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1. BMW R1200 GS Adventure

Price: $19,990

Engine: 1,170-cc, air-cooled Boxer or flat twin

Horsepower/torque: 105 hp/85 lb-ft

The BMW R1200 GS and R1200 GS Adventure are bread-and-butter bikes for BMW AG's Motorrad division. The R1200 GS line is, says the company, the “most successful BMW motorcycle of all times.”

The heart of the thing is the air/oil-cooled Boxer Twin. This engine produces a load of smooth, usable grunt and the engine design itself helps lower the bike's centre of gravity. These bikes are everywhere in Europe and with good reason. The ride is stable and responsive, there is plenty of power and the durability is what you'd expect of a bike designed for touring on- and (mildly) off-road.

The GS Adventure looks the part of a safari bike, too. It's visually striking compared to the standard GS model. But this is also a very big bike and it is a handful for smaller, shorter riders.

One very cool feature is the ESA (electric suspension adjustment). This feature has been used on previous BMW street models, but only last year did BMW make this available on an enduro machine – with specific off-road settings. At the touch of a left-thumb button, the rider can choose appropriate preload and damping stages. The theory behind the system is to adjust for both terrain conditions and motorcycle load such as passengers or luggage.

The GS models are touring bikes first and foremost. They shine brightest when you take them out for long distances in the saddle. The rider accommodations are superb here. The seating position, controls, and all the rest are easy on the rider. Sure, these bikes can be heavy and overwhelming at times, but that is what makes them good touring machines.

2. Ducati Hypermotard 1100

Price: $17,995

Engine: 1,100-cc L-twin

Horsepower/torque: 90 hp/76 lb-ft

The Hypermotard offers all sorts of high-quality components and it's a fast, aggressive bike. But it's not for everyone. The high seat will be too much for short-legged riders and the narrow bike itself, along with the aggressive riding position, will appeal mostly to racy, aggressive riders. Mounted, you almost feel like you're perched over the front wheel.

Lots of power here. The air-cooled, two-valve Multistrada engine is strong and responsive and likes to rev. There is lots of torque even at low engine speeds. The six-speed gearbox delivers crisp, short throws.

This is not the ideal bike for long rides. The seat is narrow and hard and the bike tends to vibrate quite a bit. This bike shines brightest on back-country roads that twist and bend. The Hypermotard is a light bike (175 kg dry) and it is easy to throw into a corner, exiting with plenty of throttle. Apex to apex, this is one fun bike.

In short, the Hypermotard is a fast ride for aggressive riders. But it's not a touring bike by any means.

3. Harley Davidson VRSCF V-Rod Muscle

Price: $21,869

Engine: 1,250-cc, liquid-cooled, Revolution V-Twin

Horsepower/torque: 125 hp/85 lb-ft

The V-Rod Muscle is, as the name implies, Harley-Davidson's muscle cruiser. The bike looks the part: big air scoops up front, chiselled airbox cover, tall handlebars, dual side-pipe exhausts and chopped rear end. No mistaking the message this bike sends: I'm a bad-ass.

The engine is the strong and smooth V-Rod motor with electronic fuel injection. This is a good, modern power plant with double overhead cams and five-speed transmission.

On the street, the Muscle rides and handles about the same as other varieties of V-Rod. So while this bike grabs eyeballs wherever you go, after about an hour you need to get off and stretch. The low seating position and foot-forward controls have you sitting right on your tailbone and that eventually gets to be a numbing experience. Smaller riders will also find the reach to the handlebars a big stretch.

That said, power pours from the engine, the handling is good given the riding position and the looks are stunning – the looks of the bike and its admirers.

4. Harley Davidson FLHTC Electra Glide Classic

Price: $24,149

Engine: 1,573-cc air-cooled twin cam 96

Horsepower/torque: N/A /93 lb-ft

Harley's 2009 touring models are led by the all-new Electra Glide Classic, updated thoroughly for this model year. It just doesn't look all new. The new 28-spoke, 17-inch cast aluminum front wheel is the only obvious visual clue, but the only things that have not changed are the 1,573-cc motor and 22.7-litre fuel tank.

Harley's touring models – not just the Electra Glides, but also the Road Kings, Street Glides and Road Glides – have a new, more rigid frame, new wheels and tires, redesigned exhaust, air-adjustable shocks and revised engine mounts. The suspension has been revised, too.

The Electra Glide Classic is quite the big touring machine, yet it has a taut and responsive chassis for a king-sized bike. The motor and six-speed transmission work well together, too. Lots of torque, in particular. This is a great motor for long-distance highway cruising.

But this is not the ideal ride in town. Sure, standard on Touring models this year is an engine management system that gives the rider the option of shutting off fuel to the rear cylinder if the engine reaches a certain temperature and the vehicle is stopped. Think stop-and-go traffic. The idea here is to leave only the front cylinder firing (the rear is basically just blowing air). That reduces heat and possible engine damage. It's cooler for the rider, too. But in town the Electra Glide is a handful.

On the other hand, this full-dress touring bike is a real gem along sweeping country roads or on the full-blown highway. For a big bike, it carves well. The riding position is fantastic and the floorboards are perfectly placed for resting your feet.

If Harley is in your blood and you're a long-distance rider, this is your bike.

5. Buell Ulysses XB12Xt

Price: $16,169

Engine: 1,203-cc V-twin

Horsepower/torque: 103 hp/84 lb-ft

Buell calls the Ulysses an “adventure sport bike” and this ride is aimed squarely at BMW's R1200 GS Adventure. In the Buell, you see the same idea and similar looks, but for less money.

