Dresser Motorcycles

BMW spruced up its Grand America ahead of 2021 with a host of improvements, most of which were offered as optional equipment on the previous year-model. A powerful flat-six engine drives this long-distance tourbike, and the attention to detail is evident throughout the comfort amenities to make this a serious contender for the U.S. full-dresser market. Hard bags and a topcase, that provides a backrest for the pillion, join a vented windshield and broad front fairing to protect both rider and passenger.

BMW Motorrad embraces the American style for its full-dress tourbikes , and the K 1600 GTL represents the pinnacle of that genre. Built for luxe comfort with an eye toward safety, the “GTL” brings all the top-shelf gadgets to the table along with over a liter-and-a-half of flat-six performance placing it well into the power-tourer bracket. The factory also blessed it with the “Spezial” treatment that brings factory-custom touches to lend the line an extra element of exclusivity.

Indian Motorcycle adds the Roadmaster Limited to the lineup ahead of MY2021 as an alternative to the vanilla Roadmaster at the bottom of the fully dressed tour-bike price range. The standard electronic suite and Ride Command infotainment system supports long trips as is, but new equipment really adds comfort through the ClimaCommand Rogue saddle that can heat or cool your nethers underway. Front fairing protection and a trio of hard bags round out the touring package to make it ready for the highway right off the showroom floor.

Indian Motorcycle brings classic and contemporary together for its limited-edition Roadmaster Elite. Powered by the new, 116 cubic-inch Thunder Stroke plant and enhanced with top-shelf infotainment features as well as safety equipment, the Roadmaster Elite serves as Indian’s Flagship entry in the tourbike bracket and looks like it’s set to take on its domestic competition.

Remember the 2019 Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide, the special edition that had the stunning red and silver two-tone paint job with the “Number One” logo in red and blue on the fuel tank? The Milwaukee-Based company is repeating this glorious accent on its 2020 Road Glide Special model. The factory-installed paint will be limited to 750 models.

It’s a nostalgic yet sumptuous take on the already blummin’ good Roadmaster dresser. The Elite has been the best money can buy, and has pulled it off with all bells and whistles ever since it was launched a couple of years ago.

For 2020, the Elite gets a brand-new custom-inspired two-tone candy paint, requiring nearly 30 hours and hand finishing to complete, an upgraded Ride Command system with a 600-watt PowerBand Audio Plus set up, 19-inch precision-machined wheel. Powering this is Indian Motorcycle’s most powerful air-cooled engine - the Thunder Stroke 116.

Bright, brash and power are what is oozing out when you have a look at this Roadmaster Elite. It has been the best money can buy, and it has pulled it off with all bells and whistles ever since it was launched a couple of years ago. It’s a nostalgic yet sumptuous take on the already blummin’ good Roadmaster dresser.

For 2020, the Elite gets a brand-new custom-inspired two-tone candy paint, requiring nearly 30 hours and hand finishing to complete, an upgraded Ride Command system with a 600-watt PowerBand Audio Plus set up, 19-inch precision-machined wheel. Powering this is Indian Motorcycle’s most powerful air-cooled engine - the Thunder Stroke 116.

Honda shows its commitment to continual improvement with its 2020 array of top-shelf, tour-tastic Gold Wing models. The Gold Wing range received a handful of improvements to include reworked heads and cylinders that reduce the weight of the drivetrain plus stock foglights and revised ergonomics to boost performance, safety, and comfort across the boards. Of course, this comes on top of the speed and handling for which the Gold Wings have long been famous to make it a serious competitor in the U.S. touring market.

In 2016, Indian Motorcycles and Jack Daniels, two legendary American brands joined forces to commemorate JD’s 150th anniversary of the Jack Daniel Distillery, which was registered in 1866. This occasion led to Indian Motorcycles building a very limited number of the Jack Daniel’s Indian Chief Vintage, and the Scout motorcycle models, all of which were sold barely under 8 hours within the launch.

For 2020, the same stalwarts came together again to produce yet another limited edition of the iconic spin-off of the sumptuousness Indian Springfield Dark Horse. Limited to 177 examples, this Springfield gets reworked by Klock Werks Kustom Cycles and is themed after JD’s high- baller, the Jack Daniel’s Single Bar Select.

Indian Motorcycle made a number of changes to its touring lineup ahead of MY2020 including a new powerplant for its full-dress Roadmaster. The base-model Roadmaster hits important historical high notes and maintains the full-size front fairing, but the real news here is the addition of the new Thunder Stroke 116 engine that toes the family line and pumps out over 120 pounds of stump-pulling torque. Comfort and luxury for the every-rider are the hallmarks of the Roadmaster, and it delivers with its usual style and aplomb.

These are motorcycles with large motors having plenty of low-end torque, forward set footpegs, and a laid-back reclined riding position that defines any modern-day cruisers. No other feeling satisfies a man’s desire for freedom, to head in a direction unknown. And if you don’t have the right tool to do it, the whole feeling becomes uncanny.

Coming in hot with full fairings to protect you from the elements, large engines, navigation systems, all-important music, and connectivity options and by far the most comfortable seats, here are our top five dressers/baggers of 2020 that does all of it in luxury:

Zero Motorcycles has been at the cutting edge of EV bike development ever since it hit the scene in 2006, and the marque expands its footprint into adventure-bike territory with its new DSR “Black Forest” model. The Black Forest builds on the Zero DS “Dual Sport” adding long-distance comfort items and ample dry storage to lend it a level of utility that could only be had from the accessory catalog before now. Long-distance power capacity and the usual snappy torque delivery round out the package to make this EV at home almost anywhere.

Yamaha took a little hiatus from the full-dresser market to the tune of almost a half-decade, but the Tuning Fork Company broke its fast in 2018 with the release of the all-new Star Venture. This ride clearly comes geared to take on Harley-Davidson’s touring line in general, and the Road Glide Ultra specifically. Ambitious? You betcha, but Yamaha did its homework and put together a machine that brings a torquey, big-inch, V-twin to the U.S. market in a rather tour-tastic package with over 35 gallons of dry storage across the two hard bags and trunk box on the base model with additional storage available as part of the “Transcontinental Option Package.” The very name speaks volumes.