Cruiser Motorcycle Reviews: From Harley-Davidson to Indian Tests https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/riding-style/cruiser/cruiser-motorcycle-reviews/ Motorcycle Reviews, News on Motorcycles, Specs, Test & Race Results Sat, 23 Sep 2023 07:12:01 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.1 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/cropped-UMC_LOGO_512x512-140x140.jpg Cruiser Motorcycle Reviews: From Harley-Davidson to Indian Tests https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/riding-style/cruiser/cruiser-motorcycle-reviews/ 32 32 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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]]> 2022 Harley-Davidson Road King Special Review https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2022/10/23/2022-harley-davidson-road-king-special-review/ Mon, 24 Oct 2022 06:28:30 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=260792 Fresh off testing the fantastic new 2022 Harley-Davidson Low Rider El Diablo, I found myself on the 2022 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Special. The two motorcycles have one thing in common—they’re transgenre. El Diablo is a cruiser that became a touring motorcycle, while the Road King Special is a tourer that has transitioned into a cruiser. […]

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]]> 2022 Harley-Davidson Low Rider El Diablo Review [Softail Touring] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2022/10/20/2022-harley-davidson-low-rider-el-diablo-review/ Fri, 21 Oct 2022 04:42:16 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=260678 As soon as I set eyes on the 2022 Harley-Davidson Low Rider El Diablo, I knew I had to ride it. We had sent Senior Editor Nic de Sena off for our initial test of the new Low Rider ST, and I was anxious to put some time on the modern-day interpretation of the iconic […]

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]]> 2022 Harley-Davidson Iron 883 Review [Air-Cooled Sportster] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2022/09/16/2022-harley-davidson-iron-883-review-air-cooled-sportster/ Fri, 16 Sep 2022 20:15:15 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=253994 Harley-Davidson’s long-running Iron 883 is one of those elemental motorcycles that keeps things simple, delivering a sporty cruiser experience in an unintimidating package. That has made it a popular entry-level Sportster model for the past 13 years. Rider ergonomics play a big role in the confidence level of a new(ish) rider, and getting one’s boots […]

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]]> 2022 Harley-Davidson Low Rider S Review [10 Fast Facts] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2022/06/04/2022-harley-davidson-low-rider-s-review-10-fast-facts/ Sat, 04 Jun 2022 08:13:04 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=239719 Every now and then, a model rolls off the production line that represents two-wheeled wish fulfillment, which in this case is the 2022 Harley-Davidson Low Rider S. Launched in 2016 with a moody black and gold visage, the Low Rider S’ journey began with the Dyna family, moved to the modern single-shock Softail platform and, […]

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]]> 2022 Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST Review [A Dozen Fast Facts] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2022/05/17/2022-harley-davidson-low-rider-st-review-a-dozen-fast-facts/ Tue, 17 May 2022 06:03:46 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=239357 There is no doubt that the 2022 Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST is a prime example of serving red meat to the masses. After watching the West Coast style weave itself into the American V-twin vernacular, The Motor Company knew precisely when to ring the dinner bell. The 1980s FXRT Sport Glide achieved cult status among […]

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]]> 2022 Harley-Davidson Nightster Review [14 Fast Facts: New Sportster] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2022/04/30/2022-harley-davidson-nightster-review-14-fast-facts-new-sportster/ Sat, 30 Apr 2022 07:21:44 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=238953 A lot comes with a name. A callback to the original is only natural, and so, too, are the hefty expectations that follow. The radically modern 2022 Harley-Davidson Nightster meets those demands head-on by ushering in a new generation of Sportster motorcycles, carefully tying classic Sportster elements to a new tech-laden water-cooled Revolution Max 975T […]

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]]> 2021 Indian Scout Bobber Sixty Review [Urban Motorcycle Test] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2022/03/23/2021-indian-scout-bobber-sixty-review-urban-motorcycle-test/ Thu, 24 Mar 2022 03:53:23 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=238143 Every once in a while, a new motorcycle slips through the cracks. The Indian Scout Bobber Sixty debuted mid-year in 2020—a horrible year by any measure. Not only was the virus hysteria in full swing, but I also managed to shatter my right fibula and tibia in a dirt bike mishap. There was no official […]

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]]> 2022 Harley-Davidson Road Glide ST Review [12 Fast Facts] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2022/02/25/2022-harley-davidson-road-glide-st-review-12-fast-facts/ Fri, 25 Feb 2022 18:47:13 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=237459 Milwaukee’s Bar and Shield brand is in the midst of a renaissance. To touch on a few recent achievements, Harley-Davidson has forged its path into the ultra-competitive ADV world, launched the all-electric LiveWire brand, and clinched the 2021 MotoAmerica King of The Baggers Championship title. Now, H-D is taking the plunge into the West Coast […]

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]]> 2022 Harley-Davidson Street Glide ST Review [11 Fast Facts] https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2022/02/17/2022-harley-davidson-street-glide-st-review-11-fast-facts/ Fri, 18 Feb 2022 03:06:12 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=237244 The Motor Company has performance on its mind, still basking in the glow of its recent King of the Baggers championship win, and is celebrating that achievement with three new 2022 ST models—the Road Glide ST, Street Glide ST, and Low Rider ST. Each take a healthy dose of inspiration from the full-factory Harley-Davidson Screamin’ […]

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]]> 2021 Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight Review: Elemental Motorcycle https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2021/12/14/2021-harley-davidson-forty-eight-review/ Tue, 14 Dec 2021 20:13:02 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=235732 It will be a sad day when the Harley-Davidsons powered by the air-cooled Evolution V-twin are gone. They’re certainly being eased out, as there are only three choices left in 2021—the Iron 1200, Iron 883, and the subject of this review, the Forty-Eight. Harley-Davidson doesn’t even call them Sportsters any longer. The trio is categorized […]

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]]> 2021 BMW vs. Harley-Davidson: R 18 Classic vs. Heritage Classic 114 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2021/10/27/2021-bmw-vs-harley-davidson-r-18-classic-vs-heritage-classic-114/ Thu, 28 Oct 2021 00:28:34 +0000 https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/?p=234445 “On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair.” The Eagles song is running through my head on a bright and surprisingly cool day. I am blasting down a ruler-straight desert highway chasing Ultimate Motorcycling Editor Don Williams. He’s on a 2021 BMW R18 Classic; I’m on a 2021 Harley-Davidson Heritage Classic 114. Having […]

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