10 Cruisers That Can Do It All

Cruisers are by very definition leisure vehicles, and not necessarily always the most practical way to get around. There are, however, some genuinely versatile bikes on the market that are equally at home on the highway, and within the confines of the city limits navigating the urban sprawl. With emissions restrictions getting ever tighter, most new motorcycles are pretty economical, so that is virtually a given unless you plan on adding a host of performance modifications. We assume that this is not going to be the case here.

The one thing any practical motorcycle will need is a passenger seat, and while most solo-seat cruisers will have this on the options list, that only serves to drive up the price. All the bikes on this list are relatively economical, powerful enough to handle sustained highway speeds, nimble enough for the city, and, for the most part, affordable.

Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster

MSRP: $13,995

Triumph

Out of all the practical cruisers on this list, the Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster is the one that both stretches the “affordable” part the most, yet is also the most travel-friendly. Like most new Triumph motorcycles, it offers a level of refinement that certainly justifies the extra outlay. For those who want to do more highway miles, or have a commute that includes a long highway stint, this is a good option.

Specifications

Harley-Davidson Nightster Special

MSRP: $12,499

Harley-Davidson

A recent price drop saw the base model Nightster dip below the $10 mark, which is a bargain, but in many ways, the Special offers even more value. It gets a neat headlight nacelle, different wheels, and a TFT dash with smartphone connectivity. Like the base model, it has both ABS and traction control to go along with its modern (and economical) liquid-cooled Revolution Max V-twin.

Specifications

Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom

MSRP: $9,899

Kawasaki

Kawasaki offers the 900 in three distinct flavors, and we picked the custom quite simply because we think it is the best-looking of the three. If you prefer chrome vibes, the Classic is rather strangely cheaper. If you want to travel more, then the Classic LT is a great little bagger on a budget. It isn’t the lightest, most city-friendly cruiser on this list, but does a great job in every other area.

Specifications

Suzuki Boulevard C50

MSRP: $9,299

Suzuki Cycles

The C50 is by any measure an aging platform. It still boasts the quintessential chrome-clad metric cruiser design that was so much in vogue back in the late 90s and early 2000s. What it does give us is an affordable, economical V-twin that has now been in production for a very long time. While this offers good value at just over $9k, it is worth looking at the used market because the bike hasn’t changed much over the years.

Specifications

Honda Shadow Aero ABS

MSRP: $8,249

Honda

Out of all the chrome-heavy metric cruisers in this space, this would be our pick. While it also hasn’t changed all that much over the years, you do get some level of highway capability, ABS brakes for city commutes, and Honda’s build quality. All these aging V-twins are a little dated in terms of features, but they offer a lot of value for those who like this design theme, and want something less complicated.

Specification

Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650

MSRP: $7,899

Royal Enfield

If you are willing to consider something with a parallel twin rather than a V-twin, this will be the most balanced option. It has more than enough power to maintain highway speeds, offers a comfortable seat for the rider, and is a fairly competent commuter. Since it came out, it has also proven to be exceptionally reliable. Unfortunately, the price has gone up this year, but if you act fast, there are still some 2024 models selling for the original asking price of $7k.

Specifications

Kawasaki Eliminator ABS

MSRP: $6,799

Kawasaki

With the smaller, lighter bikes, comfort does tend to suffer a little, but with the Eliminator, that is mitigated by Kawasaki’s ergo-fit system to some extent, because most riders will find a comfortable riding position. Its Ninja 500 engine makes this a deceptively quick bike, and as much as it is a beginner-friendly option, anyone looking for a fun commuter should at the very least take it for a test ride.

Specifications

Benda Chinchilla 500

MSRP: $5,999

Benda

Benda might seem like a pretty random name plucked out of obscurity, but this is not one of the fly-by-night Chinese manufacturers. It is part of the Keeway/QJ Motor group, and is one of the cheapest V-twin cruisers on the market. While it is cheap for what it is, there are still a couple of other Chinese-made cruisers that offer more value.

Specifications

Moto Morini Calibro 700

MSRP: $5,999

Moto Morini

The Calibro makes use of a stroked-out version of an old Ninja 650 engine, which is both mechanically reliable and powerful for its class. It makes a pretty decent argument in terms of value. ABS is a standard feature, and so is the passenger seat. Although Moto Morini is a Chinese company, the bike is at least designed in Italy, and it shows. Out of all the budget-friendly cruisers, this might well be the best-looking.

Specifications

CFMoto 450CL-C

MSRP: $5,799

CFMoto

You could easily argue that simply getting the Honda Rebel 500 and “paying the man” for the extra seat would be the safe option in this space. But even the base model Rebel 500 costs more than this, and so far, this 450 engine – of CFMoto’s own design – has proven to be pretty reliable. Like pretty much anything CFMoto has to offer, it has a long list of features, including a tasteful TFT dash and belt drive.

Specifications