Eight Cruisers That Out-Muscle Harley’s Low Rider S And What You Surrender To Own Them
At $18,999, the latest Harley-Davidson Low Rider S actually offers a reasonable amount of value. While this is a lot of money for a motorcycle, you certainly get what you pay for in terms of overall product quality and muscular performance. There are, however, some enticing alternatives on both the new and used market.
Each alternative offers a different kind of riding experience, and you will most certainly end up surrendering something by choosing one of them over the Harley. While the used options offer great value, any used motorcycle with this much power requires a certain level of discernment from the buyer.
Buying a used motorcycle always has an element of risk attached, so please do your research, and proceed with caution. The motorcycles on this list go from oldest to newest.
8
1999 Boss Hoss
Price Range: $10,000 – $12,000
The Boss Hoss has always felt like something out of Wacky Races. It is the kind of “what if” creation that should never have made it past the conceptual stages of development, but it somehow exists, and riding one is a genuinely scary prospect. It is a motorcycle with a small block V8, capable of sending well over 300 horsepower to the rear wheel.
Naturally, you will give up pretty much every bit of practicality you get with the Harley. But, to the right buyer, this novelty item really is a dream bike. For anyone wanting to ride a mobile conversation starter, this is ideal. But, if you don’t like attention, then you might be better off getting one of the other bikes on this list!
7
2005 Yamaha V-Max
Price Range: $3,000 – $5,000
The first generation V-Max offers incredible bang for the buck, but it is one of those motorcycles that can become something of a money pit if you are not careful. These bikes had a complex V-Boost system which can be expensive to fix. A test ride is absolutely essential, and if it feels like it is hesitating when you accelerate, rather walk away.
You will give up some torque when compared to the Harley, but as long as the V-Boost system is in good working order you won’t feel it. The old V-Max has far too much power for its own good, though, and even in a straight line things can get a little hairy thanks to how inadequate the brakes are.
6
2015 Triumph Rocket III
Price Range: $8,000 – $10,000
The previous Rocket III set the record for the largest displacement production motorcycle when it first came out. A record which was only broken when the latest version came out some years back with an even bigger, badder triple. With over 160 pound-feet of torque, this is a certified face melter.
It also looks like it has a melted face. While the Harley is a relatively attractive motorcycle, this generation Rocket III is a famously ugly motorcycle. As much as you won’t care much about this fact while riding the thing, it is a desperately hard motorcycle to look at, and this will be a deal-breaker for the more style-conscious riders out there.
5
2019 Yamaha VMax
Price Range: $12,000 – $14,000
Back in 2009, the second generation VMax made its debut, and would stay in production for another decade before being discontinued. While the 2020 model is holding its value incredibly well, the 2019 model actually offers a lot of value at the price indicated. With just a shade under 200 horsepower, it is still the most powerful motorcycle of any sort Yamaha has ever manufactured.
The only thing you give up to the Harley here is modern electronics. All the VMax has is ABS. Further than that, it is a fairly simple motorcycle. All it has to offer is a great big V4 engine and two wheels, and that is precisely why these power cruisers are so desirable today.
4
2025 Suzuki Boulevard M109R
MSRP: $15,799
Suzuki, never ones to allow good tooling to go to waste, have squeezed pretty much every drop of life out of this old power cruiser. Even though it is an aging platform, it is still incredibly powerful and is well and truly worth considering. You stand to save over $3k when compared to the Harley, even though it is more powerful. But, it is far from perfect.
It has not seen a meaningful update since it was introduced two decades ago. Over-zealous owners have also been known to grenade the transmission. While Suzuki will point out that this is not their fault, it is also pretty easy to see that its transmission was never able to cope very well with its immense power output. Yet, they never bothered updating it.
3
Triumph Rocket 3 Storm GT
MSRP: $27,495
With its 2,458cc triple, the latest Rocket 3 has the largest engine ever put in a production motorcycle. It is an absolute monster of a motorcycle with 166 pound-feet of torque, and a whopping 180 horsepower. The Storm GT also offers forward controls, a little fly screen, a sissy bar for your passenger, and an eye-watering price tag.
You do pay a lot and get a lot, but it is pretty hard to say if it really is worth paying an extra $9k when compared to the Low Rider S. Both bikes are potent, but that is more or less where the similarities end, and we suspect that the Rocket 3 will appeal to a different kind of rider looking to do more touring.
2
Ducati Diavel V4
MSRP: $27,995
While the previous generation Diavel had some serious reliability issues (partly why we did not include a used version), the Granturismo V4 has banished all those demons. Unlike the reworked superbike V-twin found in the old bike, this engine was specifically developed for high-performance street applications.
Once again, the Diavel will appeal to a different kind of rider. It is most certainly worth paying for, but not everyone will appreciate the more sporty power delivery. With 168 horsepower and 93 pound-feet of torque, it will make a few modern sport bikes look slow by comparison.
1
Ducati XDiavel
MSRP: $28,995
To the outside observer, the XDiavel might seem like an unnecessary model. But, it was originally introduced in response to criticism of the Diavel being a little too close to a naked bike, and not “enough” of a cruiser. The XDiavel offers forward controls, unique colors, and a slightly different design for an extra $1k, all in an effort to be “more” of a cruiser.
The big question will be whether it is worth the extra $10k, and, in our opinion, it most certainly is. It is an advanced machine which comes with pretty much every conceivable modern motorcycle feature. But, then again, it is not our money, and at this price point you could go out and buy a whole other motorcycle as well as the Harley!
Sources: Various manufacturer websites
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