These days, we are truly spoiled for choice when it comes to cruisers. There is a cruiser for just about every conceivable purse and purpose. Traditionally, Japanese manufacturers were more or less content to build reliable, budget-friendly motorcycles. Leaving the higher performance end of the market to the American brands.
There have always been exceptions to this rule, with a handful of Japanese power cruisers and a few entry-level American bikes built over the years. But they have largely remained exceptions. Until recently, that is. Over time, the Japanese manufacturers have gotten better and better. Chinese brands have also shown significant improvement over the last few years, and a couple of European bikes have also muscled in on the territory once dominated by the American brands.
There Are Several Well Balanced Cruisers To Choose From
The Harley-Davidson Nightster is currently Harley’s most affordable motorcycle. The base model is relatively sparsely equipped compared to other bikes in the cruiser lineup, but with 90 horsepower, it is actually a potent little machine which offers a lot of value to the right buyer. If you are after something that offers a more traditional cruiser design, then the Indian Scout Sixty Bobber is well worth considering. Much like the Nightster, it is sparsely equipped, but also gets a potent liquid-cooled V-twin.
If the blacked-out look doesn’t do it for you, there are a couple of chrome-heavy Japanese bikes still on sale. The Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic has an eye-catching retro design, but is a little underpowered. Suzuki’s offering is a little more gray by contrast, but the Boulevard C50 still has plenty of chrome. It is also relatively underpowered compared to the modern bikes, and just seems overpriced compared to the bike in question.
This Kawasaki Vulcan Combines Japanese Engineering With Long-Haul Comfort
This 20+ year-old cruiser bike also returns the highest MPG ratings among Japanese metric cruisers.
The Honda Rebel 1100 DCT Delivers Big-Bike Energy Without Big-Bike Stress
MSRP: $10,399
The Rebel 1100 DCT offers an impressive balance between ease of use and performance. The addition of DCT is not without controversy, but there is no denying the fact that it opens the bike up to a wider audience. While this certainly isn’t a beginner bike, there will be riders out there that would have never considered buying a cruiser before, but would consider buying the automatic Rebel.
10 Cheapest Automatic Motorcycles You Can Buy Today
The most powerful automatic motorcycle in this list has 94 horsepower and an under-$10,000 MSRP
A 270-Degree Parallel-Twin Promises A Stress-Free Ride
Power: 87 Horsepower
On paper, the Rebel is down on power compared to the other bikes making use of the 1100 Unicam. Honda made the decision to give the Rebel a completely different tune, with the torque coming in far sooner than the other bikes. The upshot of this is that you might not win any spec-sheet war, but the bike offers more punch off the mark than the other 1100s, and just about any bike it is competing with. For a bike of this size and weight, 87 horsepower is plenty.
DCT Is A Major Point Of Difference, But Still A Little Controversial
Out of all the motorcycle manufacturers, Honda is the one that has really bet big on the automatic transmission. Much to the dismay of some purists out there, there is a different Honda automatic motorcycle out there for just about every kind of rider. Over the years it has been in production, the DCT has proven to be a genuine point of difference here in the Rebel cruiser.
It has also recently been joined by the E-Clutch equipped Rebel 300, which means some new riders theoretically won’t ever need to buy a fully manual bike. Although this is not something we would advocate – learning how to ride a manual bike is a rite of passage – it certainly opens up the world of motorcycling to those who may have otherwise never considered getting a bike. Once more, much to the dismay of all those gatekeepers out there.
The Japanese Entry-Level Cruiser That Still Feels Premium
This beginner-friendly, budget-minded cruiser ticks the entry-level boxes without too much compromise.
The Rebel 1100 DCT Has Several Great Features, But Is Missing Something
For the most part, the Rebel is fairly well-appointed. It has ABS, traction control, cruise control, and a TFT dash. The TFT dash was added with the recent refresh, and while it disrupts the design a little, it serves its purpose. Unfortunately, like most cruisers competing in this space, it doesn’t have a passenger seat. Honda is certainly not alone in doing this, but this simply is not something that should be left off any bike. Paying extra for something that really should be a standard feature is just a little frustrating. If we had a choice between that new dash and a passenger seat, we would certainly rather have the seat.
The Cruiser That Nails Comfort, Presence, And Practicality
Harley’s Nightster Special balances V‑Twin character with comfort and tech, redefining what a budget modern cruiser should be.
The Peace Of Mind You Get With Owning A Honda
This might seem like one of those random marketing blurbs, but it is the honest truth. This platform, in particular, has proven to be exceptionally reliable, and with the Rebel in a more mild state of tune, it will most likely outlast us all. While this kind of dependability offers us immense peace of mind, it actually also makes the machine feel less like an extension of ourselves and more like an appliance.
This kind of thing won’t bother everyone, but with motorcycles being such emotional purchases, it is a legitimate dealbreaker for others. The fact that one of the most engaging parts of any motorcycle – simply changing gears – has also been removed from the equation will only serve to exacerbate this feeling.
Objectively speaking, it is just a very good motorcycle. It is easy to ride, comfortable enough to take long highway rides, yet still light and nimble enough to use within the confines of a city. In terms of value, it is very hard to beat. Its key strength is simple, stress-free motorcycling. As long as you take care of basic maintenance, you will be able to ride with the knowledge that the machine will not let you down, and it is terribly hard to put a dollar value on that kind of thing.
Source: Honda Powersports