Cruisey blinders | Top 10 Best Cruiser Motorcycles of 2023 [under 1000cc]

Nothing encapsulates the ‘keep calm and ride on’ cultural spirit of biking more than a cruiser motorcycle.

Think of motorcycling and we can all conjure picturesque moments of chilled, sunset-soaked boulevard rides, keeping the revs low as you lazily shift up the gearbox to appreciate a view less blurry around you. 

While we can ‘blame’ Harley-Davidson for that, the iconic American firm doesn’t have a monopoly on the cruiser motorcycle silhouette. In fact, you can get all manner of low-slung sluggers anywhere between 125cc and 1000cc with prices around £2,500 all the way to (gulp!) £14,000.

With Royal Enfield entering the fray with the all-new Super Meteor 650 - check out the REVIEW HERE - here is Visordown’s rundown of the Top 10 Best Cruiser Motorcycles of 2023 [under 1000cc]

10. Keeway Superlight 125

You may not have heard of Keeway before but the Chinese marque - part of the Qianjiang empire that includes Benelli - has developed a keen following in the UK thanks mostly to this, the Superlight 125.

Squashing all of the usual cruiser traits - low slung riding position, chunky bodywork and splashes of chrome against a matte paint finish - into compact dimensions, the Superlight 125 LTD is certainly impactful, albeit not terribly sophisticated… while we haven’t wheel trims like that since thieves were pinching them off Vauxhall Novas.

With 9.38bhp on tap, the Superlight is certainly wheezy, but with a large fuel tank and not too substantial weight, it is economical to run. Better still, at £2,495 for the base LTD, the Superlight is as cheap to buy as it is to run.

If you wait a little longer, Keeway is in the midst of a major brand overhaul that has seen it rebranded MBP in certain European markets ahead of several new launches, including a new cruiser range that includes a 1200cc behemoth!

9 - Hyosung Aquila GV300S

South Koreans may have followed Japan by bossing it in the automotive industry thanks to the combined clout of Hyundai and Kia, but the same cannot be said for its two-wheeled options, with just Hyosung available over here.

We haven’t seen too much from the company in recent years but it currently has two versions of its Hyosung Aquila cruiser on sale in GV125 and GV300S guise. 

It’s a smart looker with a vibe not dissimilar to the Harley-Davidson Nightster, which might be some comfort if you’re more enticed by the whopping £10k difference between that and the Hyosung’s £4399 price tag.

Of course, things are a lot tamer on the road with the 29bhp V-Twin 300cc engine pootling rather than booming along, while the fit and finish are certainly more befitting of its price tag, but as a curio in the 300 or so bracket it has some appeal… but really, the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 is far superior and much cheaper too.

8 - Sinnis Outlaw 125

If the Keeway Superlight is just a bit too ‘Poundland’ for you, then how about the more retro-flavoured Sinnis Outlaw 125?

Like the Superlight, it exists as an alternative choice in the busy 125cc learner-legal sector and compared with Sinnis’ other offerings - the Terrain and GPX - the Outlaw has some kerb appeal with its Yamaha XSR-inspired body and squat profile.

It won’t get you anywhere quick and it looks more fun than it is, but the Outlaw - for a snip under £3,000 - is worth a look for those who want to stand out without breaking the bank. 

7 - Benelli 502C

Some say Italian, some say Chinese… whatever you think of Benelli’s image these days, there is no denying the marque has become a bit of an overseas sensation in recent years.

One of the few Italian brands to have survived into the 21st Century, Benelli is thriving with Qianjiang Motors investment, carving itself a nice niche thanks in part to some handy badge engineering with its Chinese paymasters.

Among them is the Benelli 502C, the cruiser version of its 502 S naked that is one part good value, unintimidating lazy beast, another shrunken Ducati Diavel Italian pony.

A good all-rounder with handsome looks to boot, alas it lacks the romance of the charismatic Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 and it doesn’t feel as well put together as the more like-for-like Honda CMX 500 Rebel.

Plus, weighing in at more than 200kg, the 502 C is one hefty motorcycle for its size and power output.

