Custom bikes are cool, there’s no denying that. They are unique and eye-catching, and that is their biggest appeal. However, a lot happens behind the scenes with custom bikes; you need to have a clear concept, find someone willing to do the work for the right price and then monitor progress. Of course, timelines depend on the availability of parts or people, and this is a recurring problem as parts will need maintenance or replacement if you keep the bike for more than a few years.
Manufacturers have noticed the desire for a custom look and have introduced models that offer the custom bike look. This is a win-win situation because since these are production models, they come with a manufacturer’s warranty, a spare parts pipeline and the reliability that comes with a full-fledged R&D department taking care of the development. If you’re the kind of person who wants all the attention of a custom bike without the headaches, here’s a list of ten factory bikes (mostly cruisers) that look like a custom right out of the box.
To give you the most current and accurate information, the data used to compile this article comes from authoritative sources such as Harley-Davidson Motorcycles, Triumph Motorcycles and Honda Powersports. They are arranged in increasing price to give the list some order.
Royal Enfield Goan Classic 350
Price: $5,299
Royal Enfield makes some pretty affordable bikes, but what doesn’t seem cheap are the looks. This is especially true of its cruisers; they come with a dose of style that RE’s competition can hardly match. The latest model from the Royal Enfield series proves this; the Goan Classic 350 is a bobber style motorcycle that turns the Classic 350 into a factory custom. The lurid purple paint, whitewall tires, single seat and mini-ape handlebars all give it that factory-spec look.
Engine type | Single cylinder, air cooling, SOHC, 2 valves per cylinder |
Displacement | 349cc |
Maximum power | 20 hp at 6,100 rpm |
Maximum torque | 19.9 LB-FT @ 4,000 rpm |
Transfer | 5 speeds |
Last ride | Chain drive |
Napoleon Bob 500 thing
Price: $6,399
Benda is owned by Keeway. This in turn is owned by the Geely group, a huge company. It’s no wonder then that there are some truly unique little Benda products that boggle the mind. The Napoleon Bob 500 is one of them. This is a 476cc V-twin cruiser, with liquid cooling and an engine design reminiscent of Harley’s Revolution Max. It has the aesthetic of a bobber, but Benda painted it black and gold and added shrouds for the front forks, making them look like girder forks. All this is also offered at a very reasonable price!
Engine type | 60 degree V-twin, liquid cooling, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder |
Displacement | 476cc |
Maximum power | 47 hp at 9,000 rpm |
Maximum torque | 31 LB-FT @ 7,200 rpm |
Transfer | 6 gears, slipper clutch |
Last ride | Belt drive |
Kawasaki Vulcan 900 custom
Price: $9,999
The Vulcan 900 is actually a series of three motorcycles at the moment, but they all share the same drivetrain and chassis. This is a traditional V-twin cruiser, which has been around for a few decades, and hasn’t changed at all in that time. Not that it needs to be: it has disc brakes, a liquid-cooled engine with fuel injection, and is as reliable as anything. If you want the custom bike feel, the Vulcan 900 Custom blacks out everything that would otherwise be chrome, uses alloy wheels and makes the front tire a huge 21-inch. It couples this with drag bars for maximum effect.
Engine type | 55 degree V-twin, liquid cooled, SOHC, 4 valves per cylinder |
Displacement | 903cc |
Maximum power | 50 hp at 5,700 rpm |
Maximum torque | 58.2 LB-FT @ 3,500 rpm |
Transfer | 5 speeds |
Last ride | Belt drive |
Honda Fury
Price: $11,499
The Fury can be a very polarizing product, but what you can’t deny is that it’s the one product that most resembles a custom bike when you look at everything on sale today. It’s got it all: the stepped-out front fork, the small, sloping teardrop tank, the single seat and the hidden rear monoshock that makes it look like a hardtail. This powertrain is very similar to that of the Shadow, so you know it will be as reliable as you expect from a Honda.
Engine type | 52 degree V-twin, liquid cooled, SOHC, 3 valves per cylinder |
Displacement | 1,312 cc |
Maximum power | 57 hp at 4,250 rpm |
Maximum torque | 79 LB-FT @ 2250 rpm |
Transfer | 5 speeds |
Last ride | Axle drive |
Indian 101 Scout
Price: $13,499
India’s fastest Scout is a performance cruiser, but it also carries a lot of responsibility as it is nicknamed the fastest Scout in history. As such, the 101 Scout’s design reflects vintage Scout elements and adds modern touches, just as a neo-retro custom bike would want. You get details like gold front forks, chopped fenders, handlebar end mirrors and fantastic tank graphics. What isn’t custom is the hardware: fully adjustable dual rear shocks, Brembo front brakes with radial calipers, and connected features that show you traffic and weather alerts and help you locate the 101 Scout.
