The cruiser is America’s motorcycle: the open road, arms, and legs splayed out in front of you, riding towards the horizon on a wave of torque and a V-twin rumble. Big and heavy, they are designed to eat up the miles in the most comfort. But they’re not just a means of transport: they are a statement, endlessly customizable to the owner’s personal taste. Is it any wonder that Harley Davidson’s after-market accessory catalog is so thick or that a whole industry has been built out of manufacturing bolt-on goodies for cruisers.

The only slight shadow over the cruiser scene is the cost. Or is it? Yes, you can easily spend $30,000+ on some of the top-of-the-range Harleys and Indians which put them out of reach of many, no matter how much they like them. However, if your budget is a more modest $15,000, there is still a great choice of models to choose from.

This list of cruisers under $15,000 could probably be filled solely with Harley-Davidsons, so comprehensive is the range. However, in the interests of variety, we’ve chosen our top 10 from a range of manufacturers, with something to suit every pocket.

Kawasaki VN900 Custom - $8,499

This is a laid-back, chopper-style cruiser with a distinctive 21-inch alloy front wheel, high-rise drag bars, and forward-mounted highway foot pegs. One of the best-looking non-American cruisers, with great build quality and detailing, excellent paint, and chrome.

Unlike many cruisers, it is possible to get a good lean angle in the bends without anything touching down. Cruisers aren’t normally great for throwing through a series of bends, but the VN900 Custom’s chassis and suspension are set up for just such behavior.

The rider’s seat is as comfortable as you would expect it to be but the surprise is that the pillion seat is also a great place to sit.

The V-twin engine might be just 903cc but it gives better performance than you would have thought. What’s better is that it is virtually vibration-free. It has been around long enough to have had all the bugs ironed out, so reliability will be typically Japanese. The final drive is by a low-maintenance belt and the gearbox is lovely and smooth, too. Not only is it the cheapest bike on this list, but it could also possibly be the best Japanese cruiser out there.

Engine

55° V-twin

Displacement

903cc

Power

53 horsepower

Torque

60 pound-feet

Weight

549 pounds


Yamaha Bolt R - $8,599

Funky-looking cruiser from Yamaha, the Bolt R is perhaps a better urban cruiser than an open-road mile-eater. Like the Kawasaki VN900, the Bolt R has excellent suspension and brakes that make feel much sportier than a cruiser has any right to feel and it loves corners!

The V-twin engine pushes out a modest 51 horsepower and 59 pound-feet of torque, but this is more than enough to give this 544-pound motorcycle decent urge and the whole motorbike is small and compact without feeling like a toy.

It’s a Yamaha, and that means that the build quality is top-notch. Perhaps the best part is it looks brilliant as well - a bit like a Japanese Sportster which is no surprise as that is the bike that the Bolt R has firmly in its sights.

It is pleasingly devoid of chrome embellishment, and replacing it with brushed aluminum gives the Bolt an understated appearance, not something you can say about every cruiser!

Engine

V-twin

Displacement

942cc

Power

51 horsepower

Torque

59 pound-feet

Weight

544 pounds


Suzuki Boulevard - $8,609

If chrome and a retro vibe are your things, then the C50 Boulevard from Suzuki is the machine for you. Some might dismiss it as a tasteless pastiche but it’s been around for a long time so it must be what people want!

If the engine seems a bit puny at 805cc and the weight a bit high at 611 pounds, then you needn’t worry: the short-stroke liquid-cooled V-twin has more pep than you would at first think.

Fat tires, a longish wheelbase, and wide ‘bars, coupled with basic suspension mean that the C50 Boulevard can’t compete with the Kawasaki or Yamaha in terms of a dynamic riding experience. But, if rolling down the road looking good in comfort is your thing, then this bike has the credentials for not a lot of money.

Typical Suzuki engineering quality will prove cheap to maintain in the long run, helped by the shaft drive, and, because it has been around for a long time in one guise or another, there will be plenty of used examples on the market which makes even more of a tempting bargain.

