Traveling cross country on a motorcycle is an experience every rider should participate in at least once.
That said, whether you intend on camping or staying in motels along the way, touring requires a motorcycle with sufficient luggage capacity.
This article explores the motorcycles with the most storage space, comparing their dimensions and engine, suspension, braking, and tire specs, as these attributes impact the feel of the ride when your bike is loaded with gear.
Table of Contents
1. Honda Gold Wing Tour
The Honda Gold Wing Tour edition is a comfort-oriented luxury touring motorcycle available with a traditional manual transmission or with Honda’s automatic Dual Clutch Transmission, complete with reversal and walking gears to help you move the bike when it’s fully loaded with gear.
With 16 gallons (61 liters) of storage space in its rear trunk and 8 gallons in each of the Gold Wing’s locking hard saddlebags, the bike has 32 gallons of luggage capacity, plus mounting racks to bungee more gear onto.
2021 Honda Gold Wing SPECIFICATIONS
Model: Gold Wing Tour
- ENGINE:
- Engine Type: 1,833cc horizontally opposed, liquid-cooled, six-cylinder four-stroke
- Valve Train: Single overhead Unicam® w/ 4 valves per cylinder, finger-follower rocker arm on intake, roller-rocker arm on exhaust
- Bore x Stroke: 73mm x 73mm.
- Compression Ratio:10.5:1
- Induction: Single throttle w/ 50mm bore
- Throttle By Wire (TBW)
- Ignition: Full transistorized ignition
- Starter: Electric w/ Integrated Starter Generator System (ISG)
- Transmission: 6-speed manual w/ Reverse
- Clutch: Multiplate wet Driveshaft
- SUSPENSION:
- Front: Double-wishbone system w/ Showa shock absorber, 4.3 in. travel
- Rear: Pro-Link® system w/ Showa shock absorber, 4.1 in. travel
- BRAKES:
- Front: (2) radially mounted 6-piston Nissin calipers w/ 320mm rotors, electronically controlled combined ABS
- Rear: (1) 3-piston Nissin caliper w/ 316mm rotor, electronically controlled combined ABS
- TIRES:
- Front: 130/70-18
- Rear:200/55-R16
- MEASUREMENTS:
- Rake (Caster Angle)30.5º
- Trail: 109mm
- Length: 101.4 in
- Width: 36.4 in.
- Height: 56.3 in. low windscreen; 61.2 in. high windscreen;
- Seat Height: 29.3 in.
- Ground Clearance: 5.1 in.
- Wheelbase: 66.7 in.
- Fuel Capacity: 5.6 gals.
- Curb Weight: 836 lbs.838 lbs.847 lbs.787 lbs.800 lbs.
2. Yamaha Star Venture TC
The Yamaha Star Venture Trans-Continental is a luxury touring motorcycle released in 2018 and designed to compete with Honda’s legendary Gold Wing.
The Yamaha Star Venture TC features over 38 gallons of storage between its rear trunk, front fairing, hard bags, 6.7-gallon fuel tank, heated hand grips, and heated rider and passenger seats with ten levels of heat adjustment.
2020 Yamaha Star Venture Claimed Specifications
- Price: $24,999–$26,999
- Engine: Air-cooled V-twin; 4 valves/cylinder.
- Displacement: 1,854cc
- Bore x Stroke: 100.0 x 118.0mm
- Horsepower: N/A
- Torque: N/A
- Transmission:6 -speed; multi-plate assist and slipper clutch
- Final Drive: Belt
- Seat Height: 27.4 in.
- Rake: 31.0°
- Trail: 5.7 in.
- Front Suspension: 46mm telescopic fork; 5.1-in. travel
- Rear Suspension: Single preload adjustable shock; 4.3-in. travel
- Front Tire: 130/70R-18
- Rear Tire: 200/55R-16
- Wheelbase: 67.3 in.
- Fuel Capacity: 6.6 gals.
- Claimed Wet Weight: 957 lb.
3. Indian Pursuit Limited
The Indian Pursuit it’s a stylish, Americanized luxury touring motorcycle featuring over 35 gallons of remote locking storage space, powered by a 6-speed liquid-cooled V-Twin engine producing 122 horsepower.
- Engine & Drivetrain
- Bore x Stroke: 4.251 in x 3.799 in (108 mm x 96.5 mm)
- Compression Ratio: 11.0:1
- Displacement: 108 cu in (1768 cc)
- Drive/Driven Clutch: Wet, Multi-Plate, Assist
- Electronic Fuel Injection System: Closed loop fuel Injection / 52mm dual bore
- Engine Type: Liquid-cooled PowerPlus
- Exhaust: Split Dual exhaust w/ Resonator
- Horsepower: 22 HP
- Peak Torque: 128 ft-lbs.
