Cruiser motorcycles are prey to the same weaknesses as motorcycles from any other segment. We are attracted to the latest, the biggest, and the ones that are marketed the best. However, in any walk of life, there are products that slip by in the shadows. They aren’t endorsed by celebrities or influencers, but chug along in their own lane, at their own pace. They are defined by engineering excellence, styling that ages gracefully, maintenance that doesn’t break the bank, and performance that puts a smile on your face.We’ve found a cruiser that sports chrome and fat rubber, but stays just out of sight of the casual browser that dismisses it as old. To the faithful, however, its massive rear tire and feel-it-in-your-chest exhaust tell a different story. One that tells us how this small manufacturer got this product so right 19 years ago, that it sells in the exact same form today. It remains superlative while the competition has had two decades to catch up, and as reliable as a Swiss watch. Here is the most overlooked cruiser that will last a lifetime. The Suzuki Boulevard M109R Is The Most Overlooked Cruiser That Will Last A Lifetime Price: $15,799 Suzuki Cycles There are many cruisers vying for your money, but there are very few that are going to be reliable for an extended period of time while still offering enough performance to put a smile on your face for years to come. The big Boulevard, the M109R, will do exactly that with its supersized engine and power and torque figures that still aren’t matched at the price. We often mention motorcycles that have been in production for a long time, but the Boulevard M109R has not changed at all since its launch in 2006. The power and torque figures, the curb weight, the features… none of it has changed one bit in nearly twenty years. This is a rare occurrence in the automotive industry, but it makes for one heck of a reliable motorcycle! The Suzuki Boulevard M109R Engine Is A Marvel Still The Most Powerful In Class, Two Decades Later SuzukiThe Boulevard was Suzuki’s contribution to the race in the 2000s that saw engines and motorcycles gain displacement and bragging rights. Kawasaki won that race then, and that V-twin displacement record has only recently been eclipsed by a model closer to home. The Boulevard never topped the displacement chart, but it sat atop the V-twin power charts for a long time. It still remains the most powerful cruiser under $20,000, in fact. The pistons are among the biggest pistons ever on a motorcycle, and just because it is powerful doesn’t mean it isn’t torquey. You get a massive 118 pound-feet peak at a low 3,200 revs. Between the huge torque and big power, you’re going to need a good right wrist to keep the Boulevard under control, as there is no by-wire throttle here!Suzuki Liquid cooling and fuel injection mean that it will offer consistent power and no starting problems, no matter the season. The gearbox is a wide-ratio five-speed one, as was customary for the day, and a shaft provides drive to the rear wheel. The Boulevard has been literally the same since its debut, so any problems that crop up with it are usually to do with abuse of second gear and the shaft drive thanks to riders banging into second from first under hard acceleration. Not many can resist the pull of the Boulevard’s engine! Suzuki Boulevard M109R Engine Specifications The Suzuki Boulevard M109's Chass Has Some Interesting Bits Front Brakes Are Borrowed From A Liter Superbike SuzukiThere are some surprising bits on the Boulevard M109R when it comes to the chassis and suspension. The chassis itself isn’t anything out of the ordinary; a steel double cradle frame is par for the course. However, the DOHC engine head on such a large-displacement long-stroke V-twin gave others, such as Kawasaki, a headache (so to speak) because it would inevitably lead to a high seat height. Suzuki’s solution was to give the engine a semi-dry sump lubrication system, which lowered the overall engine height and thus the seat height.The front suspension and brakes have been lifted straight from the GSX-R1000 of the time. That means cartridge-type front forks, and fully floating brake rotors with radially mounted fixed calipers. The brakes are certainly up to the task of hauling this machine back to a stop from whatever illegal speeds the driveline is capable of. The rear looks like a hardtail because the rear suspension consists of a monoshock that is hidden away beneath the bodywork, another choice that was very different from everyone else at the time.Suzuki Suzuki Boulevard M109R Hardware Specs And Dimensions A Lack Of Features Makes The Suzuki M109R As Pure As They Come SuzukiThe Boulevard M109R was launched in 2006 as Suzuki’s flagship cruiser, and has retained that crown since then. It also hasn’t changed at all except cosmetically since then, so it doesn’t really have features comparable to the cruisers of today. Unique for its time was the split instrument cluster that had a digital tachometer and gear indicator mounted above the handlebars. The tank-mounted gauges include an analog speedo, fuel gauge, clock, odometer, and twin tripmeters.The rear tire was the widest tire on the production motorcycle when it was launched, at 240mm wide. You’ll end up chewing through it in no time at all if you give in to the Boulevard’s addictive performance; it still remains one of the most powerful cruisers in its price bracket! Special mention also has to be made again of the front brakes, lifted off the GSX-R1000 of the time.Suzuki Cycles There are two versions of the Boulevard M109R available today – the base version has dollops of chrome and is available only in black. However, if you don’t like chrome, there is the Boulevard M109R B.O.S.S. that retails for $15,599, $200 less than the chrome variant. You can have this in either red, or a two-tone blue/black paint scheme. Interestingly, the Suzuki website lists a 2025 year model M109R, but the B.O.S.S. versions stop at the ’24 model year. Suzuki Boulevard M109R Standard Features Available only in one color Boulevard M109R B.O.S.S. is blacked-out variant Inverted front forks Radial brakes from a superbike 17-inch rims Liquid-cooled engine Suzuki Boulevard M109R Competition A Mix Of Old School And New Harley-DavidsonThe Boulevard’s mix of price and performance makes it very difficult to get a like-for-like comparison. Over the years, more tech has been added to motorcycles, and this has driven the price up to the point where the M109R is now competing on price with cruisers that are technically in a lower displacement category. If you consider solely the engine, Harley-Davidson’s Fat Boy ($22,599) and Low Rider S ($20,499) are in the conversation, but their price rules them out.Instead, we’ll have to consider bikes of similar price like the Harley-Davidson Sportster S and Indian 101 Scout that come close to the power output of the Boulevard. If you’re looking for a full-size cruiser at a similar price but don’t mind a hit on power, then the BMW R 18 should have what you need. The BMW weighs almost the same as the Boulevard, while the Harley and Indian are a couple of hundred pounds lighter. The Sportster S has the weight advantage here, so it should be the best of this lot on both performance and fuel efficiency.Suzuki Suzuki Boulevard M109R Vs Rivals