Why The Right Beginner Cruisers Under $10,000 Comes Down To Fit, Not Price
If this was a regular list of beginner cruisers, we’dhave looked at the most affordable ones from established manufacturers and be done with it. However, that is an antiquated way of looking at options for a beginner rider, because all the cruisers under consideration cost between $6,000 and $10,000. That buys you anything from, say, a Honda Rebel 500 to an Indian Scout Sixty Bobber. With such a varied pool of options, the reasons for selection or rejection don’t depend on engine displacement or power figures. They lie instead with factors like seat height, wet weight, and low-speed leverage for the rider.
With these factors in mind, it is a lot easier to group the contenders from ones with the least friction for a beginner, to those that might be more than a little intimidating because of their size and weight. Here are seven cruiser motorcycles that beginners can consider based on fit, not price.
Models are listed in ascending order based on wet weight, from the lightest to the heaviest.
Honda Rebel 500
Curb Weight: 414 Pounds
The Rebel series has been engineered to make owning a cruiser an easier affair, and the Rebel 500 targets the budget end of the segment. This is the kind of budget cruiser that riders keep for years after they get past the beginner phase, simply because its 471 cc parallel-twin engine generates enough performance to keep the rider interested. The figures stand at 47 horsepower and 32 pound-feet of torque, coupled with the six-speed gearbox, slipper clutch, and chain drive.
The seat height is a very low 27.2 inches, thanks to the twin rear shocks. It seats the rider very upright with a short reach to the handlebar and mid-mounted foot pegs. This is the lightest cruiser here at 414 pounds, and that makes it genuinely confidence-inspiring at the stoplight in combination with the low seat height. The bulletproof reliability and $6,799 sticker price are just pleasant bonuses.
Harley-Davidson Nightster
Curb Weight: 481 Pounds
It might seem odd recommending a premium brand for beginners, but this is genuinely the most comfortable Harley for new riders. Harley has taken great pains to make this a modern motorcycle. It has a frame that uses the engine as a stressed member, contributing to the low curb weight. Also, the traditional fuel tank is just the airbox cover; the actual tank lies under the seat, so there is no fuel sloshing high on the motorcycle to disturb your balance at the stoplight.
The Nightster’s engine is the Revolution Max 975T with variable valve timing on the intake valves. It generates 91 horsepower and 72 pound-feet of torque, putting it down through a six-speed gearbox and belt drive to the wheel. You also get a by-wire throttle and ride modes. Coupled with the 27.8-inch seat height and mid-mounted foot controls, this is an easy motorcycle to ride at slow speed.
Kawasaki Vulcan S
Curb Weight: 498 Pounds
In an article that talks about fit, the Vulcan S probably deserves to be here the most because of the Ergo-Fit technology that quite literally allows you to change the handlebar and footpeg positions to suit your height better. What you cannot change is the 27.8-inch seat height, but it is reasonably low, and the motorcycle also does not weigh much because it follows a similar construction to the Nightster, which contributes to its low curb weight.
The parallel-twin engine generates 61 horsepower and 46.5 pound-feet of torque from 649 cc, balancing power and practicality. It keeps things simple and sporty with mid-mounted foot controls, and this shows up in its love for corners and how easy it is to handle at the stoplight. Hopefully, Kawasaki gives this a TFT screen as well sometime soon.
Indian Scout Sixty Bobber
Curb Weight: 536 Pounds
The Scout Sixty Bobber is an affordable Indian cruiser that is perfect for the first time buyer with its amazing sub-$10,000 price. It has a traditional double-downtube cruiser frame but updates its game with a high-revving, liquid-cooled V-twin engine that displaces 999 cc and generates 85 horsepower and 65 pound-feet of torque. Now this is a bobber, so you will not expect a lot of creature comforts, but it does have ABS.
Indian has also given it a five-speed gearbox with final belt drive. It is also restricted to a single colorway: black. The seat height is a truly impressive 25.6 inches, but this advantage is somewhat undone by the extremely forward-set foot pegs, which mean that as a beginner, you will need at least a little time to acclimate to the foot peg position when coming to a stop.
Yamaha Bolt R-Spec
Curb Weight: 542 Pounds
With the $8,999 Bolt R-Spec, we start moving into the true heavyweights of the beginner cruisers. The Bolt in particular uses a cradle frame which adds a lot of weight in exchange for the flexibility of customization. It was launched as an alternative to the old Sportster series, and in fact, with its air-cooled engine, five-speed gearbox, and downtube chassis, it is quite the polar opposite of the Vulcan S.
Despite being launched only a few months before the Kawasaki, the Bolt’s V-twin has four valves per cylinder and fuel injection, and develops 65 horsepower and 59.3 pound-feet of torque from 942 cc. The extra width of the cooling fins from the engine, coupled with the high, mid-mounted foot pegs, can make it a little awkward for beginners to find a comfortable position when stopped, despite the low 27.2-inch seat height. Still, once riders get used to it, this is a Yamaha cruiser that they rarely trade in.
Honda Shadow Phantom
Curb Weight: 553 Pounds
The Shadow Phantom deserves to be on this list by virtue of being a darling of beginners everywhere. This is quite an old motorcycle, but a recent refresh saw Honda give it a rear disc brake and ABS, bringing the price to $8,699. It is now exclusively available in the Phantom variant, which is the variant with the blacked-out components, but Honda missed a trick by not giving it alloy wheels and tubeless tires. Honda hit the nail on the head with the 25.6-inch seat height, though.
Coupled with the 64.5-inch wheelbase, this makes it a very stable motorcycle, so you can exploit the 745 cc V-twin and its 45 horsepower and 48 pound-feet of torque. However, if you are moving it around in a parking lot, the long wheelbase and high weight conspire against it. This is pretty much the only complaint about it; otherwise, it tends to be a cruiser with big twin vibes but without the big twin problems.
Suzuki Boulevard C50
Curb Weight: 611 Pounds
The Boulevard C50 is one of the true heavyweights of the beginner class. It is so heavy that it is 30 pounds heavier than the Hayabusa and a mere 30 pounds lighter than the Harley-Davidson Street Bob, which is a full-size V-twin cruiser. This unassuming motorcycle has some interesting tech under the hood, such as Suzuki’s Dual Throttle Valves, an ECU-controlled secondary set of throttle valves.
The 805 cc V-twin engine is liquid-cooled and fuel-injected to generate 52 horsepower and 51 pound-feet of torque. Like the Shadow, it uses a driveshaft rather than a chain or belt. It has a low seat height of 27.6 inches, but that weight figure dominates proceedings. If you value comfort over flash, the Boulevard C50 will serve you well with a price of $9,299.
Sources: Honda Powersports, Harley-Davidson USA, Yamaha, Suzuki, Indian, Kawasaki
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