Cruiser Motorcycle Reviews: From Harley-Davidson to Indian Tests https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/reviews/cruiser-motorcycle-reviews/ Motorcycle Reviews, News on Motorcycles, Specs, Test & Race Results Tue, 14 May 2024 07:48:01 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/cropped-UltimateMoto_Circle-512x512-1-32x32.png Cruiser Motorcycle Reviews: From Harley-Davidson to Indian Tests https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/reviews/cruiser-motorcycle-reviews/ 32 32 2025 Triumph Rocket 3 Storm Lineup Review [GT and R Models] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2024/05/12/2025-triumph-rocket-3-storm-lineup-review-gt-and-r-models/ Mon, 13 May 2024 06:25:15 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=277432 Triumph Motorcycles has been building Rocket 3 motorcycles for 20 years. Yet, somehow, I had never ridden one until I found myself in the Côte d’Azur on the 2025 Triumph Rocket 3 Storm GT and Storm R. After 150+ miles riding just about every type of road extant along the French Riviera, it turns out […]

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]]> 2025 Indian Scout Lineup Review [Five Models Road Tested] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2024/05/01/2025-indian-scout-lineup-review-five-models-road-tested/ Thu, 02 May 2024 06:17:56 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=277141 Indian Motorcycle has been around since 1901 and is the oldest active motorcycle manufacturer in the United States. Its history is diverse, and many know Indian for its heavyweight cruisers, touring bikes, and the sporty Scout. The newest iterations of the Indian Scout are 2025 models in five different flavors. I attended the Tennessee launch […]

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]]> 2024 Harley-Davidson Hydra-Glide Revival Review [9 Fast Facts] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2024/03/29/2024-harley-davidson-hydra-glide-revival-review-9-fast-facts/ Sat, 30 Mar 2024 06:15:57 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=276209 Almost by chance, I’ve turned out to be the go-to reviewer of the bikes from the Harley-Davidson Icons Collection. I rode the 2021 Electra Glide Revival and 2023 Electra Glide Highway King from Los Angeles to show off to my dad in Williams, Arizona. I tore around California’s Central Valley and various mountain ranges in […]

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]]> 2024 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Review [17 Fast Facts] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2024/02/27/2024-harley-davidson-road-glide-review-17-fast-facts/ Wed, 28 Feb 2024 07:32:23 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=275374 It has been a busy few years for The Motor Company’s Road Glide franchise. It started in 2022 with the ST model inspired by MotoAmerica’s King of the Baggers racing series. Last year, the CVO Road Glide got an attention-grabbing revolutionary new fairing, the Milwaukee-Eight VVT 121 motor, and plenty of other significant upgrades. This […]

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]]> 2024 Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 Review [14 Fast Facts] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2024/01/17/2024-royal-enfield-shotgun-650-review-14-fast-facts/ Thu, 18 Jan 2024 07:35:11 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=274148 The latest iteration of Royal Enfield’s versatile 650-Twin platform is the bobber-styled Shotgun 650, a visually pleasing and easy-riding motorcycle. Built around the same smooth-powered and friendly engine found in the INT650 standard, Continental GT 650 café racer, and Super Meteor 650 cruiser, the 2024 Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 carves its own niche with a […]

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]]> 2005 Ironhorse LSE and Legend Review [Cruising In Miami] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/12/21/2005-ironhorse-lse-and-legend-review-cruising-in-miami/ Fri, 22 Dec 2023 06:53:26 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=273311 It wasn’t so long ago that Miami’s South Beach existed as a shabby collection of faded Art Deco splendor along Florida’s Atlantic coastline. But then the beautiful people, the fashion designers, and the celebrities with their hangers-on arrived, restoring buildings in the historic district and transforming the two-mile stretch of beachfront into a colorful 24/7 […]

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]]> 2005 Big Dog Ridgeback Review [Production Custom Chopper] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/12/20/2005-big-dog-ridgeback-review-production-custom-chopper/ Wed, 20 Dec 2023 08:39:32 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=273240 After having my molars jolted by other hardtail choppers, I was skeptical that a suitable high-performance, custom-production motorcycle could be purchased directly off a dealer’s showroom floor. I would be hard-pressed to find one with radical designs, frame rakes, and horsepower that provided somewhat civilized road manners, let alone be available with a factory warranty. […]

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]]> 2004 Big-Inch Cruiser Shootout: Honda, Kawasaki, Victory, Big Dog https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/12/16/2004-big-inch-cruiser-shootout-honda-kawasaki-victory-big-dog/ Sun, 17 Dec 2023 07:44:50 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=272758 An engine defines a motorcycle. Character, response, feel, and aesthetics all depend on the engine’s performance, sound, and configuration. And when it comes to engines, American riders know that bigger is better. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the all-American genre of heavyweight power cruisers. Big is truly the operative word with these machines—big […]

