While Harley-Davidson has been catering to motorcycle enthusiasts of all shapes and sizes for 120 years, there is one particular class of bikes that has been carrying the love and passion for the brand for decades, and that is the touring class. Designed with comfort in mind, these bikes allow riders to spend hours and hours on the highway for those coveted cross-country road trips without getting tired or fatigued. Considering that touring bikes are Harley-Davidson's most popular and best-selling class of motorcycles, it also happens to offer a wide range of diverse models to choose from.
Updated July 2023: Harley-Davidson is a name synonymous with touring. To keep you informed with the latest updates and upgrades from the iconic American brand, we have updated this article with all the latest overhauls of the individual trims and models with a comprehensive addition of pros and cons to make your decision choosing your own Harley-Davdison even easier.
10 Pan America
$17,699
The only non-grand all-American touring bike on this list (and the cheapest here) is the very popular Pan America 1250 adventure touring motorcycle. Usually touring bikes dominate the highway, but for the Pan America, this bike dominates everywhere else. First introduced in 2021, Harley-Davidson raised the bar big time for the off-road adventure bike market by designing a machine that craved dirt and trails so much that it left its competitors very worried. So whether you're riding down the main street, or through the mud, this bike can do it all.
Pros
- Boasts an unparalleled road presence
- The host of features and tech onboard
- Adaptive Ride Height works like a charm
Cons
- May be too heavy for new riders
- No speakers - something most conventional Harley Tourers have
- Shorter riders may not be too comfortable with its tall frame
9 Road King Special
$23,999
The Road King Special is the very foundation of Harley-Davidson's touring class. Rocking its touring frame, six-gallon fuel tank, six-speed manual transmission, hard saddlebags, touring seat for riding solo or with a passenger, floorboards, and Milwaikee-Eight 114 engine, the Road King Special is one of the brand's most popular models solely because of its simplicity. It has everything a rider needs, and nothing that they don't.
This bike doesn't need any flashy gadgets or distractions to keep its rider satisfied. Instead, it checks off all the boxes for bare necessities a rider could possibly need right out of the factory. The Road King Special has been shown to hold up over time. So much so that if you compare a 2023 Road King Special and one from the year 2042, chances are they won't be much different.
Pros
- Comfortable touring ergonomics
- Oodles of torque in the low-mid range
- A hydraulically-actuated slipper clutch
Cons
- Offers a comparatively harsh ride
- Lack of modern gizmos and features
- For this price, there are better options
8 Electra Glide Highway King
$26,999
Taking a page out of the Road King's book in terms of simplicity, the Electra Glide Highway King also leans heavily into the concept of "need over want." With no additional bells or whistles, the Electra Glide series has been following the same formula for decades: touring body, floorboards, hard saddlebags, solo touring seat, big V-Twin engine (currently the Milwaukee-Eight 1114), engine guard, and a drool-worthy paint job.
It houses a detachable windshield that is tinted to match the paint job. And aside from offering some wind resistance, also houses gauges in the dash like the fuel display, speedometer, rpm tachometer, and battery charge. You might also notice the beautiful whitewall tires that merge seamlessly with its overall vintage appeal. Considering H-D only plans to sell this as a limited edition model for one year only, you should get your hands on it as soon as possible if it suits your fancy.
Pros
- An aesthetic vintage appeal
- Two-toned detachable windshield
- It is a limited-edition release
Cons
- No room for your missus
- Heavier than most traditional cruisers and tourers
- Lack of modern gizmos and features
7 Street Glide
$21,999
Now we're into some of the tasty stuff. For those that require a little more creature comforts, the Street Glide is the next model on the list. Mixing flash with functionality, Street Glides allow their riders a wider selection of colors, a larger touring seat, and a touch-screen stereo system while still providing useful wind protection. Aside from being able to express their individuality more, many Street Glide fans favor the bike simply because its dash is right at their fingertips.
In contrast to the Road Glide (which we'll address later), the Street Glide's batwing fairing turns with the handlebars, pointing the headlights in the direction the rider is traveling towards. Available in the Standard model, which comes equipped with the Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine, the Street Glide comes in a few other trims with larger engines like the Special with the Milwaukee-Eight 114, and ST and CVO which both come equipped with the upgraded Milwaukee-Eight 117.
Pros
- The refinement of the Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine
- The low seat height makes it impressively maneuverable
- Great wind protection
Cons
- The suspension offers a stiff ride
- Comes with a heavy clutch
- The vibrations will get to you, even while idling
6 Road Glide
$21,999
If sibling rivalry existed among Harley riders, there would be two teams: Street Glide and Road Glide. Although both of these motorcycles are roughly 90 percent the same, there is one key difference that sets the two apart: the Road Glide's shark-nose fairing. While both modern Road Glides and Street Glides come with the same engines, frames, saddlebags, seats, and even touch-screen infotainment systems, the fairing is what people argue over in the comments. Unlike the mobile bat wing faring that moves in the direction of the rider's path, the Road Glide's shark-nose fairing is fixed. Meaning no matter which way the rider turns the bike, the fairing is always facing forward. The Road Glide also houses a pair of headlamps instead of the Street Glide's single lamp, casting a wider range of light that'll come in necessary for those dark back roads.
