Best Motorcycles For Passengers

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Motorcycles are made to be ridden by one person. However, certain rides provide a great passenger experience. Let's look at the best motorcycles for passengers.

Models like the Honda NC750X, the Ural Gear Up, the BMW R1200 GS, the Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX, the Honda Goldwing Tour, the Triumph Bonneville T120, and the Harley-Davidson Road Glide Limited are some of the best motorcycles for passengers.

Generally, motorcycles that are ideal for passengers should offer excellent maneuverability and feature a soft cushion pillion, so the other person is comfortable on the journey. Finding such a ride can be a bit of a hassle, especially because manufacturers don't generally advertise their rides as "passenger bikes."

No need to worry, though, as we have done the legwork for you. As experienced motorcycle riders and enthusiasts, we are well-aware of the cruisers that make a good fit for you if you're looking to ride with another passenger. Therefore, we've compiled a list of the best motorcycles for passengers to help you find the perfect model that suits your requirements.

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Honda NC750X

Many riders consider Honda's NC750X to be an all-rounder. The bike is an excellent commuter, vacation explorer, and two-up alternative because of its sport-touring posture combined with an adventurous bike design and ergonomics. If you need to bring a friend to the office with you or go on a casual ride with someone else, this is the best option.

It has excellent fuel economy, ample passenger space, and weather protection. The model offers an average of 80.5 mpg, which means you'll save your hard-earned dollars on gas if you use the bike for your daily commute. When you arrive at your destination, you can use the provided luggage space to stow your riding gear. The included clutch-less DCT transmission ensures a comfortable ride with no helmet banging!

The Honda NC750X has been moved from a quasi-ADV sport motorbike to a metropolitan or sport-touring mix. Even though the handguards are still present, the suspension movement has been reduced from six inches to 4.7 inches on both sides, putting it squarely in the street bike zone.

The seat height has been reduced by more than an inch to 31.6 inches, which will please city dwellers. The 2021 Honda NC750X has a low and elegant design. The revised valve timing and exhaust system boost torque beyond 5000 rpm to the rev limit of 7000 rpm. The first, second, and third gears are all lowered to help with low-speed acceleration.

When you combine all these upgrades, the 2021 Honda NC750X seems substantially sportier in both residential and commercial areas. The 270-degree crank firing gives Honda's engine a thrumming sound and torquey efficiency.

Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX

Some of us want to travel quickly – but we also want to be relaxed for the duration of our journey. Kawi's next supercharged sport-tourer has the potential to be passenger heaven. The H2 SX comes with a 200-horsepower engine from the uber-fast H2 sportbike and a beefed-up chassis to carry a companion and luggage.

The new improvements are the suspension system, synchronized riding modes, smartphone connection, Brembo Stylema monoblock calipers, and exceptionally resilient self-repairing paint. The vehicle's wet weight of 590 pounds, on the other hand, puts it more on the traveling side of things; therefore, Kawasaki gave it a comfortable seating position for both the driver and the passenger.

The H2 SX also comes with a full complement of travel conveniences, allowing dedicated speed riders to go large distances when needed. The electronic suspension now features three preload settings: rider, rider and luggage, and two riders and luggage. These appear on the dash, and the servo will adjust the rear height of the bike if you change the settings while standing still. The settings can be adjusted easily when the throttle is closed. Moreover, in addition to the factory loaded settings, you can add preload up to 5 levels each from the three default modes.

Ural Gear Up

If you are looking for something unique for a passenger to ride comfortably with you, then the Ural Gear Up might be worth considering. This ride features a roomy sidecar and retro styling. The ride might not be great in the looks department, but it's comfortable for a passenger. The Ural Gear Up features a two-wheel steering system that aids the timeless classic in overcoming off-road challenges, and the spare tire provides a practical touch.

The sidecar, which is driven by Soviet WW2-era copies of BMW boxer motors, enables passengers to stretch out and breathe easily while also allowing them to use their phones or take photos while on the road. The weight limit allowance of the sidecar is over 1,300 pounds.

The motorcycle is also highly two-up-friendly, with a substantially proportioned bench seat and super-low positioned passenger foot-pegs, making the Ural Gear Up an excellent ride for passengers to ride comfortably.

When the gearbox is in neutral, and the clutch pedal is pushed in to activate a genuine reverse gear, the Ural Gear Up features a shifter on the right side under the brake pedal that is changed up. When you let go of the clutch and offer it a burst of power, it accelerates backwards as if it were in first gear.

The Ural's goal is to be an invincible workhorse on rougher roads or small distance blitzes; therefore, it will comfortably drive you around on the highways. Not only is the Ural Gear Up a good ride for passengers, but it's also useful for everyday life. The trunk offers plenty of room for a week's worth of groceries while the sidecar carries water and other beverages. Overall, the Ural Gear Up gets an excellent rating on comfort and convenience but loses style points because the sidecar might feel outdated to some.

Honda Goldwing Tour

It's nearly difficult to discuss the greatest motorcycles for transporting a passenger without mentioning the Honda Gold Wing. The Gold Wing is a two-up friendly traveling bike that was first launched in 1974. It embodies every attribute one looks for when selecting a passenger motorcycle.

The top-of-the-line Tour model includes a big, soft heated seating, headrest, audio system, and enormous luggage capacity. It's smaller, faster, and spruced up to cater to a passenger's needs. The top compartment now has a capacity of 61 liters and can accommodate two full-face headgear.

The low back lip makes loading easier, but stray bands, sleeves, and other cargo items must be tucked in so that the lid closes tightly.  Furthermore, the unique suede-like material on the seat has a luxurious appearance, and the colorful seat braiding is a nice addition. For a neater appearance, the rear signal lights are now entirely red.

The Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) is also noteworthy, relieving some of the rider's burden, particularly when going around town and coping with traffic. The bike's shift points in the Tour range are precise, but a little relaxed, and the throttle response in Sport mode is significantly crisper, which might make you love this model!

BMW R1200GS

The BMW R1200GS and R1200GS Adventure are bikes produced by BMW Motorrad, a division of the BMW firm, in Berlin, Germany. Large, tough dual-purpose bikes are deeply embedded in the GS Heritage, as the boxer-twin driven GS has been here in different incarnations since 1980. It's been a long journey that has culminated in a bike that, while distinctive to ride, appeals to a wide range of riders, from schedulers to commuters and traveling types.

The freshly revised BMW R1200GS comes with a comprehensive set of features that will help you ride legally, fast, and pleasantly.  An enlightening and instinctive TFT showcase that appears more like an iPad than a moto showcase and an auto preload alternative that adapts the burden on the fly based on weight are notable features.

Moreover, you get five riding modes with this bike. Rain and Road come standard with the R1200GS Adventure, while Enduro-Pro, Enduro, and Dynamic are optional. Other features include engine maps, ABS, and an ascending and descending quick shifter.

The frame is just as competent on fire trails as it is on a concrete racetrack, thanks to a quiet and powerful 1,170 cc two-cylinder boxer engine. Extensions are available to make that wide, well-padded seat as comfortable as you want it to be.

The electronic suspension of the BMW R1200GS improves comfort while riding, and it feels great to switch between different modes depending on the trail. The ride is a great option for two-up riding, thanks to its plush seat and plush seat.

Triumph Bonneville T120

The Triumph Bonneville, which was first released in 1959, is unquestionably one of the most legendary motorcycles of all time. Bonnie's most recent iterations have unmistakable vintage styling backed by advanced materials, safety, and dependability. Furthermore, the T100 and T120 also have robust bench seats with plenty of cushioning to ensure that a pillion stays comfortable on lengthy journeys.

The mass of the crankshaft has been lowered, and improvements to the balancing shaft and clutch have resulted in a more reactive engine that revs easily. Bonnie and the rest of the expanded model family were modified for 2021 to meet the higher Euro 5 pollution criteria.

The previous T120 didn't have much going for it, but Triumph has taken advantage of Euro 5 to bring some noteworthy changes. The engine, suspension, technology, and aesthetics enhancements are all obvious and improve the riding experience.

The T120 is fun to ride thanks to its larger torque dispersion and increased efficiency. It's easy to get to 100 mph. Its 79-horsepower liquid-cooled engine has enough vigor in the drive train to accelerate out of a possibly complex problem and also allows you to attain motorway speeds during two-up riding.

Traction control is now common, and it's simple to use: All you need to do is push one key to set your pace. You can't speed up or slow down once cruise control is engaged, which is a touch frustrating, but most customers will appreciate the system's user-friendliness.

Harley-Davidson Road Glide Limited

The Road Glide has traditionally been among the Harley-Davidson Motorcycles' most prominent designs, with a unique version including a headrest with heavy cushioning and plush leather interior fitted into a spacious top box with a broadcast antenna and baggage rack.

The latest Harley-Davidson Road Glide succeeds the Ultra in comfort and brings premium aesthetics and high-tech alternatives to an already shining feather in the company's hat.

A gloss-finished internal fairing, applied pinstriping, new logos on the 6.0-gallon gas tank and bumpers, as well as handlebar grips, are among the subtle improvements to the premium long-hauler. In the 2020 model, a bewildering assortment of color options are available, as well as a Black Finish bundle that gives practically every piece of gear a raven touch.

The flat power profile of the Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine ensures there's overtaking or hill climbing strength anytime you need it, whether you're riding alone that day or carrying a passenger on the back seat. It's a faultless engine with immaculate priming, free cranking, and an ability to push the Road Glide Limited to triple-digit speeds without any maneuverability issues, as it relishes extending its long-stroke legs. For the most part, on the open road, the sixth speed in the Cruise Drive powertrain is silky smooth, and traction control makes it even more special.

Many factors contribute to deceleration's safety. If you engage the foot or hand brake, the automatically connected brakes will apply pressure to both tires as required. At slower speeds, there is no connected braking; instead, it engages and ramps up when you brake deeper.

The engine decreases torque transmitted to the rear tire to maintain traction, in conjunction with a slipper clutch to prevent rear-wheel slippage during heavy downshifting. The spacious seat is luxurious on the highway, the aesthetics are well-balanced, and the windshield offers protection against foreign elements. Pillions get handles as well as their own sound system.

Suzuki V-Strom 650

The Suzuki V-Strom 650 is advertised as an adventure bike, but it's actually a great ride for a passenger. You can equip the regular model with a passenger seat, which will put them a bit higher than the rider but will provide a comfortable riding experience.

When it comes to speed, the V-Strom 650 can deliver up to 125 mph with its 645cc V-twin engine. This bike is easy to maneuver on the highway but also offers a decent experience on muddy trails. Early models of the V-Strom 650 came without ABS, but that became a standard fitment starting from 2011.

The ride is extremely useful for commuting and two-up riding. The engine is super reliable, economical, and well-developed. The bodywork stops bad weather conditions from ruining the experience and offers decent wind protection, ensuring that motorway jaunts are relaxing. Moreover, uprated rubber, heated grips, and the ability to carry some hard luggage make the V-storm a practical all-rounder that works well for anyone who wants a convenient and durable ride.

On the downside, you don't get the bells and whistles found in some of the higher-end models listed above. It's short on tech, and the power is not sufficient to compete with the BMW R1200GS or Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX. However, the V-Strom 650 is less expensive than most of the other models and offers good value for money.