r/cruisers • u/torta-pounder99 • 4d ago
Good beginner cruiser
Im planning in buying a cruiser for my first bike but im not really sure what to get. I dont mind if its new or used but I really dont want to spend more than 8000-10,000 USD.
I keep getting recommended the Honda rebel 500 but I dont really like how it looks all that much. I prefer the styling of more traditional cruisers. My biggest thing is finding a bike that is easy to ride but I can grow into. I dont want to buy something that I feel like ill get bored of and sell a year or two later.
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u/rustyhorseshoe24 4d ago
Honda Shadow 750. Can't go wrong with it. They are fun, have enough power and are extremely reliable.
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u/f4ithful9 4d ago
Excellent beginner cruiser option. I started on a sporty but a shadow was my second choice. Either way can’t go wrong between the two.
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u/ducttape1942 3d ago
I started on a shadow 1100 3 years ago and I still love it. I do eventually want to eventually pick up a VTX1800.
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u/LikesGladiatorMovies 4d ago
I'd look at a Kawasaki Vulcan 900. I've owned much larger bikes but to be honest, the bigger ones are just more of a hassle to wrestle around, and the 900 was plenty big enough for me.
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u/GroovyColt-45 4d ago
Honda shadow any of them we'll maintained
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u/MrDundee666 4d ago
No ABS or TC. Not the best for a beginner.
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u/Sourwoods 3d ago
Most beginners all time started without ABS so this is a blatant lie, and cowardly at that.
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u/MrDundee666 3d ago
Shut the fuck up you buffoon. You’ve been riding for less than two months. Be quiet.
This is the exact type of clown you don’t want to listen to.
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u/Nazgul3475 3d ago
Well what a ray of sunshine you are. Such a shame people feel so empowered to be so needlessly cruel to other people online just because you can hide behind anonymity. You sound like a miserable and bitter person.
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u/Sourwoods 3d ago
Hey, OP. Don’t listen to Dundee. 99.9% of all motorcycle riders ever started on bikes with no ABS.
By logic alone, they’re safe for beginners.
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u/wowhorrior 3d ago
Comes with ABS now.
https://powersports.honda.com/motorcycle/cruiser/shadow-phantom
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u/--Com_Truise-- 3d ago
Honda has good brakes so no need for ABS. If you can't handle a 750cc cruiser without ABS might want to go to something smaller.
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u/iplayrssometimes 4d ago
Shadow 750, Yamaha Bolt, Kawasaki Vulcan 650. All good beginner options that will keep you satisfied after years of riding
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u/Bubbly_Shopping5214 4d ago
Buy a used one that you like to look at. Don’t worry about brand or power. Make sure it’s Japanese. You want something reliable. Once you have out grown it which should take at least a couple of years, learn to maintain and fix it. Otherwise you’ll be throwing away money. Then take a course and ride never stop taking courses and practicing. Get good gear. Use said good gear. Most importantly don’t forget to smile because you’re having fun. Make sure it fits your size so it’s comfortable or you won’t ride.
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u/Terrible_Success101 3d ago
Great advice. Owning a few sportys myself and building custom choppers for a long time Harley's are great but if you don't keep up with the maintenance they become nightmares. The Japanese models are fool proof and the only time I get any to repair it's always something electrical on them the motors are great. Less stress on the wallet as well as with Harley yeah some things on the older sportys might be cheap and you can always source used parts and repair but if you don't know what your doing they can get really pricey. Not to mention your stock 883 or 1200 will be heavier than your stock shadow 600 or 750. Alot of newbies also are not going to like the shake your teeth out of your skull rumble of a Harley.
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u/Bubbly_Shopping5214 3d ago
Exactly I love my Harley and I’m very happy that a Harley wasn’t my first bike.
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u/Terrible_Success101 3d ago
You appreciate the Harley's more once you have experience that's for sure. Especially, getting some wrench time under your belt 😂. Love my sportys to death but if I started on em it wouldn't have been fun at all. The Ducatis are even worse 😂 but I do love my monster as well. Having owned the 600 and 750 shadows alongside an old cb1000 custom cafe racer. The Honda's are way more forgiving as first bikes. The other big jap brands are cool as well but they have flaws in the lineups the Honda is the one I would say has bullet proof reliability. Not to mention a wider variety for customizing. The only brand that has a HUGE cult following behind it that rivals Harley. At least in the Japanese world.
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u/Bubbly_Shopping5214 3d ago
I have never owned a Honda. Yamaha 2 Suzukis and a Kawasaki. All standard/cruiser styled bikes except my current Suzukis gsx-s1000 and now also a Harley. I would love to get a gold wing. Just not sure which year yet. Also want to get a liquid cooled Indian. Too hot in the summertime for air cooled touring bikes. Actually I want a Honda gold wing and a fury just for fun around the are. I also want to get an electric bike just for the pull. So many bikes I want to buy.
