Last week we asked our readers what would or should be the next trend in the booming cruiser market. Here’s what they had to say:
- I think more stock power is order. Bigger engines is fine but I think
it’s time to get the power up to sportbike levels. If cruisers were
running in the range of at least 120 HP stock ten it will already
improve on a segment known for bragging rights. Keep the power levels
high and the fuel economy great and you’ll have a motorcycle segment
which won’t know any other way but up. - I am a 56 year old physician, medical school professor, who began riding again 2 years ago after a 30 year hiatus from bikes. I am 5’8″ tall with a 30 inch inseam.
My take ( at least what I would like to see):
Better handling with more rear suspension travel
More suspension adjustment
Tubless tires
Reverse the trend to superfat rear tires and apply some reason to this
Better ground clearance
Much better brakes
ABS availability across the board
More power and torque
Allow engines to rev a little higher – to about 6000-6500 RPM
Broad power band
New engine designs making inroads, mainly V-4’s
All engines with Fuel Injection
More electrical accessory capacity
More flexibility in purpose a la Yamaha Royal Star Tour Deluxe
Ability to adjust bike parameters to fit the buyer (interchangable handlebars, risers, seats, floorboard, pegs, etc). More than just adjustable clutch and brake levers.
Reverse the trend to extremely heavy weight bikes
Self-canceling turn signalsI don’t care about appearance as much as I do about comfort, convenience, handling, braking, safety and flexibility all without extreme weight.
I am a baby boomer and there are a lot of us with the same likes, dislikes and needs and enough money to satisfy them.
Right now Kawasaki comes the closest to making me happy, but all of their large bore cruisers are built for riders with longer arms than me. I lke the 1600 classic and the mean streak the best. The mean streak requires too much reach forward and the classic borders on it. - I think the cruiser interest will start to wane. Still will be popular , but many “boomers” will switch to better performing, more sit-up, bikes like the Vstrom, GS1200 ect. Many emerging boomers are independent guys. that resent the herd. They will divide, if not split the cruiser market.
- What’s Next for Cruisers? Frankly I hope it is their demise. As part of a fairly typical motorcycle demographic, (mid 40’s with 25+ years riding experience) I find it hard to believe my tastes are so far out of the main stream. I do not now, nor have I ever wanted a Harley clone. I hope that one-day bikes like the Suzuki GSX1400 and the Honda CB1300 take up a significant portion of the large displacement market.
- How about sport crusiers with in-line high performance 4 cyl. engines, with partial sport flaring, over sized rear tire and a standard to mild raked front.
- The power cruisers are coming closer to the streetfighter model. I
look for a fusion of those styles into powerful, ugly, standard bikes to
be called “street thugs”, which sounds so much better than standards. - I’m an 80’s boy, so I would like to see some “BIG HP”- modern & upgraded 4 cylinder cruiser’s. I liked the old Honda V-65 and the Yamaha V-Max. And they would kick butt with some of today’s styles and 160 hp motors. Some older guys like me don’t need to hammer on the twisty’s. Our backs can’t handle laying on a tank for too long. We want to go like hell in a straight line and be comfortable. Figure out a way to strap a Busa motor on an old V-65 and I’ll ride it.
- I hope it is a sport standard V-twin like the Suzuki VX800. I have been
waiting for the next XL1000R Harley for a long time but all I get is
Buell bikes designed by somebody who is about 5′ 1″. If harley could
just put their 1200 Sportster engine in a package that resembled the mid
eighties Honda Nighthawk S I think they would be on tho something, I
don’t know how well it would sell but I promise you they would sell at
least one. - The Next Big Thing in Cruisers, I believe, will be More of the Same.
None of the so-called performance cruisers performs worth squat when
measured as a MOTORCYCLE — by the standards with which we measure every
OTHER motorcycle outside the cruiser class.
Every compliment on the infinitesimal performance improvements in cruisers
in the past five years has to be qualified with the suffix, “…for a
cruiser.”
Motorcycle manufacturers can’t seem to shake the old paradigm that a cruiser
must not stray too far in performance from a 1950s Harley-Davidson.
Take the most-advanced, best-performing sport cruiser and compare with any
model of equal displacement in any other class (standard, tourer, sportbike,
sport-tourer) and it will fall flat on its face in every performance
parameter.
It doesn’t have to be that way.
How about some actual engineering? Get some real power out of a
narrow-angle, single-pin V-twin? Put it in a light, stiff, good-handling
chassis with modern suspension, brakes, and tires, and STYLE it like a
cruiser? - One would hope that the next big thing in cruisers would be less weight, maneuverability and braking.
But, I think that they are going to go with really big back tires. They will look like a cheap knock off of what we see on the discovery channel.
Gone will be the retro 1940s look. In will come the retro 1970s look with theme items glued on to the bike.
Gas tanks will still be too small to take a decent road trip.
On the plus side: most will be fuel injected. - I think that the new Victory Hammer is showing the way for the next wave of cruisers.
Big, fat wide rear tires will be a must and attention to detail as shown on the Rune will
also be standard on the next generation of muscle cruisers.
Custom styling usually reserved for one-off show bikes and larger engine displacement
packed with horsepower . 2000 cc engines will not be trimmed back in order to keep weight
down and handling more on par with sportbikes
My personal view is that cruisers will be produced at a level that was once reserved for custom bike builders.
(lets hope I’m right) - The trend in cruisers will be towards a mixture of naked standard bikes and cruisers. It will be pushed in Europe first with the first example being the Yamaha MT01. People will want the ground clearance of a standard bike with the show of a cruiser.
