Looking for the best of the best when it comes to touring motorcycles? Something that arguably does it all? To help you decide we’ve compiled 10 of the best new options you can waltz into your nearest dealership and buy!

These are the 10 best sports touring motorcycles on the market today, bikes that combine long-distance comfort with the ability to tuck in and knuckle down on the twistier roads.

As such we’re not including heavyweight, bespoke tourers such as Honda’s GoldWing or BMW’s six-cylinder K1600GTL or US-style full-dressers from Harley and Indian. Nor are we including dual-purpose adventure bikes which are designed to go both on and off-road, although some adventure sports and adventure tourers, which, despite their names, have no true off-road ability, do make the cut.

It’s also worth noting that this is a purely subjective list, and you could argue that any of these deserve to be at the number 1 spot – so let us know what you think. You can, however, rest assured that you’ll be a happy long-distance bunny in the saddle on any of our picks.

We’ll cover the basic info, specs, price, and what sets all of these popular picks apart from one another. So, without further ado, is our Top 10.

Engine Size	Power	Torque	Weight
798cc Triple	113hp	87Nm	214kg

Brand new for 2025, the Tiger Sport 800 is a brilliantly versatile all-rounder that has the bonus of being affordably priced.

A bigger brother to 2024’s Tiger Sport 660, like that bike it’s based on Triumph’s 660 Trident roadster and, where the 660 was conceived as a rival to Yamaha’s popular Tracer 7, the 800 version has its sights set more on the even more successful Yamaha Tracer 9.

The result has a brilliantly flexible and charismatic three-cylinder engine, a typically fine-handling chassis with uprated brakes and suspension compared to the 660, enough upright comfort including an adjustable screen for high-mileages and also the option of colour-matched hard luggage.

 All of that, for a launch price of just over £11,000, make it a contender for one of the best bikes of 2025.

• Strong bunch of tech features
• Affordable running costs

• Limited cruise control functionality
• Not very off-road focused

Engine Size	Power	Torque	Weight
1300cc Twin	145hp	149Nm	245kg

This one may be argued as being a little premature for, as we write, the R 1300 RS is so new we haven’t actually ridden it yet.

But as it’s an update on the already excellent R 1250 RS but this time based around the new 145bhp boxer-twin which debuted in the excellent R 1300 GS adventure and is from touring experts BMW we have absolutely no doubt that, starting at £13,700, it will be brilliant.

The RS is traditionally the sports-tourer variant of BMW’s big boxer twin family – between the R roadster and RT full tourer – and dates back to the ground breaking R100RS of 1976.

The preceding R 1250 GS was already a great sports tourer with 136bhp, shaft drive, a ‘just right’ riding position and lots of handy touring goodies such as adjustable screen, heated grips and luggage. This new-for-2025 1300 raises the bar significantly with the new 145bhp engine, lighter, sharper chassis and new styling.

Plus, of course, being a BMW, if you want more ‘touring’, there’s the new R 1300 RT or, if you fancy a more ‘adventure sports’ version, BMW also has its four-cylinder, S1000R-derived S1000XR.

• Impressive new engine
• Super customisable

• Small tank
• Few additional features will be an extra cost

Engine Size	Power	Torque	Weight
998cc Supercharged Four	197hp	137Nm	267kg

Sports-tourers simply don’t get any more explosive, extravagant or, pretty much, as expensive as Kawasaki’s astounding, supercharged Ninja H2 SX SE.

First launched in 2019, it’s the slightly more sane, sports-tourer version of Kawasaki’s bonkers supercharged H2 family which first debuted as the H2 sports bike in 2016. In this form it has shades of Kawasaki’s conventional Ninja SX sports-tourer in terms of styling and riding position, a slightly detuned 197bhp version of the whistlingly-addictive supercharged engine and, in this top spec SE trim, all the luxurious goodies in terms of rider electronics, semi-active suspension and so on that Kawasaki could throw at it.

The result is a ballistically fast, but also decently practical sports tourer – if you can afford it. In this top spec trim, it starts at well over £25,000 which has dented its sales success to the extent that it’s now actually been dropped for 2025, although there are plenty of brand-new unsold examples still loitering in dealers.

On the plus side there are also plenty of discounted deals to be had – we’ve seen them with discounts of over £7000 taking them down to under £18,000. 