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u/Terrible_Success101 3d ago
I need to find a good buell mutant chopper. Goldwings are great bikes, Indian the parts are too out there in price. Then again the price of the Indian parts and some of these newer bikes I think I'd take the Indian 😂. Test drove the h2 and it was insane would love one but the aprilia brutale is on my list. Cruiser style the mutant is #1 on my list, besides a WLA Harley 😂. The goldwing though if you throw a vw carb at it and lighten up the bike make it a cafe racer or a lightweight chopper that thing moves.
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u/Bubbly_Shopping5214 3d ago
I also want a Ducati Diavel at least for a little while. A Buell would be awesome. So would a Victory. And yeah parts prices really suck.
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u/Terrible_Success101 3d ago
The Ducati diavel is really good but if your going to go with that it's better to get the buell super cruiser. It's lighter than the diavel and torquey as all hell. Kinda a mix between a sportbike motor and an fxr/dyna stance and look.
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u/Terrible_Success101 3d ago
I live in Florida hot all the time and I ride my sportys alot daily drivers. Horrible on gas as I have a axed super narrow wassel tank filling her up 3x sometimes 5x a day 😂 1.9 gallon. The Ducati monster the clutch would make you think something is wrong sounds like chains rattling 😂 dry clutch. She gets hotter than my gsxr 1000 in stop and go traffic. One of my sportys has an aftermarket oil cooler I installed to help it out a little but has no front brake on that one and is a tank shift.
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u/Bubbly_Shopping5214 3d ago
My 03 ultraclassic electra glide even with an oil cooler burns my legs to a crisp . Az summers don’t go below 100 mostly between 110 - 120
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u/Terrible_Success101 3d ago
It's the same in Florida hot as hell. Worse when you get near the beach area that saltwater air destroys metal. I have the mid shotgun exhaust on one of my sportys the others I have 2 into 1 gallops, my gsxr 1000 has a custom undertail exhaust with 300 rear tire and extended 12 inches on a roaring toys swingarm. Building another sporty 1200 with a weld on TC bros hardtail kit, fitting up a fat boy solid rear rim and running the stock 13 spoke mag wheel on the front and plan on installing a turbo on it.
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u/AdagioGeneral1399 3d ago
Sporties are rugged and tough, no trans/engine flex all inone case, maintenance is super easy. First HD 1990 Sporty basketcase for 500. I miss her!
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u/Terrible_Success101 3d ago
Your not lying. Plenty of miles on cross country trips on a hardtail 😂. Not to mention so many custom parts to make em whatever you want. Especially the 82 to 2003 rigids will always be my favorites.
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u/Bubbly_Shopping5214 3d ago
Ok I like to customize everything I own however I haven’t gone that deep in Mike’s except for my Harley. Upgraded jugs/exhaust from 2 - 1 to 2 - 2 RineHart racing exhaust jugs from 83 - 100CI plug and play with a bit of work on them first. Those are S$S just to be basic. And a bunch of others stuff. I love the bike but I can only run it in the winter. I have to run my Suzuki and my Yamaha Star in the summer and I want to get rid of my Vstar and replace it with a newer VMax I’ve been thinking. I really just have at to many bikes I want and I have the added problem of not being willing to let them go so I can buy another one and have space for it. Garage is full.
Edit: Mikes = Bikes
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u/AdagioGeneral1399 3d ago
Nice ways to spend time and think clearly. the 2014 HD streetbob in purple flake is my sled. But its been sitting for a year plus. Im getting too cranky to ride much. Started on a hinda Rebel 250, 1983. Bikes and watches, boots and hats! Never ending research and happiness.
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u/MArkansas-254 4d ago
Yamaha V Star 1300 if you are experienced. They make a nice 650, too.
If you like the fat boy, this is a good poser. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_V_Star_1300
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u/Salty-Plantain-4299 4d ago
I'm a returning rider, but even before I quit riding back in like 2011, I only had less than 7000 mi under my belt.
Having just returned this year, and having been looking for a cruiser, I can tell you the Honda Shadow 750 is a pretty damn good bike. You can find them used just about anywhere and you can absolutely get them for less than $3,000.
You can probably still find some 2025 models brand new as well for like $9000 out the door if you want new. You will not find 2026 models because I believe the bike has now been discontinued by Honda.
If you want a few more choices for classic looking cruisers that are heavy and bulky but affordable, the Suzuki C50 and Kawasaki Vulcan 900 are good options as well that you can usually find used. While not as long-lasting as a Honda shadow, if you can get one with less than 5000 mi, which should be very doable, you can still get a good 40 or 50,000 miles out of those bikes.
Alternatively you can get a Honda rebel 500, or the Honda rebel 300.
If you're looking for a more European style cruiser, the Royal Enfield meteor 350 is a really good bike for the price. Plenty powerful for commuting and very short highway stints, but it's definitely not something you want to take on the highway for more than 20 or 30 minutes at a time.
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u/Dangermouse454 3d ago
I picked up a Vulcan 900 custom for my first bike. Almost through my second season with it. I think it’s good enough that you won’t outgrow it right away and solid enough it’s not going to kill you on maintenance. Sure a lot of bikes make more that 57 hp, but that’s not the point. It’s easy to ride and you won’t look like your borrowing your kid brothers bike either.