Engine type | ‘SpeedPlus 1250’ 60 degree V-twin, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder |
Displacement | 1,250 cc |
Maximum power | 111 hp at 7,250 rpm |
Maximum torque | 82 LB-FT @ 6,300 rpm |
Transfer | 6 gears, assist and slip clutch |
Last ride | Belt drive |
Triumph Bonneville Bobber
Price: $14,795
The Bonneville Bobber gets full marks for its cool factor; it has a look that combines the best retro design elements with modern quality. It’s a Bonneville where all the unnecessary parts have been cut off, and the result is a glorious recreation of the kind of motorcycle that achieved Hollywood fame in the hands of Steve McQueen. For even more visual brownie points, wait until Triumph releases one of its specials/limited editions, like the Bobber TFC pictured above. Combined with the large displacement 270 degree parallel twin engine, this is an experience unlike any other factory application.
Engine type | 270 degree parallel twin, liquid cooled, SOHC, 4 valves per cylinder |
Displacement | 1,198 cc |
Maximum power | 76.9 hp at 6,100 rpm |
Maximum torque | 78.2 LB-FT @ 4,000 rpm |
Transfer | 6 speeds |
Last ride | Chain drive |
BMW R18 Roctane
Price: $18,995
The R 18 range has a number of variants, and the R 18 Roctane is a dark-themed version of the R 18 B. Think of it as a competitor to the Harley-Davidson Road King Special and you won’t be far wrong. It has the same mechanics as the rest of the R 18 range; the enormous air/oil-cooled boxer-twin of 1,802 cc, a six-speed gearbox that is separate from the engine and features such as the visible shaft drive and ABS.
Engine type | Horizontally opposed boxer twin, air/oil cooling, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder |
Displacement | 1,802 cc |
Maximum power | 91 hp at 4,750 rpm |
Maximum torque | 120 LB-FT @ 3,000 rpm |
Transfer | 6-speed manual transmission |
Last ride | Cardanic drive with visible axis |
Harley-Davidson outbreak
Price: $23,099
The Breakout is a contemporary, premium version of a dragster-style bike like the Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom. Like the Japanese bike, it also has a large 21-inch alloy rim at the front with stepped out front forks. Unlike the Kawasaki, it is a recent model and thus has a very modern set of features, such as the Milwaukee Eight 117 Custom engine that produces 104 horsepower and 126 pound-feet of torque. It also has a six-axis IMU, so there are cornering functions for the ABS, traction control and drag torque control. Tire pressure monitoring is also part of the equipment.
Engine type | ‘Milwaukee Eight 117 Custom’ 45 degree V-twin, pushrod operated OHV, 4 valves per cylinder, air-cooled cylinders/water-cooled heads |
Displacement | 1,917 cc |
Maximum power | 104 hp at 4,800 rpm |
Maximum torque | 126 LB-FT @ 3,000 rpm |
Transfer | 6-speed manual transmission |
Last ride | Belt drive |
Verge TS Pro California Edition
Price: $30,900
The Verge TS series motorcycles look like they came straight out of science fiction, thanks to the hubless rim-mounted motor for the rear wheel. Not only does this cause bystanders to do a double take, it also eliminates powertrain losses. That means you get the full 137 horsepower and 737 pound-feet right at the rear wheel. Verge has also deployed AI for the TS and given it the ability to receive updates over the air. The TS Pro California Edition is a limited edition run with a bright color scheme, different seat fabrics and premium Ohlins suspension for just $1,000 over the standard TS Pro.
Engine type | Hubless air-cooled electric rim motor |
Maximum power | 137 hp |
Maximum torque | 737.6 LB-FT |
Range | 217 miles |
Charging time | 35 minutes |
Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide RR
Price: $110,000
Okay, so the CVO Road Glide RR costs custom bike money. But to be fair, you’re basically getting what is essentially a custom motorcycle. How else do you explain a motorcycle with a Screamin’ Eagle 131 engine, the largest V-twin ever fitted to a production motorcycle in history? And this is a Harley-Davidson cruiser with a chain driving the rear wheel – a throwback to its racing roots. This also adds to its commitment to losing weight, with carbon fiber bodywork and fairing, a billet aluminum clutch basket and a titanium Akrapovic exhaust.
Engine type | ‘Screamin’ Eagle 131′ 45 degree V-twin, air-cooled cylinders/liquid-cooled heads, pushrod OHV, 4 valves per cylinder |
Displacement | 2,147 cc |
Maximum power | 150 hp at 5,750 rpm |
Maximum torque | 150 LB-FT @ 4,750 rpm |
Transfer | Screamin’ Eagle Racing King 6 with 6 gears |
Last ride | Chain drive |
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