Cruisers

Cruisers are the biggest-selling motorcycle category in the US, full stop. Harley still sells more bikes than any other single brand, and the Indian Chief and Scout, Triumph Bonneville Bobber and Speedmaster, Honda Rebel 1100, BMW R 18 and Kawasaki Vulcan S all sit in this space.

The defining traits: feet-forward riding position, low seat, big-bore long-stroke V-twin or parallel-twin, character over outright performance. A cruiser isn't trying to be quick — it's trying to feel a particular way. Some are very good at this (Bonneville Bobber, Indian Chief, Rebel 1100). Some are just heavy bikes pretending to have soul (looking at you, several Harley product lines).

If you want a sport bike, don't buy a cruiser. If you want a thing that turns heads, sounds good, and rolls slowly through a town with you wearing an open-face helmet, this is the category. There's nothing wrong with that. Most riding most people do is more cruiser than supersport anyway.