Cruisers are great, aren't they? They embody the freedom that motorcycles in general bring, but add so many useful aspects that enhance daily riding. They're meant to be comfortable enough for longer journeys, make enough grunt to enable said long journeys, and almost always have relaxed ergonomics. But more than anything, if we were to bring in an intangible metric to the equation, cruisers are cool.

UPDATE: 2024/01/21 00:10 EST BY RAUNAK AJINKYA

Cruiser motorcycles have been around for a long time now. And while we're not certain about when exactly the first cruiser made an appearance, what we are sure of is that there's no dearth of cool classic cruisers. Given that, we have updated this list to reflect a few more entries.

Today's crop of cruisers embody that intangible pretty well, too, but there's something to be said about the classic cruisers from the likes of Harley-Davidson, Honda, BMW, Yamaha, and a few others as well. In a sense, if they didn't exist, who knows what kind of cruisers we'd have today or whether the segment itself would exist. That's hypothetical, of course, so let's deal with what we know. This list centers around classic cruisers that can give the best of today a run for their money.

How we got our model selections: In order to compile this list, HotCars trawled the internet for used cruiser listings. To narrow the field further, we ensured that while they were still available today, they all had that intangible 'extra' attached to them. In simpler terms, we have ensured that these motorcycles have held up well over the years since they've been discontinued. As the list will show, we have also included other parameters by which they were narrowed down. Lastly, the motorcycles here have been organized in increasing order of their current market value.

13 Suzuki Intruder

Used Price Range: $900-$4,700

The Suzuki Intruder was introduced around the same time as the Honda Shadow. At that time, the tariff on bikes with engines above 700cc existed, which is why Suzuki had a 700cc engine. It also had a 1,400cc engine that took on other big V-Twins like the Harley 1,340cc Evolution and the Kawasaki Vulcan 1500.

Over the years, Suzuki kept on modifying both the variants. In 1992, the 700cc engine was replaced by an 800cc engine. By 2005, the Intruder was replaced by the Boulevard, but this big V-Twin cruiser from Suzuki had a lasting impact on the market, which makes it special.

2001 Suzuki Intruder Specs

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)

12 Kawasaki Vulcan

Used Price Range: $1,000-$6,000

Like the Suzuki Intruder, the Kawasaki Vulcan competed in two categories - 700cc and 1,500cc. It was introduced around the same time period and has been received well in the global market.

Over the years, Kawasaki has expanded the Vulcan's portfolio by adding engine options and even body styles to keep the Vulcan name alive. In fact, in 1999, Kawasaki introduced the Drifter, which was the so-called modern interpretation of the Indian Chief. The Vulcan has, in fact, evolved and survived the test of time, which is why even the earlier renditions hold their value.

2003 Kawasaki Vulcan Specs

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)

11 Honda Shadow

Used Price Range: $1,000-$11,000

Honda introduced the Shadow line-up to tap into the cruiser market in the United States in 1983. Back then, the Shadow had a V-Twin 750cc engine. However, due to the high tariff on imported bikes above 700cc, Honda had to introduce the VT 700C. After the restrictions were lifted, they went on to introduce 1100cc models as well.

Honda wanted to take on Harley-Davidson with this bike, and they did that by approaching this in their own unique way. The styling was unique, and while the second generation has a typical cruiser look, the first generation's sleek look has aged well.

2003 Honda Shadow Specs

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)

10 BMW K1200LT

Used Price Range: $2,500-$7,000

LT stands for Luxury Touring, and rightly so. The K1200 was BMW's flagship motorcycle for almost 10 years. It was released in 1999 as a replacement for the K1100LT. The K1200LT was drastically different from the model it replaced in terms of design and technology.

It carried forward the same inline 4-cylinder engine but got a bump in displacement and torque. Being a tourer, it had plenty of features like ABS, heated grips, a height-adjustable windshield, an intercom system, a radio, a CD player, and even satellite navigation.

2003 BMW K1200LT Specs

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)

9 Triumph Thunderbird 900

Used Price Range: $2,900-$9,700

The Triumph Thunderbird 900 is one of the best examples of timeless design. It was the bike that inspired the current Bonneville series, and it looks great even today. The shiny chrome and simplistic design work extremely well on this bike.

Introduced in 1995, the Thunderbird was appreciated by many. It even made appearances in some movies and TV shows. Triumph brought in a Sport version in 1997 that made more power and had some design changes. Even today, these bikes are sought after by many, especially the Sport version.

1997 Triumph Thunderbird 900 Specs

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)

8 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide

Used Price Range: $3,000-$9,600

The Electra Glide was the last iteration of the FL line of motorcycles. As the name suggests, it was the first 'big-twin' Harley to get the electric start feature. And it was not just this feature that was remarkable in 1965. The Electra Glide also has cruise control, air-adjustable suspension, and AM/FM amplified stereo with remote control.