6 - Moto Guzzi V9

We’re skirting the fringes of what should be allowed here, but the Moto Guzzi V9 Bobber just about counts in the cruiser category.

Everything Moto Guzzi is about - which is basically an exotic variation on any offered by its Italian counterparts - the V9 looks fantastic in an understated way, feels well screwed together and is comfortable enough for those long European journeys.

Get it in Centenario trim and you’ll enjoy the matte silver and house green colourway, with quality tanned brown trim… just be prepared to pay a little extra at £9,600.

5 - Royal Enfield Meteor 350

All hail the Royal Enfield Meteor 350, the UK’s best-selling motorcycle between 126cc and 1000cc!

While the Indian marque has always enjoyed a loyal following on these shores, the Meteor 350 has been a talisman for Royal Enfield ever since its launch in 2021. 

With its classically handsome styling, simple running gear, effortlessly easy riding experience and even some nifty kit - such as the Tripper navigation that casts your phone’s map app straight onto your dials - and it’s easy to see why the Meteor 350, priced from £3,499, has been such a hit.

4 - Harley-Davidson Nightster

Think cruiser motorcycle, think Harley-Davidson… it’s pretty much the law.

Yes, the Emperor of Cruisers has a bevy of options in its range for those who like it low, languid and loud but after Euro5 regulations cleared out most of its less sophisticated entry level models, it is now in the process of rebuilding the range with more modern choices.

Chief among these is the Harley-Davidson Nightster, the first model to use the compacted 975cc version of its new Revolution Max engine architecture. 

Inspired by the 1260cc Sportster S, the Nightster is more rudimentary in a sense but it looks the part - particularly with the ostentatiously styled Revolution Max engine casing sprouting out - while it feels lighter and more agile than something from big H-D ever really should.

It’s well kitted out and feels refined… which would be great if we were talking about a motorcycle with a four figure price tag. Instead, at a whopping £14,195 it is by far the most expensive option here, so if you really are willing to shell out that much for a Harley-Davidson then invest a little more to get the beefier Sportster S.

3 - Honda CMX 500 Rebel

Honda pulled off a bit of a trick when it launched the Rebel, coming straight in at the mid-to-low end of the cruiser market initially to test the waters.

Its success as an anomaly in both the mid-range segment and even in Honda’s range means it has a bigger 1100cc brother to look up to now.

However, far from being overshadowed, the Honda CMX 500 Rebel is a welcome well-engineered, well-built, well thought out option for buyers. 

Throw in an accomplished riding experience, and competitive £6,299 price tag and those who came into the Honda showroom for a CB500F might well find themselves being wooed by something more, well, rebellious.

2 - Kawasaki Vulcan S

While Suzuki and Yamaha don’t import their cruiser options to the UK from the United States, Kawasaki has persevered with its venerable Vulcan S over time.

A bit of a forgotten member of the Kawasaki family, nevertheless the firm has kept the model up to date and repositioned it as something of a cool, sporty option compared with its distant rivals here.

While it’s not a striking looker, it is understatedly handsome and more contemporary than its nearest rivals, while it comes with all of Kawasaki’s well proven quality too and offers some punch from its 61bhp 649cc engine.

Better equipped and more powerful than the Super Meteor 650, at just £7,499 it is only a touch pricier too.

1 - Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650

Though its name has the ring of a glam rock Eurovision band, the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 shows just how far the Indian firm has come in recent years.

Building on the success of both the Interceptor/Continental GT 650 twins and the smaller Meteor 350, the Super Meteor 650 logically combines both to create one very attractive proposition.

As ever, Royal Enfield has nailed the low-key vintage styling - enhanced by various customisation options - and the unhurried 47bhp engine, while familiar, suits the Super Meteor 650 to a tee.

Perhaps most enticingly, the Super Meteor 650 feels like a genuine quality product and a showcase of what the brand - once old-fashioned, now fashionable - is confident in attempting amid tough competition.

At £6,799, it’s more expensive than we’re used to from Royal Enfield, but more than ever it is worth the premium.

*prices correct at the time of publication [March 2023]

 Top 10 Best Cruiser Motorcycles of 2023 [under 1000cc] Key Specifications and Technical Details Comparison