10 Cruisers That You Should Buy Used

Cruisers have never been more expensive to buy new. Dealership floors are full of shiny machines with eye-watering price tags, and even the more modest end of the market can leave your wallet feeling light. But here’s the thing: the used market is quietly overflowing with genuinely great motorcycles — bikes that were overlooked when new, discontinued before their time, or simply victims of shifting tastes. Depreciation has done its work, and what was once an also-ran is now a compelling bargain. If you’re willing to shop smart, you can ride something truly special for a fraction of what it cost originally.

2016 Harley-Davidson Street 750

Torque: 45 Pound-Feet

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65 autotech

Although a lot of hate was directed toward this bike when it was new, the price has since plummeted far enough to make it genuinely worth considering. While it wasn’t a classic air-cooled Harley, it was still an authentic V-twin producing around 70 horsepower — more than enough to make this relatively light cruiser a lot of fun. The modest torque figure does mean you’ll need to rev it a little harder than the average Harley, but that’s part of the character.

Specifications

Price Range	$4,000 – $6,000
Read Also 2 month ago Why This Japanese Hybrid SUV Is A New Benchmark For Affordable Luxury 58 autotech Engine Type	V-Twin, liquid-cooled
Displacement	749cc
Transmission	6-speed
Weight	489 lbs

2012 Harley-Davidson XR1200X

Torque: 74 Pound-Feet

Harley-Davidson

Much like the Street Rod, the sporty XR1200 fell between buyers of lighter naked bikes and fans of the simple air-cooled Harley. Today it simply represents fantastic value, with depreciation working its magic. Few air-cooled Harleys stand out quite like this, and even fewer are cheaper on the used market right now. Values are likely to climb from here.

Specifications

2017 Victory Octane

Torque: 76 Pound-Feet

Victory Motorcycles

Technically, this shared over one-third of its DNA with the Indian Scout, yet it had a design very much its own. It went on sale for just one year before Polaris made — what has proven to be a rather astute — decision to pull the plug on Victory. The Octane was a very good bike, and provided a solid foundation for the modern Indian Scout to build upon. Its contemporary styling means it will appeal most to riders seeking a more modern-looking cruiser.

Specifications

2004 Harley-Davidson VRSCA V-Rod

Torque: 84 Pound-Feet

Mecum

With committed forward controls and a high-performance liquid-cooled V-twin, it was always hard to pin down exactly who Harley intended to buy this bike. It certainly wasn’t aimed at loyal Harley-Davidson traditionalists, and easing new riders in with a less extreme cruiser might have been a smarter move. Today, though, it offers tremendous bang for the buck, and liquid-cooled Harleys are far less controversial than they once were.

Specifications

2014 Moto Guzzi California 1400

Torque: 88 Pound-Feet

Mecum Auctions

If comfort is the priority over outright performance, it’s hard to look past this unconventional Italian. It uses an understressed transverse V-twin that delivers smooth power through a shaft drive — a combination that makes for effortless long-distance riding. The chassis is more capable than you might expect, giving it a dynamic edge over most of its contemporaries. It is still a heavy motorcycle, however, so go in knowing it’s a cruiser through and through, not a sports bike.

Specifications

2021 BMW R 18

Torque: 116 Pound-Feet

BMW

The real-world value should be higher, but the true value of anything is what people are actually willing to pay — and used examples can be found for significantly less than their original asking price. If you like what BMW is bringing to the table, this is an absolute bargain: a powerful air-cooled engine paired with a timeless design. Bear in mind, though, that it is still a BMW, and running costs will be higher than average.

Specifications

2012 Triumph Thunderbird Storm

Torque: 115 Pound-Feet

Thesupermat Via Wikimedia Commons

The Triumph Thunderbird remains a popular alternative to the American V-twin establishment. It is a very large parallel twin, so some vibration comes with the territory — but the same can be said for more expensive, less powerful Harleys. It is a lot of motorcycle for the money. The only real downside is that the styling looks a little dated by modern standards, but once you hit that torque curve, that won’t matter one bit.

Specifications

2015 Honda Valkyrie

Torque: 121 Pound-Feet

Honda

As impressive as the modern Gold Wing is, it is a very heavy beast of a motorcycle. By stripping away all the touring luxuries, the Valkyrie lets you explore the full potential of that buttery-smooth flat-six. Rider comfort remains excellent; it’s only your passenger who might feel a little shortchanged compared to the full Gold Wing experience.

Specifications

2004 Honda Rune

Torque: 121 Pound-Feet

Honda Powersports

Right out of the gate, the Rune won’t appeal to everyone. But what nobody can dispute is that this was an engineering masterpiece. Honda gave its engineers perhaps a little too much creative freedom, and the result was a motorcycle that cost far too much to produce. Even though Honda absorbed a sizable loss on each unit, the Rune still carried a steep price tag. Values are almost certainly heading upward, but for now, examples can still be found at relatively accessible prices.

Specifications

2012 Yamaha V-Max

Torque: 123 Pound-Feet

Yamaha 

Few bikes captured the imagination quite like the original V-Max. The thoroughly updated second generation arrived for 2009, and with fuel injection replacing the old V-Boost carb system, reliability improved significantly. With 200 horsepower on tap, this remains one of the most powerful cruisers ever built — and getting one before prices climb further is a genuinely smart move.

Specifications

Sources: OEMs