We've put together a list of powerful cruisers that outpower, and outhandle popular competing Harley-Davidsons. Not everyone is content with a maximum of 75 H.P. from a motorcycle. Sometimes people want to go fast. Unlike Harley-Davidson cycles that may require quite a few aftermarket parts installed to make the bike significantly faster, these bikes are fast as they come from the manufacturer.
Some of these cruisers make well over 90+ H.P. at the rear wheel without any changes whatsoever to the bike. Add a turbo or a shot of nitrous oxide and some of these bikes could complete the quarter-mile in the same time as a 600 C.C. supersport motorcycle.
10 Yamaha Star Raider 1900 XV1900S
This beast weighs over 750 lbs and makes 100 H.P. at a low 4250 R.P.M. So roll on torque is almost instant. This engine was even used briefly in the MT-01 which was a V-Twin Powered Cafe Racer (called the Mt-01) that was designed to compete with the Buell Lightning series.
It's a good-looking lowrider bike styled like a Softail with a hidden rear suspension designed to appear as if the frame and axle are rigid in the back, the gas tank is a little awkward looking but the rest of the bike is solid.
9 Suzuki C90 B.O.S.S.
This is another 750LB. bike with massive low-end grunt. The Blacked Out Special Suzuki (B.O.S.S.) acronym refers to the optional de-chromed look. This bike is limited to 1 front brake rotor, and it's not designed to be a handler. It is designed to look like a postwar cruiser or bagger when fitted with saddlebags.
This bike really shines when forward foot controls are installed, as it's made for the conversion. The low compression engine is tuned to a Harleyesque 67 H.P., but this isn't a drag bike.
8 Honda VTX 1300C
This is the junior version of Honda's muscle cruiser. It's heavy at 750lbs. but it still makes 60 H.P. which makes it perfectly fine for a cruiser. It's never going to win any races, but it is very stylish, and more than a few customizers used the VTX series to showcase their talents in creating style.
The mono-seat on this model along with forward controls makes it look a little like a hot-rodded bobber. The raked-out fork and tilted handlebars make it look a lot like an FX series Harley with a wide-glide fork. The brakes could use a little style, but they work well.
7 Kawasaki Vulcan Voyager 1700 ABS
This is Yamaha's TV-twin full dresser. So if your idea is to cruise long ranges puttering away at a low rpm, this is your bike. at 800+LBS. it's heavy and it isn't fast. The V4 Venture Royal of the 1980s would run circles around this bike, but many riders prefer the lazy cadence of a sweet V-Twin. This is their bike!
The windscreen and storage areas allow for weekend jaunts along the highway. The bike has the FLSTB and FLH style exhaust system to make it look authentic. This model comes with the ever-popular ABS brake options.
6 Yamaha Star Vmax MKII VMX1700
This thing has a claimed 200 H.P. at the wheel. It's an honest 9-second quarter-mile bike. Whereas the MK1 versions was fast with a 1200C.C. engine the MKII adds another half a liter of high-revving displacement and it revs similar to a good 4-cylinder standard but with that nice roar caused by the staggered crankpins of the V4 engine.
Power comes to a maximum at 9000 RPM and the bike is heavy at over 680LBS. This is not a sportbike it's a power cruiser set-up for sprint racing in a straight line and it's very effective at doing so.
5 Suzuki Boulevard M90
This is the sportier version of Suzuki's big inch cruisers and it's tuned for almost 80 H.P. with better breathing and more compression than the C90. It's also heavy at just under 750 LBS. The staggered pipes are a work of art and the wheels with dual front disc brakes make this thing look fast.
It's easy to live with 5-speed transmission with belt-drive makes it a dream to own. This one looks really trick whether you get the Chrome on white model or the Blacked Out Suzuki Special paint option.
4 Honda F6C Valkyrie
In terms of straight-line speed, this bike could come close to the VMax in terms of speed. It's just shy of 650lbs and the limited production Rune it replaced did top over 800 lbs due to its heavy front fork assembly. This one has a more conventional front fork.
With almost 120 H.P. at a carlike 5500R.P.M., this thing will move as quickly as a first-generation VMax. The lightweight aluminum frame helps keep the weight reasonable and low. The bike actually handles quite well despite having an 1800cc 6-cylinder engine.
3 Kawasaki Vulcan VN 2000
This is the first factory bike to break the 2-liter barrier. Yes, there were customs and low production bikes that did it, but this was a regular production engine a full decade before other brands came close to that size. This one is a little lighter than Suzuki and Yamaha have produced as it tips the scale at 725 LBS.
It has over 100 H.P. at a low 4800RPM, with dual front disc brakes with 4 piston pots to slow down. The chrome and headlight nacelle is attractive but there is nothing avant-garde about this bike. This is a bike to look traditional but you have plenty of roll-on torque. Shifting is rarely needed above 35 M.P.H.
2 Kawasaki Vulcan VN900D
This is an attractive middle-weight bike for the practical guy or for women who want to ride. The spoke wheels on this example are gorgeous. It's 100lbs lighter than its 2000cc big brother.
Horsepower is nothing to get excited about at 50 even, but it will still go as fast as most cruiser riders would ever want to go. Front brakes are limited to a single disc brake with a sliding 2-piston caliper. If you are after that Softail look this is a good choice.
1 Yamaha Roadliner XV1900A
This is the streamlined version of the art-deco styled Stratoliner. We love the theme of chrome striping running laterally. It really does give the bike a very swift look. It has the same 90+ h.P. engine is its brothers sharing the same engine.
This bike would be a lot faster in a straight line that a rider next to the bike would expect. Yamaha did a great job of giving the factory exhaust a designer look while keeping the bike quiet and its emissions in compliance with current emissions standards required by regulations.