Best Touring

BMW R1200RT

When it comes to piling on thousands of miles, we're not sure it's necessary to saddle up on a half-ton luxo-barge. The surprisingly agile RT is packed with comfort yet scales in at an easily managed 570 lbs with its capacious 7.1-gallon tank full of fuel. Prices start below $17K, but we highly recommend getting the optional “Standard Package” ($17,755) that includes such niceties as heated grips, cruise control and a trip computer.

BMW understands the touring/sport-touring market better than any other manufacturer, and the supremely balanced R1200RT is perhaps its best example of the qualities that go into creating a comfortable and capable long-distance touring motorcycle.