Best Sports-Tourer Motorcycles for Long Rides in 2025

Getting ready to go on a bike that is not only fun to ride but also comfortable over miles? Sports-tourers motorcycles are a combination of the two worlds. They provide you with speed and sport handling that a race bike offers, but with the comfort and space that you require when going on a long journey. This guide is ideal for you if you love touring and riding fast.

In this article, we will consider the 10 best sports-tourer motorcycles in 2025 and compare them based on their suitability for long rides. Before that, let’s talk about the features that make a great sports-touring bike suitable for long rides.

A great sports-touring bike must possess several features, such as:

• A large gas tank to ensure riders don’t need to stop for a refill too often.

• It has to provide a good level of comfort.

• The seat should be thick and wide for the rider and the passenger if the rider chooses to go two-up.

• It must offer a riding position that is comfortable for your back, arms, and shoulders.

Wind protection is also crucial on a good sports-tourer bike. Storage and good bags help you carry what you need on a long tour. The engine must also have the potential to deliver good low-end power so you can cruise all day without any stress.

An exceptional long-haul sports tourer must have excellent brakes and steering to ensure a secure ride. The frame and shocks provide a smooth ride, reducing body strain. The best tech features, such as cruise mode and intelligent shifting, make long days on the saddle easier. Now, we are going to rank the top 10 sports-tourer motorcycles in 2025.

The BMW S1000XR is at the pinnacle when it comes to raw speed and touring technology. It is loaded with high-end equipment, more than any other sports tourer.

The S1000XR is powered by a 999 cc inline-four-cylinder engine capable of producing 170 hp at 11,000 rpm. This is what most sports tourers don’t deliver. This motor also delivers 114 Nm of torque, making it an ideal long-distance cruiser. You have the ease of power throughout the rev range. Riders can enjoy a steady ride, and the grunt is available whenever needed.

The frame of the BMW S1000XR is an intelligent blend of steel and alloy, making it light yet rigid. The S1000XR weighs 227 kg, which is not too light, but still very nimble, considering it is not a small bike. The dual Brembo calipers with 320 mm front discs do the main job in stopping this two-wheel sports tourer with real force.

The next-gen tech package installed on the BMW S1000XR is what makes this bike the best option on the list. Riders have intelligent adaptive ease control that memorizes your speed and the road. The braking system is linked, and both the front and rear work together. The S1000XR has cruise control for long freeway trips. The seat is also very spacious for both the rider and the passenger.

The ride quality feels incredible because the semi-active forks and shocks adjust to the type of roads. When in Tour mode, the shocks feel smooth and soft. Turn the bike to Sport mode, and it becomes a quick, fun machine.

The BMW S1000XR is difficult to resist as a bike. It is capable of all-day highway riding and canyon carving. The motorcycle may seem too costly at first, but the longevity and speed will justify the price. This machine demonstrates that a sports tourer may be a long-range monster and a racer on the track.

The new Kawasaki Versys 1100 SE LT is designed to keep the rider from getting tired even after a week of riding. This bike has been built to offer the ideal combination of speed and comfort.

The Versys 1100 SE LT has a 1,099 cc inline-four-cylinder engine. It delivers 133 hp at 9,000 rpm and 111.86 Nm of torque at 7,600 rpm. The real victory in this case is the updated gearing that Kawasaki installed on this bike. The fifth and sixth gears are now longer, indicating you are cruising at low RPM on the freeway. The lower RPM reduces the amount of buzz to your hands, feet, and the rear end, which is a huge plus on all-day trips.

What makes the Kawasaki Versys 1100 SE LT different is the emphasis on touring features. The seat is wide and is decently cushioned, allowing riders and passengers to sit comfortably on the bike. The riding position is upright, not putting any pressure on the back or the neck. Riding on tough roads does not jostle you, thanks to the long-travel forks and the rear shock that has been tuned.

The Versys 1100 SE has 5.5 gallons of fuel tank capacity, along with smart fuel utilization. You can extend the range to more than 200 miles per tank. The windscreen is tall and can be adjusted at four positions without the use of tools. Heated grips are standard, and therefore, cold-weather trips are not a pain.

The Versys 1100 SE LT is available with Kawasaki-built electronic control suspension. This tech feature detects the road and switches between hard and soft. You also receive a nice TFT display, which displays the map and phone details. Hard saddlebags are also installed, which are easy to pack. They have enough space to easily accommodate your gear.

The Versys 1100 SE LT is the best option for a rider wishing to go on a ride on Friday and return on Sunday. It covers long miles with pleasure while keeping you fresh.

The Suzuki GSX-S1000GT is a real game-changer for the Japanese bike maker. This bike is an excellent bike with a superbike engine incorporated into a sports-touring frame. It is fast, precise, and crafted with real touring ability.

The GSX-S1000GT has its core component of a 999 cc liquid-cooled, inline-four engine, which is borrowed from the GSX-R1000 race bike. It produces 152 hp of horsepower and provides wide, smooth torque that kicks hard between 2,000 rpm and all the way up. The engine comes equipped with a quick shift gearbox, which allows riders to switch up or down without delay.

The frame of the GSX-S1000GT is a light and stiff alloy twin spar. The seat is comfortable and wide, perfect for long-day rides. The one distinguished feature of this bike is its pure touring kit. It has hard-shell saddlebags that could fit a whole helmet. They do not shake off or rattle even when riding at high speeds. The windscreen is wide and high and provides good wind protection. You also have the standard cruise control on this bike to ensure a comfortable cruising experience on open roads.

