Cruiser bikes have been around since, well, almost forever, and the market is commonly associated with American brands, such as Harley-Davidson and Indian.
However, in the early 1980s, Japanese companies began making cruisers emulating this American style. While some might argue that these Japanese copycats don’t quite match the Americans in the looks and sound departments, they still have a lot going for them.
Over the years, manufacturers from the Land of the Rising Sun have produced countless cruiser bikes that offer excellent reliability for less money than their American counterparts — some of them even have more power!
Honda Shadow Phantom
For budget-conscious bikers, the Honda Shadow Phantom may just be the best American-style cruiser bike available. Few, if any, bikes are as reliable, and it even looks great with its simple and classic styling.
Powered by a liquid-cooled 745cc V-twin mill, it’s certainly not the most powerful bike on this list, generating a mere 45 hp and 48 lb-ft of torque. Those looking for speed and power should look elsewhere, because that’s not what the Shadow Phantom is about. This stylish cruiser is built for laid-back rides, offers low maintenance bills, and looks good doing it.
Yamaha Bolt R-Spec
The Yamaha Bolt R-Spec is like a Japanese version of the Harley-Davidson Sportster. While it doesn’t have the Sportster’s cool factor, it makes up for it with better reliability and riding dynamics. It’s a stripped-down cruiser that’s perfect for quick blasts on your favorite stretch of road.
Powered by a 942 cc air-cooled V-twin, the Yamaha Bolt has 65 horsepower and 60 lb-ft of torque, which is comparable to the old 1200cc Harley Sportster, so it’s certainly capable of cruising on the highway if that’s what you need it to do.
Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Vaquero
Kawasaki is known for its extreme and aggressive sports bikes, so it makes sense that they’d go all-out when building a cruiser bike as well. The Vulcan 1700 Vaquero is a high-performance cruiser, and it looks as mean as it does comfortable.
As its name suggests, Kawasaki’s bruiser cruiser packs a 1,700cc V-twin engine, and with 82 horsepower and 107.6 lb-ft of torque, it’s more than powerful enough for long road trips. It may not be as good as a Harley Road Glide, but it also doesn’t have a Road Glide price tag!
Honda Rebel 1100
Mention the Honda Rebel to older riders, and they immediately think of the old 250cc learner bikes of the past. However, the Rebel lineup looks very different today, with an 1100 model at the top of the range.
The liquid-cooled 1,083cc parallel-twin generates 86 hp and can even be ordered with a 6-speed automatic DCT transmission. In true cruiser bike fashion, the Rebel 1100 also has a substantial selection of aftermarket parts and optional accessories for those who want to personalize it.
Suzuki Boulevard M109R B.O.S.S
There’s no doubt that the Suzuki Boulevard M109R B.O.S.S. lives up to its name – this bike means business! Looks-wise, the B.O.S.S. edition (Blacked-Out Special Suzuki) is truly intimidating with its blacked-out exhaust and trim and sleek and muscular bodywork from the headlight cowl to the rear fender.
As the name suggests, the M109R has a 109 cubic-inch V-twin engine, or 1,783 cc for metric users. It produces a highly respectable 128 horsepower and 118 lb-ft of torque that goes straight to the fat 240 rear tire.
Honda Rune
Naysayers and negative Nancys will call the Honda Rune a flop and a mistake, but upon closer examination, it may just be one of the greatest motorcycles ever made.
While production numbers aren’t confirmed, it’s estimated that Honda built roughly 3,000 units. According to MC News, each Rune cost over $100,000 to manufacture but sold for less than $25,000. The Rune had the Gold Wing’s flat-six engine and top-shelf components, and today, it’s a true collectors’ item.
Yamaha VMax
Thanks to its liquid-cooled 1,200 cc DOHC V4 engine with 145 horsepower, the original V-Max from 1985 was a huge hit with bikers worldwide. There’s no denying that the bike could be a handful to ride, though.
A few decades later, Yamaha gave us the new and improved VMax (no hyphen this time). It still has a V4, but it now measures 1,700cc and produces 200 horsepower. The new VMax also offers improved brakes and handling, making it one of the best power cruisers money can buy.
Yamaha V-Star / Dragstar XVS1100
Yamaha introduced the XVS1100, also known as the V-Star 1100 in North America and DragStar 1100 overseas. This midsize cruiser uses a reworked version of the Virago 75-degree, air-cooled v-twin engine, and its 62 hp is transferred to the rear wheel via shaft drive.
The XVS1100 offers near bullet-proof reliability, it’s fuel efficient, handles great (for a cruiser), and looks fantastic. It even enjoys a vast selection of aftermarket parts, so owners can turn it into a bobber, chopper, or even a long-distance cruiser.
Yamaha XV1700 Road Star Warrior
As far as old-school power cruisers go, few bikes measure up to the incredible Yamaha XV1700 Warrior. It can keep up with Harley’s V-Rod in a straight line, and in the corners, it would leave it for dead.
That’s right, in terms of handling, this is no ordinary cruiser, as it uses the legendary R1 superbike’s forks and brakes. Even the Warrior’s wheels are made the same way as the R1’s, and they’re wrapped in fat, low-profile Dunlop D207s, with the fat 200-section rear tire providing grip for days in the twisty bits.
Honda Fury
I like the Honda Fury more than I like to admit. Introduced for the 2010 model year, it resembles the bikes we’d see on shows like Motorcycle Mania and Biker Build-Off. The fact that a Honda came like this from the factory is almost unbelievable. For those looking for a proper chopper, but also wanting something reliable, the Honda Fury should fit the bill. It was the first time a major motorcycle manufacturer built a production chopper, and according to the Fury Forums, the original concept was created by Jesse James from West Coast Choppers.
While the finished bike strayed from James’ concept, the Honda Fury still looks very much like the custom choppers built by legends such as Arlen Ness or WCC. It’s powered by a 1,300cc V-twin engine, and while the bike looks outlandish, it actually retains the same 32-degree rake angle as the Honda VTX.
Go For A Ride!
As we’ve just covered, Japanese motorcycle manufacturers have built some sick machines, and we’ve barely scratched the surface.
If you feel like we left out some extraordinary models, feel free to let us know in the comments, and please follow us on Facebook for more car and bike content.
