The answer to ‘what makes a good cruiser?’ depends on who you ask. Someone who enjoys puttering around in the city would be more than satisfied with a Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650, whereas others looking for all-out performance will not be satisfied with anything but the Ducati Diavel V4 RS. In the middle of this spectrum sit other niches, like light-touring cruiser motorcycles, heritage-inspired ones, or factory customs.
As good as these cruisers are, most of us would be happy with a cruiser that is comfortable, powerful, and stylish. And if you plan to keep the cruiser for a long time, it must also be cheap to maintain and reliable for thousands of miles. That last bit makes the choice difficult; there aren’t many that fit this bill while packing a lot of muscle. But there’s one Japanese cruiser that gets the formula right while being on the cheaper end of the spectrum.
A Good Cruiser Should Come With Plenty Of Punch And Reliability
Cruisers, as the name suggests, are meant for cruising, not performance. That doesn’t mean you should settle for something that barely moves when you twist the throttle. Performance still matters when cruising, just not in the way you’d expect. A good cruiser should have some sense of urgency to it under throttle, whether you’re out having fun on the road, confidently cruising on the highway, or when you need a quick burst of speed for overtaking.
Chances are, you will be riding the cruiser long distances, too. That’s where another crucial factor comes in: reliability. You don’t want a cruiser that keeps breaking down or, worse, the fear of breaking down is constantly on the back of your mind. That definitely takes away from the joy of cruising along on a sunny Sunday. Of course, other important things that make a good cruiser are comfort, a great V-twin soundtrack, and style. This balance is typically hard to find, though.
Indian Makes Some Seriously Muscular Mid-Size Cruisers
Of all the mid-size cruisers currently on sale, Indian seems to have gotten the balance between power, heritage, and style just right. The Indian Scout lineup, powered by the SpeedPlus 1250, makes up to 105 horsepower, and the more vintage-inspired Chief lineup produces up to 120 pound-feet of torque from the Thunderstroke V-twin. And as reliable as Indian motorcycles have come to be today, they still can’t match the bulletproof reliability that Japanese manufacturers offer.
Honda Is The Reliability Benchmark
Case in point, Honda, which is known as the benchmark for reliability. Honda likes to take a conservative, sensible approach with their motorcycles, and its bikes tend to last very long with routine maintenance. Unfortunately, Honda does not make a powerful V-twin cruiser. The only V-twin cruisers in the lineup, Shadow Phantom and Fury, only produce a plebian 44.9 horsepower and 57 horsepower, respectively. See what we mean when we say power and reliability are rare? But there’s one cruiser that gets that balance right, too.
10 Cruisers That Will Run Forever With Basic Care
These bikes will give the Energizer Bunny a run for its money – and all they need is basic preventive maintenance done on time.
The Suzuki Boulevard M109R Delivers Both Muscle And Reliability For Under $20k
The Suzuki Boulevard M109R is the brand’s flagship cruiser, and it has been in production since 2006. Back when it was new, the bike made waves in the motorcycling world with its bold looks, big-twin performance, and affordable price tag. Today, the bike has gone off the radar for most bikers. It’s an old cruiser that hasn’t been updated in years. Although there might be a reason for that: why fix what isn’t broken?
The Suzuki Boulevard M109R is still one of the most powerful cruisers you can buy in its price range. It uses a big-twin engine that produces heaps of low-end torque. Plus, its age-old underpinnings have been tried and tested, and Suzuki has fixed most of the common issues early owners faced with it. Even after two decades, the Boulevard M109R still has the road presence to turn heads. It may not reek of American cruiser heritage, but it can definitely outrun its American rivals.
The Boulevard M109R Starts Just Under $16k
The best part of the Boulevard, though, is its price tag. It brings its massive road presence and performance at a price of just $15,799, making it one of the cheapest ways to get big power in the cruiser segment. The closest rival, in terms of performance, is the Harley-Davidson Sportster S, which produces 7 ponies less while costing slightly more. The Sportster S also cannot compete in terms of stress-free ownership with the Suzuki cruiser.
