If you’re looking for one bike to do it all, there are plenty of options out there. Most of them, however, are too sedate, and they lack the charm and character that many of us look for. So, if that character is what you’re after in your do-it-all motorcycle, you need to look away from the run-of-the-mill adventure tourers and street bikes. Instead, you need to look at something that’s not only powerful and fun, but also retains heritage and character.
We have just the bike in mind for that, and it’s a cruiser. Sure, this cruiser won’t handle off-roading at all, like some of the adventure tourers out there, but it more than makes up for it with its powerful big-twin character and West Coast styling. It lets you experience what motorcycling is all about or why we fell in love with two wheels in the first place.
What Makes A Do-It-All Motorcycle For The U.S.
In today’s economy, it just doesn’t make sense to have a multi-bike garage or keep switching out bikes every couple of years. The smarter thing to do is get a motorcycle that is versatile and fun enough to keep you entertained for years. And such motorcycles have to tick many boxes: they should handle everyday commuting, occasional tours, and quick weekend runs up mountain roads.
There are plenty of motorcycles that do this today, and some of the best examples are crossovers or adventure tourers, like the Kawasaki Versys 650 and the Triumph Tiger Sport 800. These bikes can do everything you throw at them, but they usually come with a catch. They trade in character for versatility, which is why most of these bikes come off as too sensible and sedate. Sure, they can do it all, but they may not be the bike you look forward to the most. These versatile motorcycles are usually just tools.
That’s why we beg to differ with the motorcycle we’ve chosen. Unlike an adventure tourer or a street naked, we’ve picked the best do-it-all bike, which is a cruiser. But hear us out. It’s one of the best ways of experiencing both the rich American cruiser heritage and the expansive landscape of the country, while keeping it manageable in the city and fun in the corners. We’re talking about a Harley-Davidson Softail that can do it all: the Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST.
The American Power Cruiser With Japanese Reliability
With a proven Milwaukee-Eight, this Harley-Davidson comes close to getting you the best of American oomph and Japanese-type dependability
The Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST Will Keep You Entertained For Years
The Low Rider ST is a unique Softail cruiser in the Harley-Davidson lineup. It’s a big twin cruiser with jacked-up suspension and enough touring-ready features that make it one of the most versatile cruisers you can buy today. It has enough power to keep you entertained for years, with underpinnings that support hard canyon runs and touring-ready features that make it ready to go the distance once in a while.
The Low Rider ST is inspired by West Coast custom-style motorcycles, so it also looks stellar while being totally versatile. This is the cruiser to get if you’re someone who appreciates heritage, big-twin character, and do-it-all versatility. Today, the Low Rider ST doesn’t have many rivals, either, which makes it all the more unique in the cruiser segment.
The biggest rival it has is the Indian Sport Chief, which has been a hit among Indian Motorcycle fans. This cruiser sets itself firmly in the sporty cruiser category, powered by a V-twin engine, complete with modern features and ravishing design. The choice between the Sport Chief and the Low Rider ST comes down to preference — do you want a Harley or an Indian?
Another close rival is the Honda Rebel 1100T, a Japanese cruiser with a parallel-twin engine (sorry, no V-twin on this one), nimble handling, and neutral riding ergonomics. Compared to the Sport Chief and the Low Rider ST, it certainly offers better value for money, especially when you consider its hard bags, batwing fairing, and DCT. However, it does miss out on that V-twin character and heritage that make the Low Rider ST so special in our books.
The Low Rider ST Starts At $23,999
The Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST starts at a buck under $24k, so it’s not a cheap motorcycle by any means. For the price, it doesn’t exactly blow you away with performance or features, either. Where the Low Rider ST shines is that it offers you plenty of versatility, character, and cool design that most cruisers cannot match. For someone who appreciates these qualities, the Low Rider ST comes off as almost an investment; pay the money now and reap the benefits of the West Coast-style cruiser for years to come.
The Cheapest Harley-Davidson That Still Feels Like A Harley
This chromed-out cruiser is the most affordable Harley-Davidson with the Milwaukee-Eight 117 engine at $14,999.
Ergonomics Designed For Commuting, Touring, And Cornering
The thing that stands out the most about the Low Rider ST is how it’s designed to keep you comfortable and engaged. It’s a cruiser, after all, that’s not designed for tackling fast corners or pulling wheelies. Instead, it features an ergonomic setup that can keep you comfortable for long hours in the saddle while being pretty versatile to handle other duties, as well.
