As good as these cruisers are, most of us would be happy with a cruiser that is comfortable, powerful and stylish. And if you plan to keep the cruiser for a long time, it should also be cheap to maintain and reliable for thousands of miles. The latter makes the choice difficult; not many meet these requirements while packing on a lot of muscle. But there is one Japanese cruiser that gets the formula right, while being on the cheaper end of the spectrum.
A good cruiser must have sufficient power and reliability
Cruisers, as the name suggests, are for cruising, not performance. That doesn’t mean you have to settle for something that barely moves when you twist the accelerator. Performance is still important when cruising, just not in the way you might expect. A good cruiser should have a sense of urgency when you hit the gas, whether you’re having fun on the road, cruising confidently down the highway, or when you need a quick boost of speed for overtaking.
There is a good chance that you will also travel long distances with the cruiser. That’s where another crucial factor comes into play: reliability. You don’t want a cruiser that keeps breaking down or, worse, the fear of breaking down is constantly in the back of your mind. That definitely takes the fun out of cruising on a sunny Sunday. Other key things that make a good cruiser are of course comfort, a great V-twin soundtrack and style. However, this balance is usually difficult to find.
Indian makes some seriously muscular mid-size cruisers
Of all the mid-size cruisers on sale today, Indian seems to have got the balance between power, heritage and style just right. The Indian Scout series, powered by the SpeedPlus 1250, produces up to 105 horsepower, and the more vintage-inspired Chief series produces up to 120 pound-feet of torque from the Thunderstroke V-twin. And no matter how reliable Indian motorcycles have become today, they still can’t match the dependable reliability offered by Japanese manufacturers.
Honda is the reliability benchmark
An example of this is Honda, which is known as the benchmark for reliability. Honda likes to take a conservative, sensible approach with its motorcycles, and its motorcycles tend to last a very long time with routine maintenance. Unfortunately, Honda doesn’t make a high-performance V-twin cruiser. The only V-twin cruisers in the lineup, Shadow Phantom and Fury, produce just 44.9 hp and 57 hp, respectively. See what we mean when we say power and reliability are rare? But there is also one cruiser that manages to find that balance well.
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The Suzuki Boulevard M109R delivers both power and reliability for under $20,000
The Suzuki Boulevard M109R is the brand’s flagship cruiser and has been in production since 2006. When new, the bike made waves in the motorcycle world with its bold looks, big-twin performance and affordable price tag. Nowadays the bicycle has disappeared from the radar for most motorcyclists. It is an old cruiser that has not been updated in years. Although there may be a reason for that: why fix what isn’t broken?
The Suzuki Boulevard M109R is still one of the most powerful cruisers you can buy in its price range. It uses a big-twin engine that produces enormous torque at low speeds. Plus, its age-old underpinnings have been tried and tested, and Suzuki has solved most of the common problems early owners encountered with it. Even after twenty years, the Boulevard M109R is still present on the road to attract attention. It may not reek of American cruiser heritage, but it can certainly outpace its American rivals.
The Boulevard M109R starts just under $16,000
The best part of the Boulevard, however, is the price tag. It offers its massive road presence and performance at a price of just $15,799, making it one of the cheapest ways to get big power in the cruiser segment. The closest competitor in terms of performance is the Harley-Davidson Sportster S, which produces 7 fewer ponies and costs slightly more. The Sportster S also cannot compete with the Suzuki cruiser in terms of stress-free ownership.
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Powerful Big Twin performance without compromising reliability
The Boulevard M109R has a massive 1,783cc 54-degree liquid-cooled V-twin engine with 128 horsepower and 118 pound-feet of torque. People on ownership portals say the bike delivers massive torque from idle to redline. This engine is mated to a five-speed constant ratio gearbox with a high fifth gear ratio for easy highway cruising.
The engine may be old, but it is still special. It features massive 4.4-inch diameter forged aluminum alloy pistons, which are among the largest found in production passenger cars and motorcycles. The large cylinders are lined with Suzuki’s proven Suzuki Composite Electrochemical Material (SCEM) for better heat transfer and weight management. It exhales through a pair of large diameter mufflers that also sound quite throaty.
Big-twin reliability with little stress
The V-twin engine has been proving itself here since 2006 and has made a name for itself as one of the most reliable V-twin motorcycles you can buy today. The advantage here is the huge pistons, simplicity and low-stress design, with a compression ratio of only 10.5:1, which contributes to the engine’s reliability. Then there’s the shaft drive, which reduces the hassle of cleaning the chain and the lack of electronics, so fewer things break. Combine everything and you have a very reliable V-twin cruiser that will last you for years to come with only routine maintenance.
However, it is not completely without problems
The Boulevard M109R is a reliable motorcycle, but it still has its quirks. For example, earlier models had problems with a hard clutch and gear drop, but that has been resolved in newer models. Instead, owners claim that owners of the new model should beware of defective driveshafts. It is not a common problem and is largely attributed to hard acceleration and skipping oil changes. Another problem that is unavoidable on the bike is that the huge rear tire does not last as long as your wallet would like.
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Old-fashioned simplicity wrapped in a bold design
The design of the Boulevard flagship is undeniably unique and daring. From the unique headlight nacelle to the fat rear tire, the motorcycle has a floating, flying and massive appearance on the road. And in this variant it features a sleek Glass Sparkle Black paint with contrasting chrome, which Suzuki says is a modern take on a classic theme. Nevertheless, the Boulevard M109R is a muscular bike that will satisfy anyone who wants to make a statement on the road.
Simple explanations that get the job done
This cool design hides an old-fashioned base that promises to get the job done. It features a high-strength steel double cradle frame designed to handle the power while providing an agile ride. It sits on a beefy 46mm USD fork up front and a monoshock at the rear. It also features Gixxer-style radial brake calipers on two fully floating discs up front to bring the beefy bike to a stop. Oh, it gets one of the widest rear tires you’ll find on a production bike, at 240mm wide.
Comfort is also a priority
The large dimensions and simple underpinnings of the bicycle should give the bicycle the ultimate cruiser comfort. Suzuki says the seats are well cushioned and designed for riders of different sizes. The flat-curved drag-style handlebars sit on pull-back risers, while the forward-positioned pegs should make the ride even more relaxing.
Not for people looking for the latest technology
Where you’ll see the Boulevard M109R’s age is in its tech package, or lack thereof. It starts with integrated LED indicators and ends with an analog cluster with a digital tachometer. Fuel injection is there, if that counts. Suzuki also offers some optional extras, such as saddlebags, protective mouthguards and a gel saddle. If you’re looking for features, look elsewhere. The Boulevard M109R is for those who value street presence, high dual power and reliability.
Source: Suzuki
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