Best Cruiser Motorcycles for Women 2023
Cruiser motorcycles pack loads of style into a low-slung platform and these types of street bikes deliver torque-y power and are ripe for customization. We have selected the three best cruisers for ladies who ride. After all, did you know that one-in-five motorcyclists are now women? There are great options here that are for female motorcyclists who might just be getting into riding or those who have already traversed many a mile on two wheels - and unsurprisingly they come from the same manufacturer. In fact, they are the same bike, just with different size powerplants.
Which one is best for you? Let's find out.
2023 Honda Rebel 300/ABS
The Rebel 300 is a bestselling entry-level cruiser from Honda for good reason.
The Honda Rebel is a great beginner bike and one that I always recommend to new riders. It has spent many years as a staple of MSF courses and continues to attract riders with its approachability.
Key to its current success is its quick-revving 25 hp engine. This single-cylinder engine is not only mild-mannered enough for green riders, but its snappy power is there to keep riders hooked as they gain more time in the saddle.
Which leads us to seat height. The 300 (and Rebel 500, for that matter) has a very low 27.2-inch seat height which causes confidence of shorter riders to spike.
The Rebel 300′s firm 41mm telescopic fork and twin shock setup lends to surprisingly sporty handling, something that all riders can appreciate.
A front 296mm disc and rear 240mm disc each with hydraulic calipers provides great stopping power as well. The Rebel 300 is available with or without ABS with respective price tags of $5,049 and $4,749.
2023 Honda Rebel 500/ABS/ABS SE
The Rebel 500 has the handling and power that make it a great cruiser bike, and shoppers have the choice between three different trims.
At the same time when Honda announced that the revamped Rebel 300 was hitting the 2017 market, Big Red also unveiled the Rebel 500. This mimicked (and still mimics) the Rebel 300′s peanut-style tank, blacked-out styling, modern LED lighting/LCD display, and even carries over the chassis components such as the fork/twin shocks, brakes, 16-inch tires, general dimensions, and that Honda reliability, but what it gives riders is a boost of power with a different 471cc parallel twin.
Our past dyno records indicate this machine delivers 40.8 hp and 29.9 lb.-ft. of torque. We have loved this middleweight’s smooth and entertaining power delivery and feel that it is a fantastic steppingstone for those moving up in displacement.
The Rebel 500 comes in three trims: the non-ABS base model ($6,449), the ABS-equipped base model ($6,749), and the ABS SE version ($6,949). The limited-edition SE version is equipped with ABS (obviously), but it also includes a number of factory-installed add-ons from Honda, such as a brown diamond-stitch seat, black fork gaiters, black upper fork covers, and a headlight cowl. It’s also the only Rebel 500 to come in Titanium Metallic. The other two come in Candy Blue or Matte Black Metallic.
2023 Honda Rebel 1100/DCT/1100T DCT
The highest-displacement Rebel is the Rebel 1100. It has two other trims that incorporate a dual-clutch transmission. The bagger-styled Rebel 1100T DCT (shown here) also adds on a sleek batwing fairing, windscreen, and useful hard luggage (total of 35 liters of storage).
Honda took the Africa Twin’s 1,083cc liquid-cooled parallel twin and repurposed it in the Rebel 1100.
In our 2021 review of the 1100 DCT version we stated, “While some may be intimidated by its engine displacement, you shouldn’t be. In typical Rebel spirit it’s a manageable and well-rounded motorcycle. It has a low, asphalt-hugging stance with a narrow and well-proportioned cockpit.” Its seat height is at a low 27.5 inches, that’s only fractions taller than its baby siblings. We also praise it for its high-end feel, impressive sporty handling, and modern tech such as LED lighting, three power modes, and optional DCT.
DCT is perfect for those who want an easy-to-operate cruiser. It eliminates the need for a traditional clutch and gear-shift lever and instead features a pair of handlebar-mounted trigger shifters. This dual-clutch transmission is unique to the Rebel 1100 DCT and new-for-2023 Rebel 1100T DCT models. No other cruiser uses this technology. The standard six-speed manual transmission version retails for $9,499 (what a bargain), and the DCT and 1100T DCT have sticker prices of $10,099 and $11,299 respectively.
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