What is a cruiser motorcycle?
A cruiser motorcycle is a relaxed, low-slung bike with feet-forward footpegs and a riding position built around comfort and torque rather than outright speed.
Everything about a cruiser's shape serves the same idea: an unhurried ride, not a fast one. The seat sits low, the footpegs are set forward, not beneath the rider, and the bars usually pull back toward the body instead of stretching the rider forward. Engines are tuned to deliver strong pulling power at low revs, not from a high-revving top end, which suits relaxed, open-road riding better than tight, technical corners. The long, low silhouette and the chrome on show have made cruisers as much about presence as performance, and the recipe hasn't moved far in decades even though the machinery underneath has. There's no official definition to hold anyone to, either. The types of motorcycle page covers where the naming actually comes from.
Where the cruiser shape comes from
The cruiser copies the look of American motorcycles built from the 1930s to the early 1960s, as the cruiser entry on Wikipedia sets out. The riding position puts the feet forward and the hands up, with the back upright or leaning back a little. The engine is tuned for easy riding and plenty of pulling power low in the revs, not for peak horsepower. A V-twin is the traditional choice, though inline engines have become more common.
Japanese makers began building bikes in that older style in the mid-1980s, and by 1997 cruisers made up nearly 60 percent of the US motorcycle market. The low-slung build has a cost: a traditional cruiser cannot lean as far into a corner as most road bikes, because the low parts meet the tarmac sooner. Many power cruisers, and many Japanese cruisers of the 1980s, sit the rider in a more neutral position, with the feet less far forward.
Individual bikes can vary.
Cruiser words you will hear
Riders use a few extra names for cruisers, and each one tells you something about the bike in question.
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Power cruiser | A cruiser with a bigger engine, stronger brakes and better suspension than usual, and often more ground clearance and more modern styling. |
| Bagger or dresser | A cruiser carrying a lot of touring luggage. The names started with cruisers and are now used for any touring bike. |
| Custom | A bike changed to suit its owner. Cruisers are often the starting point for a custom build. |
Our cruiser art page turns that silhouette into oil-painting and ink studies, or your own cruiser from a photo. The tourer shares the same relaxed instincts with more weather protection and luggage.
Buying for a cruiser rider? Motorbike gift ideas is where to look.
Written by Craig Fearn, Throttlefolio. Last updated .
Questions answered
Why do cruisers have forward-set footpegs?
It stretches the rider into a relaxed, reclined position instead of the knees-bent stance of a sports bike or naked roadster - built for comfort over long distances.
Is a cruiser a good first motorcycle?
The low seat and gentle power delivery suit some new riders well, though the size and weight of larger cruisers can be a handful at low speed.
Are cruisers always V-twins?
No. The V-twin is the traditional cruiser engine, but inline engines have become more common. The feet-forward riding position and the long, low shape are what make a bike a cruiser.
Keep reading
- Next What is a tourer?
A tourer motorcycle is a bike built for long-distance comfort, usually fitted with a full fairing, a tall screen and hard luggage for carrying gear over distance.