Why Buy a Cruiser?

When you think of the classic American motorcycle, you’re likely thinking of a cruiser. With their vintage style reminiscent of motorcycles built between the 1930s and 1960s, chrome accents, and distinctive riding position, cruisers remain a popular and classic choice for riders of all ages - as they have been for decades. At St. Charles Harley-Davidson® in St. Charles, Missouri, we have a great selection of cruisers at competitive prices. Come see us when you’re in the market, and our friendly and experienced sales team will find you the bike of your dreams. We happily serve customers in St. Louis and St. Peters.

The Basics

When you swing your leg over a cruiser, you’re joining a classic American riding tradition - and that puts you in good company! Riders sit low on a cruiser, with the fuel tank set higher on the bike, and with their hands mounted up on high-mounted handlebars. Foot pegs are set forward, increasing comfort by aligning the spine and allowing for a more comfortable ride that still permits proper control of the bike. 

Cruiser motorcycles are highway kings, designed with big, powerful engines intended for long stretches of high-speed riding. Cruiser engines often exceed 1,000 ccs, with large-displacement V-twin engines providing the low-end torque riders need to make that power work for them. This engine design generally means that cruisers can accelerate without having to downshift as often as other bikes, making highway passing that much easier. These design cues make a cruiser a great choice for a new rider, although inexperienced riders should opt for a smaller engine until they get comfortable with riding. 

Customization

Cruisers are all about customization. These bikes are generally designed with a simple frame that makes them easy to tweak. Riders can adjust handlebar heights, saddles, footpeg positions, and add chrome fairings, accents, custom luggage racks, panniers, and all manner of other things to make their bikes perfect. And how you customize your bike will depend on your focus - do you want it to be more comfortable? You can generally add a back rest or adjust other things about the bike to achieve that goal. If you’re after greater performance, you can tweak the engine to improve acceleration or fuel efficiency. You can personalize your bike by adding custom LED lighting or adding fun designs to the paint job. Some riders customize their rides so much that they enter the “chopper” category - bikes with super tall handlebars and radical styling cues that catch the eye with their unique designs. 

With customization being so common and popular, a rider needs to research whether to buy their upgrades individually or opt for a customization package, allowing a rider to do everything in one neat package with the reassurance that each part will be compatible with all the others. 

Sub-types of Cruiser

Cruisers that go beyond the standard can fit into several sub-types. As previously mentioned, a “chopper” is a customized cruiser that is often stripped-down, with a teardrop shaped gas tank, raked front ends, tall handlebars, and an extended front fork. These bikes aren’t designed to be easy to ride - they’re designed to make a statement, and they do that with style. 

Power cruisers take the cruiser bike concept and turn it up to 11. These bikes are reinforced and upgraded all over - better brakes, more powerful engines, more horsepower, and a more muscular style. Power cruisers also tend to benefit from modern touches, like digital displays. 

We hope this short guide has helped you understand what a cruiser bike is and why it might be right for you. If you’re thinking about buying a cruiser, please come see us at St. Charles Harley-Davidson. We look forward to seeing you!