Certainly, this is Buell's most versatile motorcycle and it likely is underappreciated in the marketplace. With the fuel tank in the frame and the exhaust below the engine, Buell's engineers have focused on lowering the centre of gravity. (Note: the low centre of gravity provided by BMW's flat or Boxer style engine is a major selling point and Buell clearly has noticed.) The engine here is a Buell-tweaked, Harley-based, V-twin engine. The V-twin is a proven engine, but it may be in the wrong bike here.

While at highway speeds, the engine's roughness disappears; in town, in slow-speed manoeuvres, there is a lot of rocking and shaking going on here. Rubber engine mounts help calm things down, but there is only so much they can do. Harley's water-cooled V-Rod, developed with Porsche, would seem like an ideal choice for this bike.

The fully adjustable suspension has plenty of travel and that means adventurous riders easily find themselves soaking up potholes and broken pavement. Unpaved roads are a snap, too. The Ulysses does not feel overly big and it is not top-heavy at all. This bike handles really well and the riding position is outstanding. For long trips, the Ulysses is a fantastically comfortable bike.

Other smart features: maintenance-free belt final drive, two power outlets for electric clothing, optional hard bags, a headlight flasher and useable under-seat storage.

On the downside, the ignition switch is buried up on the left side of the headlight pod and it is hideously difficult to reach.

6. Honda VT750T Shadow Tourer

Price: $10,599

Engine: 750-cc liquid-cooled V-twin

Horsepower/torque: N/A

The VT750T Shadow Tourer is a versatile street rod with the looks of a very aggressive bike, but not the weight and bulkiness. Obviously this bike, and the larger VT1300T Tourer, is intended to take on the powerhouse maker of this style of bike, Harley-Davidson.

Honda's offering here is less expensive than anything similar from Harley, however. The V-twin liquid-cooled engine feels strong and responds wonderfully well. However, Honda does not publish either output or fuel economy numbers.

Even though the broad seat is low-slung (and has a detachable passenger section) the ride is surprisingly comfortable. This is a touring bike, after all.

In a nutshell, the Shadow Tourer is a bike for someone just starting out, someone who wants the look and a bike that should prove to be reliable and easy to ride. Honda touts this bike's high-tech engine and chassis design, as well as low-maintenance features such as shaft final drive. It's not just hype, either.

7. Honda VTX1300T Tourer

Price: $13,899

Engine: 1.3-litre, liquid-cooled, V-twin

Horsepower/torque: N/A

The VTX1300T is a slightly scaled-down version of Honda's top-line VTX1800 cruiser. It's a big motorcycle with an engine identical in outer dimensions to the larger 1800, right down to the oversized cylinder heads. You get loads of torque from this V-twin, though exactly how much is uncertain because Honda does not publish output and fuel economy numbers for its motorcycles. That said, twist the throttle and this bike goes, but with almost no vibration. Give credit here to twin counterbalancers that smooth out the power.

Honda bills this bike as one good for the city and highway. True, the suspension is compliant in town, yet on the open road the ride is smooth and comfortable. The rider's seat is comfy, too and the foot pegs are in a relatively comfortable position. The windshield does a decent job of protecting the rider, too.

All in all a very pleasant bike with the looks of something more aggressive. And priced well, too.

8. Yamaha 950-cc V-Star

Price: $11,999

Engine: 942-cc, air-cooled, V-twin

Horsepower/torque: N/A

Yamaha's V-Star 950 and V-Star 950 Tourer combine a V-twin engine with a low seat height and manageable curb weight. The package makes for a bike aimed at intermediate riders or those wanting to downsize from heavyweight cruisers.

The 950's seat height is low, so it will accommodate even the most vertically challenged riders. The air-cooled, 60-degree V-twin is a fuel-injected engine and it's solid and smooth with deep, rumbling sound. A five-speed transmission with straight-cut gears transfers power to the rear wheel via a belt drive.

This is not a sport bike, but it certainly can handle twisty roads quite nicely. Shorter riders will like not only the seat's low position, but also the narrow taper at the front of the saddle which makes it easy to reach for the ground. The downside is obvious: a steeply angled rear portion can create a pressure point on long rides.

The V-Star 950 is a bike for riders who are not chasing a huge engine in a big ride for a bike of this style. Rather than being a big, bad bike, this is a manageable cruiser at a fair price.

9. Yamaha FZ6R

Price: $8,799

Engine: 600-cc, liquid-cooled, inline-four-cylinder

Horsepower/torque: N/A

The FZ6R is not the aggressive R6, though they look quite a bit alike. This bike is for newer riders who don't want to give up sporty looks or street cred, yet have not completely mastered high-end riding.

Bottom line: the FZ6R is intended to combine performance and rideability (if that's a word). And it succeeds pretty well. The 600-cc, water-cooled, inline-four is a responsive fuel-injected engine. It's mated to a slick six-speed transmission. A very nice motor and one you'd be happy to live with for all your in-town errands. Still there is enough power here for longer rides.

The key point here is that this is not an all-out sport bike. Yamaha has paid attention to comfort first, performance second. The handlebar reach is perfect, the saddle is well-padded, the somewhat upright seating position works well and foot peg placement is designed to keep pressure off your knees. There is nothing extreme about this bike's ergonomics.

Newer riders or riders who want something just sporty enough without going over the top should really like the FZ6R.