7 Different Styles of Cruiser Motorcycles

Sports bike riders who love to ride fast may not like the idea of cruiser motorcycles, but they are still the most popular bike segment, especially in the US. Cruiser bikes are more than just two-wheeled machines. They are the dearest thing to most Americans who love to cruise on highways.

For cruiser motorbike lovers, there is nothing more classy, appealing, stylish, bold, and relaxing than a cruiser bike. The classic appeal and comfort are the hallmarks of cruiser bikes, which make them more lovable among the masses.

To make sure the cruiser bike enthusiasts don’t switch to the other types of motorbikes, there are a variety of different types/styles of cruiser bikes. These different styles of cruiser motorcycles give birth to whole new bike categories. Thanks to these different types/styles of cruiser bikes, this segment is no longer dull and boring.

It is good to see so many different classes of motorbikes originating from the cruiser category. Otherwise, it may have died years ago. Thanks to those motorcycle manufacturers who have innovated the cruiser class and made new cruiser bike niches out of it.

In this article, we will be discussing the seven different styles/types of cruiser motorbikes. Each type has its own class, aura, and fanbase. Let’s get deeper into this, but before that, let’s just explain briefly what a cruiser motorcycle is.

• A cruiser bike is the one that is ideally designed for highway and open road cruising.

• They are very comfortable due to their relaxed and wide ergonomics.

• Cruiser bikes usually ensure an upright back position, which is ideal for long rides.

• The legroom offered by cruiser bikes is usually spacious.

• Cruiser bikes are also quite big and heavy, with an extended wheelbase.

• They are the stripped-down version of touring motorcycles.

• Due to being lower to the ground, cruiser bikes are very stable.

• A cruiser motorbike is usually ideal for straight-road performance in a straight line.

• These bikes are not ideal for good handling and superior maneuverability.

• They have low ground clearance, which is why they are only good for on-road travel.

• Hitting a bump or an obstacle can be a problem.

The most exciting and fastest type of cruiser motorcycle is the performance cruiser, also known as a muscle cruiser or power cruiser. These cruiser bikes offer a perfect blend of both top-end acceleration and the comfort of a classic cruiser. The most prominent features of performance/muscle cruisers are the large displacement and powerful engines.

The horsepower and torque offered by muscle cruisers are no joke. These bikes are not at all beginner-friendly. A good level of experience is required to ride these cruisers safely. For those who think cruiser bikes are slow and sluggish, they must try getting onto a performance cruiser bike. What else can you expect from a bike to be this powerful, quick, and comfortable at the same time?

As seen in most muscle cruisers, they have a compact build. Along with large engines, the air intake is also high, with large inlets at the front. They have quite a sporty flavor. Other than a high top speed, these muscle/power cruisers also ensure top-end acceleration thanks to the remarkable torque delivery.

Performance or muscle cruisers are quick enough to beat a sports bike in a quarter mile or drag races, as they have high acceleration. Due to having long-stroke, large-displacement engines, these cruisers produce greater torque than sports bikes. As a result, they produce greater acceleration, which makes them very responsive and quick. Even a slight twist of the throttle can push you forward rapidly. So, watch out if you ever get a chance to ride one of these performance cruisers.

Power or muscle cruisers usually feature forward foot controls. The handlebars are slightly upright and decently swept back for a comfortable riding position. The seat installed on these power cruisers usually has a dip to ensure the rider remains in place during quick runs.

The muscle cruisers must have good braking ability to ensure safe operation. As already said, these bikes are no joke. They can be quicker than you can expect. Also, a two-into-one exhaust system helps enhance the power delivery.

• The Triumph Rocket 3 has the largest engine on a production motorcycle, and it is a performance cruiser.

• Similarly, the Yamaha VMax is the fastest cruiser motorcycle with a top speed of 170.3 mph. It is also a muscle cruiser.

• The very famous Ducati Diavel is also a performance cruiser.

• Harley-Davidson also makes performance cruisers, such as the Harley Fat Bob.

A bagger cruiser is more like a touring bike, or you can say, it is the American take on touring bikes. It is also sometimes referred to as a dresser bike with enough luggage-carrying capacity, especially saddlebags, a wide fairing, a decent windscreen, and speakers, which is a must.

The bagger cruisers are one of the very favorite bikes of American riders for touring and cross-country rides. They are quite large, heavyweight, and almost the size of a dully-dressed touring bike, but without the sofa-like passenger seat and a large trunk at the back.

Bagger cruisers also feature large-displacement engines. However, due to being fitted with many touring parts, they are quite heavy. They are optimized for rider comfort on long-haul journeys. For those who love to go on motorcycle touring frequently, a bagger cruiser can be your best partner.

