Best middleweight sports touring motorcycles under £10,000

The sport touring segment is going through something of a resurgence in the last few years, as riders look for comfort, ability and value for money in one single package. Middleweight sports touring motorcycles – the kind that hover around the 650 to 800 range – are doing particularly well, thanks to near 1,000cc performance without any of the drawbacks, such as weight and cost.

For this list, we are going to run down the best middleweight sport touring motorcycles that you can buy in 2026. The rules are that they must be above 350cc, below 800cc, have pannier capacity (or be able to be fitted with them as an option) and have room for two people.

So, in no particular order, let’s dive in.

Honda NX500

The bike that carries on the legacy started by the CB500X is the NX500. It stays close to the DNA of the CB500X, thanks to utilising an updated version of the same 471cc parallel twin, but carries itself as a slightly more rugged-looking machine.

And while you might be sitting there thinking ‘that looks a hell of a lot like an adventure bike’, yes, it does. But crucially, it doesn’t ride like one. I spent a day blatting around the North West 200 course on one a couple of years ago and can heartedly confirm this thing is a riot on a twisty and undulating B-road. It’s also not that great off-road in standard trim. 

Other plus points include the engine, which manages to be approachable yet still engaging, and the handling, which belies the fairly budget-looking spec sheet. You also get a 17.5 litre fuel tank which, thanks to this bike being incredibly frugal, means upwards of 250 miles between fuel stops!

You may also like to read our Honda NX 500 review.

Suzuki SV-7GX

The yet-to-arrive SV-7GX from Suzuki will be the bike to thrust the Japanese brand back into the sporty touring segment. At its heart sits the ageing motor from the SV650, although thankfully bolstered by some modern-day updates and Euro5+ certification.

On paper at least, as we haven’t tested it yet, the SV-7GX looks like it could really throw a cat amongst the pigeons in the segment, thanks to Suzuki's choice of solid yet cost-effective equipment and attractive standard spec. And best of all, as it’s a Suzuki, which is basically a byword for ‘value for money’, it’s cheap, matching the price of the Honda above despite offering quite a bit more power.

Kawasaki Ninja 650

This might seem like a strange choice given some of the other bikes on the list, but with 650cc on the spec sheet and 14 litre soft panniers available direct from Kawasaki, it makes the cut. Arguably more spoty looking than some of the other bikes here, the little Ninja is actually one of the most comfortable ‘sports bikes’ on the market. It’s helped massively by being extremely closely related to the naked Z650, and despite the addition of clip-on bars remains incredibly comfortable over long stints.

The sporty ergonomics and styling do have their drawbacks, though. For starters, the fuel tank is only 15 litres, which in sports bike terms is quite a lot, but not so much in this company. The second slight issue is that its sporty and pinched tail section means pillion provision is cut down considerably.

 

QJ Motor SVT 650

Another model that looks like an adventure bike but is far better suited to on-road riding than anything else. The SVT 650 is QJ’s crack at the middleweight sports touring segment, and it has been warmly received by journalists and owners alike. 

Like a lot of these bikes coming into the UK and Europe, the one of the biggest pull factors for turning Chinese isn’t the premium build quality or headline performance figures – it’s the low retail price and value for money. But the SVT does have some other very redeeming features. For shorter riders, the 798mm seat puts you in a commanding and reassuring position, it also features brakes from Brembo and ABS from Bosch, and you even get a full set of aluminium hard panniers thrown in with the asking price!

Yamaha Tracer 7

The Yamaha Tracer 7 turned a figurative corner in 2025, stepping out of commuter bike territory, becoming a properly handy little sports tourer. It also introduced the GT-spec version of the bike, which, we know is just a tad over £10,000, but adds attractive styling and design tweaks, a centre stand, hard panniers and a posh alacantara seat.

What really helps the bike stand out, though, is how well-rounded the overall package now feels. Yamaha’s brilliant CP2 parallel twin still delivers the same punchy, characterful performance that has made it a favourite for years, but the updated electronics package, revised chassis and more refined suspension setup help the Tracer feel far more grown-up on longer rides. The addition of cruise control, riding modes and traction control also drags the bike properly into the modern touring era, without overcomplicating things or losing the simplicity that makes middleweight Yamahas so appealing.

