All bikemakers have had one model/lineup that they are known for worldwide. Ducati has its red-hot Panigale, Suzuki has the Hayabusa, and BMW has the GS. Similarly, Harley-Davidson is known for its Softails. For good reason, too, as this is arguably the most popular cruiser lineup and the end-goal for most cruiser fanatics. What also helps is Harley’s increased focus in this space, evident from new engines, more aggressive prices, and the inclusion of modern features.
However, amidst all the popularity, there are other cruisers that even Softail owners check out. While Europe has the bragging rights for this now, Japan was the first to bring the fight to the Softail dominance. One of these popular names came to town decades ago, yet it is still armed with the ability to make Harley riders look twice.
There’s Been No Shortage Of Impressive Japanese Cruiser Bikes
Several years ago, Japanese giants realized the sales potential of cruisers in the West. Then, they started trying to replicate the American cruiser formula by adding their own twists. Kawasaki, Honda, Suzuki, and Yamaha have all dabbled in the space with some spicy creations. They all eventually gave up to focus on their strengths, but it left us with some interesting used machines worth turning heads for.
Kawasaki whipped up the VN2000 a while ago. It followed the American recipe: oodles of chrome, larger-than-life road presence, and a massive V-twin engine. Team Green nailed all three things, but the USP was the engine. This 2,053cc mill remains the largest V-twin to power a cruiser even today. The large fenders, bulbous tank, and thick wheels further helped it be a head-turner for Softail owners of the time.
Suzuki and Yamaha both tried the same approach. But they eventually gave up on creating their own power cruiser niche. Suzuki whipped up the Boulevard M109R, featuring a mighty powerful V-twin engine, superbike-derived cycle parts, and an aggressive design rather than going for a retro look. Whereas, Yamaha went all in and prepped up a new V4 engine, birthing the V-Max. This Team Blue cruiser was so ahead of its time that it still remains the most powerful Yamaha ever and also the most powerful production cruiser. For reference, the current Ducati Diavel V4 RS has around 20 ponies less than the last-gen V-Max.
Finally, there’s Honda, which has had a few cruisers to attack Harley. The VTX1800 is perhaps the most direct attack, thanks to its familiar recipe. It had a large-capacity 1,794cc V-twin engine with 101 horsepower and 117 pound-feet. That output is still higher than some of the new-age Milwaukee-Eight 117 cruisers. Massive proportions and chrome mechanicals sweeten the pot. However, the one that can still make H-D owners look twice is one of Honda’s most exotic creations to date.
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 2004 Honda Rune Makes Harley Owners Look Twice, Even Today
As impressive as all those are, the used Japanese cruiser that makes Harley owners look twice (even thrice, in fact) remains the Honda Rune. This was a properly exotic machine with a 1,832cc six-cylinder heart, trailing bottom front suspension, and a shaft drive. The output was over 120 ponies. All this was back in 2004–over 20 years ago. For reference, Harley’s 2004 Fat Boy at the time had just 67 horsepower.
Contributing to the pizzazz was a stellar design. Oval headlight, massive fenders (the rear one covered the entire wheel), 150-section front tire, and endless chrome all over ensured there was nothing quite like it then. So much so that our buddies at CycleWorld report an instance of a Fat Boy rider chasing down a Rune for miles just to check out the bike. So this is indeed the Japanese cruiser that makes Harley owners look twice.
The Rune is special for several reasons. One of them is that Honda never made a cruiser like this again. And the other is that Honda reportedly lost money on all the Runes it manufactured. No one would want to do that again. Why did it lose money, you ask? Because the bikemaker went overboard in nearly all aspects.
Powered By The Flagship Six-Cylinder Engine
Since the Rune was a passion project, Honda plonked its biggest and baddest engine here. This was a 1,832cc, six-cylinder engine from the Gold Wing that produced 118 horsepower and 121 pound-feet. This is still respectable by today’s standards, considering the most powerful Harley-Davidson Softail–in 2026–produces 114 horsepower and 128 pound-feet. The power reached the wheel via a shaft-driven five-speed transmission.
The Power Cruiser That Feels Fast, Comfortable, And Surprisingly Practical
The power cruiser in context here has a spirited V4 engine with one of the highest horsepower figures and service intervals in the segment
Unique Suspension With MotoGP-Derived Learnings
Things get more exotic in the underpinnings department. The front end has a trailing bottom-link suspension, which is unique for the cruiser segment. In fact, this is still a rarity even in 2026. At the rear, you have a Unit Pro-Link single damper shock—said to be derived from the RC211V. There is an adjustment at the rear but not at the front. This is topped with unique 18/17-inch shiny alloy wheels, where the rear is on full display due to the single-sided swingarm.
Massive Dimensions Help With Road Presence
All those parts make the Rune a large motorcycle. The wheelbase is 68.9 inches, with the rake being 29 degrees. You also have a massive 6.2-gallon fuel tank. Fill that up, add up the weight of all the metal parts, and you’ll get a curb weight of 888 pounds. That is over 100 pounds more than the 2026 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy (694 pounds). The seat height is under 28 inches, meanwhile.
A Used Honda Rune Isn’t Easy On The Pocket
When Honda launched the Rune, it used to sell for a base MSRP of $25,499. Over 20 years later, the Rune surprisingly holds its value even today. Look at Bring A Trailer and Iconic Motorbikes, and you’ll see several examples around the $25,000 mark. However, some low-mileage examples can even fetch between $30,000 to $35,000. That essentially means you’re looking to spend as much (or even more) than a modern-day Harley-Davidson Softail. Whether that makes financial sense or not depends on person to person, but we’re sure you’ll agree there’s still nothing quite like the Rune.
Source: Honda Powersports