Hardly any motorbike comes near the appeal of classic cruiser motorcycles made within the final century. These bikes are uncooked and mechanical, and the design is timeless and galvanizing. Sure, not many bikers like cruisers as of late, however again then, cruisers have been the creme-de-la-creme of bikes, particularly earlier than the advent of superbikes in the 70s. So, if you’re a collector or dream of being one, a classic cruiser must be your choice to take dwelling.

In current instances, 1000’s of classic cruisers have flooded the public sale market, however some examples are extra particular than the remainder. Today, we’ll be diving deep into the latter, discussing a few of the most interesting choices for collectors (or simply classic fanatics). These are the bikes that desires are product of, and you’ll need deep pockets for some.

In order to provide the most recent and correct data potential, the info used to compile this text was sourced from the producers, and different authoritative sources, together with Mecum Auctions, Motorcycle Classics, Motorcycle Specs, National Motorcycle Museum, Auto Evolution, and Ultimate Specs.

The common public sale costs have been sourced from Hagerty and mirror the typical public sale costs throughout platforms like Iconic Motorbike Auctions, Mecum Auctions, Bring A Trailer, and so forth. The bikes are ranked primarily based on their common public sale worth, from the bottom to the very best.

10 1985 Kawasaki ZL900 Eliminator

Average Auction Price: $3,300

Most metric cruisers of yesteryears have been imitations of American brawlers, however the Kawasaki ZL900 Eliminator is an exception. This bike got here two years after the launch of the GPZ900R, that includes a barely re-tuned ZX900 inline-four engine. Don’t mistake it for a slouch that cruisers tend to be — this one goes quick!

Not many cruiser lovers would even know of this bike, however in the event you actually love cruisers, this one belongs in your storage. Fortunately, it’s so low-cost (credit score: it’s obscurity) that almost all collectors can afford it in the event that they let one in all their classic cruisers drip oil for a month longer.

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from Kawasaki and Ultimate Specs)

9 1985 Yamaha V-Max

Average Auction Price: $4,300

Another low-cost legendary cruiser is the Yamaha V-Max, a power-packed bike that set the template for power cruisers and muscle bikes. This is a livid motorbike that produces brutal energy figures and a push-in-the-seat acceleration. Heck, its air intakes are giant sufficient to suck small mammals! Sure, the dealing with may be crap, but it surely comes into its personal when the street opens up.

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)

8 1941 Harley-Davidson WLA Military

Average Auction Price: $17,000

Let’s get into the mid-tier with the Harley-Davidson WLA navy motorbike. This was the corporate’s contribution to World War II, with near 90,000 items serving the armed forces on the sector. It wasn’t something particular, but it surely was beloved each on and off the sector; even some British and Russian troopers wished to take this dwelling.

What’s extra, this bike can be attributed to the explosion of the biker culture in the US. After the struggle, many troopers took these bikes dwelling and began using them round. Soon sufficient, the pattern caught on, just like how t-shirts grew to become standard after the struggle.

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)

7 1941 Indian Model 741 Military

Average Auction Price: $17,000

If you may’t discover the H-D WLA at an public sale, no biggie, search for an Indian Model 741 as an alternative. This was Indian’s contribution to the struggle effort. The bike was powered by a de-tuned Scout V-twin, housed inside a Chief body with extra floor clearance and higher suspension. 44,000 of those bikes have been produced, and just like the WLA, most of those additionally discovered their manner into veteran garages. And due to this bike, Indian may see the sunshine of day post-war.

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Classics)

6 1949 Harley-Davidson FL Hydra-Glide

Average Auction Price: $25,000

What a quintessential vintage American cruiser the FL Hydra-Glide is! A raised seat, elaborate fenders, a tall windscreen (on some), and a chunky V-twin rattling within the body. Today, this bike is without doubt one of the most collectible Panhead fashions on the market. You’ll discover older Panheads, too, however go for this one as a result of the 1949 variations got here with many new goodies. For instance, the 1949 Panhead featured the Hydra-Glide fork and styling updates, together with deep fenders, a big gasoline tank, a headlamp cowl, and a single-piece handlebar. This is the bike you think about once you consider a muscular classic Panhead.