• Advanced rider features are a +
• Class engine

• Very expensive for what you get
• On the heavier side

Engine Size	Power	Torque	Weight
1099cc Four	134hp	112.5Nm	235kg

Kawasaki’s famous Ninja returned as a sports-tourer in 2011 based on the then Z1000 super naked and with its great versatility, decent handling and performance and exceptional value proved a huge hit – so much so that’s it’s remained a best seller for Kawasaki and has been repeatedly updated ever since.

The latest updated for 2025 sees the previously 1043cc in-line four motor enlarged to 1099cc, but peak power is actually down from 140bhp to 134 but with improved midrange and tractability. There’s also improved fuel consumption, a smattering of detail improvements and a new SE model which gets Brembo brakes and more

Otherwise, however, it’s still the brilliantly sporty all-rounder at a decent price that it always was. Prices currently start at just £12,249 for the base model, £13,999 for the SE with, on top of that, a variety of versions available for each ranging from Performance to luggage-equipped Tourer

Nor does it end there. If your preference for a more upright, ‘adventure sports’ style, that may offer more pillion comfort, Kawasaki also offer the very similar Versys 1100, which is another great sports-tourer, with similar options, too! Out with the touring treatment with a sporty flair.

Before we cover this one, though, there is also the Versys range from Kawasaki for those who want a more upright touring experience.

• Addition of the new Brembo & Ohlins
• Upgraded engine

• Wish we saw a bit more of a facelift for 2025

Engine Size	Power	Torque	Weight
1350cc V-Twin	188hp	145Nm	228kg

Another one that’s so new we haven’t ridden it yet – but also one that, like the BMW R 1300 RS, is a development of a previously brilliant sports-tourer so we have no doubt that it’ll be excellent as well.

Produced by Austrian off-road experts KTM, the new-for-2025 1390 Super Duke GT is the successor to the previously brilliant 1290 Super Duke GT which in turn was, in 2016, a sport-tourer version (with fairing, more relaxed riding position and luggage options) of the potent 1290 Super Duke super naked. That bike added comfort and practicality to an already thrilling bike, then was improved with new fairing, TFT dash and so on in 2019.

This new 1390 (actually 1350cc) version replaces that and is based on the all new 1390 Super Duke introduced in 2024. The result is faster, more sophisticated, better equipped and better looking and probably one of the most potent sports-tourers of all.

• All-new display
• A really exciting newcomer to the category

• Can we hope for a redesigned headlight for '26?

Engine Size	Power	Torque	Weight
1042cc V-Twin	133hp	104Nm	233kg

Celebrating 100 years of Guzzi, the Italian manufacturer has learnt from their stylish past to create what they think is the touring motorcycle to take them forward for the next 100 years – and stuck self-deploying wings on the S model!

It’s a truly stunning motorcycle, and with prices starting at £16,450 (£13,650 for the base model) it’s also not so bad on the wallet – factoring in the usual exclusive pricing from the eagle brand.

Smart semi-active suspension from Ohlins provides top level road feel, heated grips and a quick shifter come as standard, plus the Bluetooth smartphone connectivity. A transverse 1042cc V-twin powers the motorcycle, giving you 113 bhp and 77ft.lb torque at its peak via the shaft drive.

So, a balance of poise and style, with tech galore, lands this eagle at fifth in our list.

• Little to no pressure on your wrists
• Truly sleek in its appearance

• Taller riders may find the knee position uncomfortable

Engine Size	Power	Torque	Weight
999cc Four	150hp	106Nm	226kg

The GT is effectively Suzuki’s version of Kawasaki’s best-selling Ninja 1000 SX.

Suzuki’s budget naked, the GSX-S1000, was updated in 2021 with this faired, sports-tourer version arriving the following year, initially for £12,499 (there was also a GT Plus version, including hard luggage set, for £13,599) which was enough to make it the top-selling sports tourer of 2022.

It's also more than just a naked bike that has a fairing stuck on the front. Its GSX-R1000-derived 999cc inline-4 is good for 150 bhp and 78ft.lb, the 19-litre tank for 180 miles, there are adjustable KYB forks, configurable riding modes and a full-colour TFT dash. It now starts at £12,899 with the Plus version from £13,999.