But the main reason why Road Glide fans favor the shark nose over the bat wing is how they handle the wind at high speeds. The Street Glide, though fully capable of standing up against the wind, can sometimes send vibrations to the rider's hands due to the fact that it is fixed to the bike's forks. Meanwhile, because the Road Glide's fairing is bound to the engine guard instead of the forks, is able to cut through the wind at higher speeds while not sending down any shakiness. Certainly, a viable reason why the Road Glide is seen to be more popular in some parts of the U.S.
Pros
- The same, well-refined Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine as the Street Glide
- Frame-mounted shark-nose fairing
- Next to no vibrations
Cons
- The headlights do not follow the handlebar when turning
- Stiff suspension
- Feels big and clumsy on slow speeds
5 Freewheeler
$29,999
A hot rod on three wheels, Harley-Davidson's Freewheeler keeps the door for adventure open for those that still desire the open road. Trikes are popular among riders that do not have the physical strength to hold up these machines that weigh well over 800 pounds, but still want the sensation of wind in their faces. Other times Trike owners just don't want to have to deal with the concept of balancing a half-ton bike. Thankfully, the Freewheeler packs enough power and style for anybody to leave all of their worries behind. Plus, the amount of trunk space you can carry your things around in just cannot be ignored!
Pros
- The Milwaukee-eight 114 is the biggest engine in standard H-D Touring bikes
- The presence of an electric reverse gear
- Nicely incorporated rear trunk
Cons
- The clutch setup isn't the best
- It's a broad bike, so doesn't do well in tight spaces
- Doesn't come cheap
4 Road Glide Limited
$29,399
With road trip intentions parallel to that of the Ultra Limited, the shark nose/bat wing fairing rivalry spills over onto these long-range bikes as well. Whether you're a couple, or you're flying solo, the Road Glide Limited boasts all the extra creature comforts of the Ultra Limited (extra storage, ABS, comfort, etc.) while rocking the famous shark nose fairing with an even higher windshield to keep the wind (and bugs) out of your face.
Pros
- Provides a comfortable upright riding position
- Effective fairings for high-speed cruising
- Comes stock with luggage boxes
Cons
- Expensive
- The clutch pull is relatively heavy
- Some bits and pieces don’t feel premium
3 Ultra Limited
$29,799
While some touring models like the Road King, Road Glide, and Street Glide are well-rounded in terms of riding around town and riding cross-country, larger touring models like the Ultra Limited tend to favor the highway a little bit more. For good reason too. Ultra Limiteds are like the Winnebagos of the Harley world because not only are they more conditioned for longer, more comfortable riding, but also come with a few more goodies than the other models previously mentioned on this list.
The first thing is the seating situation. Because a bike like this is meant to be ridden with a passenger for hours on end, the rider is treated to an extra cushy seat that feels like you are riding a couch. Meanwhile, the passenger gets to have their own backrest, armrests, and mini floorboards that put them in such a comfortable position that many have confessed to falling asleep mid-ride! The Ultra Limited also comes with its own Tour-Pak luggage carrier that allows its riders to store helmets, extra clothing, gear, and other necessities that they'll be needing on their next road trip.
Pros
- Loaded with all creature comforts
- Good range of color options
- Great all-day comfort
Cons
- The infotainment readout is small
- In-built navigation can be pesky to live with
- Some parts are more exposed to corrosion
2 Tri-Glide Ultra
$36,499
A trike loaded up with power, torque, and amenities, the Tri Glide Ultra has everything a longtime rider will need to conquer the freeway. Based on the Freewheeler's design, the Tri Glide Ultra comes with a few extra creature comforts that will make you want to ride this more than your daily driver. This is evident by the batwing fairing, touch-screen Bluetooth infotainment system, extra-comfy touring seats, additional storage, and cruise control, just to name a short few. It is fair to say that anyone riding a Tri Glide Ultra will certainly be ruling the road in comfort and style.
Pros
- Gets a rear storage compartment in addition to the trunk
- Gets Boom! Box GTS audio system
- Manages wind buffeting well enough
Cons
- High maintenance cost
- Expensive
- It's a broad bike, so doesn't do well in tight spaces
1 CVO Road Glide Limited
$51,999
If you want to talk about the ultimate touring motorcycle, then there is no higher peak than Harley-Davidson's CVO Road Glide Limited. Because if you are going to embark on a grand, country-wide road trip, you might as well do it in style. Never mind about hand-picking all the extra parts and add-ons from the dealer. Instead, you can just simply opt for the CVO Road Glide Limited and get all the bells, whistles and all the styling any Harley aficionado could ask for. We're not quite sure what tops this.
Pros
- Heated seats and grips
- The iconic Twin-Cooled Milwaukee-Eight 117 V-Twin
- Has shed some weight compared to the outgoing trim
Cons
- At more than 50 grand, it's safe to say it is expensive
- Should have come with an electronic suspension adjustment
- 963 pounds of heft