Perhaps the biggest compliment you can pay the Tracer 7 is that it feels like a much bigger and more expensive motorcycle than it actually is. It remains light, unintimidating and genuinely easy to ride, yet now has enough comfort, weather protection and touring ability to tackle serious mileage without complaint. Add in impressive fuel economy and the practicality of the factory-fitted luggage, and the new Tracer 7 starts to make a very convincing argument for riders wanting a sports tourer that works just as well in the real world as it does on a Sunday blast.

You may also like to read our Yamaha Tracer 7 and Tracer 7 GT review

Suzuki V-Strom 800 RE

The bike that will now carry the torch previously held by V-Strom 650 is the more sophisticated and powerful V-Strom 800 RE. With a crossplane-crank equipped parallel twin cylinder engine at its heart, the recently announced V-Strom 800 manages to pack more punch than the bike it’s replacing while also being sportier, lighter, and more technologically advanced.

Crucially though, it doesn’t lose the easy-going, all-round nature that made the old V-Strom such a dependable do-it-all machine. In Visordown’s review, the 800 RE stood out for its sharp on-road handling, roomy comfort and a parallel twin engine that manages to feel smooth, lively and properly usable whether you’re commuting, scratching through back roads or piling on motorway miles.

It isn’t perfect, mind. The styling still feels a bit more sensible than sexy when compared to rivals like the Yamaha Tracer 7 or Honda Transalp, while the manually adjustable screen and slightly basic dash tech show where Suzuki has kept costs under control. But as a real-world middleweight sports tourer with strong value, decent range and genuinely entertaining road manners, the V-Strom 800 RE makes a very convincing case for itself.

You may also like to read our Suzuki V-Strom 800 RE review

Triumph Tiger Sport 660

The Tiger Sport 660 borrows a bit of adventure-bike attitude, but underneath it all this is a thoroughly road-focused sports tourer. And a very good one at that. The upright riding position, generous weather protection and roomy ergonomics make it an easy bike to spend long days aboard, while the playful characterful 660cc triple gives it a personality that stands out in a class dominated by parallel twins.

What really makes the Triumph shine, though, is how effortless it feels to ride. The engine has a broad spread of usable mid-range, the standard-fit quickshifter works brilliantly, and the chassis manages to feel both plush and surprisingly sporty when the road opens up. Add in useful touring touches like cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity and sensible wind protection, and the Tiger Sport 660 ends up feeling far more premium than its sub-£9k price tag would suggest.

You may also like to read our Triumph Tiger Sport 660 review

Kawasaki Versys 650

It might not be the newest bike on this list, or the most recently updated, but time has been kind to the Versys 650, which was last majorly updated in 2024. 

It also remains one of the easiest bikes in this class to simply get on and ride. The parallel-twin engine might not have the headline-grabbing performance of some newer middleweights, but it delivers its power in a smooth, predictable way that suits commuting, touring and weekend scratching equally well. Kawasaki’s upright riding position and comfortable seat still hold up nicely too, while the latest TFT dash and updated electronics helped drag the bike into the modern era without overcomplicating it.

The biggest strength of the Versys 650 is arguably its all-round usability. It’s light enough to feel unintimidating in town, narrow enough to filter through traffic easily, and comfortable enough to spend full days in the saddle without complaint. The suspension setup also copes well with rough UK roads, giving the bike a plush, forgiving feel that works brilliantly for real-world riding conditions.

That said, the Versys is beginning to show its age in a few places. The engine is dependable rather than exciting, and when compared directly with newer triples and more powerful parallel twins, it can feel a little flat at the top end. Likewise, while the styling updates sharpened things up visually, there’s no escaping the fact the platform has been around for quite a while now.

Still, there’s something to be said for a bike that knows exactly what it is. The Versys 650 has never tried to be a hardcore adventure machine or an ultra-sporty crossover, and because of that it continues to excel as an honest, practical sports tourer that quietly gets almost everything right.