10 Classic Cruisers That Still Make Perfect Sunday Bikes

Cruisers have an appeal unlike any other. It isn’t just their looks; we do so love their long, low look and the chrome, and even the blacked-out versions of some of them. But the real draw of a cruiser is in its promise to make every ride a fun one. They offer the true wind-in-the-hair experience with the throb of a twin-cylinder engine underneath you.

Of late, though, costs have been taking precedence over feel and old-school ‘authenticity’, which is why you’ll find cruisers with parallel twin engines shared with street bikes. These aren’t bad cruisers. But they don’t offer the exact feel that a fan of the segment is looking for. Some products can still make the cut, though, and we’ve drawn up a list of ten classic cruisers that still make perfect Sunday bikes. You’ll find some superb used bikes in here, too.

To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from authoritative sources, such as Harley-Davidson USA, Indian Motorcycles, and Victory Motorcycles.

Harley-Davidson Sportster Iron 883

The Iron 883 was one of the last of the Evolution-powered Sportsters, and near the end of its run, it was a really pleasing motorcycle to ride. It also helped that it had very distinct styling and was recognizably a Sportster. The combination of the unstressed but torquey engine and traditional frame in an almost bobber-like motorcycle means it is a lot of fun to ride. An added bonus to the performance was the reliability and refinement of the Evolution engine, especially near the end of its life.

Honda Shadow Phantom

The Shadow has been around for a long time and hasn’t changed much. It might come across as a little unexciting, but that is also a virtue if you want a fuss-free ride. When we say ‘fuss-free’, we really mean it – this has liquid cooling and fuel injection for the engine, and a driveshaft goes to the rear wheel. The latter means regular maintenance involves topping up the gas in the tank and the air in the tires. The recent update with the rear disc brake and ABS has made it a viable choice today among the old-school cruisers.

Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic

If you want a more American-type cruiser than the Shadow, the Vulcan 900 will do it for you. It also has a liquid-cooled and fuel-injected engine, but it prefers a belt final drive. The Vulcan 900 Classic also looks the part, with the ‘beercan’ covers for the front forks, whitewall tires, round headlamp, and chrome mirrors and exhaust pipes. If you prefer a different look, the Vulcan 900 Custom offers a blacked-out look and a drag-bike style 21-inch front alloy wheel and drag bike bars. No ABS here, though, even as an option.

Victory Octane

Look carefully at the Octane and its specs, and you’ll realize that it is quite similar to the Indian Scout. There is some truth in that, because both the Victory and Indian brands are owned by Polaris Industries. The Octane was a really quick cruiser for its time, and it got the liquid-cooled V-twin that we’re familiar with in the Scout today. Unfortunately, Polaris pulled the plug on the brand before the Octane brand could make it big, so only around 4,000 of them left the factory.

Indian Scout Classic

The Scout Sixty is the model that chases the low entry price to the Indian brand, while the Scout Classic uses the bigger 1,250 cc engine coupled with a 6-speed gearbox. This gives it performance that belies its ‘classic’ looks. Think of it as a current version of the Vulcan 900, and you won’t be far wrong. In fact, if 105 horsepower isn’t enough for you, you can have the 101 Scout’s 111-horsepower tune. The Limited Trim offers cruise control, traction control, ride modes, and a USB charger for an extra $700.

Suzuki Boulevard M109R

The Boulevard M109R is both a classic cruiser AND a new bike, seeing as how it hasn’t changed in two decades. Not that it needs any mechanical changes; it has enough performance from its large engine to put a smile on anyone’s face. The shaft drive means zero maintenance, and it borrows the front suspension and brakes from a GSX-R sport bike for better control. It just needs ABS and maybe Bluetooth integration to be a real threat in its segment. As it is, it is one of the performance bargains among all two-wheelers.

Victory V92C

The last revival of Victory motorcycles under Polaris Industries began with this, the V92C cruiser. It was Victory’s version of a cruiser like the Fat Boy, and it certainly looked different. Like the Harleys of the time, it chose to have a large-displacement air-cooled V-twin with a focus on torque rather than power. By all accounts, this was a great first effort from Victory, what with its unique looks but spot-on proportions. It had some great components as well, like Marzocchi front forks, Fox rear shocks, and Brembo brakes.

Indian Super Chief Limited

The Super Chief Limited is the ultimate Indian cruiser today. It sports the largest Indian engine so far, the Thunderstroke 116, and sends its immense torque to the rear wheel via a six-speed gearbox and belt drive. It can also do a bit of light touring with the bolt-on windscreen and soft luggage. The ‘Limited’ trim also gives it a 4-inch round TFT display that offers Bluetooth connectivity and navigation, as well as features that help with the touring aspect. Finally, braking is taken care of with disc brakes with ABS.

Harley-Davidson Fat Boy

The Fat Boy is not just a motorcycle; it is an American icon. It has been around for around three decades, and today’s Fat Boy is built to last, but for a slightly more ‘authentic’ experience, you could look for a used one. One powered by the Evolution or Twin Cam engines, in fact – and if you’re going to do that, you might as well go the whole hog (pun unintended) and get one of the special editions like the 15th Anniversary Edition Fat Boy from 2005 with the Screamin’ Eagle tune of the Twin Cam engine.

Harley-Davidson VRSC V-Rod

Price: NA, Discontinued

The V-Rod is arguably just as recognizable as the Fat Boy, but for different reasons. It gets credit for being Harley-Davidson’s first true muscle bike. The collaboration with Porsche gave it the Bar And Shield’s first ever liquid cooled engine. It also had an aluminum crankcase, forged pistons, and a short stroke. If your idea of a Sunday ride includes a 9,000 RPM Harley with a top speed north of 120 miles an hour, the V-Rod is what you should be searching for.