Engine

V-twin

Displacement

805cc

Power

45.1 horsepower

Torque

45.7 pound-feet

Weight

542 pounds


Honda Rebel 1100 - $9,399

There are a total of six Honda cruisers, but the best of the bunch is the Rebel 1100. The 1084cc parallel-twin engine is lifted from the Africa Twin adventure bike (suitably re-tuned) and produces a healthy 86 horsepower pushing along an all-in weight of under 500 pounds.

As is with a typical Honda, it does everything with slightly boring efficiency. but that simply hides its strengths. It’s happy to cruise along looking cool, but show it a winding country road and it behaves like no other cruiser, save perhaps the Triumph Bonneville Bobber (see below).

It’s the strangest mixture: the seating position and stance of a cruiser but the performance and dynamics of a naked sports bike. No cruiser ever behaved like this before. Even better, it is available with Honda’s DCT automatic transmission making it even easier to ride.

This isn’t a lazy cruiser, it’s a low-slung, taut rider’s dream. It might be ‘cheap’ to buy but it certainly isn’t cheap in execution or experience. It’s actually great value for money when you consider what you are getting.

Want to know the best bit? There’s anti-wheelie control alongside the ABS and traction control! Brilliant!

Engine

Parallel twin

Displacement

1084cc

Power

86 horsepower

Torque

72.3 pound-feet

Weight

491 pounds


Triumph Bonneville Bobber - $13,400

Is a bobber a cruiser? Maybe not, but in the interests of being truly international, we needed to include a British bike and the Triumph Bobber is the closest any British motorcycle manufacturer has come to building a cruiser.

Based on the hugely successful and brilliant Bonneville platform, the Bonneville Bobber looks sensational with its bare rear fender, softail design and floating seat.

The engine is Triumph’s lovely, virtually vibration-free, parallel-twin of 1200cc displacement and producing a torquey 77 horsepower. The riding position is arms outstretched/feet tucked under and not brilliantly comfortable for long rides, but, in terms of chassis dynamics, it is as good as, if not better than, the Honda Rebel 1100. Suspension is perfectly dialed in and the overall quality has to be seen to be believed: never has so little plastic been used on a bike in the modern era.

As with all the best cruisers, the Bobber can be customized via Triumph’s parts catalog so no two ever need to look the same.

Engine

Parallel twin

Displacement

1200cc

Power

77 horsepower

Torque

78.2 pound-feet

Weight

553 pounds


Harley Davidson Softail Standard - $13,949

As we mentioned at the beginning, this whole list could be made up of Harley cruisers, although many are way over the price limit. Not this beauty, though, although the jump in price over the Japanese contingent is noticeable.

As American as the Statue of Liberty, for many a Harley is the only way to go cruising, and, in buying one, you are not just buying a bike but a way of life.

Now fitted with the 107cu.in Milwaukee Eight engine, which is such an improvement over the Evolution engine, you get mountains of torque in a chassis that is bare enough to feel lean and lithe.

Of course, that means that you have a blank canvas upon which to paint your own style with the aid of the Harley parts catalog, but, even if you take it as it comes, the Softail Standard is a great bike: good-looking, decent suspension and chassis giving good ride and handling.

As with every Harley, the engine is the beating heart and defining characteristic of the Softail Standard and, in keeping things simple, Harley has allowed the engine to shine in this package.

Engine

V-twin

Displacement

1746cc

Power

Not quoted

Torque

110 pound-feet

Weight

655 pounds


Indian Chief - $14,499

America’s second-favorite bike manufacturer and, for some, the best, Indian has made a point of taking the fight to Harley Davidson, and, by and large, it has succeeded in producing a perfectly brilliant alternative in its short (new) life.

As with H-D, there are plenty of models that would fit into this list but our choice is the basic Chief, with a liquid-cooled V-twin engine of 111cu.in., shoving out 108 pound-feet of torque.

The Scout is great, don’t get us wrong, but the Chief just ticks all the right boxes: engine, chassis, suspension, style. Like the Harley listed above, it’s a blank canvas upon which to add your personality but, even in its basic form, it's a beautiful motorcycle, even if you will need to ditch those mufflers ASAP!

It’s very heavy but it rides beautifully - perhaps because of that weight! American motorcycling has needed a rival to Harley for too long. In the Indian, here, finally, is a viable alternative.