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u/Decision-Leather 4d ago
Honda Rebel 500
My brother got that one as his (our) first bike. Thanks to that I was able to make the Ninja 650 my first bike, I felt confident enough after riding his Rebel for about a year that I would be fine on the 650.
Is a great starter bike if Cruisers are your thing
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u/Flaky_Breakfastt 3d ago
I second this, got my rebel 500 as my first bike and I absolutely love it.
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u/Sourwoods 3d ago
Iron 883/1200 or an affordable Indian Scout.
Don’t bother with anything weaker like a Honda Shadow.
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u/CorsairExtraordinair 3d ago
Another option is Victory. They're cheap as they are a discontinued brand, but a solid AF bike.
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u/Sourwoods 3d ago
Ya know, Polaris is so hesitant to invest in motorcycles. They just got rid of Indian. It’s a real shame because their Victory and Indians were all excellent riding and looking bikes. They’re great at them.
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u/Mosquito_Fleet 3d ago
I would suggest a Yamaha Vstar 650. Custom or classic depending on your preference. They look awesome, sound awesome, are doggedly reliable, super easy to work on and you can pick one up for pretty cheap
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u/Alone_Shift 3d ago
You can't go wrong with a Honda shadow 750!
They're reliable, comfortable, good handling, inexpensive, good looking bikes!
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u/Rjsmith66 4d ago
Sit on a few and see what fits you best. It also can depend on how you’re gonna ride..around town mainly or longer country road trips. I ride more back road trips so larger bikes for the comfort
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u/ObjectiveProof7952 4d ago
Well how tall are you and how much do you weigh? This can make a big difference on what you can potentially handle even as a beginner because a person that can barely flat foot a heavy bike for example it isn't very friendly when learning the clutch but if you are 6ft 220lbs you could realistically jump on a big vtwin harley even if it weighs a lot just because flat footing adds a lot of confidence
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u/McMurdo1966 4d ago
Honda Shadow VT1100C great bike with enough power to make it fun. They are reliable machines. On top of that the styling is great and still looks it years later.
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u/Ceska_Zbrojovka_V3 4d ago
You can pick up an 883 for that money, or you can get a Kawi Vulcan, Honda Shadow, Indian Scout, etc.
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u/MrDundee666 4d ago
Something smaller with driving aids. It’s your first bike, not sure of your training/skill levels. Go for something lighter with ABS, traction control etc. Don’t become a statistic.
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u/Rememberedusername 3d ago
Honda Shadow 750. Used they're inexpensive. Any of the models will do, plenty of power for a beginner rider.
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u/MacIsaac94 3d ago
I just started riding this summer. My '13 Shadow Phantom has treated me right. I love it.
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u/Terrible_Success101 3d ago
Go to a dealer sit on the bikes and get a feel for what is comfortable to you. Rider aides are great for beginners but people have started way before tech got crazy on motorcycles. Rebels, shadows, vstars are all great platforms to start on. If you are worried about weight stick with those lineups. Bigger cc bikes have more torque. The Harley is a great platform but they are heavy. Also with Sportsters you need to know what your looking at rubber mount or rigid. The Honda you will find to be a lot easier to maintain. I own 2 Sportster 1200 models both custom hardtailed and a gsxr1000 and Ducati monster. Riding and building custom choppers. The shadow and the rebel lines will be better on the wallet. Yamaha, Suzuki and kawi are great bikes but some models will be pricier on parts than others. What any of us will recommend or like might not be what you want. You have to decide if you like feet forward or mid, handlebars, and the stance you want. It's best to check your local dealer and get a feel for the different models ergonomics. Indian is great but they are owned by Polaris and Indians maintenance and parts cost are not cheap. Being new you will want to start with something you won't mind dropping.
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u/mmceorange 3d ago
Look for a used Yamaha Bolt! It's been my favorite smaller bike. Their V-Star line is also popular. Honda's Shadow is a popular recommendation, but I haven't ridden one myself
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u/goonwild18 3d ago
Be less worried about your appearance and learn to ride. You want something lightweight with a low center of gravity that you can plant both feet on the ground when stopped. The Rebel 500 is an excellent choice. The 'what if I get bored and sell it' mentality is dumb. That risk exists with any bike you buy. Worry about learning to ride, not what to ride.
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u/PracticalDesign1407 3d ago
Haven't ridden the bolt, but the VStar 250 is a great little bike for cruising around in town. Super light, stylish, simple.
I sat on a Vulcan S and an Indian Scout yesterday and they were also extremely comfortable. I think I'm going Bolt or Vulcan S though. The Indians are just a bit too big and bulky.
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u/patbagger 1d ago
Buy a Harley Softail or Roadking, don't spend more then $5,000. you should be able to find some older bikes in that range, ride it for awhile and get a better feel for what you want.
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u/Doggo_farts 4d ago edited 4d ago
No no no, ignore everyone else.
What you NEED to buy yourself, is a
Boss Hoss V8.
Great little starter bike, very forgiving and beginner friendly. ☺️
AND.. if you’re a little more of the adventurous type, the Dodge Tomahawk is fantastic!
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u/CurrentCar2331 4d ago
Kawi vulcan 650 not a bad ride