Source: Motorcycle Cruiser –
Baggers are all about touring in style and comfort, and with big updates to its Street Glide and Road Glide models (pictured), Harley continues to dominate the big bagger class. (Harley-Davidson/)The definition of a bagger has morphed somewhat over the years thanks to popular racing events like King of the Baggers, leaving many of us with a specific vision in mind; a partially deconstructed touring bike flaunting a big ol’ front fairing, hard sidebags, and (occasionally) passenger accommodations. They usually sport higher-quality components and more amenities than your basic light-duty touring bagger (see: Kawasaki Vulcan Classic LT), offering big stonkin’ motors, better suspension, a larger tank, and in some cases, modern tech and premium audio, though they’re less fully equipped than dressers. Some call it “custom touring,” but getting out on the open road is what big baggers are all about, and if you’re looking to cover the miles in comfort and style and without the bulk of a big-boat dresser, these should be on your list. We’ll handle the classic soft baggers in another post, but here, it’s all about the big guns, which are in order of price, because, well, unfortunately, most don’t come cheap. Let’s dig in.Related: Harley Road Glide Custom, Kawasaki Vaquero and Victory Vision 8-BallA muscle-car-inspired chassis-mounted fairing is the Challenger’s calling card, but its performance and feature set also make it a great touring rig. (Indian Motorcycle/)2024 Indian Challenger | $26,499Engine: 1,768cc liquid-cooled V-twinFuel tank: 6 gal.Display: 7 in. TFT touchscreenNavigation: YesAudio: IntegratedABS: YesIndian continues to nip at Harley’s heels with its liquid-cooled Challenger, and the brand’s first fixed-fairing bagger is a nicely outfitted tourer in its own right—-and also being campaigned in the King of Baggers series. Pair a well-sorted suspension to an aluminum frame and chassis-mounted fairing, and you have a bagger that takes clear aim at the Road Glide, with a 1,768cc PowerPlus engine that belted out 103.11 hp and 113.08 lb.-ft. of torque on our dyno. An impressive list of standard features includes locking saddlebags, a 6-gallon fuel tank, an electrically adjustable windshield, LED lighting, three ride modes, cruise control, and ABS, while the 7-inch touchscreen display with Ride Command features navigation and Bluetooth connectivity. To get similar IMU-managed rider aids to the standard-issue ones on the Road Glide, however, you’d need to shell out for the Challenger Limited ($29,999).For 2024, the Road Glide switches things up with a new M-8 117 engine, improved suspension and electronics, and a fresh look for its frame-mounted sharknose fairing. In other words, it’s better than ever. (Harley-Davidson/)2024 Harley-Davidson Road Glide | $25,999Engine: 1,923cc liquid-cooled V-twinFuel tank: 6 gal.Display: 12.3 in. TFT touchscreenAudio: IntegratedABS: YesHarley gave its hugely popular Road Glide significant updates for 2024, including upgraded suspension, improved comfort, and most notably, increased power with a revised engine. To all that, The Motor Company added a full suite of electronic rider aids, and one visual change everyone will recognize: a new sharknose fairing, complete with reshaped LED lighting on the front and a 12.3-inch TFT touchscreen inside. According to Harley, that Milwaukee-Eight 117 engine (1,923cc) produces 105 hp and 130 lb.-ft. of torque, and is manipulated via a six-speed Cruise Drive transmission and a slip and assist clutch. Class-leading paint, IMU-enabled rider aids, ride modes, and that distinctive fairing make for a sharp-looking, well-equipped V-twin tourer, and one that’s consistently a top finisher at the King of the Baggers races. (If you’re partial to batwing fairings, the 2024 Street Glide received many of the same upgrades.)The Honda Gold Wing is usually thought of as a dresser, but the 2024 base model shown here, with its integrated hard bags, is all bagger. (Honda/)2024 Honda Gold Wing | $24,700Engine: 1,833cc liquid-cooled inline-sixFuel tank: 5.5 gal.Display: 7 in. TFT touchscreenNavigation: YesAudio: IntegratedABS: YesFour-plus decades on, the Honda Gold Wing continues to earn accolades for its uncanny long-haul manners, plush accommodations, and effortless command of the open road. We’ve often called the Gold Wing “the gold standard of two-up touring,” thanks to features like an 1,833cc flat six-cylinder engine and an electronically adjustable double-wishbone fork, both of which contribute to the bike’s silky-smooth power delivery and rock-solid stability. Even on the base model, you get features like a color 7-inch TFT screen, four ride modes, ride-by-wire, dual disc brakes with ABS, a 5.5-gallon tank, lots of weather protection, and plenty of storage space. Level up to the Gold Wing Automatic DCT and the bike will do the shifting for you. New for 2024 is this pretty slick Matte Armored Green Metallic color.Different styling, a fork-mounted fairing, and the Thunderstroke 111 engine distinguish the Chieftain from the Challenger. (Indian Motorcycle/)2024 Indian Chieftain | $23,999Engine: 1,811cc air-cooled V-twinFuel tank: 5.5 gal.Display: 7 in. TFT touchscreenNavigation: YesAudio: IntegratedABS: YesAs with Harley’s Street Glide and Road Glide, Indian’s two hard-bag models are distinguished by their fairings; the Chieftain bagger rolls with a fork-mounted unit versus the Challenger’s chassis-attached one. Each fairing also has a unique shape, but there’s another key difference between the two; the Chieftain’s air-cooled 111ci Thunderstroke engine (1,811cc), versus the Challenger’s liquid-cooled PowerPlus. There are also subtle cosmetic and styling differences, with the Chieftain getting a smaller, classically shaped 5.5-gallon fuel tank and slammed saddlebags. The Chieftain also rocks a right-side-up fork and has a slimmer saddle, but otherwise, you have the same 7-inch TFT touchscreen, ABS, cruise control, and adjustable windshield as on the Challenger, just with sharper styling and a classic air-cooled V-twin. Upgrading to the Chieftain Dark Horse trim, $29,999, gets you a bigger Thunderstroke 116 engine.Riders going the distance will dig the K 1600 B’s broad front fairing, electronically adjustable windscreen—and a really long list of other up-to-date bells and whistles. (BMW/)2024 BMW K 1600 B | $22,945Engine: 1,649cc liquid-cooled inline-sixFuel tank: 7 gal.Display: 10.25 in. TFT touchscreenNavigation: YesAudio: IntegratedABS: YesYou could feasibly slip BMW’s R 18 B into this category but the more fully-featured K 1600 B is a better apples-to-apples comparison. With an inline 1,649cc six-cylinder mill cranking out a mighty 160 hp (claimed), backed by a head-snapping 133 lb.-ft. of torque, the big K also offers electronically adjustable suspension and windscreen along with a huge 10.25-inch TFT color display with integrated navigation. This being a BMW, you’ll also find a boatload of other bells and whistles, like heated grips and a heated seat, cruise control, LED lighting, ABS, and electronic reverse—all standard. There’s even engine-brake control and dynamic traction control aided by a six-axis IMU, while a generous 7-gallon tank and posh cockpit goes a long way toward keeping you comfy over the long haul. As far as standard equipment goes, it’s hard to top this B.The Vulcan 1700 Vaquero hasn’t changed in its 14 years of production, but it still brings a stylish V-twin profile and a decent feature set for not a lot of money. (Kawasaki/)2024 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Vaquero ABS | $19,099Engine: 1,700cc liquid-cooled V-twinFuel tank: 5.3 gal.Display: Analog gauges, LCD screen, push-button radio controlsNavigation: NoAudio: Integrated AM/FM (no USB connection)ABS: YesNo question you’re giving up a raft of modern features with the long-running Vulcan Vaquero, which skews more toward cruising than touring, but have you seen the price tag? It clocks in at $3K less than the next cheapest bike here. In terms of styling and mechanics, the Vaquero hasn’t changed at all since its 2011 debut, with the same streamlined frame-mounted fairing, chopped windshield, V-twin profile, and integrated hard bags. A liquid-cooled 1,700cc mill good for a claimed 107.6 lb.-ft of torque takes center stage, bookended by a 45mm fork and twin air-assisted shocks, with plush seating for the pilot (but not the passenger). Other amenities include cruise control, floorboards, triple disc brakes with standard ABS, and onboard AM/FM audio, but 13 years without any updates is a long time in the motorcycle world. Still, it’s a strong contender for the best-value bagger, so if your needs are simple, it’s worth a look.