In 1969, the Electra Glide was offered with a fork-mounted fairing which got the name 'Batwing' fairing and is even famous today. And while Harley has gone on to make many more versions of the bike, this one remains special.

1990 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Specs

(Specs sourced from Bikez)

7 Yamaha V-Max

Used Price Range: $3,200-$12,000

Yamaha introduced the V-Max to the world in 1985, and it was an instant hit. Some magazines and websites even hailed it as the 'Bike Of The Year' award winner. It looked radical and had a powerful liquid-cooled DOHC V4 engine that sent 145 hp to the rear wheel.

Now the Japanese manufacturer didn't bring out the second generation of V-Max until 2007. They introduced modifications to keep the customers happy, like the V-Boost, which added 10 percent to the top power rating. Yes, the new V-Max is great, but the charm of the first-gen V-Max still remains.

1993 Yamaha V-Max Specs

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)

6 Honda Valkyrie

Used Price Range: $3,500-$10,500

Honda made the Valkyrie from 1996 to 2003, and one of the highlights of this bike was its engine. It was a direct lift from Honda's big bike, the Goldwing, with a few alterations. A liquid-cooled horizontally opposed flat-six engine that displaced 1,520cc.

Honda introduced new body styles to increase sales, but that didn't work out as expected. Honda finally bid goodbye to the original Valkyrie in 2003, after which there were various special editions and even a reintroduction. But these were a departure from the original Valkyrie, whose coolness factor is still high.

1999 Honda Valkyrie Specs

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)

5 Suzuki Boulevard C109R

Used Price Range: $3,700-$6,000

That's not a typo up there. There, indeed, was a Suzuki Boulevard C109R before the updated M109R that's on sale today. And, as you might have guessed, it was a pretty special cruiser.

It had a lot of things going for it, the C109R. It has great suspension, a thoroughly capable engine that puts out a very respectable amount of power and torque, and hard-to-fault ergonomics. All in all, it was a great motorcycle to cover long distances in, with the slightly high curb weight coming in handy to provide riders with plenty of stability at speed.

2008 Suzuki Boulevard C109R Specs

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)

4 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy

Used Price Range: $4,000-$8,500

Designed by Willie G. Davidson and Louie Netz, the Harley-Davidson Fat Boy FLSTF went on sale in 1990. It has had a deep impact on the bikes of its time and the current time. It had a massive presence due to its size and the design cues were minimalistic, which made it popular.

The Fat Boy differentiated itself from other bikes with the solid 16-inch cast-aluminum wheels at the front and rear. The Fat Boy is the quintessential Harley-Davidson that just appreciates in value. You might have noticed Arnold Schwarzenegger riding a Fat Boy in the Terminator 2 movie. Probably.

1990 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Specs

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)

3 Triumph Rocket III

Used Price Range: $4,800-$18,000

There's not much new about the Triumph Rocket III. Nonetheless, we'll give it a shot. The Rocket III was (and remains) a monster of a cruiser. That's probably the sanest way to describe a motorcycle that sports a 2,500cc engine, something that's comparable to mid-sized sedans.

It's also outstanding to look at, and later models have come packed with tech, too. Finding one used isn't impossible, but be ready to cough up a healthy chunk of money for it.

2006 Triumph Rocket III Classic Specs

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)

2 Harley-Davidson Iron 1200

Used Price Range: $5,000-$9,500

A Harley-Davidson Iron 1200 in the used market goes for anywhere between $5,000 and $10,000, which is astonishing if you think of what the motorcycle offers you on the whole.

This chunky motorcycle, with its 1,200cc motor, is reportedly bags of fun, especially around corners. It's also quite well-made, so owners can expect their Iron 1200s to last for a long time. Let's not forget the fact that you can customize it to no end, so it can truly be a standout ride. For the price, it's a no-brainer.

2016 Harley-Davidson Iron 1200 Specs

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)

1 Indian Chief

Used Price Range: $8,000-$13,000

Time for a history lesson. Indian was founded in 1901 and is America's first motorcycle company. The Chief was the OG big twin! It was introduced in 1922, and it was in production till the company ran out of business 31 years later.

These were beautifully crafted machines. They bore unique design elements, some of which made their way to the new Chief when it was revived in 1999. But it's not just about the design; the Chief was also known to be very comfortable, rugged, and reliable. What more could you ask from a classic?

1999 Indian Chief Specs

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)

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• Source for features: Respective manufacturers' websites
• Source for technical specifications: Motorcycle Specs, Bikez
• Source for used prices: Cycle Trader