Riding in Style

More than 50% of motorcycle owners are married, 10% are women and their median household income is higher than the national average.

So it makes sense that motorcycle manufacturers are bending over backwards to accommodate this affluent crowd with safety features like antilock brakes and airbags, as well as customizable elements like paint jobs, chrome kits and multi-CD changer systems in hi-fi audio packages -- it probably won't belong before you can find an iPod adapter as a standard feature.

So Many Bikes, So Little Time

A quick breakdown of three styles of luxury bikes available -- touring, cruiser and sport -- can help make sense of all the options, whether you're a novice rider or longtime biker.

Touring motorcycles come in a variety of types, but their basic use is for long hauls. To accommodate the rider, touring bikes typically have large-capacity fuel tanks, luggage cases and offer plenty of protection from the elements with extra fairing and a windshield. Ample seat room for both driver and passenger is standard, as comfort is first and foremost in this class.

Cruisers are typically low-riding bikes which position the rider's feet forward, with a seating position either upright or slightly backwards. Like touring motorcycles, cruisers are heavy and comfortable rides, but lack molded fairings and are not as maneuverable as sport bikes. These motorcycles are also highly customizable.

Sport bikes are designed to perform. Small, light and fast with plenty of aerodynamic fairing, these are the consumer versions of professional race bikes. With an aggressive, forward-leaning seating position, sensitive handling and a typically large power-to-weight ratio, these bikes are not for the inexperienced rider.

Ready to ride? Here are top-of-the-line picks for each category.

Easy Rider

Honda's august Gold Wing touring motorcycles have perhaps some of the most extravagant features available today in a mass-production motorcycle.

Not to be outdone by Harley-Davidson, Honda has included the option of a proprietary GPS system, complete with a color LCD map mounted on the instrument panel.

	Honda Gold Wing

If glancing down at the screen makes you a little nervous, not to worry: Honda includes the option of listening to step-by-step directions through the on-board audio system.

Thinking of riding even through a bitter winter? A special cold-weather package is available, with heated grips and seat for the driver. The passenger isn't left out in the cold either -- the rear seat and backrest is also heated, and there are adjustable warm air ducts to keep everyone's hooves toasty.

But possibly the most notable feature of this high-end bike is an airbag.