10 Cruisers That Nail The Balance Between Style And Everyday Usability

Cruiser bikes are low-slung motorcycles that have a distinctive visual appeal when compared to all other bike types. The typical combination of a big-twin and lots of chrome can never go wrong when inducing an old-school appeal. However, today there are cruiser bikes that deviate from the norm of being “old-school” and incorporate a range of custom bike elements.

Even more impressive is the fact that many of these exciting new cruisers are entry-level or compact offerings that also excel in daily rideability. From the most accessible Harley-Davidson Softail with custom bobber styling to the most affordable custom bobber-styled cruiser bike available today from Royal Enfield, this list of cruisers combines style and practicality for daily riding. It tops it all off with affordable price tags.

Harley-Davidson Street Bob

Price: $15,999

Harley-Davidson

This is the most affordable Harley-Davidson Softail today. But the Street Bob is also popular for refining the genre of factory bobber-styled bikes. This is the coolest factory bobber from Harley, which also excels as a capable everyday motorcycle. Despite packing a big 1,923 cc V-twin engine, the Street Bob can nail its urban duties, thanks to a compact and minimal form factor.

Specs

Even with its stretched-out and low-slung stance, the Street Bob has a relatively short wheelbase of 64.2 inches (among cruisers) and a low seat height of just 25.8 inches. This makes it a highly accessible cruiser bike for short riders. While its curb weight of 646 pounds is on the higher side, Harley has tuned the chassis and suspension hardware to ease things out.

Harley-Davidson Sportster S

Price: $15,999

Harley-Davidson

This is a unique Harley-Davidson cruiser bike because the Sportster S leans more towards being a sporty roadster than a cruiser. However, it is still very much considered a cruiser bike, thanks to its stretched-out chassis and a big-twin. The design strongly resembles a custom bobber, but also features elements of a tracker. Despite its minimal and futuristic design appeal, the Sportster S surprises by offering the dimensions and dynamics of a daily driver.

Specs

It is quite compact with a wheelbase of 59.8 inches. Couple this with its low seat height of 28.9 inches and an impressively low curb weight of 502 pounds, and the Sportster S is formulated to be a nimble urban runabout. But its powerful 1,252 cc liquid-cooled V-twin also expands its expertise to the open roads with 121 horsepower and 92 pound-feet of torque.

Indian Scout Sixty Classic

Price: $11,999

Indian

The Indian Scout Sixty lineup is the most affordable way to experience American custom big-twin cruisers. Our pick of the most stylish among them is the Scout Sixty Classic, which exudes chrome and classic curves. Its notable design elements include sweeping full-sized fenders, a gorgeous tear-drop-styled fuel tank, and a clean circular headlamp design.

Specs

The engine is blacked out, but there is ample chrome to turn heads on the spoke wheels and exhaust mufflers. A 999cc liquid-cooled V-twin powers it, producing 85 horsepower and 65 pound-feet of torque. There is no dearth of features, either, as the Limited trim level, priced at $12,699, includes cruise control, traction control, ride modes, and a USB charger.

Suzuki Boulevard C50

Price: $9,299

Suzuki

This is one of the oldest existing Suzuki motorcycles today. While the C50 Boulevard is outdated, it still packs an 805cc liquid-cooled V-twin that is seasoned and refined. Moreover, its age also contributes to its classic Americanized visual appeal, featuring old-school design elements and an abundance of chrome.

Specs

The low-slung design, relaxed rider triangle, and low seat height of just 27.6 inches make this Suzuki cruiser bike an easy, everyday ride. It even features rider footboards for enhanced comfort during extended riding sessions.

Honda Shadow Phantom

Price: $8,699

Honda

The Honda Shadow Phantom beautifully fused old-school and custom bike elements. This is the cooler twin to the classic-vibing Shadow Aero. The Shadow Phantom retains all the classic design elements like a circular headlamp housing, a clean teardrop-style fuel tank, and spoked wheels. However, it ups the coolness factor with a dual-tone paint job and numerous blacked-out components, including the V-twin engine, exhaust system, and suspension.

Specs

It is powered by a tractable 745 cc V-twin engine that produces 45 horsepower and 48 pound-feet of torque. An early surge of torque helps this Honda be chirpy on urban roads. Moreover, its low seat height of 25.6 inches makes the Shadow Phantom accessible to short riders.

