10 Vintage Cruiser Motorcycles That Every Collector Dreams of Owning 

Hardly any motorcycle comes close to the charm of vintage cruiser motorcycles made in the last century. These motorcycles are raw and mechanical, and the design is timeless and inspiring. Sure, not many bikers like cruisers these days, but back then, cruisers were the creme-de-la-creme of motorcycles, especially before the advent of superbikes in the 70s. So, if you are a collector or dream of being one, a vintage cruiser should be your option to take home.

In recent times, thousands of vintage cruisers have flooded the auction market, but some examples are more special than the rest. Today, we’ll be diving deep into the latter, discussing some of the finest offerings for collectors (or just vintage fanatics). These are the bikes that dreams are made of, and you will need deep pockets for some.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from the manufacturers, and other authoritative sources, including Mecum Auctions, Motorcycle Classics, Motorcycle Specs, National Motorcycle Museum, Auto Evolution, and Ultimate Specs.

The average auction prices were sourced from Hagerty and reflect the average auction prices across platforms like Iconic Motorbike Auctions, Mecum Auctions, Bring A Trailer, etc. The bikes are ranked based on their average auction price, from the lowest to the highest.

10 1985 Kawasaki ZL900 Eliminator

Average Auction Price: $3,300

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

Not many cruiser lovers would even know of this bike, but if you truly love cruisers, this one belongs in your garage. Fortunately, it’s so cheap (credit: it’s obscurity) that most collectors can afford it if they let one of their vintage 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 cheap legendary cruiser is the Yamaha V-Max, a power-packed bike that set the template for power cruisers and muscle bikes. This is a furious motorcycle that produces brutal power figures and a push-in-the-seat acceleration. Heck, its air intakes are large enough to suck small mammals! Sure, the handling might be crap, but it comes into its own when the road 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 military motorcycle. This was the company’s contribution to World War II, with close to 90,000 units serving the armed forces on the field. It wasn’t anything special, but it was loved both on and off the field; even some British and Russian soldiers wanted to take this home.

What’s more, this bike can be attributed to the explosion of the biker culture in the US. After the war, many soldiers took these bikes home and started riding them around. Soon enough, the trend caught on, similar to how t-shirts became popular after the war.

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)

7 1941 Indian Model 741 Military

Average Auction Price: $17,000

If you can’t find the H-D WLA at an auction, no biggie, look for an Indian Model 741 instead. This was Indian’s contribution to the war effort. The bike was powered by a de-tuned Scout V-twin, housed inside a Chief frame with more ground clearance and better suspension. 44,000 of these motorcycles were produced, and like the WLA, most of these also found their way into veteran garages. And thanks to this bike, Indian could see the light 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 in the frame. Today, this bike is one of the most collectible Panhead models out there. You’ll find older Panheads, too, but go for this one because the 1949 versions came with many new goodies. For example, the 1949 Panhead featured the Hydra-Glide fork and styling updates, including deep fenders, a large fuel tank, a headlamp cowl, and a single-piece handlebar. This is the bike you imagine when you think of a muscular vintage 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 looked out of this world. This bike’s design has aged like fine wine since. This model year was when the decorative fenders and a flowy fly line were introduced to the Chiefs, along with slightly reworked fenders for bench seats or saddlebags.

The bike wasn’t a slouch, either. With a top speed of up to 80 MPH, this could outpace most motorcycles on American roads back then. This is why the police and the Army used these, too. Today, we look back at this bike as not only a high-performing cruiser but one of 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 aircraft manufacturing came to a halt, and BMW was in search of something new. So, it began working on motorcycles, and in 1923, Max Friz designed the R32, a motorcycle that would epitomize Bayerische Motoren Werke (or BMW Motorrad).

Like many BMWs of today, the R32 was powered by a boxer twin engine mated to a drive shaft. But would you look at that design? Even back then, this cruiser looked unlike any other cruiser on the planet. It’s strange to think that we may never have such gorgeous BMWs if Germany had negotiated a treaty to end the war.

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from Motorcycle Specs)

3 1936 Harley-Davidson EL Knucklehead

Average Auction Price: $63,000

The EL Knucklehead was a pioneering motorcycle in many ways for Harley-Davidson. This was the first bike to feature overhead valves instead 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 ahead in terms of performance, too.

Still, the EL Knucklehead retained some antiquities that the Harley-Davidsons of the time were known for. The bike still had a foot clutch, hand shift, and a left-hand brake lever. Lastly, this was also the last bike designed by the Davidson brothers and Willian S. Harley. For many, this is 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 always, Indian is out to take on Harley, but this time, it’s a four-cylinder bike, not a V-twin. You read that right; one of the most expensive cruisers at auction today is the Indian Four, powered by a longitudinally mounted four-cylinder engine. But why?

Because during the pre-war era, four cylinders were all the rage, and Indian had just acquired Ace Motor Corporation. So, the former plonked the latter’s four-banger engine in its chassis and called it the Four. The bike was introduced as Indian 401 in 1928, surviving until 1942. The one pictured here is a 1940 model. Who knew a four-cylinder bike would be one of the 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 suggest 200 of these were ever made, but since Al Crocker wasn’t known for having an organized filing system, no one knows for sure. Today, only 68 of these survive, and each one auctions at stratoscopic prices.

So, what’s so special about the Crocker V-twin? Honestly, a lot. It was the fastest motorcycle of the time — 12 years before the Vincent Black Shadow overshadowed it. Each Crocker was designed around the owner, and you had the option of choosing from a range of engine capacities, thanks to thick cylinder blocks. In many 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 confident of the bike’s top speed that he offered a money-back guarantee to any owner who was beaten by an Indian or a Harley in a race. No one ever came for a refund.

Performance Specifications

(Specs sourced from Crocker Motorcycle)