Despite being more aggressive than the usual Harley-Davidson offering, the Low Rider ST is still a light-touring cruiser. It features upright ergonomics that aren’t as laid-back as other cruisers, which are said to be comfortable for the long haul—once you get used to the high-set pegs. H-D also says that the solo seat is designed to lock you in when you want to ride aggressively. It also features a short FXRT-inspired fairing up front that should do a decent job at keeping wind buffeting off you on the highway.
Hard Cases Add Another Layer Of Versatility
The hard panniers further add to its versatility. While they aren’t as big as other light-touring cruisers, they still offer over 14 gallons of storage, which should be plenty for everyday riding and occasional short tours. The bags come with an internal release mechanism, so you can completely remove them from the bike, too, turning this semi-dress bagger into a street cruiser.
Lightweight Dimensions And Decent Electronics
Where the Low Rider ST will further surprise you is its light handling. It’s still hefty, weighing over 700 pounds, but it is designed to feel light to maneuver in the city. It also features plenty of tech, starting with LED lights, self-canceling indicators, and a 4-inch analog display with a small digital readout. Safety is handled by three riding modes (Road, Rain, and Sport), along with cornering-enabled ABS, traction control, and Drag-Torque Slip Control System (DTSC).
The Cruiser That Makes Harley Riders Look Twice
Here, you get an authentic vintage design with modern big twin performance that’s hard to ignore even by die-hard Harley fans.
The Right Balance Of Nimble And Powerful
Harley-Davidson likes to describe the Low Rider ST as a sports tourer, but does it deliver on that front? Given its performance and underpinnings, it certainly seems like that. It features the Milwaukee-Eight 117 High Output V-twin engine, which was once reserved for the CVO models. This engine produces 114 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque, with a redline set at 5,900 rpm. So, this big twin mill should offer thrilling performance with enough torque to cruise effortlessly on the highway and have fun on the road.
Sporty Underpinnings For Agile Handling
Owners praise the Low Rider ST for being surprisingly composed on the road, and it’s no surprise; this is one of the sportier Harley-Davidsons on sale today. The Softail frame is designed with a shorter wheelbase, along with USD forks up front and a monoshock at the rear. This setup should give nimble handling to the motorcycle. H-D also claims a relatively decent cornering clearance of 31.3 degrees, which should inspire confidence to push the bike harder in the corners.
Adding a cherry to this American pie are the Radiate cast aluminum wheels that should keep the unsprung mass low. These wheels are shod in Michelin Scorcher 31 rubber. Braking is handled by dual 4-piston calipers up front and a single 2-piston caliper at the rear. Owners report that this braking system, complete with braided lines, offers confident stopping power to bring this over 700-pound bike to a quick stop.
Why The H-D Low Rider Might Be The Only Cruiser You Ever Need
The Low Rider S goes as good as it looks and is equally comfortable in the city or the highway
Stunning West Coast-Inspired Design
When it comes to cruisers, West Coast and East Coast styles are quite different. East Coast riders typically prefer their motorcycles to be low and stable, complete with large fairings, probably to keep the bugs off the face and be comfortable on the long blacktop. On the West Coast, things flip. Here, motorcyclists like to customize their bikes with jacked-up suspension that can handle the twisties. They also like to keep the fairings small to allow Cali riders to lane-split without taking off mirrors from cars around them.
That gave rise to the California Tall Bike movement in the ‘80s with custom motorcycles, and the Low Rider ST pays homage to that tradition. Keeping in line with these West Coast custom cruisers, the Low Rider also features a jacked-up suspension, tall saddle, and frame-mounted fairing with raised handlebars. It looks stylish, and if you ride it around town, you will certainly feel like a cast member of Sons of Anarchy.
This is what makes the Low Rider ST special. It’s not just another Softail cruiser. It is powerful and performance-oriented, with a generous dash of SoCal charm about it that’s more functional than aesthetic. The tall bike stance should make the bike feel more responsive, while the comfort should keep you free from fatigue on all rides. So, whether you want to lane-split through California, cruise around on the long highway stretches, or hit up canyons on the weekend, the Low Rider ST is the ultimate one-bike garage cruiser.
Source: Harley-Davidson