley. This is one of the most luxurious Harley-Davidson bikes ever, combining timeless bagger style with premium features and technology. It’s powered by a Milwaukee-Eight 121 VVT engine, offering commanding power for both highway cruising and sporty riding. The motor company also claims the suspension is plush on the highway while maintaining confidence in the corners.
It builds on that with a 12.3-inch TFT display, a powerful Rockford Fosgate audio system, and cornering-enabled rider aids. Finally, there’s the custom-styling that’s simply unmissable on the road. While $45,000 is a lot of money for a bike, this is as high-performance as you can get without sacrificing comfort for your pillion. You might still have to add a pillion backrest, but that’s spare change compared to the bike’s price tag.
Performance Specs
|
Engine Type |
Milwaukee-Eight VVT 121 V-twin |
|---|---|
|
Displacement |
1,983cc |
|
Power Output |
115 HP @ 4,500 RPM |
|
Torque Output |
139 LB-FT @ 3,000 RPM |
|
Seat Height |
26.7 in. |
|
Curb Weight |
838 LBS |