Classic laid-back cruisers and their more chopped down, heritage-inspired ‘bobber’ relatives have been making a big comeback in recent years for their combination of novice-friendly upright proportions, fashionable style and, often, affordable prices – although that’s not always the case as there are plenty of high-end performance versions, too.
In fact, both 2025 and 2026 has seen a raft of new model arrivals ranging from cut-price Chinese-built offerings to exclusive, luxury versions from the likes of Harley-Davidson and Ducati.
But what’s out there exactly? Which are the among the best and what do you get for you money? Here’s our round up of 10 of the best of 2026’s cruisers, in price ascending order, to help you decide…
10. QJMotor SRV600V – £5699
One of 2025’s big biking stories was the arrival towards the end of the year of huge new Chinese brand QJMotor, which is part of the vast Geely automotive group (which owns Volvo, Lotus and Polestar, among others) and which already produces over a million machines a year over 60 models.
Around 16 of those are now coming to the UK, we had the chance to try seven of them in October and one of the stand-out models was the SRV600V. The cute little bobber impressed for its affordable price, authentic style, easy manners and, above all, its unusual, V4 600cc engine which gives distinctive high-revving performance and character that stands out from the usual twin-cylinder crowd.
9. Benda Napoleon Bob 500 – £5699
This exciting new cruiser/bobber Chinese addition was first unveiled at the 2024 Motorcycle Live show before arriving in the UK in October where, again we got the chance to ride it for the first time. This new little 500cc V-twin comes from awkwardly-named new Chinese brand Benda and comes in two forms – the more conventional, cruiser-style Chinchilla and the more extreme, monoshock, bobber-style NapoleonBob 500.
Both uses the same, impressive V-twin engine and main frame and most cycle and are also impressively priced. The twin-shock Chinchilla is the more conventional, novice-friendly and cheaper of the two at £5499 but the NapoleonBob with its ‘floating’ single seat, girder style forks and bolder all-round style, although £200 more, is our pick.
8. Kawasaki Eliminator 500 – £5999
We included Japanese giant Kawasaki’s newly introduced Eliminator 500 in our cruiser round-up last year and there’s no reason for it not to be included here. As before, it not only revives one of Kawasaki’s historic names but also provides a tempting alternative to one of the best sellers in the class, Honda’s CMX500 Rebel.
Kawasaki’s take on the same novice-friendly theme offers virtually identical A2-compliant performance from its parallel twin engines and similar manageability but with a fresher, more convincing style and, currently, a £400 lower ticket price. An SE variant, meanwhile, adds metallic matt carbon paint, headlight cowl and fork gaiters for £400 more.
7. Royal Enfield 650 Shotgun – £6849
Another repeat appearance from last year is the Royal Enfield 650 Shotgun – simply because it remains so good it’s impossible to exclude. As before, it is based on Enfield’s excellent A2-compliant parallel twin from the Continental GT and Interceptor roadsters but in a more hot rod style chassis and, as a result, offers authentic style, decent quality, in-keeping performance and exceptional value.
And, if the 650 is a little too rich for you, Indian-owned Enfield also offer the smaller, cheaper Meteor 350 single, which, although only 20bhp, has a simple willingness that can only charm and at barely over £4000 is stonking value, too.
6. Benda LFC700 – £9499
We’ve already included here the NapoleonBob 500 and its Chinchilla 500 sibling both from Chinese specialist cruiser brand Benda but we couldn’t complete this round-up without mentioning its third new cruiser offering – then bonkers-styled LFC700.
With its supersport 600 style four-cylinder motor, space age style and simply enormous back tyre this hot rod has all the madcap style of a Ducati Diavel but at less than half the price – it’s well-executed, too. Sure, it’s not as capable as a Diavel (but not much is), but its performance is more than enough to excite as a true hot rod.
Due to the fat rear tyre and long wheelbase its handling takes some getting used to, too. But if you want a cruiser that looks – and rides – like little else yet costs under £10K you won’t be disappointed.
