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--- transportation:motorcycles [2026/07/31 05:58] – [Cruiser] timb
+++ transportation:motorcycles [2026/09/13 19:31] (current) – [Cruiser] timb
@@ Line 113: / Line 113: @@
+===== CFMoto =====
+== The Best-Looking Entry-Level Retro Cruiser Gets Even More Affordable ==
+CFMoto’s stunning, super-approachable 450CL-C returns for the 2027 model year while somehow shaving $500 off the sticker price.
+Steve Mazzucchi - August 12, 2026 / Updated August 13, 2026
+As it continues to raise its US profile, CFMoto is offering more and more wallet-friendly bikes stateside, covering everything from sport to street to adventure and beyond.
+Yet it’s a seemingly quintessential American form, ironically, that the Chinese brand does arguably better than anyone.
+I’m talking about the retro-styled cruiser, which CFMoto has absolutely nailed, in an exceedingly rider-friendly and head-turning fashion, with the 450CL-C.
+The bike gets even more tempting for the 2027 model year, as the brand has shaved $500 off the starting price, down to just $5,299.
+https://www.gearpatrol.com/motorcycles/2027-cfmoto-450cl-c/
 ===== Gaokin =====
@@ Line 167: / Line 185: @@
 https://www.rideapart.com/features/798401/hero-hf-deluxe-splendor-flex-fuel-specs-features-price/
+===== Honda =====
+==== CB500 ====
+== Could the Honda CB500 be Royal Enfield's Kryptonite? ==
+Utkarsh Sood - July 30, 2026
+This one came out of nowhere. Honda recently took the stage in India to reveal not one, not two, not three, but a total of 10 new motorcycles for the country. I don’t remember the last time I saw a bikemaker come out swinging as strongly as this.
+And although there are a couple of model year updates in there, we were treated to some very interesting new bikes in there as well. One of them in particular caught my eye: the range-topping CB500.
+For those of you who are not that familiar with the CB lineup, it's known as the GB in Europe. The single-cylinder CB350 is what is sold as the GB350 in Europe. You might remember the CB350 Special Edition we covered last year – boasting a retro motif with vintage styling and a very charming red colorway.
+Now, Honda has just launched what will essentially be the big brother to the CB/GB350… the CB500. And it looks like it might not just be limited to India, with Honda already trademarking the GB500S product name in a handful of markets, including Europe.
+https://newatlas.com/motorcycles/honda-cb500/
+==== Shadow Aero ====
+== The $8K Honda Cruiser That Tours Cross-Country For Half A Harley's Price ==
+Tijo Tenson - Aug 5, 2026, 9:31 AM EDT
+When we think of cross-country trips, Harley-Davidson instantly pops into mind. This is because of its legacy of building laid-back and low-slung cruiser bikes designed for effortless highway runs. Even the most affordable Harley Softail can be a formidable highway companion. However, you need to spend a notable amount of money on touring-ready features like a detachable windscreen and soft saddlebags to make it ready for a cross-country trip.
+While convenience improves, the price shoots up to nearly $20,000. Metric cruisers have been doing the same things for much less. A particular Honda cruiser stands out, proving that, despite its discontinuation, it remains competitive with 2026 Harley models.
+https://www.topspeed.com/8k-honda-cruiser-tours-cross-country-half-harleys-price/
@@ Line 254: / Line 308: @@
 https://www.topspeed.com/kawasaki-tailor-made-for-everyday-riding/
+== The Motorcycle That Delivers Harley Style Without Harley Ownership Costs ==
+An action shot of the 2025 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Voyager
+Shakti Nath Jha - Jul 30, 2026, 12:31 PM EDT
+Full-dress touring bikes occupy a unique corner of the motorcycling world. They are rolling expressions of cross-country freedom for generations of riders with a thumping V-twin engine pulsing beneath a teardrop fuel tank. For many, that image is inseparable from one particular iconic brand – Harley-Davidson. However, entering that prestigious heavy-touring club has traditionally required a hefty financial investment.
+We're not talking about just the dealership desk, but throughout the entire lifespan of the motorcycle. Fortunately for long-distance enthusiasts, you do not need an American emblem on the tank to enjoy the grand-touring lifestyle. One veteran Japanese heavyweight cruiser provides the full-dress touring experience, unmistakable styling, and a big-bore V-twin muscle at a fraction of the price.
