Not long ago I called 650cc motorcycles some of the best out there that you can buy. I stand by that, but if you feel you need a little more oomph at the twist of a wrist and a slightly larger engine size, I’d suggest going with a motorcycle between 800cc to 850cc.
This is another sweet spot in the motorcycle industry. There’s plenty of power, the bikes are still relatively lightweight, and you can find them for good prices, especially on the used market.
With all that said. Here are my to picks for 800cc to 850cc motorcycles.
1. Moto Guzzi V9 Roamer
The Moto Guzzi V9 Roamer is the Italian company’s cruiser, and it’s a little different from the standard American cruisers or the Japanese metric cruisers out there. It offers a bit more of an upright seating position, allowing you to really very easily control the bike.
The 853cc 90-degree V-twin engine is as much a style element as it is a killer engine. It puts out 55 hp and 45.7 lb-ft of torque, which is plenty to shoot you around town or take you out across the country. Moto Guzzi has a long list of accessories to make this bike your own.
- Price: $10,490
- Company Website
2. Kawasaki W800
Kawasaki goes retro with the W800 and offers it in the standard fare you see here or the cafe version, which is a little more aggressive. Either bike is killer with modern technology and retro-styling.
The bike’s engine is actually only 773cc, but I’ll let that go for the purposes of this article. It has a parallel-twin configuration and looks a lot like an old British bike engine. Kawasaki’s twin puts out 464.4 lb-ft of torque, meaning you’ll have enough power for whatever you’re doing.
- Price: $10,399
- Company Website
3. Suzuki Boulevard C50
If you’re looking for more of a classic cruiser styling, I’d suggest the Suzuki Boulevard C50. Suzuki has trimmed its Boulevard lineup down considerably. This C50 and the touring version of it are all that is left of the Suzuki cruiser line.
With that said, it’s not like the C50 is a bad bike. Quite the contrary. It’s excellent and provides high levels of comfort and performance. You get an 805cc liquid-cooled V-twin engine that puts out 53 hp. That’s certainly nothing to sneeze at and should take you wherever you want to go with ease.
- Price: $8,609
- Company Website
4. Ducati Scrambler Icon
The Ducati Scrambler comes in many forms at this point and has become a serious hit for the motorcycle company. The Scrambler Icon is the bike to get in my eyes.
It’s the middle of the lineup bike and offers quite a lot. The bike has Ducati’s 803cc L-twin engine that puts out 73 hp. The Scrambler Icon is about more than just power and performance, though. It’s a style choice and one that you should make.
- Price: $10,995
- Company Website
5. Moto Guzzi V85
Going on an adventure? Moto Guzzi’s V85 would be my suggestion. This is actually my favorite adventure bike right now. It’s the perfect mix of classic and modern styling and offers a lot of great features for a reasonable price compared to the competition.
The V85 gets an 853cc 90-degree V-twin engine that makes 80 hp and 59 lb-ft of torque. Pair that with some bash protection for the engine and some long-travel suspension as well as some luggage and you can tour and adventure to your heart’s content.
- Price: $12,290
- Company Website
What Other Options Are Out There?
Well, I didn’t include the Harley-Davidson Iron 883 in this roundup because it’s over the 850cc threshold, but it’s one that has to be considered. I didn’t love that bike when I rode it, but I know many people do.
If you go down in displacement to the 750cc range, you’ll find a ton of comparable bikes. If you go up to the 900cc range, you’ll find plenty, too. Kawasaki has several bikes at 900 that you should consider, and if you want you can go all the way up to 1,000cc, though I feel at that displacement the ante goes up considerably on price and performance.
The five bikes showcased above are great options, and there’s really something for everyone here, except the sportbike crowd. For that, you’ll need to bump down to 650cc or 600cc or up to 1,ooocc motorcycles.