- Peak Torque RPM: 3800 rpm
- Transmission/Final Drive: 2.379:1
- Transmission/Primary Drive: Gear Drive Wet Clutch
- Brakes:
- Front Brakes: Dual / 320mm Semi-Floating Rotor / 4 Piston Radial Caliper
- Rear Brakes: Single / 298mm Floating Rotor / 2 Piston Caliper
- Tires / Wheels:
- Front Tires: Metzeler Cruisetec 130/60B19 66H
- Front Wheel: Sport Contrast Cut 19 in x 3.5 in
- Rear Tires: Metzeler Cruisetec 180/60R16 80H
- Rear Wheel: Sport Contrast Cut 16 in x 5 in
- Suspension:
- Front Fork Tube Diameter: 43 mm
- Front Suspension: Inverted Telescopic Fork
- Front Travel: 5.1 in (130 mm)
- Rear Suspension: Fox Single Shock w/Hyd adjust
- Rear Travel: 4.5 in (114 mm)
4. Indian Roadmaster
The Indian Roadmaster is a vintage style American Bagger stocking over 36 gallons of weatherproofed, locking storage space, made mobile by Indians biggest engine, the 6 Speed Thunderstroke Air Cooled 116 cu in V-twin capable of 126 ft-lbs. of torque.
- Engine & Drivetrain
- Bore x Stroke: 4.063″ x 4.449″ (103.2mm x113mm)
- Compression Ratio: 11:1
- Displacement: 116 cu in (1,890 ccs)
- Drive/Driven Clutch: Wet, Multi-Plate, Assist
- Electronic Fuel Injection System: Closed loop fuel injection / 54 mm bore
- Engine Type: Air-cooled Thunderstroke 116
- Exhaust: Split Dual Exhaust w/ Cross-over
- Peak Torque: 126 ft-lbs.
- Peak Torque RPM: 2,900 rpm
- Transmission/Final Drive: 2.2: 1
- Transmission/Primary Drive: Gear Drive Wet Clutch
- Dimensions:
- Fuel Capacity: 5.5 gals (20.8 L)
- Ground Clearance: 5.5 in (140 mm)
- GVWR: 1,385 lbs. (628 kg)
- Lean Angle: 31°
- Overall Height: 55.7 in / 1415 mm
- Overall Length: 104.6 in (2,656 mm)
- Overall Width: 40.2 in (1,022 mm)
- Rake/Trail: 25° / 5.9 in (150 mm)
- Seat Height: 26.5 in (673 mm)
- Weight (As Shipped / Running Order): 877 lbs. (398 kg) / 909 lbs. (412 kg)
- Wheelbase: 65.7 in (1668 mm)
- Brakes:
- Front Brakes: Dual / 300 mm Floating Rotor / 4 Piston Caliper
- Rear Brakes: Single / 300 mm Floating Rotor / 2 Piston Caliper
- Tires / Wheels:
- Front Tires: Metzeler Cruisetec 130/80B17 65H
- Front Wheel: Highlight Machine Tour 17 in x 3.5 in
- Rear Tires: Metzeler Cruisetec 180/60R16 80H
- Rear Wheel: Highlight Machine Tour 16 in x 5 in
- Suspension:
- Front Fork Tube Diameter: 46 mm
- Front Suspension: Telescopic Fork
- Front Travel: 4.7 in (119 mm)
- Rear Suspension: Single Shock w/ Air adjust
- Rear Travel: 4.5 in (114 mm)
5. Harley-Davidson Ultra (Glide) Limited
HD’s Ultra Limited is the latest version of the Ultra Glide line of large-capacity touring motorcycles that resemble American muscle cruiser bikes. It has 4.7 cubic feet of luggage space—30.2 gallons/133 liters. Its beefy chassis is powered by a 114 CI Milwaukee 114 air-cooled V-twin motor.
- ENGINE:
- ENGINE: Twin-Cooled™ Milwaukee-Eight 114
- BORE: 4.016 in.
- STROKE: 4.5 in.
- DISPLACEMENT: 114 cu in
- COMPRESSION RATIO: 10.5:1
- FUEL SYSTEM: Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI)
- EXHAUST: 2-1-2 dual exhaust with tapered mufflers
- PERFORMANCE:
- ENGINE TORQUE: 122 ft-lb
- ENGINE TORQUE (RPM): 3000
- LEAN ANGLE, RIGHT (DEG.): 32
- LEAN ANGLE, LEFT (DEG.): 32
- FUEL ECONOMY TESTING METHOD: Estimated City/Hwy
- FUEL ECONOMY: 43 mpg
- DIMENSIONS:
- LUGGAGE CAPACITY -VOLUME: 4.7 cu ft
- LENGTH: 102.3 in.
- SEAT HEIGHT, LADEN: 27.5 in.
- GROUND CLEARANCE: 5.3 in.
- RAKE: 26
- TRAIL: 6.7 in.
- WHEELBASE: 64 in.
- TIRES, FRONT SPECIFICATION: BW 130/70B18 63H
- TIRES, REAR SPECIFICATION: BW 180/55B18 80H
- TIRE, TYPE: Dunlop Harley-Davidson Series, bias blackwall front and rear
- FUEL CAPACITY: 6 gals.
- OIL CAPACITY (W/FILTER): 5 qt.
- WEIGHT, AS SHIPPED: 880 lb.
