One of the most popular motorcycles in the world is a cruiser. It offers many different pros that no one motorcycle offers and, at the same time, it has various cons.
Cruisers were first manufactured in the United States in 1930 and Harley was the first to manufacture cruisers. Until today, Harley still offers the best cruisers in the market.
In general, cruisers are a type of motorcycle with a very comfortable sitting style. These motorcycles come with V2 engines and their performance is quite old because they do not come with new technology. The general purpose of cruisers is to provide the rider a fun ride in a relaxed way. So, if you are looking for motorcycles with crazy power, cruisers are not the right choice for you.
There are so many other things you need to know about cruisers. If you want to know everything about cruisers or you are even considering buying a cruiser, keep reading because in this article, I will show you all the pros and cons of cruisers and who they are suitable for.
Here are the pros and cons of cruisers
| Pros of cruisers |
| Comfortability |
| Perfect for beginners |
| Old stylish design (only for those who love it) |
| Lots of torque |
| Good treatment and handling on fast roads |
| Suitable for carrying loads |
| Possess technological features |
| Cons of cruisers |
| Weak performance |
| Heavyweight |
| Unsuitable for city riding |
| Vibration while riding |
| High price |
| Low ground clearance |
| Not economical for fuel |
Pros
Comfortability
In my opinion, the biggest advantage of cruisers is comfortability. Cruisers are considered one of the most comfortable motorcycles in the market, especially for long-distance rides, because it is really rare to feel pain when riding on cruisers.
In fact, the style of riding on a cruiser is super relaxed. You sit back with your head up and your legs in the front, which gives you maximum comfort. In addition, it is only cruisers that can provide leaning on the motorcycle rather than sitting, which is amazing.
Also, note that no motorcycle comes close to the comfort level of cruisers. Cruisers provide the best level of comfort and seating style. So, if you are looking for a long-distance motorcycle, cruisers are the perfect and best choice for you.
Perfect for beginners
Cruisers are very suitable for beginners and are even one of the best motorcycle you can find for beginners because they are not powerful and do not have crazy performance.
In addition, cruisers are much safe for novice riders and even safer than 250cc or 300cc sport motorcycles. It is proven that most novice riders who choose to ride 300cc sports motorcycles that are even considered safe have more chance of having a life-threatening accident, unlike cruisers which are very safe because they perform less than sports motorcycles.
In short, if you are a beginner, know that cruisers are perfect for you because they are very friendly for beginners.
Old stylish design (only for those who love it)
For the design of cruisers, it is quite dependent on you because while some will see it as an advantage, some will see it as a disadvantage.
Cruisers’ designs are quite old and are reminiscent of the design from the 80s, unlike the design of different motorcycles made today that look much more modern and beautiful.
In most cases, older riders love the design of cruisers while younger people prefer modern and impressive design. So, older riders buy cruisers than young people because of the old design.
Lots of torque
Cruisers come with lots of torque and huge engines that can even reach over 2000cc, especially Harley motorcycles. In general, all motorcycle companies produce cruisers in high torque.
But with all this torque, you need to note that cruisers aren’t fast because their engine is so big which makes them weigh more. So, having more torque for a cruiser is good, but it won’t give you high speed.
Good treatment and handling on fast roads
Cruisers are excellent for road riding. They know how to handle the road excellently when riding on highways.
Cruisers will provide you with a very relaxed seating style as I said, which makes it perfect when riding on highways and even when riding a very long-distance.
Suitable for carrying loads
If you are looking for a motorcycle that is suitable for carrying loads or equipment or a motorcycle that is suitable for food delivery business, then cruisers are one of your best choices.
Cruisers are capable of having a lot of weight on them and this is mainly because they also weigh heavier, which is a very big advantage.
By the way, apart from touring, cooper and adventure motorcycles, no other type of motorcycle approaches the level of cruisers in terms of loading equipment.
Possess technological features
Although most cruisers have a very weak performance, some come with technological features that you will be very happy with like GPS and touch screen performance meter, which is a very big advantage.
Cons of cruisers
Weak performance
Cruisers deliver a weak performance and most motorcycles bypass cruisers in terms of performance levels, which may be an advantage for beginners but a very big disadvantage for advanced riders.