5. BMW R 12 – £11,990
German manufacturer BMW isn’t traditionally associated with cruisers but in 2020 it took the fight to US brand Harley-Davidson with its new R 18 cruiser family which led to a junior version, the R 12 in 2024.
It’s based on the latest R 12 NineT heritage roadster but with a detuned engine and, as such, it’s cruiser credentials remain minimal, sated only by a slightly larger front wheel, ‘bobber’ style rear fender and slightly raised bars.
But if you’re after more of a retro roadster with simply a taste of cruiser style, it more than does the job while also having the most of the appeal and entertaining performance of the NineT but with a lower, easier seat and cheaper price.
4. Triumph Bobber – £13,795
British brand Triumph finally got bang on the money with its Bonneville-based ‘Bobber’ and its twin-seat sibling, the Speedmaster and for 2026 both have been mildly updated again.
Both offering an enticing blend of classic Brit’ and US ‘bobber’ while at the same time delivering lively performance and typically fine Triumph handling. If you like your low-slung cruiser to retain credible performance and not be too OTT ‘American’ you won’t be disappointed.
For 2026 both gain a larger 14 litre fuel tank and updated bodywork, giving both models a more muscular silhouette and an even greater presence while the Bobber has a wider and more generously padded ‘floating’ seat and the Speedmaster gains wider seats for both rider and pillion and straighter bars.
We haven’t ridden either yet but, on their history, and updates alone - they should be brilliant.
3. Indian Sport Scout RT – £15,855
Historic Harley-Davidson rival Indian has been one of the most authentic, classy and convincing of cruiser/bobber brands ever since the revived brand launched its first all-new bikes in 2013. They followed those ‘big twins’ up with an all-new ‘entry-level’ model, the 1133cc Scout in 2015 which has been its best bike ever since.
Updated to 1250cc form in 2024, the Scout family gains a new variant for 2026 – the Scout Sport RT which builds on its excellent V-twin engine and chassis with sporty ‘bagger’ style via new, locking panniers which offer over 37 litres of storage and updated styling courtesy of new ‘fenders’ and quarter fairing.
Again, it’s so new we haven’t ridden it yet but as a Scout with added sports and practicality it looks set to be the best Scout so far.
2. Ducati Diavel V4 RS – £34,395
Ever since the original V-twin Diavel in 2011, Ducati has given a new performance dimension to cruisers with its phenomenal performance, sophisticated electronics and class-confounding handling.
That bar was raised again with the all-new V4 version from 2023, which delivered 166bhp and class-defying handling, equipment from the likes of Brembo and Ohlins and the £20K+ price to match and now, for 2026, Ducati has gone further still with this new high performance RS version.
Following the model of the 2024 Multistrada V4 RS, this new limited edition gets 16bhp more power, less weight via added exotic materials, extra racer style and the eye-watering price to match. It might not be most people’s idea of a traditional cruiser but it’s almost certainly the fastest, most extreme one.
1. Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide ST – £41,495
While, finally for this 2026 cruiser round-up, how about this – the most extreme, performance-focussed offering ever from those American kings of cruisers, Harley-Davidson.
Although ostensibly a familiar Harley Road Glide ‘bagger’, complete with traditional V-twin engine and cut down fairing and panniers, the new limited-edition CVO ST takes everything to the ‘max’ – including a price which starts at £41,495 (and rises to £48K if you want the fanciest paint option).
It’s all inspired by Harley’s ‘King of the Baggers’ race bike. The engine’s enlarged, tuned and receives performance exhausts, brakes, suspension and wheels are all uprated, excess weight is shed via the use of carbon-fibre and it’s all beautifully put-together.
The result, while still, obviously, a Road King bagger, has truly phenomenal performance, build quality like little else and a split-personality that reminds of Jekyll and Hyde. It’s still not in the same performance league as a Diavel, of course, but if you want the ultimate Harley cruiser this is probably it.
