A
cruiser is a
motorcycle in the style of American machines from the 1930s to the early 1960s, including those made by
Harley-Davidson,
Indian,
Excelsior and
Henderson. The riding position usually places the feet forward and the hands up, with the spine erect or leaning back slightly. Typical cruiser engines emphasize easy rideability and
shifting, with plenty of low-end
torque but not necessarily large amounts of
horsepower, traditionally
V-twins but
inline engines have become more common. Cruisers with greater performance than usual, including more horsepower, stronger brakes and better suspension, are often called power cruisers.