Top Motorcycle Cruiser Brands to Choose From

While some manufacturers perform well in some categories such as Harley’s cruisers, other brands like BMW dominate the adventure-touring category.

Moreover, since all motorcycles are ultimately machines that require mechanical competence, understanding, and sufficient maintenance, you can be sure that every brand’s motorcycle will last as long as you provide the right amount of care.

It’s almost impossible to claim that a ranking list can be completely objective because we all have our preferences and the aspects and factors that might appeal to some might not necessarily resonate with the thoughts or aesthetics of another.

That is why, before we get down to the list of the best cruiser motorcycle brands you can choose from, we should justify the criteria chosen to make these rankings.

The first aspect of the criterion to judge motorcycle brands was the market situation.

As per the market share statistics for the year 2020 revealed by Statista, it’s obvious that Harley Davidson owns the majority with a total of 31.1% with Honda coming at a close second with a 20.8% market share of the motorcycle market.

The rivalry between Yamaha and Kawasaki for the third spot has been won by Yamaha for the year 2020, with the company beating Kawasaki with a lead of 0.3%. While Yamaha sits at 12.2%, Kawasaki stands at 11.9%.

Although Suzuki is in the last position, it’s still one of the five biggest motorcycle manufacturing brands that exist in the US market. Regardless of their charm and aesthetic beauty, companies like BMW, Indian, Victory, Triumph, etc. don’t have that large of a market share.

Other than statistical data, the criterion also included factors such as brand identities and popularity in the eyes of the public. Although even in this aspect, Harley Davidson has the most recognition across the country, notable brands like Indian, Triumph, and BMW definitely make a bigger dent.

To gauge popularity and brand identity, one only needs to look at the most often talked about motorcycle brands across social media.

Filtering out product-related posts, it was observed that bigger brands like BMW were generating a lot of audience interest, especially with the release of the recent R1250GS that is definitely outperforming its competition, forcing even the motorcycle giant, Harley to step into the adventure-touring category.

However, when it comes to cruisers, the R18 and K 1600-series have also gained notoriety. Other than BMW, Indian and Triumph are recognized as traditional cruiser alternatives for Harley Davidson.

Motorcyclists everywhere know that these two motorcycle brands aren’t to be considered as alternatives because they come with their own unique features and styles.

Given the fact that most of the top brands often price their bikes very high, these brands take the market by storm for relatively cheaper options that offer almost the same features.

Even though Harley is recognized for its notorious sound that has been patented by the company, making them the sole owners of any and every engine that can produce that sound, there are other motorcycle brands that have signature styles such as the Indian Chief.

The vintage look that has been specialized by the Indian Chief has become nothing less than an iconic representation of classic cruiser motorcycles that are still being made in pristine condition today, although now, they’re laced with modern features and awesome tech.

Other brands like Honda have made a statement in the motorcycle market with their series like the Rebel. When it comes to cruiser motorcycles, each brand has had an impact on the market sentiment, making it difficult to narrow down what exactly is preferred by the average motorcyclist.

As we all know, Harley cruisers, though amazing and wholesome, are expensive and not everyone’s cup of tea. Especially for beginners looking for their first motorcycle, a Harley may not be the best option to start out on because not only are they expensive, but they’re also extremely powerful.

User reviews have helped identify market sentiments and it’s clear that while everyone knows who’s offering what, people are drawn towards bigger brands whereas, they inevitably have to lean towards making a more affordable purchase.

Where some decide to pick a brand other than their preferred one, others thought it best to make a second-hand purchase if needed but didn’t compromise on their choice.

Everyone knows Harley-Davidson and their lineups of extremely gorgeous cruiser motorcycles.

Easily regarded as the best motorcycle manufacturing company in the United States, Harley-Davidson has a long history of producing some of the most iconic motorcycles known to the world.

With products being used in the world wars, Harley-Davidson has come a long way and has been part of, if not the one shaping the history of motorcycle evolution throughout the world.

Harley-Davidson has provided people with some of the most renowned motorcycles to the world that span across various categories.

Specializing in the cruiser category, Harley has made several attempts and succeeded in launching successful back-to-back Touring motorcycles such as the CVO and recently, in the adventure-touring category with the Pan American.

For a cruiser, almost everyone looks up to the standards set by Harley in terms of looks, style, sound, and performance of a motorcycle. However, we all know that even the cheapest Harley can cost way more than other alternatives.

• Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight
• Harley-Davidson FLSTF Fat Boy
• Harley-Davidson Dyna Street Bob
• Harley-Davidson Dyna Wide Glide
• Harley-Davidson Electra Glide
• Harley-Davidson Night Train
• Harley-Davidson Sportster Nightster
• Harley-Davidson V-Rod
• Harley-Davidson Road King

The second in the list but one of the most dominating giants in the automobile and motorcycle industry around the world, Honda is part of the top brands you should consider for purchasing a cruiser bike.

Offering state-of-the-art cutting-edge features and a laid-back design that pays a tribute to the classic motorcycles of the past, Honda offers wide and user-friendly power bands with a comfortable riding position in all its cruisers.

