10 Japanese Cruisers That Can Do It All

Cruiser bikes are defined by its low-slung stance and beefy V-twin engines mostly cut out for the long open roads. However, thanks to metric cruisers, the horizon has widened, with many going beyond the norm of big-twin engines and outrageous curb weights to be peppy, sporty, and urban-friendly. The new wave of do-it-all cruiser bikes is getting all the attention, and Japanese automakers have some incredible offerings to add to its popularity. From affordable sub-$7,000 Kawasaki cruiser bikes powered by a popular parallel-twin sports bike engine, to a beastly big-twin Suzuki that, despite being nearly 20 years old, remains the most powerful cruiser bike under $20,000, this list is sure to make you grin.

Suzuki Boulevard M109R

Price: $15,799

Suzuki

This is one of those motorcycles that refuses to go out of fashion, not just with its muscular styling, but also its performance. The Suzuki M109R Boulevard might be old (being literally unchanged since 2006), but it was designed to be well ahead of its time, so that even today, it makes the likes of the Harley-Davidson Sportster S sweat. The M109R is powered by a chunky 1,783 cc V-twin that produces an impressive 128 horsepower and 118 pound-feet of torque. That makes it the most powerful cruiser bike under $20,000. Numerous shared underpinnings and engine components with the race-bred Gixxer sports bikes make matters sweeter.

Specs

Honda Rebel 1100 DCT

Price: $10,299

Honda

This cruiser bike ticks all the boxes of being a versatile motorcycle. The Rebel 1100 is powered by a tractable 1,083 cc parallel-twin engine, which also powers the likes of the Africa Twin ADV, the NT1100 touring bike, and even a forbidden café racer. The highlighting feature is its standard six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, which adds a whole new level of breezy rideability to the mix. Despite packing a liter-class engine, the Rebel 1100 is compact enough to be an urban runabout. Its low seat height of 27.5 inches and curb weight of 509 pounds add to that.

Specs

Kawasaki Vulcan 900

Price: $9,399

Kawasaki

The Kawasaki Vulcan 900 has beautifully captured the essence of an American V-twin. But it adds an essential sprinkle of Japanese refinement and reliability to the mix. Its old-school design with lots of curves, chrome, and whitewall tires gives it a timeless appeal. It is powered by what appears to be a chunky air-cooled mill, but is actually a 903 cc liquid-cooled V-twin that produces 47 horsepower and 58.2 pound-feet of torque. While the numbers are humble, this Kawa produces most of the torque at the low- and mid- RPMs, making it a peppy urban runabout and a cozy highway companion.

Specs

Suzuki Boulevard C50

Price: $9,299

Suzuki

The Suzuki Boulevard C50 is one of the oldest running nameplates today, as this classic-vibing cruiser bike was introduced in 2001. It has been virtually unchanged for over 24 years, but it has aged like fine wine, thanks to its Americanized approach with a shiny V-twin and lots of old-school styling elements. This Suzuki’s low-slung design also makes it a very accessible package with a seat height of 27.6 inches.

Power comes from an 805 cc liquid-cooled V-twin that produces 53 horsepower and 52 pound-feet of torque. In its barebones form, the C50 is a stylish urban motorcycle. Bundle in the available accessories, and this Suzuki can transform into a cozy mile-muncher with ease.

Specs

Yamaha Bolt R-Spec

Price: $8,999

Yamaha

This is criminally underappreciated, being an affordable replacement for a Harley-Davidson. The design is heavily inspired by the iconic last-gen Harley 883 Sportster, with features like a sleek teardrop fuel tank, minimal body work, a solo seat, and bobber styling.

With a compact form factor, courtesy of 61.8 inches of wheelbase, and an accessible seat height of 27.2 inches, this Yamaha cruiser bike has the makings of being a comfortable urban runabout. Its chunky 60-degree 942 cc V-twin engine is air-cooled and produces 65 horsepower and 59.3 pound-feet of torque. All of this for under $9,000 is a package that ticks all the right boxes.

Specs

Honda Shadow Phantom

Price: $8,699

Honda

This is yet another Japanese cruiser bike that gives off strong Harley vibes. The Honda Shadow Phantom is designed to look like a custom cruiser with bobber-inspired styling that includes chopped front and rear fenders and blacked-out components all around. Despite being a 10-year-old design, this Honda still stands out of the pack with its dual-tone paint job option and low-slung classic packaging. Power comes from a tractable 745 cc V-twin that produces nearly 45 horsepower and 48 pound-feet of torque, cementing its credibility as a peppy urban runabout. Its low seat height of 25.6 inches and a curb weight of 553 pounds add to its nimble appeal.

Specs

Honda Shadow Aero

Price: $7,949

Honda

This is the old-school twin to the Shadow Phantom mentioned above. The Shadow Aero shares the same engine and chassis. Even the seat height and wheelbase are the same. However, it is more affordable than the custom-styled twin, primarily due to its classic styling. The only caveat here is a slight increase in curb weight from 553 pounds to 560 pounds. This doesn’t hamper its urban riding and mile-munching capabilities, though. Also, this is the most accessible Honda cruiser bike for couples, with a plush seating layout for both the rider and pillion.

Specs

Kawasaki Vulcan S

Price: $7,399

Kawasaki

The Kawasaki Vulcan S excels in versatility, making it the best option in the middleweight cruiser bike category. This is mainly due to its peppy parallel-twin engine, which, along with the main frame, is also shared with a naked bike and a sports bike. Despite being quite a dated cruiser bike, having been in production since 2015, the Vulcan S still soldier on, thanks to its fusion of performance, accessibility, comfort, and style. It is powered by a 180-degree parallel-twin engine that produces 61 horsepower and 46.3 pound-feet of torque. Its perimeter frame is also an out-of-the-box choice that adds nimbleness and fun to the package.

Specs

Honda Rebel 500

Price: $6,499

Honda

This is the baby brother of the Honda Rebel 1100 mentioned earlier. While it might not pack the liter-class performance or the DCT gearbox like its big brother, the Rebel 500 has its unique set of perks that not just make it a peppy urban and cozy highway bike, but also a solid beginner motorcycle. It is powered by a bulletproof 471 cc parallel-twin engine that produces nearly 47 horsepower and 43.3 pound-feet of torque.

These are average numbers but are elevated by the low curb weight of just 414 pounds, giving it a commendable power-to-weight ratio. All this while, it looks cool and flaunts underpinnings that are designed to touch both bases (sportiness and comfort). All of this for under $6,500 is commendable.

Specs

Kawasaki Eliminator

Price: $6,499

Kawasaki

This is the most affordable and smallest cruiser bike from Kawasaki. However, don’t let its size fool you, as the Eliminator is a feisty one, powered by a 451 cc parallel-twin screamer, a modified version of the 399 cc mill found in the Kawasaki Ninja 400. This engine has been tuned to cater to the low-slung cruiser character of the Eliminator, producing 31.7 pound-feet at just 7,500 RPM. Couple this peppy mill with this cruiser bike’s low seat height of 28.9 inches and an impressively low curb weight of 388.1 pounds, and we have an all-rounder that traces tight urban roads with the same vigor as gliding through long stretches of open highways.

Specs