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]]> 2024 Benelli Imperiale 400 Review [15 Fast Facts] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/12/10/2024-benelli-imperiale-400-review-15-fast-facts/ Mon, 11 Dec 2023 05:06:16 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=272597 Benelli is being reintroduced to America for 2024, as the Chinese-owned Italian-heritage brand is taking over the importation and distribution of its motorcycles. That has resulted in a reshuffling of the Benelli lineup, which included the loss of the Leoncino 500 that we grew to know and love in a long-term test. Replacing the Leoncino […]

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]]> 2024 Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 Review [17 Fast Facts] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/12/02/2024-royal-enfield-super-meteor-650-review-17-fast-facts/ Sun, 03 Dec 2023 06:34:11 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=272343 The new 2024 Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 slots into the lightly-represented mid-size cruiser market with a novice-friendly and highly approachable machine—only the Kawasaki Vulcan S is a direct competitor. The British-designed, Indian-built motorcycle is a handsomely finished machine that feels anything but budget, despite its sub-$7k price tag. For anyone interested in the cruiser […]

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]]> 2023 Ducati Diavel V4 Review [11 Sport-Cruising Fast Facts] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/11/25/2023-ducati-diavel-v4-review-11-sport-cruising-fast-facts/ Sun, 26 Nov 2023 05:34:46 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=272121 Let’s get to it—the 2023 Ducati Diavel V4 is a cruiser in name only. While that may seem like a knock against the burly Italian machine, it’s meant in the most flattering way possible. Since its introduction in 2011, the Diavel has been faithful to one thing—the Diavel. The story goes something like this: A […]

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]]> 2023 Indian Sport Chief Review [9 Fast Facts] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/09/23/2023-indian-sport-chief-review-9-fast-facts/ Sat, 23 Sep 2023 07:12:01 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=269971 Indian seemed to have the sport side of its lineup covered by the FTRs and the Challenger—that latter provides the basis of the King of the Baggers race bikes. The Chief platform seemed comfortably entrenched in traditional cruisers and light-duty baggers. However, someone at Indian had bigger ideas, and the 2023 Indian Sport Chief is […]

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]]> 2024 Kawasaki Eliminator Review [13 Fast Facts] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/09/17/2024-kawasaki-eliminator-review-13-fast-facts/ Mon, 18 Sep 2023 04:14:57 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=269788 The Kawasaki Eliminator has been offered in many different forms since the name debuted with the Eliminator 900 in 1985. This latest bearer of the power-cruiser banner, the 2024 Kawasaki Eliminator, is a gem powered by a 451cc twin, designed to suit the needs of new riders and those who seek the joy of an […]

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]]> 2024 Honda Shadow Phantom Review [9 Fast Facts] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/09/14/2024-honda-shadow-phantom-review-9-fast-facts/ Thu, 14 Sep 2023 22:43:23 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=269719 Although the Rebel lineup gets most of the Honda cruiser attention these days, the 41-year-old Shadow V-twins are still around, and people continue to buy the latest iterations—the Phantom and the Aero. Both are powered by a liquid-cooled 745cc engine and are priced between the Rebel 500 and 1100. The Shadows had become something of […]

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]]> 2023 BMW R 18 Classic Review [Big Boxer Experience] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/08/18/2023-bmw-r-18-classic-review-big-boxer-experience/ Fri, 18 Aug 2023 21:59:40 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=269037 Taste or attraction can be a peculiar thing, and that might explain why I basically ignored BMW Motorrad’s lineup of R 18 bikes for almost three years. Now, upon rumination, I find them irresistible. I think my penchant for sport and sport-touring bikes fogged my vision, and it took some saddle time to overcome this […]

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]]> 2023 Indian Chief Bobber Dark Horse Review [Urban Ripper] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/08/09/2023-indian-chief-bobber-dark-horse-review-urban-ripper/ Wed, 09 Aug 2023 23:58:18 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=268775 The 2023 Indian Chief Bobber Dark Horse is a way to display plenty of attitude while getting around town. With your fists in the air, the big air-cooled Thunderstroke 116 V-twin motor, fat tires, and bobbed fenders, the Indian Chief Bobber Dark Horse is a no-holds-barred attention-grabbing device, both aurally and visually. Of course, from […]

