Touring Motorcycles occupy a special place in American motorcycle culture, one that is comprised of some of the most highly charged opposing viewpoints you’ll find between two cultures that still respect one another. Each year, when new touring motorcycles are announced, enthusiasts eagerly wait for the newest gadgets, capabilities and bikes, while traditional riding purists smile and shake their heads at the abundance of technological wizardry that makes the enthusiasts more and more excited. A touring motorcycle offers the ability to travel in comfort while still retaining the open-air feeling of freedom that is second to none. While nearly every motorcycle manufacturer produces at least one tourer, there are a few that stand out above the others, not just in their popularity, but also in their continuous refinement that year after year leads to a more comfortable, more reliable motorcycle that makes the miles pass with. Even though riders of stripped-down motorcycles will still laugh to themselves at these “recliners on two wheels,” chances are good that they’ll be secretly thinking about the day they might pick up a quality touring motorcycle themselves.
2012 Harley Davidson Ultra Classic Electra Glide
The Harley Davidson Ultra Classic Electra Glide, designated the FLHTCU, is perhaps the most iconic motorcycle on the list, due in no small part to the Harley-Davidson culture that thrives on each and every new bike released by the American company. This 2012 touring motorcycle remains relatively unchanged for this model year, adding only new paint and graphic schemes. Fortunately for Harley-Davidson, this styling strategy seems to work. The Ultra Classic Electra Glide touring motorcycle has remained largely unchanged stylistically since it was introduced in its current formulation. This year, a CVO option is available, and the 103-cubic inch engine is standard on the base model. Stepping up to the CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide touring motorcycle buys you the Screamin’ Eagle 110-cubic inch engine.
2012 Honda Goldwing
Nearly as iconic as the Harley, the Honda Goldwing new touring motorcycles stretch the boundaries of comfort and convenience while maintaining the cruising efficiency and durability that the Goldwing is legendary for. Numerous updates to the old touring motorcycle standard abound for the 2012 model year, not least of which is the updated bodywork. Additional functionality is added to the Goldwing for the 2012 model year, including iPod connectivity, the ability to upload trips from your home computer into the Goldwing’s navigation system. Just because the Goldwing looks big, though, doesn’t mean that handling of this ride is compromised. If you’ve never seen the video of the Goldwing traversing Deal’s Gap in the Great Smokey mountains, you’ll get an idea of the capabilities of the bike by studying the video.
2012 Yamaha Royal Star Venture S
More in line with the styling of the Harley-Davidson than the Honda, the 2012 Yamaha Royal Star Venture S is a less common touring motorcycle, but is certainly one that should be given consideration, particularly if you’re stepping up to a larger touring motorcycle from a current middleweight. The Yamaha Venture S uses a smaller engine configuration than the 103-cubic inch Harley or the 1800-cc Honda but produces similar power thanks to Yamaha’s four-cylinder engine configuration. With a more classic look than the Goldwing, the Venture S is a ride that will appeal to cruiser purists who may not be quite ready to make the jump to the equivalent Harley Davidson touring motorcycles.
2012 Victory Vision Tour
Victory, essentially an upstart American motorcycle company, produces motorcycles with a distinctively custom feel to them. While pricing for most Victory touring motorcycles is approximately equal with similarly equipped Harley Davidson touring motorcycles, Victory has made a successful go at avoiding a direct confrontation with the motorcycle powerhouse. This might explain why they’ve been around as long as they have, when other American bike manufacturers have gone the way of the Dodo. The 2012 Victory Vision Tour is just such a motorcycle. Rather than fighting the Ultra Classic Electra Glide on its own terms, Victory chooses to fill a distinctive niche in the touring motorcycle world- that of an American made Honda Goldwing. If you look at the styling with a critical eye, you can see the difference easily. The Harley Davidson is essentially a gussied-up cruiser. Stripped down, however, the Victory Vision Tour, and the Honda Goldwing would look like little more than mechanical frames. This touring motorcycle, like its contemporaries, features heated seats and grips, but offers the power of the 106-cubic inch Freedom V-twin engine, which is built in Osceola, Wisconsin.
The current crop of 2012 touring motorcycles represents the pinnacle of design and engineering for cross-country touring on two wheels. Chances are good that if you’re in the market for a new touring motorcycle, you’ll find just what you’re looking for with one of these great bikes.
Sources:
Harley Davidson: 2012 Harley Davidson Ultra Classic Electra Glide: www.harley-davidson.com
Honda: 2012 Honda Goldwing: powersports.honda.com
Yamaha: 2012 Yamaha Royal Star Venture S: www.starmotorcycles.com
Victory: 2012 Victory Vision Tour: www.polarisindustries.com