For rider entertainment, these bagger cruiser bikes usually feature an infotainment system. It allows riders to listen to music and make calls. Other touring features include floorboards, crash bars, engine guards, and wind protection. 

When it comes to comfort, they are the most comfortable cruiser bike type for extended journeys. These bikes feature relaxed ergonomics, spacious legroom, and low seat height. Baggers are usually fitted with slightly taller handlebars, ensuring an upright back position. You can ride continuously for hours on long trips on these bagger cruisers.

• Harley-Davidson is known for making the best and most popular bagger cruisers, such as the H-D Road Glide and Street Glide.

• The Honda Gold Wing is another very versatile, globally renowned, bagger cruiser with tons of touring features.

• Indian Motorcycle is another specialized American motorbike manufacturer that produces some of the best bagger cruisers, such as the Indian Challenger and the Indian Chieftain.

Sport cruiser motorcycles are the modern cruisers. They are made lightweight and nimble to ensure better performance in most conditions. Sport cruisers are the most suitable cruiser bikes for beginners due to being light and low-powered. They have small to mid-range engine sizes to keep the weight low. They also don’t feature wide ergonomics. Instead, sport cruiser bikes come with mid-mounted foot controls.

The foot controls are through mid-positioned, and the legroom is still comfortable for urban commuting. Sport cruisers are the best motorbikes for city traveling and daily riding, unlike most traditional, bulky cruisers.

The best thing about sport cruiser bikes is their agile handling. Unlike most conventional cruiser bikes, sport cruisers are easy-to-handle bikes. They are also quite maneuverable on twisty roads. Cornering on a sport cruiser is easier compared to a normal cruiser bike.

Sport cruisers are not completely aggressive-style sports bikes. Instead, some of the sport cruisers, like the Honda Rebel series, are decently comfortable. On top of better urban riding, riders can comfortably take these bikes for highway cruising.

Beginners who want to start on a cruiser bike must opt for a sport cruiser. There are many good options to choose from, including:

• Honda Rebel 500 / Honda Rebel 300

• Kawasaki Vulcan S

• Yamaha Bolt

• Harley-Davidson Sportster Iron 883

• Harley-Davidson Sportster Iron 1200

Chopper motorcycles are a completely different class of bike that are usually custom-made. Choppers usually have very little to do with the performance; they are all about unique styling. They are not comfortable, performance-oriented cruiser bikes.

Chopper bikes feature an unusual extended front end that you would not expect to come out of a factory. Therefore, they are mostly customized bikes. Apart from highly raked-out front ends, chopper bikes also feature custom-built frames. They have a hardtail design, meaning these bikes have no rear suspension. This helps keep the rear end very low.

Not all choppers are built only as a decorative item. Some are practical bikes. However, as of today, you don’t usually find a chopper bike on the road. They have become rare. Only a custom bike lover still owns and rides chopper bikes.

Due to the absence of rear shocks, the ride can be highly uncomfortable on a chopper bike. These are the reasons why these bikes are not practical.

Choppers were in a trend back in the 1960s. They were once a very popular custom bike. Their popularity rose as they were featured in many popular TV shows. These TV shows helped make the chopper culture more popular in the motorcycle community.

Chopper bikes, due to having an extended front fork, may not handle well. They are only good for linear performance. Riding on twisty roads can be a problem on these custom-made chopper bikes. Being custom-made, choppers are highly customized with unique custom paint jobs, parts, and geometry.

Chopper bikes are purely made of metal. There is hardly any plastic used in these bikes. Also, they are the most expensive custom-made bikes due to being equipped with premium, expensive parts. Also, the high price is often not due to their practicality, but to the heritage and appeal custom bikes offer.

• The Honda Fury is one of the very few factory-made chopper bikes that is still being made.

• The Harley-Davidson Breakout is also a factory-made, modern chopper bike.

• In the old, discontinued Harley models, the Harley Softail Springer and the Harley Dyna Wide Glide are a few notable chopper bikes.

A bobber bike is another unique type/style of a cruiser motorbike. Initially, the trend started as a custom bike. However, later, bobber bikes were also being made in the factory by many notable bike makers.

A bobber bike is a stripped-down version of a cruiser motorbike. The aim is to build a lightweight cruiser with no extra parts and weight. Majorly, a bobber bike has a small solo rider seat. The seat is usually supported by springs to ensure damping.

The front fender is usually removed or made shorter in a bobber bike. The rear mudguard is also customized and cut shorter to keep the weight down. The gas tank installed in bobber bikes is also slightly smaller.

One can also identify a bobber bike from its retro-style round headlamp installed at the front. The purpose of trimming down a cruiser bike and building a bobber is to ensure easy handling and maneuverability. A bobber is comparatively more agile and quicker than a cruiser bike.

