Cruiser bikes are almost cult-like within the bikers’ world. Famed for their low-slung stance, killer looks, and wide handlebars, cruiser bikes are the ultimate buy if you wish to go on a long road trip on a bike.
Companies such as Harley-Davidson have built their brands around cruiser bikes. However, as for any other thriving market, freedom of choice is key. Thus, not every biker would be happy riding on a Harley compared to a Yamaha or Honda.
However, the bigger question lies way beyond the brand's debate. Rather, it’s a matter of which cruiser bike makes you look like a real rider? More importantly, how affordable is it?
Well, lie back for a while, and read this. These are the 10 bikes that can transform you from looking like a novice into a real biker.
10 2019 Yamaha V-Star 250
The 2019 Yamaha V-Star is among the latest, most affordable cruiser bikes you can get. Still air-cooled and running on an impressive weight of 326 pounds, this 1980s vintage has been one of Yamaha’s finest and most consistent creations.
The V-Star 250 still dons a carburetor in between the cylinders, seats at 27 inches high, and produces a decent amount of power. The V-Star serves well as an entry-level cruiser, with easy handling and suspension for a quality, comfortable ride. The color options are also great, with the black and orange trim doing a lot of justice to the bike’s aesthetics.
9 2019 Honda Rebel 300
This $4499 cruiser bike is Honda’s 2019 answer to an affordable cruiser bike in the market. Just like the Yamaha V-Star 250, the 2019 Honda Rebel 300 also seats at 27 inches high. However, it’s a bit heavier than the Yamaha, clocking in at 364 pounds.
Weight aside, the Honda rebel is reasonably priced and very practical. It is still powered by a liquid-cooled 286cc single-cylinder fuel-injected engine that is used in Honda’s 300 class of sports bikes. Even better, Honda allows a bit of retuning for more torque, giving more fun rides to the biker.
8 Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom
The Vulcan line of cruiser bikes from Kawasaki is no foreign to many bikers. And while Kawasaki has struggled to make a niche here, the Vulcan has still been a well-performing and loveable bike.
Unlike the previous Vulcans which were not reasonably sized, the Kawasaki Vulcan 900 custom finally got the fitting right. With the Vulcan 900, the posture is comfortable and the bike is very stable.
On top of that, Kawasaki made sure that this special cruiser bike could be customizable right off the showroom. It dons a 21-inch wheel at the front, with a matte black finish being used to top off the spicy look of this cruiser bike.
You can select the standard 903cc 50HP V-twin engine on this bike or have a bigger one fitted by Kawasaki if you need more of Clarkson’s “power”.
7 Ducati XDiavel
This is one cruiser bike with very satisfying looks. Built to turn heads, the Ducati XDiavel is Ducati’s take on what a cruiser bike should be. And sure, it has very modern looks, an excellent riding position for a cruiser bike, and a top speed that Ducati calls “slow”, since it’s below 250kph.
The most significant component of the XDiavel is the engine. It’s a 1266cc L-twin engine that produces an impressive 152hp. However, the bike carries a lot of weight, tipping the scale at 545 pounds. Despite the crazy weight and cruiser bike tag, the Ducati XDiavel still packs a lot of punch, leaning it towards sports bike territory.
6 Harley-Davidson Sportster SuperLow
An undeniable jewel, the Harley-Davidson Sportster SuperLow is an affordable cruiser bike from a rather expensive Harley-Davidson brand. Priced at $8,699, the Sportster SuperLow blends classic with quality for a superb cruiser bike experience and look.
What makes this bike very special, compared to other sub-$10k Harleys is its customization options. This makes it one of the most friendly cruiser bikes within the Sportster family. It even dons a seat height of 25.5 inches, which makes it an easy bike to ride for ladies and short people.
5 Indian Scout Sixty
If you’re looking for fantastic quality and performance, then the Indian Scout Sixty is a great pick. With a 25.8-inch seat height and 542 pounds on the scale, the Indian Scout Sixty is among the easiest bikes to handle.
The Scout Sixty packs a 78hp 1000cc liquid-cooled engine that gives it impeccable performance. Sadly, it features a solo bucket seat which means most times, you’ll be better suited taking the rides alone. Despite this drawback, the bike still manages to offer a fun ride given the power, ABS, and aluminum cast frame used to construct the bike.
4 Bajaj Avenger Street 160
Yes, this is not the bike Captain America rode as the First Avenger, but it is one bound to give you that feeling. This Bajaj Avenger 160 was launched as a replacement to the Avenger 180, another great cruiser bike that came off the Bajaj production line.
Fitted with the typical low-slung stance for cruiser bikes, the Avenger 160 carries a 14.74bhp 160.3cc oil-cooled engine. The instrument panel has nothing fancy to offer except for archaic analog units. Notwithstanding, the 13.5Nm of torque the bike punches is enough for a fun cruise down the highway.
3 Suzuki Intruder
The Suzuki intruder was built with contemporary styling in mind. On top of the typical low-slung stance synonymous with cruiser bikes, the design team went bold with a triangular headlight, cowls, and fairing on the fuel tank.
The contemporary and edgy design is supported by a well-performing engine, with the power output being rated at 13.9bhp. Compared to the Bajaj, it packs more torque, peaking at 14Nm output. Plus, the instruments panel is modern with LCD screens providing the necessary readouts such as fuel level, speed, and gear position.
2 2019 Suzuki Boulevard S40
Built with a seat height of 27.6 inches, the Suzuki Boulevard is one of the most affordable yet fun 2018 cruiser bikes you can get. Also launched within the same era as the V-Star, this 80s bike has undergone a lot of iterations to get the 2019 piece.
Its greatest advantage is lighter weight, at 381 pounds, which makes it very easy to handle. The 652cc air-cooled engine also does a great job at delivering power, thus making the bike more fun to ride. The lighter weight makes the torque more pronounced, with the contemporary design adding the cherry on top of this cruiser cake.
1 2019 Honda Shadow Phantom
The 2019 Honda Shadow Phantom is a bike made for comfort and a feeling of safety. It’s built with a long rake, fat tires, bucket seat that seats below 26 inches, and nice low-slung stance. Put together, these components give the rider a feeling of safety while riding the Phantom.
The engine is a mighty work of engineering, featuring SOHC and EFI architecture. It’s liquid-cooled with a capacity of 745cc. The chrome tailpipes and jet black finish add a lot of aesthetic niceness to this two-wheeler making it not only easy and fun to drive but also hot to look at.
Sources: Bike Dekho, Top Speed, Ultimate Motorcycling, Safer Turn, Motorcycle Cruiser