Americans love all kinds of motorcycles, but cruisers are among the top three most popular segments. There are many reasons why we love cruiser motorcycles - their cool designs, relaxed riding position, comfortable seats, forward-set footpegs, and torquey engines. For these reasons, cruisers have always been the best bikes for enthusiasts who enjoy taking long-distance rides.
With the popularity of cruisers motorcycles growing every day, most Japanese and American motorcycle manufacturers have one or more cruiser models on sale. Let's explore 5 of the best Japanese cruiser motorcycles you can buy today versus five American cruisers you're better off buying.
10 Cool Japanese Cruiser Bike: Kawasaki Vulcan S ABS
Kawasaki is mostly known for producing some of the most powerful sportbikes, but the manufacturer has also shown that it can also build a proper cruiser. The Vulcan S is a perfect example of that.
This bike is perfect for beginners looking for the muscle cruiser design but don't want too much power. It's equipped with a 649cc parallel-twin producing 54 hp and 46 lb-ft of torque, enough for a fun cruise.
9 American Cruiser We'd Rather Buy: Harley-Davidson Sportster S
If there's one marque that knows how to build a world-class cruiser motorcycle, it's Harley-Davidson. Harley has been in business for over a century, and its vast model lineup shows just how far ahead it is when it comes to motorcycle design and technology.
The Sportster S is one of our favorite cruisers from Harley-Davidson. Harley has used the Sportster name since the '50s, and they all stand out for their design, powerful 45-degree V-Twin engines, and ease of customization.
8 Cool Japanese Cruiser Bike: Suzuki Boulevard M109R B.O.S.S.
Like other Japanese motorcycle manufacturers, Suzuki is not known for making cruisers - more for insanely fast sportbikes like the Gixxer, Katana, and the legendary Hayabusa that obliterated the production motorcycle speed record. However, Suzuki also builds stylish, comfortable, and reliable cruisers, with the best being the M109R B.O.S.S.
The beating heart of the M109R is a massive 1,783cc V-Twin with 125 hp on tap, making it super fast. It also has advanced technologies like a dual throttle system that can give you a power boost when needed.
7 American Cruiser We'd Rather Buy: Indian Chief
The Chief is undoubtedly Indian Motorcycle's most important bike ever. The first Chief models were built in 1922, and since then, the Chief has been produced in different forms and configurations.
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Early examples of the Chief are some of the most expensive motorcycles you can buy, and that's if you can find one. Thankfully, those who want a taste of the Chief can buy a modern interpretation. The latest Chief comes with a monstrous 1,811cc Thunderstroke 111 engine, producing 92 hp and 119 lb-ft of torque.
6 Cool Japanese Cruiser Bike: Yamaha VMAX
Yamaha is a jack of all trades when it comes to motorcycles. The company builds all kinds of motorcycles, from some of the best adventure bikes, sportbikes, Cafe racers, and even cruisers. The VMAX is Yamaha's flagship cruiser, and what a beast it is.
Powered by a 1,679cc V4 engine producing a crazy 170 hp, the VMAX is fast enough to leave some of the best sportbikes in its dust.
5 American Cruiser We'd Rather Buy: ARCH KRGT-1
A decade ago, famous Hollywood actor Keanu Reeves established Arch Motorcycles to follow his passion. Reeves already owns one of the best motorcycle collections, but he wanted to add one more bike to his collection - one that he built himself.
After nearly a decade of development, Arch Motorcycle released the awe-inspiring KRGT-1 cruiser bike. There's a lot to love about the KRGT-1, starting with its fantastic design and its massive 2.0-liter V-Twin engine from S&S. Although the KRGT-1 has less power than the VMAX, we believe it has an edge thanks to its race-inspired swing arm, ISR monoblocks, carbon-fiber wheels, and a carbon-fiber exhaust.
4 Cool Japanese Cruiser Bike: Honda Rebel 1100
The Honda Rebel 1100 is the type of motorcycle that riders of all skill levels can ride. It has everything a rider could need in a cruiser - a great design, tight ergonomics, creature comforts, and a proven liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine.
The Rebel's 1,084cc engine produces 81 hp and 68 lb-ft of torque, enough to put a smile on your face. The icing on the cake is that buyers can get Honda's automatic Dual Clutch Transmission in this bike.
3 American Cruiser We'd Rather Buy: Indian Scout Sixty
Indian has over a century of experience building amazing cruiser motorcycles, which explains why their models are typically a class above the rest. The Scout may have been introduced a few years ago, but it's already one of Indian's best-selling models today.
At the heart of the Scout is a 1,130cc V-Twin producing 100 hp and 72 lb-ft of torque. Since it weighs just 558 lbs, it needs just 3.8 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph.
2 Cool Japanese Cruiser Bike: Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Vaquero
Kawasaki advertises the Vulcan 1700 Vaquero as 'the pinnacle of excellence,' and we couldn't agree more. This bike has everything anyone would want in a cruiser. For starters, it has an elegant design featuring a sculpted, frame-mounted fairing, blacked-out engine components, a streamlined saddle, and a cut-down and tinted windshield.
Powering the Vaquero is a 1,700cc V-Twin producing 107 lb-ft of torque, making it a beast on the road. Buyers also get advanced technologies like cruise control, triple-disc brakes with ABS, floorboards, and AM/FM audio.
1 American Cruiser We'd Rather Buy: Harley Davidson Road Glide
The Road Glide is among the most expensive new cruiser motorcycles right now, but it's worth every penny considering what buyers get. The Road Glide is the benchmark for long-distance cruiser bikes. It offers a comfortable upright riding position, a passenger seat, saddlebags, a frame-mounted fairing, a great infotainment system, and several rider safety enhancements.
The Road Glide is powered by Harley's trusted Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine - a 1,746cc smooth-running unit with crisp throttle response and a soul-satisfying rumble.