- WEIGHT, IN RUNNING ORDER: 917 lb.
- CHASSIS:
- FRONT FORK: 49mm Dual Bending Valve
- REAR SHOCKS: Premium standard height hand-adjustable rear suspension
- WHEELS, FRONT TYPE: Slicer II cast aluminum with clear coat
- WHEELS, REAR TYPE: Slicer II cast aluminum with clear coat
- BRAKES, TYPE: Dual floating rotors (front), fixed rotor (rear)
- BRAKES, CALIPER TYPE: 32 mm, 4-piston fixed front and rear
6. BMW K1600 Grand America
The BMW K1600 Grand America is a luxury touring motorcycle powered by a narrow, inline six-cylinder 1649cc engine. The bike comes ready for travel with ample storage space, courtesy of its locking hard cases and rear trunk, yet it’s capable of 160 horsepower.
TECHNICAL DATA
- Engine:
- Type: Oil/water-cooled, six-cylinder, four-stroke, in-line engine with four valves per cylinder
- Bore x stroke: 72 mm x 67.5 mm
- Capacity: 1,649 cc
- Rated output: 160 hp at 6,750 RPM
- Max. torque: 132.7 lbs-ft at 5,250 rpm
- Compression ratio: 12.2: 1
- Mixture control: Electronic intake pipe injection digital engine management system: BMS-O with throttle-by-wire
- Emission control: Closed-loop 3-way catalytic converter
- Performance:
- Maximum speed: 100 mph
- Fuel type: Unleaded super (max. 15 % Ethanol, E15) / ROZ 95 / 90 AKI
- Power transmission:
- Clutch: Multiple disc clutch in oil bath
- Gearbox: 6-speed, helical, gearbox
- Drive: Shaft drive
- Chassis/brakes:
- Frame: Bridge-type frame, cast aluminum, load-bearing engine
- Front wheel location/suspension: BMW Motorrad Duolever; central spring strut
- Rear wheel location/suspension: Cast aluminum single-sided swing arm with BMW Motorrad Paralever; central spring strut.
- Suspension travel, front/rear: 4.5” / 5.3”
- Wheelbase: 63.7”
- Dimension/weights:
- Seat height: 29.5”
- Usable tank volume: approx. 7 gal.
- Reserve: approx. 1 gal.
- Length (over top case): 100.8”
- Height (at windshield): 56.7” – 62.2”
- Width (incl. side cases): 39.4”
- Unladen weight, road ready, fully fueled: 809.1 lbs.
- Permitted total weight: 1,234.6 lbs.
- Payload (with standard equipment): 425.5 lbs.
7. Kawasaki Vulcan Voyager ABS
The Vulcan 1700 Voyager is a fully dressed touring motorcycle. Its 1,700cc fuel-injected V-twin engine, electronic cruise control, and Kawasaki Advanced Coactive-braking Technology (K-ACT II) ABS all work together to keep the Voyager in motion, even when its frame-mounted fairing, dual-locking saddlebags, and rear trunk storage case are all fully loaded.
- POWER:
- Engine: 4-stroke, 52-degree V-twin, liquid-cooled
- Displacement: 1,700cc/103.7 cu in
- Bore x Stroke: 102.0 x 104.0mm
- Compression Ratio: 9.5:1
- Fuel System: DFI 42mm
- Throttle Bodies (2)
- Ignition TCBI w/ Electronic Advance
- Transmission: 6-speed with overdrive and positive neutral finder
- Final Drive: Carbon fiber-reinforced belt
- Maximum Torque: 107.6 lb.-ft @ 2750 rpm
- PERFORMANCE:
- Front Suspension / Wheel Travel: 45mm Showa telescopic fork/5.5 in
- Rear Suspension / Wheel Travel: Swingarm with twin air-assisted shocks, with 4-way rebound damping/3.1 in
- Front Tire: 130/90-16
- Rear Tire: 170/70-16
- Front Brakes: Dual 300mm discs, dual four-piston calipers, K-ACT II ABS
- Rear Brakes: Single 300mm disc, twin-piston caliper, K-ACT II ABS
- DETAILS:
- Frame Type: Steel, double-cradle with box-section single-tube backbone
- Rake/Trail: 30/7.0 in
- Overall Length: 100.8 in
- Overall Width: 39.2 in
- Overall Height: 61.0 in
- Ground Clearance: 5.3 in
- Seat Height: 28.7 in
- Curb Weight: 895.2 lb.
- Fuel Capacity: 5.3 gal
- Wheelbase: 65.6 in
- Special Features: Integrated audio system with SiriusXM ® and intercom headset compatibility
Sources:
2021 Honda Gold Wing Specifications (hondanews.com)
2020 Yamaha Star Venture Buyer’s Guide: Specs, Photos, Price | Cycle World
Specs: 2023 (indianmotorcycle.com)
2023 Grand American Touring | Harley-Davidson USA
Data & Equipment | 2023 K 1600 Grand America | BMW Motorrad (bmwmotorcycles.com)
Kawasaki Vulcan® 1700 Voyager® ABS | Cruiser Motorcycle
