Touring Bikes: the good the bad and the BMW

The Harley FL line and Honda Gold Wing aren't the only touring motorcycle out there. There are still some odds and ends that make up the category. BMW has found a place for itself selling touring and sport touring motorcycles. The best example of a pure touring bike from BMW is the LT line, which is represented by the K1200LT today.

1987 BMW K100LT













1995 BMW K1100LT













1999 BMW K1200LT














Another company that has a long history of touring motorcycles is Moto Guzzi.

1970 Moto Guzzi California













2007 Moto Guzzi California













Moto Guzzi isn't the only company making retro V-twin touring bikes. Today there are several V-twin type touring bikes that have tried to cash in on Harley's success.

1999 Yamaha Royal Star Venture XVZ1300













2009 Kawasaki Voyager VN1700













2008 Victory Vision











2003 BMW R1200CL
(Not really a Harely wanna be, but it is BMW's attempt at a cruiser)









Ok, so there are many other touring type motorcycles out there. This list was set out to cover pure hard core full on dressers. Bikes that have integrated fairing/saddle bags, and are not just standard bikes with bags and a windshield. Later on I'll do a piece on sport touring bikes that should cover many touring bikes that haven't been covered here. But that still leaves one bike that I know of. It's the Honda PC800.

The Pacific Coast isn't quite sporty enought to be considered a "sport tourer". But at the same time I don't know of any other touring bike under 1000cc's.