Cruiser motorcycles are often considered as an American breed. If you ask any normal person from the States to draw a motorcycle, chances are they'll draw you a cruiser. And nothing exemplifies that kind of bike more than the two major American motorcycle manufacturers, Harley-Davidson and Indian.
But here's where we run into an issue. Though Indian and Harley both pushed out some modern bikes in recent years, in the form of the FTR 1200 and Pan America respectively, they're still competing primarily with each other in the cruiser market. Both the FTR 1200 and the Pan America are outliers in their showrooms, with the two giants seemingly afraid to dip their toes in riskier waters. Unfortunately for them, the likes of BMW, Ducati, Honda and many others are hot on their heels, all aiming for a piece of that American cruiser pie. And with that in mind, there are some terrific benefits to having a metric cruiser, provided you know exactly what you want out of your cruiser experience.
10 Yamaha Bolt R-Spec
If what you're after is the quintessential Harley-Davidson experience, without all the drama associated with reliability, biker culture and high cost, then the Yamaha Bolt R-Spec is the bike for you. Original called the Star Bolt, Star being Yamaha's short-lived offshoot specializing in American cruisers, it arrived at US shores in 2013 and immediately made an impact with riders and journalists alike.
The Bolt managed to deliver three solid mike drops. One: it most definitely looked the part. With a V-twin at its core, the Bolt was reminiscent of the Harley Sportster in every way and sounded just as mean as its American counterpart. Two: it was built dead simple by Yamaha, and was reliable to a fault. And with a massive catalog of accessories, its fans took the bike and made it their own. But the third point is what really hurt Harley. The current R-Spec will cost you $8,899, in case you're counting, that's $4,609 cheaper than the Harley Nightster, and $1,850 less than the cheapest Indian (the Scout Bobber Sixty).
9 Triumph Bonneville Bobber
There are a few models on this list that don't even bother pretending that they're a traditional American cruiser. But Triumph's Bobber comes the closest to straddling that thin line of nostalgia and originality. As with all of its modern classics, Triumph's mission was to make a gorgeous yet simple and tasteful motorcycle. They spared no expense to give the Bobber a deluxe fit and finish.
It may not be the most comfortable for longer rides, and at $13,795 it's certainly not the cheapest, but boy does it feel just right to sit on it. Powered by that bulletproof, bonneville 1200 twin engine full of growl and character, the Bobber will get you where you want to go with just the right amount of pep in its step. And whether you're wearing an ancient greaser leather jacket or a British style tweed suit, you'll turn heads wherever you go. It's a handsome bike that's not pretending to be cool, because it doesn't need to. It simply is.
8 Suzuki Boulevard M109R B.O.S.S.
What if you want a cruiser with some meat on its bones? You don't particularly care that it doesn't look like a traditional bike, you just want the muscle. Something that will project an attitude where ever you ride. For that, the Suzuki's M109R will do the trick nicely.
In that massive frame sits an impressive, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected 1783cc V-twin. And for its size, weighing in at 764 lbs wet, the bike manages to deliver a deceptively smooth performance with 128hp and 118lbs of torque. It's a muscle cruiser to the core, and it won't cost you an arm and a leg to get it. Starting at $15,249, it's a bargain compared to some of its competitors.
7 Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650
Sometimes we just want simplicity. Back to basics. Classic looks, in an inexpensive package. Sometimes, it's just about the ride and Royal Enfield understands that better than anyone. The classic builder has been steadily expanding out of India and into foreign markets, including North America. They're strategic and they're successful.
Having recently released a well-loved beginner bike, the Meteor 350, RE had set their shrewd sights on the rest of the American cruiser market. And if the talk around the water cooler is to be believed, riders who have become less than impressed with Harley-Davidson and Indian's overpriced, business-as-usual machines will be welcoming the relatively simple, and by all accounts, inexpensive Super Meteor 650 with open arms.
6 BMW R 18 Transcontinental
BMW's thirst for the American cruiser market is palpable, and you can't blame them. It's a sizable market, ripe for the taking. If only someone could figure it out. The jury is still out on whether the R 18 is the right bike to take on Harley and Indian, but what BMW did do was create one of the most unique touring motorcycles out there.
