Best Motorcycles for Long Distance (2024)

FAQs

Are motorcycles good for long distances? ›

Motorcycles can be good for long-distance trips depending on the rider's preferences, comfort level, and the type of motorcycle they use. Touring motorcycles with comfortable seating positions, wind protection, and luggage storage are specifically designed for long-distance riding.

As for lightweight and nimble touring motorcycles, Harley Road King, Harley Heritage Classic, and Yamaha FJ1100 are some of the most reliable long-distance touring motorcycles.

HOW MANY MILES CAN A MOTORCYCLE LAST? A motorcycle can last anywhere between 20,000 to 90,000 miles, which is quite a large disparity. That's because this figure rests on a number of factors. A dirt bike, for example, usually won't last more than 20,000 miles.

1. Know the numbers, but look beyond them. Generally, high mileage on a motorcycle is anywhere from 20,000 to 50,000 miles. For sport bikes, the high mileage number will be on the low end (usually around 25,000), while cruisers and touring bikes typically become high mileage in the 40,000- to the 50,000-mile range.

Learning the Clutch & Throttle

Many of our students riding a motorcycle for the first time find it hard to perfect use of the clutch and throttle; especially when taking off from a stop or during slow speed maneuvering.

On a comfortable motorcycle with a large gas tank, a determined enough rider can ride up to 1,000 miles in a 24-hour span—this is commonly referred to as an Iron Butt. However, it's more realistic for the average rider to travel between 200 and 400 miles in a day.

For new riders, a smaller motorcycle with a smaller engine size is the safest choice, while for long-distance travel, a touring motorcycle is the safest option. Choose based on your riding experience and intended use.

Cruisers are best suited for short-distance rides. While they might be heavy on style and power, they are not designed for long-term comfort. A cruiser is great to show off on the weekends or during a short commute, but you'll probably want to leave them at home if you're planning on a cross country trip.

What is the most comfortable type of motorcycle to ride? ›

Cruisers are known for being comfortable, varietal, and popular. Top cruiser brands include Harley-Davidson, Indian, and most metric manufacturers (like Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, and Kawasaki). Typically cruisers are heavier bikes, with resulting lower power to weight ratios, and a focus on comfort and low-end torque.

In addition to the Road King and Electra Glide, Street Glide is Harley's other go-to for long-distance touring. The Harley-Davidson bike is popular because of its remarkable features, including the batwing fairing and potent V-twin engines that make long-distance rides comfortable.

On a comfortable motorcycle with a large gas tank, a determined enough rider can ride up to 1,000 miles in a 24-hour span—this is commonly referred to as an Iron Butt. However, it's more realistic for the average rider to travel between 200 and 400 miles in a day.

Sport motorcycles, which are smaller and more nimble, typically wear down faster as they accumulate miles. For these motorcycles, the high mileage range is anywhere between 20,000 to 30,000 miles. Larger motorcycles, like Harley-Davidson, can usually take more miles without their engines being worn down as quickly.

For most people, staying on the motorcycle for four to six hours a day is the limit. You should determine what you're comfortable with before you plan the trip.

Mind you, you'd still have to take the scenic route to make that journey as long as the record ride. The record attempt was witnessed by a Guinness World Records adjudicator, who validated the final distance travelled in 24 hours as 4012.53km, with an average speed of 167.79km/h.