# What is the best motorcycle for a cross-country road trip?

> Baggers, boxers and adventure bikes for the same job: a continent in one go. Gold Wing comfort against GS reach against a Road Glide that would rather cruise than rev.

*By YPB Team · Published September 9, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/what-is-the-best-motorcycle-for-a-cross-country-road-trip*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **BMW R 1300 GS** — score 1000/1000
   The adventure bike that will do a continent on tarmac and then keep going when it ends.
2. **Moto Guzzi V85 TT** — score 952/1000
   A transverse twin with character to spare and a shaft drive that ignores chain lube.
3. **Honda Gold Wing** — score 898/1000
   The six-cylinder touring standard, quiet enough to hold a conversation at highway speed.
4. **Ducati Multistrada V4** — score 659/1000
   Fast enough to make the boring middle of a continent go by quickly.
5. **BMW K 1600 GTL** — score 659/1000
   Six cylinders, adaptive headlight, and the closest thing to a car on two wheels.
6. **Yamaha Tenere 700** — score 571/1000
   Light, simple and cheap to fix a long way from a dealer.
7. **Harley-Davidson Road Glide** — score 571/1000
   Frame-mounted fairing, hard bags and a Milwaukee-Eight that would rather cruise than rev.
8. **Royal Enfield Himalayan** — score 467/1000
   Slow, cheap and unbothered — the argument that a road trip is not a race.
9. **Suzuki V-Strom 800DE** — score 467/1000
   The unglamorous choice that keeps turning up at the far end of long rides.
10. **Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250** — score 343/1000
   Milwaukee's attempt to take the long-distance argument onto BMW's ground.
11. **Triumph Tiger 900** — score 343/1000
   A triple with a broad spread of power and luggage that fits without a catalogue.
12. **Indian Chieftain** — score 343/1000
   A bagger with a power windshield and enough torque to ignore headwinds.
13. **Kawasaki Versys 1000** — score 190/1000
   A sport-tourer that quietly does the job while the badge-conscious argue elsewhere.
14. **Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Ultra** — score 190/1000
   The full-dress original, with a top box, a stereo and room for two.
15. **Indian Roadmaster** — score 190/1000
   Milwaukee's oldest rival answering the full-dress tourer question with heated everything.

Tags: brands, travel, motorcycles