10 Most Overlooked Cruiser Motorcycles That Will Last A Lifetime
Some of the most reliable cruisers on the market remain underrated and overlooked
Punchy Big Twin Performance Without Compromise On Reliability
The Boulevard M109R has a massive 1,783cc 54-degree liquid-cooled V-twin engine with 128 horsepower and 118 pound-feet of torque. People on ownership portals say the bike delivers massive torque all the way from idle to redline. This engine is mated to a wide-ratio constant-mesh five-speed gearbox with a tall fifth gear ratio for easy highway cruising.
The engine might be old, but it’s still special. It features massive 4.4-inch diameter forged aluminum alloy pistons, which are some of the largest you’ll find in production passenger cars and bikes. The large cylinders are lined with Suzuki’s race-proven Suzuki Composite Electrochemical Material (SCEM) for better heat transfer and weight management. It breathes out via a pair of large-diameter mufflers that also sound pretty throaty.
Low-Stress Big-Twin Reliability
The V-twin engine here has been proving itself since 2006, and it has made a name for itself as one of the most reliable V-twin motorcycles you can buy today. Advantage here is the massive pistons, simplicity, and low-stress design, with a compression ratio of just 10.5:1, which adds to the engine’s reliability. Then there’s the shaft drive, which reduces the chain cleaning hassle and lack of electronics, so there are fewer things to break. Combine everything, and you have a very reliable V-twin cruiser that can go for years with just routine maintenance.
It’s Not Completely Free Of Issues, Though
The Boulevard M109R is a reliable motorcycle, but it still has its quirks. For instance, earlier models had issues with a hard clutch and gear dropping, but that’s been sorted in newer models. Instead, owners claim that owners of the new model should watch out for drive shafts failing. It’s not a common issue, and it’s largely attributed to hard acceleration and skipping oil changes. Another issue that’s inevitable on the bike is the massive rear tire not lasting as long as your wallet would like.
Here Are The Most Powerful Cruiser Bikes From All Popular Brands
The most powerful cruiser bike here packs the biggest production engine ever on a motorcycle.
Old-School Simplicity Wrapped In A Bold Design
The flagship Boulevard’s design is unmistakably unique and bold. Right from the unique headlight nacelle to the thick rear tire, the bike has a swooping, flying, and massive road presence. And in this variant, it features a sleek Glass Sparkle Black paint with contrasting chrome, which Suzuki says is a modern take on a classic theme. Nonetheless, the Boulevard M109R is a muscular bike that will satisfy anyone looking to make a statement on the road.
Simple Underpinnings That Get The Job Done
This badass design hides old-school underpinnings that promise to get the job done. It features a high-tensile steel double cradle frame that’s designed to handle the power while delivering agile handling. It sits on a beefy 46 mm USD fork up front and a monoshock at the rear. It also features Gixxer-like radial brake calipers on twin fully floating discs up front, to bring the beefy bike to a stop. Oh, it gets one of the widest rear tires you’ll find on a production bike at 240 mm width.
Comfort Is A Priority, Too
The bike’s large dimensions and simple underpinnings should give the bike quintessential cruiser comfort. Suzuki says the seats are well-cushioned and designed for riders of different sizes. The flat-bend drag-style handlebar sits on pull-back risers, whereas the forward-set pegs should help in making the ride even more relaxing.
Not For Those Looking For The Latest Tech
Where you will see the Boulevard M109R’s age is its tech package, or lack thereof. It starts with integrated LED indicators and ends with an analog cluster with a digital tachometer. Fuel injection is present, if that counts. Apart from that, Suzuki offers some optional extras, like saddlebags, protection bits, and a gel seat. If you’re looking for features, look elsewhere. The Boulevard M109R is for those who care about street presence, big twin power, and reliability.
Source: Suzuki