+https://www.topspeed.com/motorcycle-delivers-harley-style-without-harley-costs/
@@ Line 959: / Line 1024: @@
 https://www.topspeed.com/cruiser-owners-rarely-need-to-replace/
+== The Cruiser Riders Recommend To Their Friends Again And Again ==
+Abhik Das - Jul 27, 2026, 8:31 AM EDT
+Recommending a motorcycle usually means walking someone through why it works, laying out the numbers, the dynamic abilities, the case for it in terms of use and finances, and so on. Once you’re past that, a genre of motorcycling becomes clear. And if the list of requirements has the words iconic and cruiser in quick succession, then this one is the easy recommendation.
+Every non-rider on the planet already half-recognizes this bike, if only from a killer robot on a movie poster more than three decades ago. Arnie, John Connor, and even the AI they were fighting against can now suggest this badass cruiser to a friend who already half-believes in its potential. But why is that? For that, we’ll have to first answer another question.
+https://www.topspeed.com/cruiser-riders-recommend-again-and-again/
+== The Cruiser That Combines Muscle-Bike Power With Touring Comfort ==
+Tijo Tenson - Jul 31, 2026, 6:31 PM EDT
+Today's muscle cruisers are essentially sportbikes disguised as cruisers. Examples include the Ducati Diavel V4 RS (engine derived from the Ducati Panigale V4) and the new Buell Super Cruiser (sharing its engine with the Buell Hammerhead 1190). While the performance is eye-popping, it doesn't quite evoke a cruiser-bike feel, as the underpinnings and engine character have remnants of the quick-revving donor sport bikes.
+This is also why the touring comfort of the most powerful 2026 power cruisers is not as relaxed as one would expect, since the stretched-out, laid-back ergonomics are replaced by a more upright, neutral rider triangle. However, there is one exception from Triumph that manages to cover both bases: be frighteningly fast and offer touring-grade comfort and ergonomics. It also packs an engine larger than most bread-and-butter cars today.
+https://www.topspeed.com/cruiser-combines-muscle-bike-power-with-touring-comfort/
+== The Cruiser That Nails Comfort Without Sacrificing Style ==
+Tijo Tenson - Aug 1, 2026, 6:31 PM EDT
+Cruiser bikes have been an integral part of American motorcycling culture, and their styling is a primary factor in this. Equally important is their comfort quotient, which often goes hand in hand with styling. However, there are instances in which visual sacrifices have been made to enhance comfort.
+Examples include quick-release windscreens and leather-clad saddlebags that look okay but take away from the effortless silhouette of an otherwise minimal cruiser bike design. But there is a reliable, refined Honda metric cruiser bike that offers top-tier comfort without compromising on style. In fact, it gives custom Harley vibes but without the premium price tag.
+https://www.topspeed.com/cruiser-nails-comfort-without-sacrificing-style/
+==  V-twin cruiser with automatic transmission slides under $6,000 ==
+Utkarsh Sood - August 09, 2026
+Typically, if you’re in the market for a cruiser with an automatic transmission, you’d have precious few options. The closest mainstream offering is Honda's Rebel 1100 DCT, which starts at around US$10,400 – and even that swaps the traditional V-twin for a parallel-twin engine. If you insist on a genuine V-twin and an automatic gearbox, you're effectively out of luck.
+Step in the Coaster 407: a genuine V-twin cruiser with an automatic transmission (AMT) from Spanish motorcycle manufacturer Rieju, based in Figueres, Catalonia. And it only requires you to spend about half as much, too.
+I have to point out that the motorcycle appears to be entirely Chinese-made, including its design. Rieju has simply stuck its badge on the tank, and voila, you have a brand new motorcycle “born” in the West. Do I like that practice? Not really. But do I get it? Absolutely.
+Rieju is hardly the first bikemaker to hop on this trend. Brands like Brixton, AJS, Mash, and Benelli (which is actually Chinese-owned) have either embraced Chinese OEMs as manufacturing partners or simply rebadged existing platforms.
+https://newatlas.com/motorcycles/rieju-coaster-407/
+== The Cruiser With Honda Reliability And Harley-Level Road Presence ==
+Sidd Dhimaan & Charles Pennefather - Updated Aug 14, 2026, 11:30 AM EDT
+Finding a cruiser that genuinely delivers on two fronts — soul-stirring style and long-term dependability — has always been the holy grail for riders who refuse to compromise. Harley-Davidson owns the road-presence conversation, and Honda sets the gold standard for reliability, but rarely do those two qualities live under the same tank. So what happens when a British manufacturer decides to build the biggest, most torque-rich production engine on the planet and wrap it in a cruiser that turns heads like a custom show bike? You get something worth talking about.
