Cruisers are usually purchased by people who keep them for a very long time, because that is the kind of segment it is. It is not particularly interested in yearly tech updates; owners prefer a product that will last without giving them much trouble. At the same time, it cannot be slow. It needs to be quick enough that the owner does not tire of the performance too quickly. And of course, it needs a V-twin because that’s the default option, right? But as with so many other things, you can be spoiled for choice. This is a very lucrative segment for manufacturers, and the market offers all kinds of products. There Are A Few Long-Term Cruiser Bikes To Pick From In 2026 Harley-DavidsonIf you want a long-term cruiser, loyalists will think of the Harley-Davidson Fat Boy first. It is distinctive and has its own cult following globally. Harley has managed to evolve it into a reliable, modern cruiser, but with a nod to all the retro bits that have made it so famous and beloved. However, there is one thing that goes against it, and that is its purchase price. It is far and away a premium motorcycle, especially when loaded up with options.If you like your cruiser traditional but want it to have good performance, the Indian 101 Scout is the answer. It isn't as big as a full-size cruiser, but it is big enough and with enough performance to show you a good time, every time. The only fly in the ointment is that it weighs a little more than it should, thanks to the traditional frame, and Indian's recent change of ownership means the future of the company is anyone’s guess at this point. Still, it is good enough to show Harley a thing or two.BMWThe BMW R 18 sticks to BMW's preferred engine layout, the longitudinal boxer twin. This is the largest boxer twin that BMW has ever produced. And the R 18 is a bike that is large enough to match that. If you want to make a visual statement, this is definitely one of the bikes to choose, but again, its massive size means extra weight, and its performance isn't as good as you expect it to be. Plus, the valve clearance checks need to be done a lot more often than on the other traditional engine cruisers, which can be a hassle. Surprisingly, it has the most affordable price among all here! The Suzuki Boulevard M109R Still Feels Like A Smart Choice SuzukiSuzuki has only two cruisers in its lineup today, and both of them are fairly old models at this point. However, the bigger Boulevard M109R has enough performance to put a grin on your face even today. And since it's a mature platform, it has enough reliability to offer that performance consistently over a very long time. Its sales have been good over the years, so acquiring spares and their pricing are both going to make it feel effortless to own. And the minimalist attitude toward electronics means that there isn't much to go wrong in the long run. For all these reasons, the Suzuki Boulevard M109R is the long-term cruiser that still feels like a smart choice. This Is The Bargain In Its Segment SuzukiThe Boulevard M109R is priced at $15,799, proving you don't need Harley money for a big cruiser. This doesn't just compare favorably with the competition; the only modern cruiser that even comes close to it is the BMW R 18, whose base price is a few hundred dollars less than the Suzuki. However, it isn’t in the same league as the Suzuki when it comes to performance, which means that if it's a combination of performance, reliability, and ownership costs that you want, the Suzuki comes out on top. An All-Time Great V-Twin Engine SuzukiThe Boulevard's engine is one of the great engines in automotive history. Suzuki engineered it to prove a point to the competition way back in the 2000s, and it's safe to say that it succeeded emphatically, because this is not just the most powerful Japanese cruiser on the market today, it is the most powerful in its segment, period. Packs Over 120 HP SuzukiThis is a 54-degree V-twin that looks like it is air-cooled, but it is fully liquid-cooled with a DOHC head and four valves per cylinder. It displaces 1,783 cc, has a short-stroke design, and the compression ratio is 10.5:1. Peak power and torque are 123 horsepower at 6,200 RPM and 118 pound-feet at 3,200 RPM. It puts this power to the rear wheel via a wide-ratio five-speed transmission and shaft drive.Rumor has it that while Suzuki was developing the transmission for this product, the engine kept breaking the gearbox simply because of the amount of torque that it produced. We describe a lot of motorcycles as having ‘a wave of torque’, but the Boulevard actually feels like it has that. Open the throttle at any revs, in any gear, and it'll make you hang onto the handlebars for dear life. Traditional Frame, But A Surprise Or Two Elsewhere In The Chassis Department SuzukiThis is a traditional double-cradle frame made of steel, just like most American cruisers, making it a smart alternative to them, but there are a few twists in the tale beyond this. Suzuki has hidden the rear shock under the seat to give it a hardtail look. This is a styling choice that modern cruisers use to this day, but Suzuki was one of the first to do it twenty years ago. Another area that Suzuki has really paid attention to is the front suspension and brakes.It has purloined 46 mm cartridge-type inverted front forks from an old GSX-R superbike, as well as the twin 310 mm floating brake discs with radial four-piston fixed calipers. Again, something that wasn't standard practice two decades ago. The rear gets a more standard 274 mm disc with a two-piston floating caliper. It uses 18-inch alloy wheels at both ends and is shod with tubeless radial tires. The Boulevard M109R Is Big And Heavy Suzuki CyclesUnsurprisingly, the M109R is long and wide. The length is 95.5 inches, and it had the widest production rear tire on a motorcycle when it launched. Its seat height is also appreciably low, given that the rear shock is under the seat at 27.8 inches, and the ground clearance is also pretty good at 5.1 inches. The fuel tank holds 5.2 gallons, except in California, where it holds 4.9 gallons, and it will need all that fuel because this can be a thirsty engine if ridden hard, and it weighs a lot. The one place where the Boulevard M109R lags behind the competition is weight. At 764 pounds, it is significantly heavier than any of the competition. The Feature Set Gives Away The Age SuzukiKeeping a product the same for a long time bodes really well for its reliability because the manufacturer can change the weak links and improve them. However, when it comes to features, this is the opposite of what you would want from a manufacturer. Suzuki has not changed the Boulevard M109R from the time it was launched; it has the exact same set of features. Little wonder then that it has Honda levels of reliability.What you get is a two-part instrument cluster. The speedo is an analog one and is mounted on the tank. It also includes LCD screens that show the fuel level, the odometer, the trip meters, and the clock. In line with its drag bike aspirations, there is a digital tachometer mounted to the handlebars that also incorporates warning lamps and a gear indicator. When it comes to electronics, it's just the ignition and injection that are digital. A Great Choice For A Long-Term Cruiser Suzuki CyclesWhat we usually want is the latest and best. The Boulevard M109R shows that it is not necessary to have a good time on two wheels; all you need is a combination of Japanese reliability and classic American presence. Of course, it helps that the Boulevard's styling hasn't aged even over two decades, the engine is powerful even now, and it has a soundtrack that sounds like a storm on the horizon.Source: Suzuki Cycles
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