Horsepower is great. And if you ask most people, they’ll say the more horsepower a motorcycle has, the better it is. Ask actual experienced folks, though, and you’ll get a different answer. Horsepower matters only upto an extent, and in certain motorcycle categories. For instance, cruisers are catered towards leisure riding for the most part.
That means more horsepower isn’t necessary, especially if you’re new to the two-wheeler community or looking to get a bike just for commutes. On that note, here are the most approachable (aka least powerful) cruisers from popular brands.
Royal Enfield Meteor 350
Power: 20 HP
The Meteor 350 is Royal Enfield’s baby cruiser. It mimics the retro design of American offerings, with its own touches like blacked-out mechanicals and punchy colorways. This is topped with likable features, including ABS and smartphone connectivity.
At its heart lies RE’s trusty J-series engine. This is a simple air-cooled mill that focuses on balancing horsepower and torque with oodles of low-end grunt. So the 20 horsepower and 20 pound-feet are concentrated down low for you to chug along in the city.
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Yamaha V-Star 250
Power: 21 HP
Somehow, the V-Star 250 still remains on sale in 2026. We say that because this bike has remained largely unchanged for nearly three decades now. In that period, its small 249cc, V-twin engine has been the USP, as we barely see any other small-capacity V-twin mill from a mainstream bikemaker.
That should mean impeccable reliability but performance is basic at best (21 horsepower). Same goes for the underpinnings and features. Everything is barebones, be it the analog instrument cluster or the steel chassis. Heck, you don’t even get a rear disc brake!
Honda Rebel 300 E-Clutch
Power: ~27 HP
The Rebel 300 has been Honda’s least powerful cruiser for a long time now. That remains the case in 2026, too, but there is one big change. Yes, we’re talking about the inclusion of the E-Clutch technology. This means you can now change gears without using the manual clutch lever, and it works even from a standstill in neutral.
As for the engine itself, you get 27 horsepower from a single-cylinder liquid-cooled powerhouse. It’s the same mill we see on the CB300R and CBR300R, albeit with minor changes to the overall tune. This is quite frugal, too, with a claimed efficiency of over 75 miles per gallon.
CFMoto 450CL-C
Power: 40 HP
CFMoto has made a decent name for itself in the US since its debut here in 2023. And it also jumped onto the cruiser bandwagon recently with the 450CL-C. Like its peers from Kawasaki and Honda, you get a sports bike-derived powerhouse here. It is a 449cc, parallel-twin unit with a 270-degree crankshaft to produce 40 ponies and 30 pound-feet.
In typical CFMoto fashion, you also get a hefty dose of features. These comprise a TFT instrument cluster, traction control, dual-channel ABS, and smartphone connectivity. Even with all this, it somehow weighs under 400 pounds fully fueled.
Kawasaki Eliminator
Power: 51 HP
For the longest time, Kawasaki’s smallest cruiser was the Vulcan 650. A change was direly necessary, and the Eliminator was brought in. Although it rejuvenates an age-old moniker, this is a new-age cruiser based on the Ninja 500. So you get the same 451cc parallel-twin mill, without any serious changes to the performance (51 horsepower and 32 pound-feet).
That means you’ll have to rev this engine to properly enjoy life. Like the mill, the chassis and suspension follow the same brief. But the front forks have been kicked out, the subframe is new, and the seat height is low.
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Suzuki Boulevard C50
Power: ~52 HP
Look at Suzuki’s illustrious history, and you won’t find many heavy-hitting cruisers. That is the case in 2026, too. You only have two cruisers on offer, out of which the Boulevard C50 is the least powerful one. This is thanks to its 805cc, V-twin engine that produces 52 horsepower and 51 pound-feet.
Like the engine, all else is quite ancient here. That includes the double-cradle chassis, basic suspension, and spoke wheels. The design also follows the old-school approach, evident from the massive fenders, curvy tank, and the plethora of chrome.
Indian Scout Sixty Bobber
Power: 85 HP
Moving from Japanese iterations of American cruisers, we now come to actual US-made bikes. The Scout Sixty Bobber is Indian’s most accessible cruiser right now, thanks to its 999cc liquid-cooled powerhouse. This mill produces 85 horsepower, all sent to the wheel via a five-speed, belt-driven transmission.
Like the engine, everything favors simplicity. The double-cradle chassis is carved from steel, the suspension has minimal adjustability (only at the rear), and the alloy wheels have a single disc brake to shed speed. You can get more for more, though, as Indian sells two other variants–Sport Scout Sixty and Scout Sixty Classic–with better features and a higher MSRP.
Harley-Davidson Nightster
Power: 91 HP
The Nightster is Harley’s smallest cruiser. But it justifies the $9,999 moolah rather well. For starters, this features a modern Revolution Max 975T with an uncompeted 91 horsepower. That’s one of the highest figures for any motorcycle under $10,000, not just cruisers.
With this, Harley also throws in modern electronics, like traction control, drag torque slip control, and dual-channel ABS. You have quality components in the underpinnings, too. The suspension is from Showa, brakes from Brembo, and cast aluminum wheels help shed weight.
BMW R 18
Power: 91 HP
The R 18 is BMW’s flagship cruiser. Yet, it has less peak power than the roadster-type R 12. That’s because the massive 1,802cc boxer engine favors torque, evident from its 120 pound-feet peak output. This is right up there with the output of flagship American cruisers.
Like the torque, the overall appeal is at par with its US rivals. The proportions are massive, steel is the dominant material, and the weight is a sky-high 760 pounds (wet). All this while, the saddle height is just 28.3 inches.
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Ducati Diavel V4
Power: 168 HP
All Ducati cruisers on offer today have a V4 engine. But the Diavel V4 has the least power. It features the Granturismo V4 engine from the Multistrada with 168 horsepower. Interestingly, the engine skips out on desmo valves and aims to be low maintenance in the long run. That also explains why Ducati claims an astonishing valve clearance interval of 30,000 miles.
Other than this, you get class-leading electronics, a racing-inspired monocoque frame, and high-quality adjustable suspension. All that comes for a cost, though, as the starting MSRP is almost $28,000. It only goes up from here if you pick the XDiavel or Diavel V4 RS.