Particularly proud of their Rebel lineup, Honda has definitely left a mark in the cruiser market with their top-tier models Rebel 300 and 500, giving even market players like Harley a tough time.

Although not like the above, Honda specializes in achieving peak performance and delivering on all the requirements put forward by riders around the world.

With sleek and minimalistic designs that focus on the ergonomic agility of the bike, Honda doesn’t promise you the most badass-looking monsters. Instead, the manufacturer provides you with the best value for your money.

Visible in all their models as well as their prices, the company hasn’t left a category of motorcycles untouched and made sure that they excel in all of them.

One only needs to take a look at the Honda CB750 or the Honda Fury to understand the diverse range of design and performance that is offered in the company’s lineup.

And who could forget the legendary Honda Valkyrie that turned out to be one of the best Japanese creations ever to land in the US and be as well-received as it did.

Honda motorcycles are incredibly well known for beginners as well. Honda has, In fact, Honda Gold Wing is still the only motorcycle to offer an airbag option.

Though they don’t offer an airbag, here’s a list of Honda Cruiser motorcycles you need to consider:

• Honda Fury
• Honda Rebel 300
• Honda Rebel 500
• Honda Rebel 1100
• Honda Deauville
• Honda CMX 500 Rebel
• Honda Valkyrie
• Honda Magna
• Honda Gold Wing
• Honda CB750
• Honda Shadow

A little-known fact about Kawasaki is that in the initial years of its opening back in March 1966 in Chicago, Illinois, it became the first Japanese brand to start assembling in the US and instead of using their own name, their motorcycles were branded as Omega motorcycles.

The first names to come out of the production were the Avenger and the Samurai.

If you look at the modern Ninja, which has become an iconic sportbike that’s used everywhere from racing tracks to public roads for daily office commuting, it becomes hard to imagine that the original model was the Ninja GPz900.

The first Ninja launched by Kawasaki came with the world’s first liquid-cooled, 16-valve, inline-four engine.

Since their launch of the Mach 3 in 1966, the company has soared in the market with its reputation for bringing a huge amount of power and speed into the game.

After they produced the ZZ-R1100, it became clear throughout the 90’s that the roads now had a king and Kawasaki wore the crown for a substantially long time.

In 1999, every other competitor actually stopped trying to compete with the bike because it was unbeatable in its class.

Here’s a list of some of the best Kawasaki cruiser motorcycles you can choose from:

• Kawasaki Eliminator
• Kawasaki Estrella
• Kawasaki 454 LTD
• Kawasaki Vulcan 400 Classic - similar to the VN1600 and the VN800.
• Kawasaki Vulcan 400 Drifter
• Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 Nomad
• Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 Classic
• Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 Mean Streak
• Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Drifter
• Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic
• Kawasaki Vulcan 800 Classic
• Kawasaki Vulcan 800 Drifter
• Kawasaki Vulcan 700
• Kawasaki Vulcan 750
• Kawasaki Vulcan 400/500/750/800/900/1500/1600/1700/2000
• Kawasaki Vulcan 500 LTD
• Kawasaki Vulcan 2000
• Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Classic/Classic LT/Nomad/Voyager
• Kawasaki Vulcan S 650

The brand that has established a reputation in the cruiser motorcycle industry and still remains true to its signature product to date is none other than Indian.

The company started out competing with big-time brands like Harley, Honda, Kawasaki, and more in the cruiser category but nonetheless established a name for themselves with their iconic lineups that have stood the test of time, with most of their vintage models still demanded in the market.

What makes Indian cruiser motorcycles unique is the classic styling that involves perfect architectural design to deliver peak performance. Dedicated to aesthetics, Indian has shown devotion to their audience’s demands in terms of taste and style with their productions like the Chief and Chieftain that proved that they weren’t just for tall buffy riders.

Now expanded across the US, Indian cruisers have evolved into some of the best pieces of mechanical engineering traveling on the roads. Whether it’s in terms of design, performance or style, Indian has sold a significant number of its recent Chief and Scout models.

Here are some other Indian cruisers you should take a look at:

• Indian Scout Sixty
• Indian Chief
• Indian Chieftain
• Indian Roadmaster and Roadmaster Elite
• Indian Chief Dark Horse
• Indian Scout
• Indian Scout Bobber
• Indian FTR 1200

As mentioned before, there’s a plethora of cruiser motorcycle brands in the market that are offering state-of-the-art and cutting-edge traveling experiences. With each manufacturer focusing on their signature attributes, there are a lot of choices to consider. Depending upon the type of traveling you’re looking to do, you might prefer different motorcycle classes like ADVs such as the Pan American and tourers like the CVO.

For example, if you’re looking for a modern touch with futuristic tech and comfort, you should consider going for Benneli, Triumph, or even BMW. Similarly, there are several other custom motorcycle manufacturers that don’t rely on a single bike or a single manufacturer for that matter.

These custom motorcycle manufacturers take parts from several bikes and make something of their own, sometimes in the form of chopper or bagger cruiser motorcycles that stand out notoriously from the crowd.

However, it’s important to remember that regardless of the brand you go with, a motorcycle is only as good as you are at caring for it. There are specific responsibilities that come with owning a vehicle and a motorcycle with an engine heavier than many small cars isn’t any different.