The Suzuki GSX-S1000GT is both nimble and fast on the road. It is easy to flick, thanks to its lightweight frame. The motor is hard pulling, but it still remains smooth even with the pillion on board and bags loaded. The fuel consumption is also quite decent.

The GSX-S10000GT is a bike that attracts riders who desire a real sporty feel and speed, without sacrificing long rides.

The KTM 1290 Super Duke GT is not shy when it comes to speed. It is the machine for riders who desire the raw speed in a tour-ready frame. This powerful build leans towards sport thrills, yet it can also take you on tours.

The bodywork contains a massive 1,301 cc V-Twin engine with a wild 175 hp. The torque it produces reaches 141 Nm, which translates to quite a pushy low-end. The motor is Euro5+, which means it runs cleaner. KTM has provided the best bits that ensure the motor requires fewer service stop intervals.

The KTM 1290 Super Duke GT has a 23L gas tank capacity. Therefore, you can blast for hours without running out of gas. This comes in handy in rough areas. The tank itself protects your legs against the wind, and this contributes to better touring comfort.

The 1290 Super Duke GT’s steel trellis frame is lightweight, yet strong. There is a 320 mm single disc with Brembo four-piston caliper upfront and a single 240 mm Brembo twin-piston caliper at the rear. There is also a Supermoto Ride mode that deactivates the rear-wheel ABS so you can slide the rear wheel when you are on technical terrain.

The semi-active suspension is where the KTM excels in the field of touring. It gets itself familiarized with the road and becomes soft and firm where necessary. It also has cruise control when riding long freeway trips. The seat on the KTM 1290 Super Duke GT is high and firm, and the riding position is half sporty and half touring-oriented.

The 1290 Super Duke GT is a fast bike. The engine prefers high RPM and, therefore, you must be prepared to deal with its superquick nature. One thing to note here is that the KTM 1290 Super Duke GT is more of a race-oriented bike than some of its competitors. It means that this bike has fewer touring-biased touches and features than pure sports touring bikes.

However, if you like to ride hard and do long range, then this is your machine. The KTM does a good job of convincing that a tour bike can be just as fast as a race bike.

The Yamaha Tracer 9 GT+ is among the most advanced sports touring bikes on the market. All its parts have been revised to provide the best features that only existed in high-end bikes.

The Tracer 9 GT+ has an 890 cc inline-triple engine with a power of 119 hp and a torque of 93 Nm. The new gearbox is the real magic: Yamaha is now able to sell an optional semi-auto transmission (Y-AMT) that allows riders to shift gears automatically.

All you need to do is twist the throttle and leave the bike to do the gear shifting job. It is a great option for those riders looking for an automatic sports-tourer motorcycle.

The Tracer 9 GT+ is full of safety rider aids. There is a front-facing radar that allows the bike to have a view of the car in front of it. Adaptive cruise mode maintains a constant speed of 30 km/h to 160 km/h. In case a car in front comes to a stop, the bike auto-brakes to assist in quickly coming to a stop, too. In 2025, the company will have also added a rear radar system, providing you with a complete view.

The headlight is a matrix LED that bends the light to the turns to ensure you can see every detail of what is ahead. It is quite intelligent, and it makes night riding safer. The windscreen has also been made electric, so you can raise or lower it with a button while riding.

The seat installed on the Yamaha Tracer 9 GT+ is broad and cushy, providing real support to the rider and the passenger. The riding position is not reclining, and there is ample leg space. Cruise control prevents the wrists from getting fatigued on long runs.

For those who want loads of tech, the Tracer 9 GT+ is the ultimate that sports tourer bikes can achieve. The radar and the semi-auto gearbox are a game-changer.

The Honda NT1100 DCT is a bike that is primarily focused on providing ease to riders. It features Honda’s iconic Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT), which changes gears quicker than a rider can even blink. This removes the effort from long-distance touring.

The NT1100 DCT has a 1,084 cc parallel-twin engine that delivers 102 hp of horsepower and 112 Nm of torque. It is designed on the platform of the legendary Honda Africa Twin, which has a reputation for solid build. The power band is wide, and therefore, there is good pull even at 3,000 rpm to the red line.

The DCT gearbox is what makes the NT1100 stand out. You have the option of riding in full auto mode or riding with the paddle shifter. The gearbox gets to know your style, road type, and selects the best gear. According to riders, the smooth gear changes are a literal blessing when carrying a pillion. There is no bouncing and shaking, making rides highly stable and comfortable.

The frame of the Honda NT1100 DCT is made of steel in a tube design, built to be used as a sport and touring frame. It weighs 212 kg, which makes it lightweight and easy to handle, but heavy enough to feel like it is planted on a freeway. It has a spacious and comfortable seat, which is 820 mm high.

The riding position is upright and open, allowing your back and arms to rest on long distances. There is a standard cruise control and heated grips, improving its touring ability on long open roads and during winter rides. The 5.4-gallon fuel tank capacity is enough to cover 250+ miles on a single tank.

Tech on the Honda NT1100 DCT is solid but fancy. You have a TFT screen, ABS, and traction control. The hard-shell saddlebags are optional, but they fit really well. The NT1100 does not feel as race-inspired as some of its competitors, but this is what makes it so likable by many riders. It is owned by riders who want to tour, but also want to have fun on the bike.