In an age of comfort and technology, bikes with the ability to easily carry luggage and a passenger are among the most sought-after rides. These large, heavyweight two-wheeled tourers-the road sofa, geezer-glide, bagger, or dresser-are full of amenities and options to keep you fresh during long days in the saddle. Other than large torquey motors, saddlebags and a windshield are usually the minimum requirement for touring status.

A windshield doesn’t just protect a rider from bad weather, such as rain and hail-it also reduces fatigue brought on by a day of freeway wind. Windshields and fairings come in two main flavors: easily removable (aka, detachable) and, well, those that aren’t. Even the fairings themselves come in at least two varieties, with a fixed-fairing unit as seen on Harley Road Glides and a fork-mounted fairing such as the Electra Glides wear. The difference is that the fixed fairing is mounted to the frame of the motorcycle and its attached headlight(s) don’t move with the bars, whereas the traditional batwing fairing (on Electra Glides) moves with the bars and forks. Added benefits to fairings over windshields is the option to add stereos, gauges, and extra storage, not to mention clean access to the wiring harness for such things as GPS units or cell phone chargers.

Saddlebags, either in the hard (plastic, fiberglass) or soft (leather, nylon) varieties, provide not only storage for the long haul but can also be handy for a trip to the store. Tour-Paks or box-top storage units that reside somewhere over the rear fender behind the pillion can be added for additional storage; some can accommodate a full-face helmet. Hard bags tend to provide better weather protection and a little security due to their locking nature.

There’s a booming industry that’s focusing on manufacturing parts and accessories for bagger riders and a handful of American manufacturers that are building bikes specifically for the touring market. Harley-Davidson is still the major player in the market, essentially defining the genre in the first place while refining its products to meet the goals of its riders. Victory Motorcycles has launched the Vision, perhaps the most daring American bike ever offered to the touring market. FBI Motor Company has jumped into the fray with its own line of touring bikes based on parts from Fat Baggers Inc. American Motorcycle 1902’s Apache model diverges from the status quo in bagger aesthetics. Thunder Mountain Custom Cycles continues to expand its lineup with the addition of the Frontier touring motorcycle. These production bikes are not kits or special construction vehicles, but fully licensed, tested, and insurable motorcycles. In addition, optional motors and parts are available to suit your style and wallet.

Harley-Davidson
(www.harley-davidson.com)

For ’07, H-D is offering 10 different models of touring bikes that cover the gamut from minimal to extreme in terms of options and styling. Two limited-edition CVO bikes (Custom Vehicle Operations) carry all the bells and whistles found in the H-D parts and accessories catalog, along with the new bored and stroked rubber-mounted 110ci motor. The remaining eight touring models come equipped with the new-for-’07 96-inch Twin Cam motor. Each bike also carries the Cruise Drive six-speed transmission and electronic sequential-port fuel injection.

H-D offers so many options that we’d need pages and pages just to describe some of them. In a very general sense, the Electra Glides and Street Glide feature the fork-mounted batwing fairing. The Road Glide comes with a dual-headlight-equipped frame-mounted “shark-nose” fairing, while the Road King models feature more retro styling without fairings. The RK Custom features leather saddlebags and a short wind visor.

’08 FBI Motor Company
(www.fatbaggers.com)

Hailing from Chariton, IA, the FBI Motor Company, a division of Fat Baggers Inc., has built three baggers with the rider in mind. Each new model is EPA-compliant with a stamped manufacturer’s VIN. For all the power you could want, FBI is equipping the bikes with 120-inch JIMS Twin Cam motors and H-D six-speed trannys and fuel injection. A big bonus to the company’s bike packages is the low seat height and large fuel tank, along with 200mm rear tires and a slightly kicked-out frontend (35-degree rake). Internal wiring adds to the custom touch, along with the addition of HHI brakes and RC Components custom wheels.

Thunder Mountain Custom Cycle
(www.thundermountaincustoms.com)

The bikes from Thunder Mountain Custom Cycles (TMC), located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains in Fort Collins, CO, are sold exclusively at authorized TMC dealerships nationwide. Thunder Mountain Custom Cycles bikes are comprised of predominantly Harley-Davidson parts, including the engine, wiring, switches, and harnesses.

Going back to 1999, Thunder Mountain began production of top-of-the-line motorcycles and will produce more than 1,000 bikes this year. This line of customs appeals to motorcycle enthusiasts who want a reliable bike with a custom look.

Thunder Mountain Custom Cycles features its newest model, the Frontier, which includes cutting-edge custom paint designs, additional chrome or blacked-out options, and the powerful 103ci Screamin’ Eagle motors. A departure from most customs is the company’s Softail frame using the balanced version of the Twin Cam motor.

What truly sets these bikes apart from the pack are the one-of-a-kind paint jobs rendered by the most gifted painters in the industry. Each artist is a master at his craft and brings a unique style to each Custom Cycle. Polished and perfected, no two Thunder Mountain Custom Cycles are alike.

Although Harley-Davidson components are utilized in the production of Thunder Mountain, they are an independently owned and operated company. TMCC is not in any way affiliated with, nor supported by, the Harley-Davidson Motor Company.

American Motorcycle 1902
(www.amc1902.com)

The “Apache” (under license from the Choctaw-Apache Native American people of Louisiana) Bagger by American Motorcycle 1902 has all the features to reflect its heritage as a true “custom” bagger, with a look and feel that reflects your own individual style and will stand apart from all the other baggers in your posse. This bike has all the features desired by the demanding rider, built to be ridden and bring the touring experience to a whole new level. The base model comes with a 113-inch S&S; motor cradled by a Softail-style frame.

Corbin USA partnered with American Motorcycle 1902 on the development of this bike to create something truly special, such as the windscreen Corbin developed specifically for this bike. Along with Corbin’s unique and stylish engine shroud, the fiberglass on this motorcycle really makes a statement. With the addition of those hard bags and a newly designed two-up convertible seating system, all these features make this bike ready for the long haul.

Victory Motorcycles
(www.victory-usa.com)

Combining the style, performance, and comfort of the Kingpin with enough storage room for a weekend getaway, Victory Motorcycles launched the Kingpin Tour. Victory’s own 100ci overhead-cam Freedom V-Twin combines with a six-speed overdrive transmission for all-day cruising comfort. A windshield, saddlebags, and a trunk that can hold 20 pounds of gear make travel easier. Comfort comes in the form of a luxury touring seat with backrest, rubber-mounted handlebars, and vibration-isolating floorboards. Passenger accommodations include a backrest and full floorboards.

Two other Victory touring bikes will hit showrooms shortly. The Victory Vision is bold and futuristic, making a loud statement to be seen and ridden. It appears that Victory engineers paid attention to which amenities touring riders yearned for, as the bikes are packed with comfort features and friendly ergonomics. “Two bikes, two types of riders,” refers to the Vision Tour and the Vision Street. The Tour, complete with tail trunk, sleek saddlebags, and storage compartments, is targeted toward the long-haul, two-up rider. The Street, geared toward the occasional long-trip rider, appears similar but without the trunk. Smooth styling is complemented by attention to ergonomics and comfort.

A 26-1/2-inch seat height allows for civilized slow-speed riding and confidence for smaller riders. The fixed fairing has iPod connectivity built in, while the windscreen and side wind deflectors can be electronically adjusted on the fly to tailor the airflow to your liking and conditions.