The Transcontinental variant is brimming with modern features and tech, tailor-made for cross-country touring. There's the active cruise control, that adjusts your speed by watching the traffic ahead. The cockpit has a giant 10-inch TFT display, with music and navigation controls, and let's not forget that classic boxer engine. This one being a massive, 1802 cc beast with 116 lbs of torque at your command, all of that comes at a price, but BMW is not messing around.
5 Honda Shadow Aero
Honda was among the first to make an attempt at snagging some of the cruiser market for itself. And perhaps no model is more infamous for being a copy of an American cruiser than the Honda Shadow. But the classic V-twin has a lot more going for it than most people gave it credit for. The Aero has a clean, classic style that harkens back to the vintage Indian motorcycles of the 50s and 60s.
It also has Honda reliability, which you wouldn't get from those ancient bikes. It's a simple motorcycle experience, similar to that of the Yamaha Bolt and the Royal Enfield Super Meteor. If you're in the market for a reliable, classy cruiser that won't burn a hole in your wallet, the buck stops with the Honda Shadow Aero.
4 Honda Rebel 1100
On the other side of the Honda cruiser spectrum, you have the thoroughly modern Rebel 1100. If that name sounds vaguely familiar, you may recall your old MSF safety class and the tiny Rebel 250 you were given to ride around cones on. Those old, carburetted relics are still being used in thousands of classes, but Honda has moved on since then, introducing the redesigned 300 and 500 models a few years back.
But no one expected Honda to drop this 1100 bombshell of a bike next. While the 300 and 500 were terrific beginner bikes, this Africa Twin powered cruiser went straight for the jugular. It's bobber looks, low seat, sub $10,000 price and optional automatic DCT transmission goes a long way to inviting potential new riders that were intimidated by manual transmissions, high prices and tall seats. It is modern in looks, features and technology, with Honda deciding to bypass nostalgia altogether.
3 Kawasaki Vulcan S
Kawasaki's smallest cruiser offering is a bit of a black sheep in the motorcycle community. Its uninspired looks and engine performance are put down by many a seasoned rider, but these unenlightened folk failed to understand one important thing. It's not made for them. It is specifically designed to be an unintimidating, adjustable beginner cruiser.
Kawasaki's "Ergo-Fit" modification system can help adjust the bike's ergonomics to fit just about anyone. It's no wonder that new and shorter riders flock to the Vulcan S. It allows them to flat-foot the bike at stoplights, which in turns helps the rider develop much needed self-confidence. And Kawasaki is practically giving it away, with the ABS model running at $7,899.
2 Ducati Diavel V4
From chicken noodle soup, to ghost pepper hot wings, you're not going to find anything spicier than a Ducati. The least traditional cruiser on this list didn't even bother trying to look the part, opting to inject the market with Italian style and charisma. Not only does the Diavel V4 look like it just walked off a fashion shoot in Milan, it could also slap you in the face with its power and speed if you're not paying attention.
It's one of the more expensive bikes on the list, but it's Italian, so... that's fine. That insane V-4 Granturismo engine is worth the price of entry alone. If your goal is to stand out in the crowd, then taking this bad boy out to get some coffee from a gas station will feel like getting a cappuccino at an Italian café every single time.
1 Triumph Rocket III
Perhaps the only motorcycle crazy enough to go toe to toe with the Ducati Diavel V4 is the redesigned Triumph Rocket III. It's fitting that we end the list with such an unorthodox cruiser, having begun with one that looks just like a traditional Sportster. The Rocket is about as far as you can get from the Bolt R-Spec or just about any other motorcycle in the same market, and it's all due to that bonkers 2500 cc engine, producing 165 hp and 163 lbs of torque.
Why you would need so much power in a cruiser, even Triumph may not know. But one thing is for sure, American motorcycle makers have no answer for it. No, it doesn't look like a classic chopper, bobber or cruiser, but it basically has a car engine in its chassis, so as far as it's concerned, it has nothing left to prove.