Another notable feature of bobber motorbikes is their fat tires and wire-spoked wheels. They ensure a retro custom vibe.

Unlike chopper bikes, bobbers are quite practical and are still being produced in the factory. However, they are still very popular custom-made bikes.

Unlike chopper bikes, bobbers are adequately comfortable bikes. However, they are not as comfortable as traditional cruiser bikes.

Though bobber motorbikes are usually custom-made, there are still many factory-produced bobbers from notable manufacturers, including:

• Triumph Bonneville Bobber

• Harley-Davidson Softail Slim

• Indian Scout Bobber

• Honda Shadow Phantom

• Yamaha Bolt

• Harley-Davidson Street Bob

Club bikes, or the club-style bikes, are a type of cruiser that is popular among riders who prefer a unique style usually associated with motorcycle clubs. When we talk about club bikes, it is often referred to as Harley Dynas. Yes, Dynas are widely considered to be club bikes with certain modifications.

Club bikers are often black in color with a blacked-out finish. The engine performance is usually improved through enhanced air intake. They also feature a blacked-out front fairing with a dark-tinted windscreen. The handlebars installed on club bikes are usually tall ape hangers.

Club bikes are a decently popular cruiser bike style, but the term ‘club style bike’ is not as widely recognized. Club bikes also feature a very aggressive design and styling. The aim is to build a performance-oriented bike. They prioritize a perfect blend of power, handling, and comfort.

The most notable feature of the club bikes is the slash-cut short exhaust pipes. If you carefully observe, a club bike seems to be inspired by the Harley-Davidson Low Rider S. However, not everybody can afford to pay $20,499 to buy a brand-new 2025 Low Rider S.

According to the sources, the club bike culture became more prominent after the Sons of Anarchy. If you have seen this TV show, it mostly featured the Harley-Dyna.

Club-style bikes are usually custom-made, but the most popular base model to make a club bike out of is the Harley Dyna.

Classic cruiser is basically a cruiser bike, or you can say what a cruiser bike originally is. All the different styles and types of cruiser bikes mentioned above are modified forms of cruisers. If you look at the history of cruiser motorcycles, especially the American motorcycle history, you will get to know what a cruiser bike looks like and what it feels like to ride.

Harley Davidson and Indian Motorcycles are a perfect example of classic cruiser bikes. These American brands laid the foundation of the pure cruiser bike scene. Even today, these brands are known to produce the best modern-classic cruiser bikes.

Let’s talk about some prominent features of classic cruiser motorcycles. These bikes look like they are from the 1980s or 1990s. They feature large fenders that are often full skirts. These bikes use a lot of metal in their construction. There is a large round headlamp towards the front. There are also auxiliary headlights installed in certain classic cruiser bikes.

Instead of a fairing-mounted windshield, classic cruisers usually feature a large windscreen. Classic cruisers are incomplete without leather saddlebags with tassels. The seats installed on these bikes also have a leather texture with studs to enhance their classic vibe.

Classic cruisers are the most comfortable type of cruiser bikes. They are large. Similarly, this ensures a wide and spacious ergonomics, including seating position and legroom. The handlebars are normally wide and substantially swept back so that riders can sit in a very relaxed manner.

If you are a cruiser bike lover, you cannot ignore how these bikes look. Most bikers still prefer a classic cruiser bike, rather than an aggressive-looking sports cruiser. Some of the popular modern-day classic cruiser bikes are:

• Harley-Davidson Heritage Classic

• Harley Davidson Road King

• BMW R 18

• Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic

• Honda Shadow Aero

Meanwhile, below are some of the classic-looking cruiser bikes from the past that remained in demand for years:

• Harley Davidson Softail Deluxe

• Indian Chief Vintage

• Yamaha V-Star 650 Classic

• Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Classic

• Yamaha Road Star 1600

Since their inception, cruiser motorcycles have served as the epitome of freedom and style, alongside individuality. It doesn’t matter what your riding needs are, you can find a perfect match within the cruiser segment because manufacturers create designs that range from muscle cruisers for high-performance riding to classic cruisers for comfort. The cruiser segment includes models that cater to different riding styles, including power cruisers, touring baggers, and classic Harley-Davidson and Indian bikes.

Nonetheless, your selection of the cruiser bike should match your riding style and preferred experience since each cruiser bike style offers distinct value and unique character. Cruiser bikes combine practical features with attractive designs.

Your ultimate cruiser motorcycle choice should be the one that gives you pleasure on every trip. Your choice matters when you ride. So, if you are into cruiser motorcycles, make sure to select the type of bike carefully to ensure it matches your skill level and riding preferences. Also, stay safe, ride defensively, and enjoy twisting the throttle.