What Should You Look For In A Long-Distance Touring Motorcycle?

Touring bikes are a great option for riders that want to spend most of their time on the open road. A great touring bike can eat up miles of highway, turning any day into an invitation to enjoy the ride, take in the scenery, and remember why you started riding in the first place. However, choosing a touring bike also requires different considerations from choosing a cruiser or sport bike.

If you're aiming for a motorcycle that can take you long distances, a long-distance touring bike is undoubtedly the way to go. These three tips will help you narrow your choices to understand what makes touring bikes special and what features you should look for in your next motorcycle.

1. Stay Informed

If you're buying a touring bike, you probably have at least some tentative plans for longer trips. These bikes can take you across towns, state lines, or cross-country. While getting lost in the wilderness can be fun sometimes, you still want to get where you're going without too much trouble. With the days of the road atlas long in the past, you'll probably rely on your infotainment system to take up the slack.

Infotainment system design and ergonomics are particularly important when choosing a bike. In a car, slight ergonomic issues won't stop you from using the system. On a bike, you need that information visible and easy to access, if only for safety's sake. Make sure you're comfortable using the infotainment and navigation system on any touring bike you're considering, especially if you're planning a long trip.

2. Get Comfortable

Comfort matters no matter what you ride, but comfort can mean different things for different use cases. On a sport bike, you might need to stay comfortable while tearing up the corners, but you're probably not too worried about how your back and behind will feel after several hours of riding. Of course, the situation is much more different on a touring bike.

When choosing a tourer, comfort should be near the top of your priority list. Make sure you can find a good seating position and that the floorboards are a good fit for your normal riding boots. Any minor discomfort you feel after a few minutes will be much worse after hundreds of miles on the road, so pay close attention to how a bike feels before buying.

3. Have Fun

Touring bikes are the right choice for those long trips, but that doesn't mean they can't be fun on city streets. When considering a tourer, don't forget to look for bikes equally well-suited to urban environments. Even if you primarily use your bike for long trips, you'll inevitably pass through small towns and more urban environments.

If you have the option, take a test ride at the dealership or wait for manufacturer demo ride days. While highways might be the bread and butter of a touring bike's life, getting a feel for your new ride under different conditions can help you understand if it's the right choice for your riding style.

FOr more information about touring bikes, like a Harley Davidson Road Glide, contact a local company.

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