The cruiser with Japanese reliability and classic American presence

Cruisers are a very American thing. The flat, straight roads that stretch to the horizon are characteristic of this great country and are not always present in other countries. That’s probably why the best-known cruiser manufacturers are American brands – especially a certain brand from Milwaukee. However, The Motor Company hasn’t always had the best reputation for reliability, although it has regained much of that reputation in recent years.

On the other hand, reliability is the domain of Japanese brands. Above all, they strive for reliability, which has led to some interesting choices over the years. As a result, there have been a number of Japanese cruisers in recent decades, some of which have gone their own way. Among these there is one cruiser that sits extremely well in the middle between Japan and America.

The Suzuki Boulevard M109R has Japanese reliability and a classic American look

There was a time in the 1990s and 2000s when everyone wanted bigger and bigger cruisers, to the point where they were comically large and almost unusable on a day-to-day basis, like a Mr. Olympia winner. The Boulevard M109R was Suzuki’s contribution to the cruiser ‘Super Size Me’ movement, featuring the widest production rear tire on a motorcycle and some of the largest pistons known to cars when it was launched in 2006. It hasn’t changed at all in the intervening years, proving its reliability while giving the world a somber styling that’s one of a kind. The Boulevard manages to merge the best of Japanese and American bits into one package.

Priced like a Japanese product, powered like an American product

The price of the Boulevard M109R is strange, because it can be viewed from two opposite directions. It’s the most powerful cruiser available today for under $20,000, despite the fact that stalwart brands like the Low Rider S, Sportster S and Sport Chief are now in that price range. It feels like it’s priced like a Japanese product at $15,799. At the same time, the absence of modern safety features like ABS and traction control can make it seem a bit overpriced, when a product like the Sportster S has a six-axis IMU and by-wire throttle for essentially the same price.

Most cruiser power under $20,000

This is Suzuki’s biggest two-wheeler bike, and it’s worth all the praise it gets. The big Boulevard has a 54-degree V-twin with liquid cooling (despite the finned cylinders) and a DOHC head. It has a displacement of 1,786 cc, has a short stroke and a compression ratio of 10.5:1. The result is 123 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 118 pound-feet at 3,200 rpm. There is a big difference in speed between the power and torque peaks, indicating an engine that is truly flexible, with a wide torque band. A wide-ratio five-speed gearbox and end-shaft drive complete the drivetrain.

The conventional chassis is heavy, but also has sports bike parts

The Boulevard M109R has a conventional double cradle steel frame and the suspension is the opposite of what you’d expect from a cruiser. The front features 46mm inverted cartridge forks and a single progressive-link shock hidden under the seat for the rear. Suspension travel is 5.1 inches front and 4.7 inches rear. Further on, the front brakes are derived from an old GSX-R1000. Twin 310mm discs with four-piston radial fixed calipers were unheard of on a cruiser 20 years ago. Things are more conventional at the rear, with a 274mm disc and two-piston floating caliper.

This is a big old Boulevard Bruiser

The Boulevard M109R is a full-size cruiser and measures 95.5 inches long with a 67.3-inch wheelbase. The seat height is 27.8 inches, which is commendable considering this is a tall bike thanks to the DOHC head and the rear shock is under the seat. Finally, this is a heavy bike weighing in at 764 pounds wet.

Old School bike, Old School features

The Boulevard M109R is a twenty year old bike, and nothing has changed in the twenty years it has been on sale. It has a two-piece instrument cluster, with a handlebar-mounted digital tachometer that also displays the gear and warning lights. The speedometer is mounted on the tank and has an analog speedometer, digital readouts for fuel level, odometer, trip meters and a clock. As for aids, there’s no electronic throttle, assist or slipper clutch. This is a simple cable clutch and throttle motorcycle, so you better know what you’re doing with it!

Suzuki Boulevard M109R Competition

There are quite a few cruisers that could be considered rivals to the Boulevard M109R, including the BMW R 18 ($15,395), Indian Sport Chief ($19,999), Harley-Davidson Low Rider S ($19,999), and Harley-Davidson Sportster S ($15,999). These are all proven cruisers when it comes to reliability, and three of them are American, so their American presence is out of the question. It’s also quite tempting to pit the Boulevard against the Sportster S, but ultimately they are different types of power cruisers.

Harley’s price cuts in its cruise range have made the products more attractive than ever before. The Street Bob is $800 cheaper than the Boulevard. It doesn’t have the same power, but it does have slightly more torque at significantly lower speeds, thanks to the air-cooled engine with a larger displacement. Oh, and it weighs a whopping 118 pounds lighter than the Suzuki. Add to that the belt drive versus shaft drive with transverse engines for both, and the drivetrain losses due to these layout choices mean it should keep up with the Suzuki in the real world while being just as reliable. And there is much more room for customization and/or upgrades!

Suzuki Boulevard M109R vs. Harley-Davidson Street Bob

Source: Suzuki bicycles