10 small cruiser bikes to jump-start your 2025 riding goals
The most powerful beginner-friendly cruiser bike on this list produces over 90 horsepower, but is still very approachable.
Indian Scout Sixty Bobber
Price: $9,999
This is currently the most affordable American cruiser bike of 2025, along with the Harley-Davidson Nightster. However, Indian gets bonus points for keeping the old-world charm alive with the design language of the Scout Sixty Bobber. It’s muscular, low-slung and looks fantastic in the all-black theme. Despite the minimal bobber design, the Scout Sixty looks luxurious, especially thanks to the use of high-quality hardware and materials.
Opting for the Limited trim unlocks a range of cool tech features, including cruise control, traction control, driving modes and a USB charger. This Indian is powered by a punchy, liquid-cooled V-Twin that produces 85 horsepower and 65 pound-feet of torque.
Honda CBR650R E-clutch
Price: $9,899
For under $10,000, the Honda CBR650R is a well-rounded package. The design is sharp and the equipment list is solid, with top-of-the-range Showa suspension, radial-mount front brakes and a range of supporting technologies to maintain its premium appeal. This Honda sportbike is powered by a four-cylinder engine that produces a healthy 94 horsepower and 46.4 pound-feet of torque.
The most notable feature here, however, is an electronic clutch system that comes as standard. This allows this sharp sports bike to be ridden in tight turns without engaging the clutch lever. This means there is no stalling, reducing rider fatigue and allowing clutch-less clutch-free grabbing even from a standstill.
Triumph Tiger Sport 660
Price: $9,695
Despite currently being the most affordable Tiger, Triumph has left no stone unturned to uphold the premium appeal of this middleweight sports tourer. The design is sleek and sharp, and the fit and finish looks to be of the highest standard, as is the case with any Triumph motorcycle. The do-it-all appeal is complemented by a healthy array of technology features.
Notable features include cruise control, shift assistance, cornering ABS, traction control, a TFT screen and three riding modes (Sport, Road and Rain). This city-friendly tourer is powered by a 660 cc inline three engine that produces 81 hp and 47 Nm of torque.
10 cheap cruiser motorcycles that punch above their weight
We pick 10 cruisers that are affordable yet offer performance and features that belie their pricing
KawasakiZ650RS
Price: $8,899
This is a timeless neo-retro sports bike that combines Kawasaki’s proven reliability and performance with a charming design and attractive features. The Z650RS is powered by a proven 649cc parallel-twin engine, known for its strong midrange. It produces 67 horsepower and 48.5 pound-feet of torque.
The old-school, vibrating design has a distinctive premium look, with a minimal yet sleek aesthetic and tastefully integrated ergonomic features. Notable features include traction control with three modes, an assist and slipper clutch and a beautiful two-tone paint of gold and black.
CFMoto 675SS
Price: $7,999
This is a wild sports bike that shows off China’s insane potential in creating a hardcore, track-oriented middleweight sports bike. We will go to call the CFMoto 675SS the spiritual successor to the iconic Triumph Daytona 675R. This sports bike has a sleek and concise design, with a neatly tucked underbelly exhaust, a minimalist rear section and a muscular fuel tank.
Powering this beast is a 675cc inline-3 that produces 95 horsepower and 51.6 pound-feet of torque. The most impressive aspect here, however, is the feature and technology suite, which includes a 5-inch color TFT display with RideSync and Bluetooth connectivity, a tire pressure monitoring system, a USB Type-C port, dual-channel ABS, adjustable traction control and adjustable KYB suspension at both ends.
Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 Celestial
Price: $7,899
The Super Meteor 650 is one of the most premium motorcycles made by Royal Enfield. The Celestial version makes this beginner-friendly yet soft cruiser bike ideal for touring. In fact, the Celestial Super Meteor 650 is a game-changer for couples who love to ride.
This no-nonsense bike is powered by the popular 648cc parallel-twin engine, which produces 47 horsepower and 38.6 pound-feet of torque. On the technological front, things are quite simple. It gets a side-mounted digital-analog instrument cluster Tripper pod which displays turn-by-turn navigation and syncs with a smartphone via Bluetooth and the official Royal Enfield application.
Aprilia RS457
Price: $6,899
This is the latest and perhaps most premium addition to the entry-level heated sports bike segment. It’s such a well put together package that the KTM RC 390 next to it looks boring. The premium look is further enhanced by a host of cool visual elements, including paint jobs inspired by Aprilia MotoGP race bikes.
The Technology Package enhances the luxurious appearance with features such as a color TFT screen, driving modes and traction control, to name a few. The most affordable Aprilia sports bike is powered by a 457cc parallel-twin engine that produces 47 horsepower and 32 pound-feet of torque.
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Napoleon Bob 500 thing
Price: $6,399
This is one of the coolest motorcycles under $6,500. As a new player, the Benda Napoleon Bob 500 has a steep uphill battle. However, there is one aspect that often goes unnoticed: the styling and build quality.
From the looks of it, despite some wild, over-the-top design elements, including a floating solo seat, chunky flat fork covers, stunning gold paint options and a unique “Flying Wing” handlebar, the Bob 500 seems to maintain its top quality and premium appeal. This certified headturner is powered by a punchy V-twin that produces 47 horsepower and 31 pound-feet of torque.
Husqvarna Svartpilen 401
Price: $5,899
This is the Swedish twin brother of the hooliganistic KTM 390 Duke. Unlike the loud KTM, however, this Husqy is all about subtlety, which also helps it deliver a gentle appeal. It has a unique and futuristic café racer design, but without clip-on handlebars.
The Swedish minimalist approach suits the Svarpilen 401 well, with cool and high-quality design components including a tank plate, radiator shrouds, pillion grab handle, mudguards, fork covers and even a tinted windscreen. Performance is identical to the KTM, with a 398.6cc single-cylinder engine producing 44.5 horsepower and nearly 29 pound-feet of torque.
CFMoto 450CL-C
Price: $5,799
At under $6,000, the CFMoto 450CL-C is a bargain, offering not only its spirited performance but also an extensive feature list and a soft appeal. Contrary to how we often perceive Chinese motorcycles, this beginner-friendly cruiser has a high level of fit and finish.
The design seamlessly combines vintage elements with modern, functional components. The droplet-inspired tank is sleek and has a custom look when painted in the only two-tone color option. The premium appeal is complemented by cool technological features including a 3.6-inch TFT screen, LED lighting and a Gates carbon final drive.
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