Cruisers have gained tremendous popularity over the last decade because riders have come to realize that you get the best of both worlds in a single build - performance and comfort - at least that’s our theory. Although cruisers have existed for decades, today, manufacturers from all over the world are producing their own version of cruisers due to demand, and nobody is complaining because we have more cruiser options than ever before.
Here’s our pick of top 5 cruisers to ride in 2020.
- Yamaha XV950
Although not as popular as the rest of its rivals, the XV950 is far from inferior. Built almost as a typical Yamaha, this cruiser comes with a 90-degree V-Twin engine that was introduced in 2014, fitted onto a very comfortable motorcycle, and performs very well for a 900cc motorbike. One of the key winning points for this model is the price point. It’s a lot cheaper than the rest of the motorcycles you will see in this list. Great entry level bike, and the acceleration will surprise and embarrass its brethren.
Key Specifications:
- Engine: V-Twin - 942cc
- Power: 51 bhp / 38 kW
- Top Speed: 106 mph (170 km/h)
- Acceleration (0-60mph): 5.0 seconds
- Range on Full Tank: 130 miles (209 km) - 12.2 Litres
- Weight: 543.5 lbs (247 kg)
- Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster
Triumph has been around for almost 3 decades, but only in recent times did they step up their game and introduce an array of motorcycles that quickly rose in popularity because they were able to match the likes of Harley-Davidsion and other big brands. The Bonneville Speedmaster carries a typical British character, and performs as expected of a 1200cc bike, but at a reasonable price. The bike has gone through a major tune up since the 2015 model, and now delivers peak torque of 106Nm at 4,000rpm. And oh, it also has traction control.
Key Specifications:
- Engine: Parallel Twin - 1200cc
- Power: 76 bhp / 57 kW
- Top Speed: 115 mph (184 km/h)
- Acceleration (0-60mph): 5.4 seconds
- Range on Full Tank: 130 miles (209 km) - 12 Litres
- Weight: 540 lbs (245.5 kg)
- Ducati Diavel 1260S
First and foremost, let’s establish that the Diavel 1260s falls under the category of ‘premium’. At more than twice the price of the Yamaha XV950, the Ducati Diavel comes with an array of features that justify the high price such as cornering ABS, Ohlins suspension, Brembo M50 brakes, LED running lights, etc. On top of that, the bike clocks a whopping top speed of 169 mph, making it the fastest motorcycle on this list. It’s a Ducati. We don’t expect anything less than premium performance on a comfortable chassis. If you think that the Diavel 1260s is way out of your budget, maybe consider the XDiavel or XDiavel S instead.
Key Specifications:
- Engine: L-Twin - 1262cc
- Power: 159 bhp / 117 kW
- Top Speed: 169 mph (270 km/h)
- Acceleration (0-60mph): 2.5 second
- Range on Full Tank: 150 miles (241 km) - 17 Litres
- Weight: 540 lbs (244 kg)
- Triumph Rocket III GT / R
The second Triumph to make this list. What can we say, except that they really do produce great bikes. The Rocket 3 comes with a huge DOHC inline 3 cylinder engine, and delivers the expected amount of power. The key differences between the GT and R variants are the riding position, seat height, and handlebars. The R is built sportier, while the GT has slight resemblance to a tourer and even comes with a pillion backrest. Great acceleration and responsiveness, but not very economical.
Key Specifications:
- Engine: DOHC Inline 3 Cylinder - 2458cc
- Power: 165 bhp / 123 kW
- Top Speed: 145 mph (233 km/h)
- Acceleration (0-60mph): 2.8 seconds
- Range on Full Tank: 140 miles (224 km) - 24 Litres
- Weight: 642 lbs (292 kg)
- BMW R18
So fresh, so clean, the BMW R18 is a brand new motorcycle, only introduced this year. Look at the bike and you will see that BMW is trying to take on two categories at the same time - choppers and cruisers. The R18 is however still categorized as a cruiser, and performs as such. With an enormous boxer engine powering the motorcycle, the R18 is the heaviest motorcycle to make the list. It doesn’t have a great top speed, but it’s pretty economical.
Key Specifications:
- Engine: Boxer - 1802cc
- Power: 90 bhp / 67 kW
- Top Speed: 112 mph (180 km/h)
- Acceleration (0-60mph): 4.8 seconds
- Range on Full Tank: 160 miles (257 km) - 16 Litres
- Weight: 750 lbs (340 kg)