Top 2 Touring Motorcycles for 2023
Any motorcyclist will tell you there’s nothing like experiencing the countryside aboard two wheels. But it could also be argued that any motorcycle, be it a Panigale V4 R or a Honda Trail125, can be used to that end, and to muddy the waters even more, the touring segment has continued to splinter into ever-more specialized segments. You got your sport-tourers, your big-boat luxury tourers, your adventure-tourers, your baggers, etc., etc., so here we’re just aiming to round up a couple of examples from the 'Long Haul Luxury' and 'Adventuring On' categories.
Although this list is just the tip of the iceberg, the good news is that today’s purpose-built tourers are more capable and better equipped for the long haul than ever, boasting modern features like ABS, traction control, and rider modes, and at the upper end, even more advanced systems such as adaptive cruise control, heated seats, electronically adjustable windscreens, plus turn-by-turn navigation systems, to name just a few.
1. Long Haul Luxury
Any compilation of touring bikes is bound to have a Honda Gold Wing near the top of its list.
2023 Honda Gold Wing Tour Automatic DCT | $29,600
A perennial rider and magazine editor favorite, the Honda Gold Wing has been soldiering on in one form or another for more than four decades. But today’s Gold Wing is a fully modern machine, and it’s received regular technological and mechanical updates that have helped keep it comfortably atop the long-haul category.
Key attributes include a 1,833cc flat six-cylinder engine good for 90 hp on our dyno, and an electronically adjustable double-wishbone fork, both of which contribute to an uncannily smooth power delivery and ultra-stable footing, even while fully leaned over. On the Tour Automatic DCT model, Honda’s Dual-Clutch Transmission will do the shifting for you, but for 2023 you can also choose from the Gold Wing DCT (auto shift, no top trunk), the Gold Wing Tour (with top trunk but no DCT), and the top-of-the-line Gold Wing Tour Automatic DCT Airbag, which adds an airbag to the auto shift and top trunk. All trims carry a full-color 7-inch TFT screen and Apple CarPlay integration, four ride modes, dual disc brakes with ABS, a 5.5-gallon tank, and LED lighting. Add an electrically adjustable windshield, keyless ignition, lockable luggage, cruise control, standard navigation, and even a low-speed reverse feature and it’s easy to see why the Wing is still a top choice for touring riders everywhere.
2. Adventuring On
Ducati’s Multistrada comes in several forms, but the new V4 Rally ticks all the long-distance touring boxes.
2023 Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally | $29,995
Originally conceived as a sport-touring bike, the first Multistrada morphed into a light-duty adventure-touring rig, and then a couple of years ago, reemerged as a hot rod in the ADV segment with a punched-out and all-new V4 S.
That bike was a more capable all-arounder, but with the new 2023 V4 Rally we finally see the bigger 7.9-gallon fuel tank, 19/17 spoked tubeless wheels, longer-travel suspension, and (at last) hard luggage we longed for as standard equipment on a true adventure-tourer. All the boxes are checked here: The 170 hp V-4 Granturismo engine is more than capable; the long-travel (7.9 inches) suspension is fully adjustable front and rear; and the rest of the spec sheet is thoroughly up to date with a full suite of modern tech—four ride modes, lean-sensitive ABS and traction control, and even adaptive cruise control and blind spot detection. In short, the V4 Rally is the best-suited Multistrada for long-distance, two-up travel. The bigger tank gives it more range, its windscreen is taller and wider than that on the V4 S, and it serves up more spacious passenger accommodations.
The 2023 Ducati Multistrada V4 Rally comes to North America in one version: Adventure Travel & Radar, equipped with adaptive cruise control and blind spot detection, aluminum side cases, and heated grips and seats. MSRP is a lofty $29,995.
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