The acceleration and speed of cruisers are very slow compared to other motorcycles and this is because cruisers weigh heavy. In addition, cruisers generally provide quite old performance, which can be a problem for many riders.
Cruisers are not only poor in speed and acceleration but are also less good in terms of performance, such as brakes and tire technology. So, take this into account and be aware that while some will be bothered by this, some will not.
Heavy weight
Cruises weigh very heavily, which can be a disadvantage because it does affect comfort when riding. At the same time, it can be an advantage because the weight can help you be more stable and confident, which is very important for beginners and it also gives you the option of loading more weight. So, it’s quite up to you.
In general, cruisers can weigh between 400 to 1000 pounds while some are even heavier, so take this into account.
If you do not know about motorcycle weight and how the weight of the motorcycle affects performance, I highly recommend you click here to see the full guide I wrote about it.
Unsuitable for city riding
Cruisers are, in simple words, bad for city riding. I personally have not seen a type of motorcycle worse than cruisers for city riding, while for riding on open and fast roads, cruises work excellently.
The problem with cruisers when riding in the city is the fact that they are designed for long-distance rides, not for riding in crowded places like the city. This is mainly because they are very uncomfortable, especially when riding at slow speeds due to their large size and heavy weight. So, it is important to take this into account.
By the way, if you prefer cruisers and still mean to ride in the city, I suggest you buy a small-sized one or the one that is very light in weight so you can find it easier when riding.
Vibration while riding
Another disadvantage of cruisers is that the two-cylinder engine keeps vibrating from time to time, which is very noticeable and annoying when riding. Although any motorcycle can find itself in this situation, when it comes to cruisers, it is much more noticeable.
In general, while some can handle the vibration that the motorcycle gives, it is a problem for some and prevents them from riding. So, know yourself and know if the vibration is really a big issue that will bother you or not.
High price
Cruises are sold at very high prices and I am not only talking about Harley motorcycles that cost $20,000 but all cruisers manufactured by various motorcycle companies.
Cruises are really expensive because you will have a very hard time finding good cruisers that cost below $10,000. The cheapest cruiser I have ever found cost about $4,000 and there may be 10 more cruisers that cost below $10,000 in the entire market. So, that explains how difficult it is to find cruisers in good condition for a low price.
In addition, the cost of maintenance for cruisers is also high and you will have to spend a lot of money each year on maintenance. So, I personally recommend that you buy a used Cruiser so that you can save some money.
Low ground clearance
The only drawback that I personally hate about most cruisers is that they have a very low and narrow seat and low ground clearance, which means you can’t take your cruisers to the field. And the worst of it all, it can create a situation where your cruisers get stuck in objects from time to time.
This is another disadvantage to cruisers, which I’m sure will play a very significant role for those who want to buy a cruiser.
Not economical for fuel
Cruisers require a lot of money for fuel because they consume a lot of fuel in a short time. This is mainly because of their large engine size, heavy wheels, and wide and aggressive tires that take a lot of fuel.
But in my opinion, this is not a huge drawback because if you can buy a cruiser at a very high price, you will have no problem spending on fuel. So, the fuel should not really prevent you from buying a cruiser.
So, should I buy a cruiser?
Having shown you all the advantages and disadvantages of cruisers, I’m sure you are surprised and you can now decide if a cruiser is suitable for you or not.
The bottom line is that cruisers are excellent motorcycles that have their advantages and disadvantages. They are designed for specific people, especially older ones who like old design and not looking for strong performance but just the comfortability and the relaxed seating position that cruisers offer. And of course, those who need a motorcycle for long riding.
However, if you are looking for an advanced motorcycle with a modern and impressive design that shows crazy performance and knows how to run anywhere, especially in the city and off the road, then cruisers are much less suitable for you and not a recommended option.
In addition, if you want to know more about cruisers and see the main differences between cruisers and sports motorcycles, click here to view the full comparison article I wrote.
For any questions, you may have or opinion on the article, feel free to write us a comment, and we will get back to you within 24 hours.
Thanks for reading, until the next post.
