It’s all well and good to have the latest, fastest motorcycle, but new technology always has teething problems. Even if you wait for a year or two for things to settle down, there are so many updates rolling into new cars and bikes that you’re never sure how reliable they’ll be.
If you want something that will last 100,000 miles, you’ll need something that is unstressed and proven – something like a cruiser. With the kind of customer base that cruisers have, they don’t have updates that are as quick as other styles of motorcycles. In fact, some of them have remained unchanged for many years. As a result, not only are they reliable, but spares are usually affordable and easily available, and you could even do the regular maintenance of most of them at home. Here are ten cruisers that regularly cross 100,000 miles.
Kawasaki Vulcan S
Price: $7,649
The Vulcan S is a modern cruiser – it has a trellis frame and uses the engine as a stressed member. This is the opposite of traditional cruisers that have their longevity through, well, traditional components. However, the Vulcan S is also a model that shares a lot of its components with the Z650 and Ninja 650, which goes some way in explaining why it is so reliable. Kawasaki has also treated it like a bit of a stepchild by not giving it a TFT display like the other two. All that means, though, is that the simpler analog/LCD will last longer.
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Engine Type |
180° I2 |
|
Displacement |
649 cc |
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Max Power |
61 HP @ 7,500 RPM |
|
Max Torque |
46.5 LB-FT @ 6,600 RPM |
Honda Shadow Phantom
Price: $8,699
The Shadow Phantom will always end up on lists where longevity matters, because even by Honda’s high standards, this is a reliable, long-lasting motorcycle. It is simple, but not so much that it becomes unusable – liquid cooling, fuel injection, disc brakes, and ABS are all present. The choice of twin rear shocks and shaft drive might seem anachronistic, but they, along with the engine’s low compression ratio and easygoing output, are what make this one of the top choices if you’re going to make the odometer roll over.
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Engine Type |
52° V-twin |
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Displacement |
745 cc |
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Max Power |
44.9 HP @ 5,500 RPM |
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Max Torque |
47.9 LB-FT @ 3,500 RPM |
Yamaha Bolt R-Spec
Price: $8,999
The Bolt R-Spec is a little like the Shadow in that it opts for simple components and an engine with a relaxed state of tune. If it looks familiar, that is because it is a tribute to the old Harley Sportster. Like that American bike, it uses air cooling with fuel injection, but it also couples it with a rear disc brake. Twin rear shocks and belt final drive with the cradle frame mean that the only thing you’ll need to look out for is rust.
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Engine Type |
60° V-twin |
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Displacement |
942 cc |
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Max Power |
65 HP |
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Max Torque |
59.3 LB-FT @ 3,000 RPM |
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Suzuki Boulevard C50
Price: $9,299
The Boulevard C50 is another cruiser like the Shadow and Bolt – it has a liquid-cooled and fuel-injected V-twin engine, a wide-ratio five-speed gearbox, and shaft drive. Like the Honda and Yamaha, the instrumentation is mostly analog. There is one component that could be considered up-to-date: the Suzuki Dual Throttle Valve tech has a second set of computer-controlled throttle butterflies in line with the main rider-operated ones. The hidden monoshock is a nice touch as well.
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Engine Type |
45° V-twin |
|
Displacement |
805 cc |
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Max Power |
52 HP @ 6,000 RPM |
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Max Torque |
51 LB-FT @ 3,200 RPM |
Kawasaki Vulcan 900
Price: $9,599
The Vulcan 900 is one of Kawasaki’s oldest models currently on sale. Like the other three Japanese cruisers before, it has longevity not just through the typical Japanese attention to engineering quality, but also through attention to detail. Unlike the others, it is available in distinct styles, although all of them have the same running gear with a five-speed gearbox and belt drive. The Vulcan 900 is a throwback design complete with chrome and even whitewall tires. On top of this, the LT adds a windshield and soft luggage, while the Vulcan 900 Custom opts for a blacked-out, drag-bike look with alloy wheels and a massive front wheel.
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Engine Type |
55° V-twin |
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Displacement |
903 cc |
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Max Power |
50 HP @ 5,700 RPM |
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Max Torque |
58.2 LB-FT @ 3,500 RPM |
Indian Scout Bobber
Price: $12,999
The Scout Sixty is a great entry to Indian, but the full-fat Scout range is a much better product for not much more money. The Scout Bobber retails for a reasonable base price and offers a much larger and more powerful engine with a six-speed gearbox. If you add another $2,200 to its price, the top-spec variant adds a whole host of features like a 4-inch TFT display with connected features, ride modes, cornering traction control and ABS, cruise control, and a USB charger.
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Engine Type |
60° V-twin |
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Displacement |
1,250 cc |
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Max Power |
105 HP @ 7,250 RPM |
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Max Torque |
79.7 LB-FT @ 6,300 RPM |
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Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster
Price: $14,795
The Bonneville Speedmaster is one of the best neo-retro motorcycles available today, with its great mix of throwback design and modern engineering. It has a 270-degree parallel twin engine that looks like it is air-cooled, but it is liquid-cooled and has a six-speed gearbox. 2026 also brings a six-axis IMU, so on the menu are switchable cornering traction control and cornering ABS. The pillion also has a comfortable perch, and the hidden monoshock makes it look like a hardtail.
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Engine Type |
270° I2 |
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Displacement |
1,200 cc |
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Max Power |
77 HP @ 6,100 RPM |
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Max Torque |
78.2 LB-FT @ 4,000 RPM |
Harley-Davidson Street Bob
Price: $14,999
The Street Bob is a bobber in the true sense – it cuts back on everything that is not essential. You get a frame, the engine, and the minimum required accessories like a seat and mirrors. You don’t need much more to have fun on two wheels anyway. The Milwaukee Eight 117 engine is in its simplest form here, and most docile state of tune. There are some modern features as well, like a six-speed gearbox, a by-wire throttle, all-LED lighting, cruise control, and a six-axis IMU.
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Engine Type |
45° V-twin |
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Displacement |
1,917 cc |
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Max Power |
98 HP @ 4,600 RPM |
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Max Torque |
120 LB-FT @ 2,500 RPM |
Suzuki Boulevard M109R
Price: $15,799
The Boulevard M109R shouldn’t be in this list, at first glance. It is a power cruiser known for debuting with the widest rear tire on a production motorcycle at the time, and pistons that would be large for a car. However, that only means that this engine has torque for days – and coupled with the shaft drive, it is a recipe for longevity. There are no real electronics to get in the way – it has fuel injection and a couple of LCD displays, but that is the extent of its electronics. We also wager that you won’t get bored with its performance, even if you cross 100,000 miles!
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Engine Type |
54° V-twin |
|
Displacement |
1,783 cc |
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Max Power |
123 HP @ 6,200 RPM |
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Max Torque |
118 LB-FT @ 3,200 RPM |
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Harley-Davidson Fat Boy
Price: $22,599
The Fat Boy has lasted through the decades in various forms, but the last generation or two have all been exceptionally reliable products. The Softail range’s modularity meant that a lot of the models used common parts – the Street Bob and Fat Boy use different versions of the Milwaukee Eight 117, for example, and a similar frame. So it is little wonder that the Fat Boy also has the longevity of the other Softail models. Along with the by-wire throttle and ride modes, you will also get head-turning looks and instant recognition for every mile that you ride it.
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Engine Type |
45° V-twin |
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Displacement |
1,917 cc |
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Max Power |
104 HP @ 4,800 RPM |
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Max Torque |
126 LB-FT @ 3,000 RPM |
Source: Harley-Davidson USA, Suzuki Cycles