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]]> 2023 Harley-Davidson Breakout 117 Review [9 Urban Fast Facts] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/08/06/2023-harley-davidson-breakout-117-review-9-urban-fast-facts/ Mon, 07 Aug 2023 06:50:35 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=268687 After a two-year break on home soil, the Breakout is back. Happily, the muscular urban cruiser is brawnier and more comfortable than ever. Still, it retains its dual missions—going fast in a straight line and making you look good at any speed. We hit the streets of Los Angeles and did both, finding out exactly […]

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]]> 2024 BMW R 18 Roctane Test [100th Anniversary Alpine Ride] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/06/01/2024-bmw-r-18-roctane-test-100th-anniversary-alpine-ride/ Fri, 02 Jun 2023 02:41:48 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=266622 One easy thumb press on the starter button with the fob in my pocket brings to life the familiar roar of the massive Big Boxer powerplant. Its unmistakable sound, accompanied by the left tugging torque surge of the engine, reminds me right away that this motorcycle is another R 18 variant featuring the colossal 1802cc […]

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]]> 2023 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Highway King Review https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/05/18/2023-harley-davidson-electra-glide-highway-king-review/ Fri, 19 May 2023 05:36:26 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=266223 After hitting the ball out of the park with two previous installments—the 2021 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Revival and the Low Rider El Diablo last year—The Motor Company brings us a third member of the Icons Collection. The 2023 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Highway King channels the 1968 FLH Electra Glide with fantastic aesthetic results. Of course, […]

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]]> 2023 Honda Rebel 1100T DCT Review [16 Fast Facts] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/05/02/2023-honda-rebel-1100t-dct-review-16-fast-facts/ Wed, 03 May 2023 06:46:49 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=265834 Once upon a time, there were various Honda cruisers that also served as touring platforms. However, it has taken until 2023 for a touring variant to make its way into the three-bike Rebel lineup of contemporary cruisers. Although the 2023 Honda Rebel 1100T DCT doesn’t compete with serious touring motorcycles, it is a bagger designed […]

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]]> 2022 Harley-Davidson Heritage Classic 114 Review https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/03/20/2022-harley-davidson-heritage-classic-114-review/ Tue, 21 Mar 2023 06:21:46 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=264813 ’Twas the day before Christmas in Southern California, and the sun was shining. A 2022 Harley-Davidson Heritage Classic 114 was sitting in my garage, and it was begging for a ride. It had been a cold and stormy December, limiting my riding options. I had a touring review of this dual-purpose Softail in mind, but […]

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]]> 2023 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Special Review [120th Edition] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/03/16/2023-harley-davidson-road-glide-special-review-120th-edition/ Thu, 16 Mar 2023 07:59:28 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=264723 One of the rides I enjoy most as Editor of Ultimate Motorcycling is heading home after picking up a test bike for the first time. Harley-Davidson’s fleet center is about 35 miles of urban sprawl from my home, at least as the crow flies. However, when my hands are on the grips, that ride can […]

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]]> 2023 Indian Sport Chief Test: A Thunderstroke of Performance https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/03/03/2023-indian-sport-chief-test-a-thunderstroke-of-performance/ Sat, 04 Mar 2023 01:02:41 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=264304 Irish motorcycle racer Charles Franklin designed the first Indian Chief back in 1921. At the time, the term “power cruiser” had not yet been coined. That came into vogue around the early 1980s when powerful, high-revving V4 engines were mounted, not in sport bike frames, but in chassis with cruiser geometry and ergonomics; examples included […]

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]]> 2023 Harley-Davidson Nightster Special Review [12 Fast Facts] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/02/14/2023-harley-davidson-nightster-special-review-12-fast-facts/ Tue, 14 Feb 2023 08:03:54 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=263876 It’s interesting to watch the reinvented Harley-Davidson Sportster lineup unfold. The Motor Company started off with the S, a fat-tire power-cruiser with the Revolution Max 1250T motor, a torquier off-shoot of the DOHC V-twin that debuted on the Pan America adventure motorcycle. Next up was the Nightster, which brought us the smaller and simpler Revolution […]

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]]> 2022 Harley-Davidson Sportster S Review [w/ Mid-Control Kit] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2023/02/06/2022-harley-davidson-sportster-s-review-w-mid-control-kit/ Mon, 06 Feb 2023 20:54:57 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=263736 Without any doubt, I’m going to miss the Evolution-powered Sportsters. They represented the basics of motorcycles, being not much more than a simple two-valve air-cooled V-twin motor, a basic frame, and primitive suspension. Balance is always the magic that makes for a good motorcycle, and the now-discontinued Sportsters had it. The Irons, the Forty-Eight, and […]

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