Cruiser Motorcycle Buyer’s Guide

Motorcycle Cruiser’s Buyer’s Guide is the only way to search for your new cruiser motorcycle. In our Buyer’s Guide, you can find the latest cruisers and standard motorcycles, as well as find our features on one-off custom cruiser motorcycle builds.

We test and review the best cruiser motorcycles, whether they be American or metric. Our editors dive deep into the brands and models, so that you have the most pertinent information in your cruiser motorcycle purchase.

Cruiser motorcycles are the original custom motorcycle platform. Anyone with a wrench, a welder, and a standard-style motorcycle found a way to rake the front, add ape hangers, and a sissy bar. The movie Easy Rider propelled this style of bike, and gave Willie G., the styling director at Harley-Davidson, the idea to create a more custom-styled production cruiser motorcycle. The FX 1200 Super Glide was born and its impact on the history of cruiser motorcycles is still felt today.

If you are looking for your new cruiser motorcycle, you’ve run across Harley-Davidson and its pedigree of large V-twin cruisers. Another V-twin giant, Indian Motorcycle has been producing heritage-inspired cruisers to compete with its American counterparts. Hailing from Europe is Ducati with its Diavel and XDiavel, its sporty power cruisers. Another Italian motorcycle company, Moto Guzzi fills out its cruiser segment with the MGX-21, Audace, and Eldorado, as well as the V7 and V9 lines of standards with a little more custom flair.

KTM, and its race-focused brand identity, has not developed a cruiser, but its naked Duke series falls underneath the standard motorcycle umbrella. The same goes with its daughter company Husqvarna and its Vitpilen and Svartpilen models. BMW produces its K1600B bagger and R nineT standard motorcycle line. The Britbike maker Triumph, has its heritage-classic Bonneville lineup and its power cruiser, the Rocket 3. Royal Enfield, an Indian motorcycle manufacturer, has a lineup of retro standard motorcycles including the popular Bullet 500 and Continental GT 650 twins and a handful of 500 singles.

To compete with the American cruiser manufacturers, the Japanese have created memorable bikes in the segment. Honda has its popular touring cruiser, the Gold Wing, as well as the Shadow and beginner-friendly Rebel line among others. Kawasaki has its Vulcan line of cruisers, and its Z lineup along with the classic W-series are naked offerings with a little green flair. The Boulevard lineup from Suzuki continues through 2019 and 2018 year models, with touring and cruiser options. Yamaha’s line of cruisers include the touring Star series, the Bolt cruiser, the XSR standard bike, and the VMAX power cruiser.