+That something is the Triumph Rocket 3 GT — a power cruiser that sidesteps the usual trade-off entirely. It has been on the market long enough to build a genuine reliability record, and it carries enough visual muscle to stand toe-to-toe with anything Milwaukee has to offer. Here's why it deserves your attention.
+https://www.topspeed.com/cruiser-honda-reliability-harley-level-road-presence/
+== The Honda Cruiser That Quietly Gets Better With Age ==
+Tijo Tenson - Aug 14, 2026, 7:31 AM EDT
+When it comes to timeless visual appeal, nothing beats classic-vibing American big-twin cruiser bikes. Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycle have perfected the art of making cruisers age like fine wine. However, things get tricky when we introduce the mechanicals into the mix. Sure, American V-twin cruisers offer a dramatic riding experience, but it comes at the cost of reliability and refinement. Hence, whether they improve with age is hit or miss. But that's not the case with metric cruisers, especially old-school Japanese options.
+Not only do they have timeless visual appeal, but they also have superior refinement and reliability levels. Couple this with minimal technology, relaxed ergonomics, and low-stress performance, and we have Japanese cruisers that can be certified lifelong motorcycles that get better with age. A prime example of this is a Honda cruiser bike that has been around for over 40 years.
+https://www.topspeed.com/honda-cruiser-gets-better-with-age/
+== The Cruiser Owners Keep Riding Long After Everyone Else Trades In ==
+Luke Zietsman - Aug 17, 2026, 8:31 AM EDT
+Over the years, the cruiser market has become more diverse than ever. While American brands continue to dominate this space, and lean heavily on tradition for sales, they have been joined by manufacturers from all over the world, all offering something different. European brands generally offer more luxury in this space, and more recently China and India have also joined the fray with some really affordable options. But when it comes to getting more bang for your buck, it is pretty hard to look past the Japanese brands.
+https://www.topspeed.com/cruiser-owners-keep-after-everyone-else-trades-in/
+== This 175-HP American Cruiser Is Coming For Every Harley-Davidson On The Road ==
+Oliver Stallwood - Updated Sep 8, 2026, 9:23 AM EDT
+Read update
+    This article has been updated to reflect the start of retail Super Cruiser deliveries following EPA and CARB approval, making the 175-hp motorcycle available across all 50 states.
+Harley-Davidsons are more than just Motorcycles . They are a culture, a tight-knit community, a feeling, and a dream (for those of us who don't have one). The company goes back almost 125 years and in that time they have come to represent expression and rebellion in America, whether it is a new model straight out of the showroom, or a customized chopper that has changed, evolved and been improved over the years. Few bikes have such presence and heritage quite like a Harley. But there is a new American bike in town, or rather it is new compared to Harley, that wants a slice of the two-wheeled apple pie. But it's doing things its own way...
+https://www.hotcars.com/175-hp-american-cruiser-coming-for-every-harley-davidson/
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+===== Touring =====
+== The Best Touring Motorcycle For Riding 80 MPH All Day ==
+Aayush Rathod - Updated Aug 4, 2026, 2:30 PM EDT
+**Read update** - This article has been updated with more context about the bike's positioning in the segment and its rivals.
+Any half-decent touring bike worth its salt can sit at 80 miles per hour all day, but how it feels at that speed is what makes a difference. Some bikes feel strained and not relaxed, while others feel too boring because they have all the juice but not a sharp riding experience. However, there’s a touring anomaly that offers both high levels of sharp performance and touring-friendly comfort. Here’s all you need to know about this awesome anomaly.
+** Riding 80 MPH All Day Doesn’t Have To Be Boring **
+What do you really need for cruising at 80 miles per hour all day? Honestly, even a decent street bike with enough power can hold those speeds, but you’ll be exhausted by the end of the ride. Instead, you need something that is not only powerful but offers plenty of wind shielding and comfort. So, when you reach your destination, you arrive fresh, not beaten by the weather or tired because you had to squeeze out every bit of performance from your bike. Finally, you also need storage to carry your gear and luggage.
+https://www.topspeed.com/best-touring-motorcycle-riding-80-mph-all-day/