If there is one kind of motorcycle that a person is likely to keep for a long time, it is a cruiser. Owners of these aren’t quite swayed by the vagaries of more power and performance. They are content with their large, torquey engines and either shiny chrome bits (blacked-out in some cases). Yes, there is always the temptation to upgrade if possible. But, considering that cruisers are what they are and the purpose they serve, there are some models that keep owners happy and content for a very long time. They frequently turn out to be the ones that aren’t the loudest or flashiest but the ones that do what is needed and expected from them – and put a smile on your face – every time you swing a leg over them.
Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650
Price: $7,899
The Super Meteor 650 is only three years old, so it might seem a little premature to claim that it is a cruiser that will be kept for a long time. However, all the signs point to it being part of this clan. The driveline that it shares with the Int 650 and Continental GT 650 has been around for eight years now, and it has proven to be reliable. The Super Meteor has got the classic look down perfectly, and there are accessories that can make it a light tourer as well. It also offers modern conveniences like a pod with a TFT screen and navigation, and ABS – but at its heart, it is a simple, good-to-ride motorcycle that will last.
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Engine Type |
270° I2 |
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Displacement |
648 cc |
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Max Power |
47 HP @ 7,250 RPM |
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Max Torque |
38.6 LB-FT @ 5,650 RPM |
Honda Shadow Phantom
Price: $8,699
Another decade, and the Shadow Phantom soldiers on with the same appeal as it did all those years ago. It doesn’t have a very high horsepower output, and it doesn’t have features other than a recently-added disc brake and ABS. Yet, it remains an engaging motorcycle to ride. This is a trouble-free motorcycle and is equally at home dealing with traffic or the highway. Its broad appeal and reliability are what make it so popular with the people who own one.
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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 |
Honda Rebel 1100
Price: $9,699
For a small outlay of $1,000 more than the Shadow, you can have the biggest, most modern cruiser from the Honda lineup. Like the Super Meteor, it is a young model. However, its driveline was launched a year earlier, in the updated Africa Twin. In automatic form, the Rebel 1100 is the only one of its kind. It might have an engine that displaces more than a liter, but it is friendly enough that a beginner could have a good time on it, while still being engaging enough for riders with a few miles under their belt. Which is why it is logical that someone would keep it for a long time!
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Engine Type |
270° I2 |
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Displacement |
1,084 cc |
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Max Power |
87.1 HP @ 7,250 RPM |
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Max Torque |
72.2 LB-FT @ 4,750 RPM |
10 Retro Cruisers That Combine Old-School Cool With Modern Reliability
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Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster
Price: $14,795
The Bonneville Speedmaster is a very well-engineered motorcycle. Its design reflects all the charm of a retro motorcycle, but paired with all the conveniences of a modern one. For example, the cooling fins on the engine make it look like it is air-cooled, but it is a liquid-cooled engine. You also get a six-axis IMU, by-wire throttle… the works. It nearly matches the Rebel 1100 for power and displacement, and has the same laid-back attitude. But the retro charm is sweeter here.
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Engine Type |
270° I2 |
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Displacement |
1,200 cc |
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Max Power |
76.9 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 on this list for much of the same reasons as the others here: it is very approachable as your first big Harley, and it will give you pleasure long after you’ve gotten used to it. You get an authentic Harley experience, too, with the features that will please purists, with a cradle frame and Milwaukee Eight engine. At the same time, it has a six-speed gearbox, six-axis IMU, by-wire throttle, cruise control, and all-LED lighting. Oh, and you can customize it to no end.
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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
Suzuki doesn’t refresh its models often, but even by those standards, the Boulevard M109R is quite old. That hasn’t stopped it from putting a scare into the young ‘uns from other prestigious cruiser brands with more modern machinery. This is an old-school bruiser with no safety features, even ABS, and the mountain of torque from that engine is controlled by a cable throttle. This one isn’t for the faint of heart or loose of wrist, and that is why it will keep the excitement going for years after you’ve swung a leg over for the first time. The cherry on top is its reliability.
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Engine Type |
54° V-twin |
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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 |
10 Cruisers Made For Long Hauls Without Feeling Boring
From torque-rich V-twins to high-tech sport cruisers, these long-haul machines prove you can tour hard without sacrificing excitement.
Harley-Davidson Sportster S
Price: $15,999
The Sportster S is one of the new types of Harley cruiser. It has a trellis frame and uses the engine as a stressed member. It is also the most powerful Harley cruiser in the range, with the electronics to back it up. It helps that it has a full set of features like a TFT display with Bluetooth and navigation, and styling reminiscent of old American flat-track racers. The looks are backed up by real tech: Brembo brakes, Showa suspension, and an engine with variable valve timing on all its valves.
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Engine Type |
60° V-twin |
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Displacement |
1,250 cc |
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Max Power |
121 HP @ 7,500 RPM |
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Max Torque |
93 LB-FT @ 6,000 RPM |
Indian Chief Vintage
Price: $19,999
The Chief Vintage is on this list for one big reason: its looks. Indian has copied its own vintage looks, but has done it so well that this could almost be a piece of art. Of course, it helps that it moves along really well, thanks to the proven Thunderstroke 116 engine that powers it. This might be a two-valve, air-cooled engine, but it has modern features like a six-axis IMU, by-wire throttle, and rear cylinder deactivation. The sub-$20,000 MSRP has made it more attractive than ever before.
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Engine Type |
49° V-twin |
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Displacement |
1,890 cc |
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Max Power |
~89 HP |
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Max Torque |
120 LB-FT @ 2,900 RPM |
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy
Price: $22,599
The Fat Boy was always going to be on this list, with its combination of iconic looks and great cycle parts. It is powered by a Milwaukee Eight engine, but with a few key differences, like oil-cooled cylinder heads. You get the same by-wire throttle and six-axis IMU, though. It is a long-lasting motorcycle, and we don’t mean the badge: the Fat Boy is a really well-made product that will pull at your heartstrings for years to come.
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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 |
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Triumph Rocket 3 Storm GT
Price: $27,495
The Fat Boy might pull at your heartstrings, but the Rocket 3 Storm GT will pull your arms out of their sockets if you aren’t careful. This has the largest ever displacement engine fitted to a production motorcycle, and the power it generates would make big sportsbikes proud. This is accompanied by massive torque, fully adjustable suspension from Showa, and Brembo brakes. There is also a full electronics suite and an optional quickshifter for maximum thrust. Owners tend to hold on tight to this one.
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Engine Type |
Longitudinal I3 |
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Displacement |
2,458 cc |
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Max Power |
179.5 HP @ 7,000 RPM |
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Max Torque |
166 LB-FT @ 4,000 RPM |
Sources: Honda Powersports, Harley-Davidson USA