10 Bikes That Are Perfect For Riders Downsizing From Big Tourers

The best of the touring motorcycles are technological marvels, and a lot of the tech that they sport can easily be passed off as science fiction. Unfortunately, full-dress tourers and massive baggers all have one thing in common: they try to make the ride so comfortable that they usually end up making the ride feel anodyne. There is another aspect to this: these are all heavyweights in the true sense, weighing in the region of 900 pounds when fully fueled. Thus, sometimes less can truly be more. That is where this list of 10 bikes that are perfect for riders downsizing from big tourers comes in.

Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650

Price: $7,899

The 650 cc platform was the first of a new wave of Royal Enfield products that could compete on the global stage. The Super Meteor is the quintessential cruiser based on that platform. The Celestial variant has the two-tone paint job, and it also offers a comfortable touring seat, pillion backrest, and a bolt-on windshield, while soft luggage is optional. It might not have too much in the way of power, but this is a sprightly engine that encourages you to have fun. It’s the same deal with the chassis – it might be clad with a very retro-looking body, but it feels modern and engaging to ride. Overall, an affordable cruiser/tourer that still feels premium is the best to sum it up.

Honda Rebel 1100T DCT

Price: $11,599

Honda’s largest modern cruiser is also available in a touring format as the Rebel 1100T. This offers a handlebar-mounted ‘Batwing’ fairing and hard luggage as standard while remaining mechanically identical to the cruiser. That means that you also have the option of the six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. Last year, Honda added a five-inch TFT display with Bluetooth and navigation functionality. So to sum up, it has an automatic gearbox, wind protection, luggage space, and some of the lowest ownership costs of any motorcycle anywhere. That certainly makes it one of the ultimate all-rounders.

Honda NT1100 DCT

Price: $11,999

If you’d like an affordable Honda tourer but do not want to merely cruise around, the NT1100 DCT is an option. It shares the engine and driveline with the Rebel 1100T, although it makes much more power at 100 horsepower. 2025 also saw the NT1100 get a significant update; it got a six-axis IMU. That means you get a unique combination of a dual-clutch gearbox and the full electronics suite, coupled with a 6.5-inch TFT touchscreen display that has Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. This is an affordable tourer that will take 500-mile days in its stride easily.

Yamaha Tracer 9

Price: $12,599

If the NT1100 doesn’t have enough performance for you, then you need to set your sights on the Yamaha Tracer 9. Underneath that skin, it has the engine and gearbox from the MT-09 and a chassis that can keep up with the playful driveline. It also gets goodies like a six-axis IMU, which means you have cornering traction control, ABS, lift, and slide control. Strangely, Yamaha has deleted the two-way quickshifter from the 2026 model year, but the Tracer 9 is still a great all-rounder, whichever way you look at it.

BMW F 900 XR

Price: $12,695

The F 900 XR is a sports tourer derived from a very competent adventure motorcycle. It has a reliable, giving you German engineering without the price tag. Standard features include an adaptive headlamp, heated grips, an adjustable windscreen, and everything associated with a by-wire throttle and a six-axis IMU except for cruise control. But if you want features that echo those of the big tourer that you’re giving up, you will have to dip into the options list. And that might not be cheap depending on what the options are.

Suzuki GSX-S1000GT

Price: $14,399

The GSX-S1000GT is an extremely smartly engineered sports tourer that will appeal to experienced riders as well. This is one of the old-school sports tourers because it has a riding position that is like a relaxed sports bike. Not only that, but it also derives its driveline and chassis from an old liter GSX-R, which means it actually has a great performance pedigree. Fully adjustable suspension, ABS, and traction control are on offer, along with eye-widening performance in the upper reaches of the engine’s rev range.

Triumph Tiger Sport 800 Tour

Price: $14,695

The Tiger Sport lineup is a very attractive set of products for those who want to tour on a budget. The Tiger Sport 800 is the newest entrant to the lineup, and the ‘Tour’ is prepackaged with all the accessories required for an interstate ride. This includes luggage, a more comfortable seat, and TPMS. It already has all the other features you require, although the jury is still out on the size of the TFT display in the part-TFT, part-LCD instrument cluster. But we cannot deny that with its excellent mechanics, it offers big-bike touring ability in a midweight package.

Moto Guzzi V100 Mandello

Price: $15,990

This is most definitely a niche product compared to the other products on this list, but don’t let that diminish what a great motorcycle the V100 Mandello is. Moto Guzzi remains one of the smaller manufacturers, and that is why it can and does take risks. This sports tourer, for example, has features like a single-sided swingarm, shaft drive, and a longitudinal V-twin that doesn’t interfere with your knees as long as you’re a normal-sized human. Also, you don’t have to worry about chain maintenance on the long ride, and it looks not just unique but genuinely good-looking. What more would you want from a sports tourer?

Indian Super Scout

Price: $16,999

The Super Scout is geared toward light touring and nails the sweet spot between affordability and comfort. As a result, the luggage is standard, as is the quick-release windshield. The Super Scout is powered by the SpeedPlus 1250 engine, which is the larger of the Scout engines, and it also gets the six-speed gearbox. More touring support is provided by the four-inch TFT display with Bluetooth connectivity and a free first-year subscription to connected services like live weather, traffic updates, and bike locator. A unique feature here is that you can ask Indian to up the power of your Super Scout to the 101 Scout’s 111 horsepower and still retain warranty!

BMW R 1300 RT

Price: $22,645

The R 1300 RT isn’t an exact cheap alternative to a full-dress tourer. Order it with the optional automatic gearbox, and you will probably end up spending just as much money on it. However, this is designed to be a very comfortable sports tourer along with BMW’s wishbone front suspension. For power, it has the 1,300 cc boxer-twin engine that we are all too familiar with, and it drives the rear wheel via a drive shaft. As far as features are concerned, whether it is a TFT display, two-way quickshifter, electronic suspension, or heated seats and grips, the R 1300 RT has it all, at least on the options list, but somehow it makes all this luxury seem logical.

Sources: BMW USA, Honda PowerSports