Then, also similar to Kawasaki with its Versys 1000, Suzuki added the GSX-S1000GX model in 2024 which is a slightly ‘tall-roader’ variant with longer travel, semi-active suspension, roomier, more upright riding position and so on.

For the price, both are pretty good contenders for a rider looking for sports-tourer riding, with performance to boot.

• Extremely good in the wet
• Looks great

• Wish the tank was a bit bigger

Engine Size	Power	Torque	Weight
1158cc V4	167hp	125Nm	232kg

It’d be tempting to exclude the Multistrada from this list as its ostensibly an ‘adventure’ bike rather than a pure sports-tourer. But in ‘S’ guise, like Triumph’s Tiger GT, Kawasaki’s Versys and BMW’s XRs, it has no off-road ambitions and is also such a brilliant sports-tourer it has to be included here.

Again, subtly updated for 2025, there are, as always, plenty of options for the Multistrada (which means ‘all-roads’ in Italian), with some pricier variations including the V4 Pikes Peak and V4 Rally. The base V4 currently starts at £17,695 with the uprated S (with semi-active suspension, radar and more) from £21,495, which may sound steep but, believe us, is worth every penny. Besides, if your budget can’t quite stretch that far, also new for 2025 is Ducati’s new Multistrada V2, starting at £13,995.

But, sticking with the V4 S for our list, that powerhouse 1158cc V4 Granturismo engine has 170 bhp and 92ft.lb for true rocketship power on any road. It’s well-decked out for long tours, with a main valve-clearance service interval extended to only be required after 60,000 km, and oil service intervals at 15,000 km or 24 months. It has the winning Ducati DNA within and is serious fun on the roads.

Part of that is down to the state-of-the-art electronics package, with rider aids including front-and-rear radar systems, top-spec electronic riding assistance, electronic suspension, and the usual rider modes and more – all wrapped up in a package that weighs in at 232 kg with a 22-litre tank.

• Packed with some great advanced features
• One of the best-looking tourers out there

• Top-end budget
• Windscreen could be better

Engine Size	Power	Torque	Weight
1160cc Triple	148hp	130Nm	246kg

Like Ducati’s Multistrada family, Triumph’s Tiger range is ostensibly an adventure bike but has models to suit all appetites, with the 1200 T-plane triple being amongst the best out there right now (other options are the 900 variants, or even the Tiger Sport 660) – but we’ve gone for its road-biased GT Pro version, which is currently £17,295.

(It's worth noting that there are other Tiger 1200 options, with the off-road biased Rally, and the Explorer spec models which have 30 Litre tanks – perfect for long distance rides but the GT Pro is the top spec, road-biased version.)

Virtually everything was updated in 2022, most notably the chassis and electronics, with an all-new 1160cc triple that has 148 bhp and 96ft.lb on tap and also gained top spec features such as Blind Spot Detection, semi-active suspension and cornering ABS & Traction Control to name but a few. 

• Comes equipped with a heated seat
• Ride quality is 10/10

• Users have reported Bluetooth issues

Engine Size	Power	Torque	Weight
890cc Triple	117hp	93Nm	223kg

We’ve reached the summit of our touring top 10 adventure, and at the peak is the Yamaha Tracer 9 GT+ – which again was already our best sports-tourer but like many of the machines here has been improved further for 2025.

With a superb crossplane triple engine, floating panniers, and raucous attitude, it’s a top-spec and top-performing motorcycle with a brilliant mix of performance, practicality, spec and value that makes it seriously popular, too. Even the styling has been improved for 2025.

The standard GT now starts at £14,354, while the ‘+’ is now £17,004. That may sound a lot, but you get a brilliantly sorted engine and chassis with all the gadgets you can think of, including radar (which feeds the assisted cruise and braking), upgraded quickshifter, electronic suspension, TFT dash and more.

Other specs include the 18.7-litre tank which provides a claimed 200-mile range, a 223 kg wet weight and it delivers a sporty ride feel yet is comfortable enough for long days in the saddle. In short, whatever level of spec you want, the Tracer 9 remains the complete touring package.

• That CP3 engine
• Smooth power and a dream to ride

• Seat can be uncomfortable on longer journeys
• Bit vibey at 75mph +

So there you have it, here our my top ten best tourers for 2025!

See you for the next one...