For a true Harley-Davidson fan, other motorcycles are just a taste of what the American machine can offer. And there is a lot of truth in this – probably no other company in the motorcycle industry has built such a strong brand and a large group of fans gathered around it. And what can be offered to motorcyclists who are looking for an interesting power cruiser from the offer of other global manufacturers?
Let’s do a quick market review. Importantly, we’ll leave prices aside here, so no one should be surprised to see new machines for over PLN 100,000 in this list, as well as many cheaper offers from the used vehicle group. Let’s start!
BMW R18
After the interesting but not very spectacular «Bond» (R 1200 C) and its derivatives, BMW went all in towards the classic and capacity of a two-cylinder boxer. This is how the R 18 was born, whose powerful engine, together with a large exhaust system, can be boldly called a work of applied art. It does not impress with its power (91 HP), but it has enough torque (158 Nm) to efficiently drive a German power cruiser. In addition, an interesting silhouette and good workmanship.
When it comes to equipment, it has only what is really necessary in a machine of this type. The minimalist frame «pretending» to be a construction with a rigid back, only one seat and classic, spoked wheels make an impression. BMW, following up the blow, introduced subsequent versions of this machine, better adapted to long journeys, but it is the basic version that is closest to the trend of a strong, raw cruiser.
Ducati Diavel 1200/1260
The Diavel caused quite a stir when it appeared in the Ducati stable. For many fans of the brand, it was a profanation of its sporty character. Time has shown how wrong they were. The Diavel became one of the best-selling models of the Italian manufacturer, and its assumptions and basic engineering solutions have remained unchanged for over 10 years. Why do people love this motorcycle so much? First of all, for almost 160 HP transferred to the rear wheel in a typical, aggressive way for Ducati. Apart from that, with the silhouette of a power cruiser and a powerful rear tire, it remains a great motorcycle for everyday, dynamic riding.
The Diavel handles, accelerates and brakes like a proper power naked, and the advanced electronics supporting the ride allow for a lot. The newer the version, the more extras on board — in the latest models we have, among others, a quickshifter operating up and down, advanced traction control, cornering ABS, LED lighting and variable valve timing. Collectors should recommend the limited editions, and there have been several over the years. The most tempting morsel is the first of them – the Diavel AMG, a motorcycle that reaches prices at auctions that far exceed the value of a new machine.
Ducati XDiavel
Despite the word Diavel in its name, the X is a completely different motorcycle in terms of style. We are dealing with a power cruiser through and through. The biggest differences from the regular Diavel are the front wheel pushed further out (30º instead of 27º) and a completely different riding position, with more straight legs. The engine is practically the same unit as in the latest Diavels – the Testastretta DVT 1260 with variable valve timing.
To all this, Ducati added an aggressive silhouette, a meaty rear tire and a quiet belt drive that does not require many maintenance activities. The XDiavel, despite its long front, feels great in corners, it also has great brakes and Ducati Power Launch — a system supporting a nuclear start from the lights or for a ¼ mile race.
Honda VT 1300CX
When thinking of Honda power cruisers, the first association is the century-old Magna. The second thing that comes to mind is the F6C Valkyrie and the mighty VTX 1800. But these are not the motorcycles I want to write about today. An interesting, somewhat forgotten proposition is the Honda VT 1300CX — a motorcycle resembling a custom machine from reputable workshops.
It is not a typical cruiser, but more of a chopper, but you can turn a blind eye to that. Despite its low power (75 hp), the motorcycle is a lot of fun to ride, handles quite well, and, above all, looks great. No other machine from the stable of this Japanese manufacturer has such a “harley” character.
Indian Chief
In the review of motorcycles that are alternatives to Harley-Davidson, the Indian must not be missing. Here, too, we have layers of tradition, although the brand disappeared from the market for many years and then changed ownership. Fortunately, now we can see development and models that refer by name to historical designs. A motorcycle that falls quite well within the definition of a power cruiser is the Chief. Despite the 1.8-liter engine, it is quite a compact motorcycle. The manufacturer does not officially state the power, but 145 Nm of torque is impressive, as is the silhouette — short fenders, aluminum rims and a powerful exhaust.