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from Auto Evolution)

5 1940 Indian Chief

Average Auction Price: $27,000

The 1940 Indian Chief was the first of the true Chiefs, and it seemed out of this world. This bike’s design has aged like effective wine since. This mannequin yr was when the ornamental fenders and a flowy fly line have been launched to the Chiefs, together with barely reworked fenders for bench seats or saddlebags.

The bike wasn’t a slouch, both. With a prime velocity of as much as 80 MPH, this might outpace most bikes on American roads again then. This is why the police and the Army used these, too. Today, we glance again at this bike as not solely a high-performing cruiser however one in all America’s first true touring cruisers.

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from Mecum Auctions)

4 1923 BMW R32

Average Auction Price: $46,000

After World War I, German plane manufacturing got here to a halt, and BMW was in quest of one thing new. So, it started engaged on bikes, and in 1923, Max Friz designed the R32, a motorcycle that would epitomize Bayerische Motoren Werke (or BMW Motorrad).

Like many BMWs of at the moment, the R32 was powered by a boxer twin engine mated to a drive shaft. But would you take a look at that design? Even again then, this cruiser seemed not like some other cruiser on the planet. It’s unusual to assume that we might by no means have such attractive BMWs if Germany had negotiated a treaty to finish the struggle.

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)

3 1936 Harley-Davidson EL Knucklehead

Average Auction Price: $63,000

The EL Knucklehead was a pioneering motorbike in some ways for Harley-Davidson. This was the primary bike to function overhead valves as an alternative of side-valve designs. Plus, the bike began the company’s tradition of naming engines after the valve cover designs. This was Harley’s effort to dethrone Indian, so the engine was a leap forward by way of efficiency, too.

Still, the EL Knucklehead retained some antiquities that the Harley-Davidsons of the time have been identified for. The bike nonetheless had a foot clutch, hand shift, and a left-hand brake lever. Lastly, this was additionally the final bike designed by the Davidson brothers and Willian S. Harley. For many, that is one of the best Harley ever produced.

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from the National Motorcycle Museum and Motorcycle Classics)

2 1928 Indian Four

Average Auction Price: $85,000

As at all times, Indian is out to tackle Harley, however this time, it’s a four-cylinder bike, not a V-twin. You learn that proper; one of the most expensive cruisers at auction today is the Indian Four, powered by a longitudinally mounted four-cylinder engine. But why?

Because throughout the pre-war period, 4 cylinders have been all the trend, and Indian had simply acquired Ace Motor Corporation. So, the previous plonked the latter’s four-banger engine in its chassis and referred to as it the Four. The bike was launched as Indian 401 in 1928, surviving till 1942. The one pictured here’s a 1940 mannequin. Who knew a four-cylinder bike can be one of many truest and bluest American cruisers? Even Steve McQueen owned one.

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from Auto Evolution)

1 Crocker V-Twin

Average Auction Price: Up To A Million Dollars

The most collectible cruiser is neither a Harley nor an Indian; it’s a Crocker, aptly named V-Twin. Rough estimates recommend 200 of those have been ever made, however since Al Crocker wasn’t identified for having an organized submitting system, nobody is aware of for certain. Today, solely 68 of those survive, and each one auctions at stratoscopic prices.

So, what’s so particular concerning the Crocker V-twin? Honestly, loads. It was the quickest motorbike of the time — 12 years earlier than the Vincent Black Shadow overshadowed it. Each Crocker was designed across the proprietor, and also you had the choice of selecting from a variety of engine capacities, due to thick cylinder blocks. In some ways, the Crocker V-Twin deserves the same pedestal as the legendary Vincent Black Shadow and Brough Superior SS100.

Fun Fact: Al Crocker was so assured of the bike’s prime velocity that he provided a money-back assure to any proprietor who was overwhelmed by an Indian or a Harley in a race. No one ever got here for a refund.

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from Crocker Motorcycle)