Yes, superbikes are crazy, but cruiser bikes are formed by American DNA. Over the years cruiser motorcycles have evolved from just being comfortable on the road. They are fast, quick, and you can even see them on the drag strips.
They have set a trend that laid the foundation for a long list of cruiser motorcycles that we see today. Looking back at the decade that we have had, here's a list of 10 cruiser motorcycles that helped carve a path. They may not have revolutionized the segment, but they are unique in their own way and all feature styling and performance unmatched in the segment.
10 Yamaha Bolt
Introduced in 2013, the Bolt resembles the sketch that anyone would imagine when someone says cruisers. It's simple, sleek, and gets a 942cc air-cooled 4-stroke, 4-valve SOHC V-twin engine. It doesn't have a big tank which kind of takes long hauls out of the equation, but it sure looks the part.
What makes it even better is the fact that the Bolt is built on a very customizable platform. This makes it a great choice for custom builders. Also, with a wide range of aftermarket accessories available in the market, you ought to see some crazy examples of the Bolt.
9 Honda Fury
With an original motto of 'get furious', the Honda Fury was launched in 2010. True to its motto, the Fury did look furious and was very radical. And while the bike is from a Japanese manufacturer, it was designed by American engineers!
Once you move on from the looks, the performance will surely not disappoint you. It gets a 1,312cc V-Twin engine that packs a serious punch. All in all, Honda made this bike that looked like a custom-built American chopper with the reliability of Japanese technology.
8 Victory Cross Country
Victory Motorcycles brought this Cross Country to go head to head against the Harley-Davidson Road Glide Custom. And it had all the essential equipment to take on the big Harley. It looked big and unique and fared well on all other aspects as well.
It was loaded with features that would keep the rider and passenger engaged for miles. It had cruise control which was great, a four-speaker stereo that was pretty loud and even an iPhone/iPod adapter for you to connect directly. One thing that the customers loved about this Victory is the forty-one-gallon storage space!
7 Honda F6B Goldwing
Honda's flagship motorcycle had a lot to live up to when launched and it surely did. With a couch-like seating, the bike promised great comfort and that's not where Honda drew the line. The Gold Wing handled especially well for the weight it carried which is what set it apart.
Also, accompanied by a powerful motor, the Gold Wing was very versatile. It was a bagger that was quick like a superbike and made long-distance cruising feel easy. It's this combination of multiple attributes that made it quite popular across the world.
6 Harley-Davidson Low Rider
It's simple, it's understated, and it looks great. 2014 was the year when Harley Davidson introduced the new generation of the low rider. It came with a 103 cubic inch engine that made loads of power and with a sleek frame, the motorcycle handled well too.
Harley Davidson didn't put a fat rear tire just to make it handle better. It was one of the cheapest Harleys when it came out, but it didn't look cheap at all. It had a very low seat height and being a Harley it was highly customizable too.
5 Ducati Diavel
The Ducati Diavel's styling might have some people questioning its inclusion in this list. But that is also one of the reasons why it's here. It's a power cruiser that can do 0-60mph in 2.6 seconds with a 162hp engine from the Multistrada.
It is loaded with technology that assists the rider in various situations. It has switchable ABS, traction control, and multiple riding modes one of which also includes cruising. Overall it's a cruiser that has crazy power and can lean up to 41 degrees!
4 Moto Guzzi California 1400
First California came out in 1971 which kind of set the tone for the transversely stacked V-twin engine. It was brought back to life in 2012 with this rendition and was quite popular too. In this version, the California 1400 was classically styled, had good equipment and was comfortable too.
The V-Twin made 96hp but most importantly it made 87 foot-pounds of torque at a low 2750 rpm which was appreciated by many riders. You also had ABS-assisted Brembo brakes along with cruise control and engine modes that made riding a breeze.
3 Triumph Rocket 3
Triumph introduced the Rocket III showcasing its power. The initial advertisements even boasted of a top speed of over 140mph. There were even claims that it was faster than the R1 superbike! To support those claims the Rocket III had a 12-valve, 2294cc inline, liquid-cooled triple engine that made close to 150hp and 163 ft-lb at just 2,750rpm.
But apart from those insane numbers, the Rocket III did look quite contemporary. It was very well styled and with the blacked-out parts and matte finish on some models it looked even better.
2 Indian Chieftain Dark Horse
Indian Motorcycles is the oldest motorcycle brand in America and its bikes are as American as they get. The Chieftain Dark Horse was introduced in 2016 and it was the most customizable bike in the Indian line-up. However, even in its stock form, the bike looks menacing.
The V-Twin makes 119.2 pound-feet of torque at 3,000 rpm and is a great cruiser. With that blacked-out look and single seat setup, this would make a great ride for Batman if he were taking it easy more often.
1 Harley-Davidson Softail Line
Harley Davidson rolled out 8 new models at once which caused quite a stir. This was the Softail range and all of them had the Milwaukee-Eight engine. It included the new Fat Boy, Low Rider, Deluxe, Heritage Classic, Breakout, Fat Bob, Street Bob, and, Slim.
As Harley Davidson themselves put it that this is a set of new bikes, and they're awesome. These are the bikes that set the trend earlier and were loved for it. With the new ones, Harley has kept the essence constant while making huge strides technologically which is why these will go on to be the trendsetters for the upcoming decade.