But this is not the only model worthy of attention. The Scout Rogue is an interesting option for those who like motorcycles of this type, equipped with sporty mini-oval-style accents. Its short-stroke 1133 ccm engine generates a round 100 hp. Contrary to appearances for this machine, it is not too little, as the weight has managed to remain at a very decent level for this class — 238 kg dry is a very good result.
Suzuki M1800R Intruder
The M1800R is the largest Suzuki power cruiser ever made. The motorcycle fondly called the anteater is powerful in every way — power is boiling from almost every part of it. Impressive are some of the details from the technical data — the motorcycle measures almost 2.5 meters in length, the pistons are 112 mm in diameter, and 160 Nm of torque is available already at 3200 rpm (maximum power is a moderate 125 hp).
So no one should be surprised by the weight either, at 315 kg dry. The M1800R rides like it looks — it has a good kick, but when cornering or maneuvering you can’t forget about the weight. For everyday riding, you can recommend its smaller brother — the M 1500. Although it has only 80 hp, it looks just as impressive, and is much more manageable and practical.
Triumph Rocket III
Known for producing three-cylinder engines, Triumph went all the way — in 2004 the Rocket III went on sale, which is powerful in every way. First, its longitudinally-aligned engine has a 2.3-liter displacement and generates 140 hp. Secondly, it weighs 320 kg (and that’s dry!), but that doesn’t stop it from driving quite nimbly! Quite soon after the presentation, there were videos of a decent stoking of this motorcycle, which not only likes to ride sideways very much, but also stands up on the rear wheel without much trouble!
The latest versions of the Rocket III have as much as 2.5 liters of engine displacement, 167 hp and an insane 221 Nm of torque. Triumph’s engineers also took care of the brakes — the models offered now have a Brembo system with radial-mounted front calipers. The latest Rocket III has also undergone a weight-loss treatment — it has managed to lose more than 30 kg relative to the first model.
Triumph Thunderbird Storm
The Rocket III is not the only Triumph power cruiser. It is also worth mentioning the Thunerbird model, especially its enhanced Storm version. The two-cylinder engine, already set up in the classic (i.e. transverse) manner, has 1.7 liters of capacity and generates 98 hp. However, let no one be misled by the relatively low power output. The 156 Nm of torque does its job, making the Storm eager to burn rubber and accelerate quite well.
This model combines two approaches to styling — on the one hand, it is subdued, simple in terms of lines, which is emphasized by the gauges on the fuel tank. On the other hand, the feisty element is the dual headlights, like those on the first Speed Triples. This is an interesting motorcycle, being somewhat in the shadow of the more powerful Rocket III.
Yamaha VMAX
The Yamaha VMAX refers to Yamaha’s iconic mastodon launched in 1984 — the V-max model. The V4 engine of this motorcycle generated 145 hp and just over 100 Nm of torque. All transferred to a tire width of just 150 mm! Unfortunately, due to the flaccid chassis, few were able (or brave enough) to exploit the potential of this motorcycle.
In 2009, Yamaha introduced an all-new model — the VMAX, with a 4-cylinder forked engine producing 200 hp. In this machine, measuring almost 2.5 meters, everything is powerful. Suffice it to mention the 52 mm front lags. The VMAX does the ¼ mile in 11 seconds, and eats the rear 200-millimeter tire at an alarming rate.
Yamaha XV 1700 Road Star Warrior
Sold from 2003 to 2010, the Yamaha Warrior is an icon of the power cruiser genre. As befits a motorcycle of this type, it is long, powerful and has a big engine. The 1.7-liter unit has such a large piston stroke (96.5 mm) that specific design solutions were used to lower the entire power unit. Thus, we have a classic OHV valve train with pushrods and hydraulic valve lash reset and dry sump lubrication. Nonetheless, it’s safe to say that the Warrior consists mainly of the engine and the oversized exhaust routed on the right side.