Engine

V-twin

Displacement

1811cc

Power

Not Stated

Torque

119.2 pound-feet

Weight

835 pounds


Harley Davidson Street Bob 114 - $14,999

OK, another Harley, but why not? Americans invented the cruiser style so it’s only right that they are celebrated in this list. The Milwaukee Eight 114 engine gives the performance you wouldn’t believe and the chassis can handle it with style.

Visually similar to the Softail Standard, the addition of the 114cu.in. engine gives it that bit more oomph. Nine more pound-feet of torque will do that! More vibrations but still within acceptable levels.

If ever there was a bike to get you noticed, then this is the one. There really is nothing like a Harley when it comes to making an impact, especially in the visual sense. Harley paintwork has, for a long time, been one of its best features and even the handling will surprise you.

Harley still persists with a single front disc but it’s well up to the task of hauling a lot of weight down. The cheapest 114-engined Harley you can buy, and, perhaps, the best.

Engine

V-twin

Displacement

1868cc

Power

Not quoted

Torque

119 pound-feet

Weight

659 pounds


Suzuki M109 BOSS - $15,309

OK, so not strictly within the limits of our budget, but, being a smidge over $15K, you would have to think that you would be able to talk a dealer down to $15K without too much trouble.

Why would you want to? Well, cruisers aren’t just about style, they’re about power and the M109 has that in spades: 128 horses and 118 pound-feet of torque speak for themselves, and even the style is just right, if you can live with that headlight - plenty of scope for an after-market piece there.

The chassis is brilliant and the suspension is straight from a sports bike: upside-down front forks and monoshock rear, complimented by fantastic brakes and handling that you just wouldn’t expect from such a long and low bike.

Engine

V-twin

Displacement

1786cc

Power

123 horsepower

Torque

118 pound-feet

Weight

764 pounds


BMW R18 - $15,995

If we’re going to be convincing a dealer that $15,000 is our absolute limit, then why not go the whole hog and try and get nearly $1000 taken off the price? Why would you want to? Because that would get you onto one of the biggest surprises in motorcycling in the last couple of years.

BMW’s entry into the cruiser market was achieved with predictable efficiency but also a large dose of style and a sense of fun not normally associated with the Germans. The fact that it is brilliant was just the icing on the cake.

The R18 is a styling throwback to the early days of BMW in the 1930s so it is a full-on retro design but there is nothing retro about any of the mechanicals: the engine, the chassis, and suspension, the electronics, the brakes are all right out of the top drawer and give the R18 one of the best rides of any cruiser out there.

The humungous engine is the dominant feature, mainly because so much of it sticks out into the air stream. The fit and finish are second-to-none and the black paint with white pin striping is just beautiful. As is required, the parts catalog enables you to personalize your steed to your heart’s content.

A brilliant effort from BMW's first time out.

Engine

Boxer-twin

Displacement

1802cc

Power

91 horsepower

Torque

116 pound-feet

Weight

760.5 pounds


F.A.Q.s



FAQ

Q: Which cruiser is the best?

That all depends on what you are using the bike for. If the vast majority of your riding is in and around your town, then the Yamaha Bolt R is a great choice. For those long rides on the open road, a cruiser with some wind protection is best, such as the larger Indians and Harley Davidsons with the bat wing fairings. The BMW R18 comes in various different configurations, some naked and others with excellent wind protection.

Q: What is the most reliable motorcycle cruiser?

All modern motorcycles are reliable, even Harley-Davidsons, which for years had terrible reliability problems but these have gradually been ironed out and modern Harleys are as reliable as any other bike. For absolute reliability, you have to look to the Japanese bikes and Suzuki in particular.

Q: Which cruiser gives the best mileage?

Obviously, smaller-displacement engines will give better gas mileage, but that depends on how much weight they have to pull. Both the Yamaha Bolt and Honda Rebel 1100 lead the pack in terms of fuel consumption.

Q: What is the most powerful cruiser?

The most powerful cruiser is the Suzuki M109 BOSS with 123 horsepower, although Harley Davidson doesn't quote horsepower figures so it's hard to tell if the 114cu.in. Milwaukee Eight engine might produce more than the Suzuki.