Honda Rebel 500

Price: $6,499

Honda

The Honda Rebel 1100 is always in the spotlight for being the only cruiser one ever needs. However, the humbler and more urban-friendly Rebel 500 often gets sidelined in all this fuss. Offering the same cool neo-retro design language but with a smaller engine, the Rebel 500 is a metric cruiser that packs style and daily rideability in equal amounts. Unique design features include a four-unit LED headlamp, a compact headlamp cowling, a cool teardrop-shaped fuel tank, and blacked-out styling, along with relatively chopped fenders, for a custom vibe.

Specs

For those who want more head-turning appeal, there is also a $6,999 Rebel 500 SE trim that offers a brown diamond-stitch seat and cool bronze wheels. Contributing to its peppy urban capability is a 471 cc parallel-twin engine producing 47 horsepower and 43 pound-feet of torque. Its low-set height of 27.2 inches, a compact form factor with a 58.2-inch wheelbase, and a weight of just 414 pounds make the Rebel 500 a motorcycle that excels on city roads.

Benda Napoleon Bob 500

Price: $6,399

Benda

This is the newest custom-styled cruiser bike to enter the American market, and it is a bold one. The Benda Napoleon Bob 500 is a Chinese cruiser bike that takes styling to Mad Max levels. Designed to resemble a custom bobber, the Napoleon Bob 500 features several unique elements, including a floating solo seat, chunky flat covers on the front fenders, a stunning black and gold paint job with pin stripes and graphics, and a cool “Flying Wing” handlebar.

Specs

It looks like an artwork on wheels, but has a contrasting price tag of just $6,399. It is powered by an entry-level-grade 475.6 cc V-twin that produces 47 horsepower and 31 pound-feet of torque. While it has a stretched wheelbase of 61.0 inches, its low curb weight of 473 pounds compensates for it, making this Benda a capable daily runabout.

CFMoto 450CL-C

Price: $5,799

CFMoto

The CFMoto 450CL-C is an underdog cruiser bike that punches way above its price tag. It packs some cool features, such as a circular TFT and a final belt drive system, for under $6,000. It is powered by a versatile parallel-twin 449 cc mill that is also utilized on a streetfighter, a sports bike, and even a dune-bashing ADV.

Specs

It is compact and designed to be a cozy urban runabout, thanks to a low curb weight of 399 pounds and a seat height of 27.0 inches. The 450CL-C accomplishes all of this while exuding cool custom-bike-inspired styling, featuring a dual-tone paint job, blacked-out components, and classic design elements such as a circular headlamp, bobbed fenders, a teardrop-styled fuel tank, and a twin-barrel exhaust system.

Royal Enfield Goan Classic 350

Price: $5,299

Royal Enfield 

This is the most affordable custom-styled cruiser bike available today. The brand-new Royal Enfield Goan Classic 350 is a custom bobber that oozes coolness. It comes with custom paint jobs, complete with whitewall tires, spoke wheels, and an ape-style handlebar, giving it a head-turning stance. Other cool visual elements include bobber-style fenders, a solo seat, and a slash-cut exhaust system.

Specs

While this RE is high on visual appeal, it has a more frugal and daily-rideable side, thanks to the popular Classic 350-shared single-cylinder engine. This air-cooled mill is modest in terms of performance figures, boasting 20 horsepower and 20 pound-feet of torque. But the Goan Classic 350 offers a peppy riding experience that makes it the most stylish and low-maintenance errand motorcycle today.

Yamaha V-Star 250

Price: $4,799

Yamaha

While very old, this is the only cruiser bike under $5,000 that packs a V-twin engine. It stays true to the classic era with an air-cooled mill, old-school styling, and lots of chrome. The V-Star 250 is simple, elegant, and very affordable; a combination that no other affordable cruiser bike in this segment can match.

Specs

It produces 21 horsepower and 15.2 pound-feet of torque, making this Yamaha an easy-to-ride urban motorcycle. A relatively low seat height of 27.0 inches and a curb weight of just 324 pounds also make this Yamaha a solid, beginner-friendly cruiser bike.