10 cruiser motorcycles built for riders who plan to keep them forever

For many people, the relaxed cruiser is not only a style, but also a way of life. And that relaxed attitude also means that owners won’t feel the need to upgrade as soon as a newer version comes out. In fact, the mainstream cruiser market typically doesn’t see many changes to the product.

That means there is a market for cruisers that will last for decades. They must be easy to maintain, spare parts must be easily available and/or affordable, and to achieve this they must remain attractive to drive for years to come. Difficult to realize, we know, but such cruisers do exist. Here are 10.

Honda Rebel500

Price: $6,799

The Rebel 500 is a cruiser, but shares its engine with the famously reliable NX500. This has been around long enough that everyone is convinced of its reliability. A bonus is that this engine is hyper-efficient and punchy at the same time. In the Rebel 500, it generates 47 horsepower and 32 pound-feet, and opts for a six-speed gearbox with slipper clutch and chain drive. Features such as an inverted LCD cluster and optional ABS ensure longevity.

Kawasaki Vulcan S

Price: $7,649

The Vulcan S follows the same blueprint as the Rebel 500. There’s a trellis frame that it shares with other bikes in the range, and an engine and gearbox that have been proven over the years. Here the 649 cc comes from the Ninja 650 and produces 61 hp. To complete the package, you get Kawasaki’s ergo-fit technology, which allows you to change the position of the handlebars and footpegs for greater comfort. So you can grow a little in size with the bicycle. Everything else is super basic, so not much can go wrong.

Honda shadow phantom

Price: $8,699

This is a no brainer. The Shadow in its current form has been around for over twenty years. And no, the only changes since then have been cosmetic, with the notable exceptions being the addition of a rear disc brake and ABS last year. Hondas have a reputation for reliability anyway. But combined with its liquid-cooled engine, dual rear shocks and shaft drive, the Shadow is definitely the kind of cruiser that will last forever.

Yamaha Bolt R-Spec

Price: $8,999

If you want something as reliable as the Shadow, but a little more exciting, the Bolt R-Spec is what you need. It’s Yamaha’s tribute to the Evolution-powered Sportsters. So you get the essence of the American bike, infused with Japanese reliability and handling. Not much can go wrong here either, thanks to hardly any electronic items. There’s a belt drive, a rear disc brake and a strange rectangular-within-a-circle LCD instrument cluster.

Honda rebel 1100

Price: $9,699

The Rebel 1100 is a unique selection here in many ways: it is the only Honda cruiser with a 270-degree parallel twin engine and also the only one with the Unicam SOHC head. The Africa Twin-sourced engine delivers an extremely underpowered 87bhp, and there’s the option of a six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox that has stood the test of time. A 5-inch TFT display with Bluetooth and navigation was recently added.

Harley Davidson Street Bob

Price: $14,999

We thought the Street Bob was a great value. Then Harley-Davidson dropped the price by another $1,000. That’s a barely believable price for a real Harley with a down tube frame and a large displacement Milwaukee Eight 117 engine. It does have some modern touches, such as a six-speed gearbox, a six-axis IMU, cruise control, by-wire accelerator pedal and LED lighting. That said, it’s meant to be a starting point for customization, so if you get tired of it, all you have to do is look for some cosmetic and performance upgrades, and (Street) Bob is your uncle!

Suzuki Boulevard M109R

Price: $15,799

Suzuki’s great Boulevard has been around for two decades. It hasn’t changed at all in that time, which means reliability is a given. What remains, however, is the question of whether you’ll ever get bored with it, and the answer is an emphatic no. Because this engine has enough torque to move mountains. It even has the front suspension and brakes of a liter Gixxer. The question isn’t whether you can keep the Boulevard M109R forever, but whether you can throw it away despite its addictive performance.

BMW R 18 Classic

Price: $18,395

The R 18 Classic not only looks old-fashioned, it is also old-fashioned is old fashioned in many ways. The engine and gearbox are separate units and connected by a dry clutch. It has an air and oil-cooled engine, a six-speed gearbox and an exposed driveshaft. This is a high displacement, low speed engine that prioritizes high torque over horsepower. It’s also a very big motorcycle, and its uniqueness will definitely grow on you. The retro windscreen and luggage compartment of the R 18 Classic add timeless design accents.

Harley Davidson Low Rider S

Price: $19,999

The Low Rider is the performance cruiser in Harley’s range, with inverted forks and dual front disc brakes. Additionally, this is the most power the Milwaukee Eight 117 makes and it is sent to the steering wheel via a six-speed gearbox and belt drive. It opts for a simple analogue instrument cluster, disguising the fact that it has Harley’s full safety package, supported by a six-axis IMU. Just like the Street Bob, its modular nature ensures that it can last a very long time.

Triumph Rocket 3 Storm GT

Price: $27,145

It may seem counterintuitive not only that the Rocket 3 is a cruiser with power to rival liter sportbikes, but that it is reliable at that power level. That’s because it has the largest motorcycle engine in the world. So you don’t really have to rev it to get it going, and the mountainous torque will happily push you along in any gear. Performance is undoubtedly the highlight, with quality components such as the fully adjustable Showa suspension and Brembo brakes that wouldn’t look out of place on liter sports bikes, coupled with a full electronics package and an optional quickshifter.

Sources: Honda Powersports, Harley Davidson USA