- Hopefully, the next big trend in cruisers will be a bike that features a reasonable riding position. I like the looks of some cruisers, but I cannot come to terms with riding with my feet in front of hands. The first thing I did to the last Harley I owned was put rearsets on it!
- I would like to see the trend towards better handling cruisers continue, suspension and brakes are at the top of my list. A lot of us ageing sport bike owners are accustomed to quality suspension components and these features should be carried over to the cruiser market. A 1600cc v-twin should have more than enough torque to satisfy. The mine is bigger than yours syndrome just does not cut it!!
- I think that since metric cruisers came on the scene, the goal was to make them as close to a Harley as to be almost indistinguishable. Now I think that the Japanese bikes will start to take on unique looks of their own.
- Continued styling evolution (beyond the custom Harley look.) After all, style is what it’s all about right?
Weight (reduction) as a marketing tool. Baby boomers are getting older and it’s more and more difficult for them to manage the behemoths currently being produced. - please, PLEASE, bring a new generation VMAX
- What’s next for cruisers? Supercharging, Alex, supercharging. The main reasons are: the faux performance gimmick factor (with the exception of Kawasaki, it could be argued that that is all the turbo bikes of the 80’s were about), the good fit on low rpm cruiser engines, the fact that high mileage reliability (i.e. warranty claims) is a relatively small issue on these bikes because many buy them just to look at and ride to the local bike night.
- I’m thinking that the whole cruiser thing is about to go bust. Everybody who wants one’s got one while Hardley Ferguson and all the clones are still cranking ’em out while asking too much for them. Pretty soon the glut of over weight under powered bolt on chrome this and bolt on chrome that hardware will peak out and more sensible sport touring cruisers and standard style bikes will dominate the market.
- The BIG twin craze will most likely continue but the performance market is the next big deal. Manufacturers will see the need to make cruisers handle and accel as well as sportbikes. There are thousands of sportbike riders that will make the move to a more relaxed syle of riding in the next five to ten years. These riders will be willing to give up top end speed but will not want to give up the ability to have that spirited ride through the twisties. I see more bikes released with inverted forks and bigger brakes but soon the average cruiser will be hitting the 100hp/120ft lbs mark.
- Yes, I think the next trend will be the power cruisers. I would love to
see a new V-Max with a “phat” rear end, longer and lower, but not too low.
If the Polaris/Victory Hammer and the Triumph Rocket are any indications,
besides all the H-D, and clones, I would be glad to see “that” V-Max.. - As long as the V-twin design is favored by the cruising crowd an increase in displacement will remain the easiest way to increased performance. If and when the acceptance of other engine layouts comes about they could allow increased performance without the weight penalty that comes with huge twins and the chassis to contain them.
I truly believe a large part of the popularity of cruisers in this country comes from the portly proportions of more and more riders. Bending over to grab onto low sporting bars can’t be comfortable if you have a large gut. But too, extreme sportbikes are much more intense than bikes were generally in years past. That’s where the naked bikes are meant to cover.
But there’s much more to the cruiser movement than just their design. We have a very large portion of riders who apparently have the want to look alike and blend into the popular cruiser lifestyle. - When I got back into motorcycles in 2000, I bought a suzuki 800 marauder. I liked it a lot, but traded it off as I wanted a bike that could go around curves better, more power etc….
I understand the appeal of cruisers, but I keep waiting for the backlash against these huge bohemoth bikes that you need a car jack just to get them off the side stand. There is some point that the “cycle” has to be put back into “motorcycle”. People’s tastes are different though.
I’m hoping a new segment will develope in the sport touring realm. I’m talking sportbike light, 150+hp, reasonable ergo’s and wind protection with optional hard bags. I have converted my ZX-9R into a good sport tourer ( but no hard bags ). Heli bars, taller screen, elect outlet, heated grips. Wouldn’t it be nice though to have a powerful lightweight bike that looks and handles like a sport bike with the bags off, but then you could pop the bags on for an extended trip. I have ridden an FJR. For all they make over it, the one I rode wobbled, was unstable, grinds footpegs easy. You start getting aggressive and the thing comes unglued. Here’s hoping for the future. - More power, certainly. Better pillion ergos, as Momma will be more in the picture as the Boomers retire. Current passenger peg locations are NOT friendly to aging knees! Better-handling, more powerful, performance-touring cruisers, with luggage and windscreen – this is an untapped market right now. For those who don’t want the “Elmer and Ethel” image of the Wingers, but still want reasonable touring capability, with performance that makes twisties fun and not a handful. Keeping it lightweight and nimble would be the challenge. How about a 1000cc Triumph Speedmaster with hard bags, an adjustable/removable windscreen and sissybar/rack? At less than 550 pounds? Keep it under $10K and you have a winner!
- The displacement leapfrogging should level off around the 2 liter mark. I suppose that’s been said many times in the past in regard to what we consider now as much smaller displacement, but after 2000cc’s we’re venturing into the car engine sizes! I think the next trend in cruisers has already started – fuel injection, shaft or belt drives, better brakes (usually lifted from sport bikes), “building your own bike” via mfr’s web sites, tubeless tires (even on spoked rims), and 6-speed trannies.
While it looks like the current chopper craze has reached a saturation point, there doesn’t seem to to be a slow down in demand. However, those looking to break that mold are moving toward bobbers now. - Light weight materials
- The manufacturers can tweak the handling and other performance bits over
time but cruisers will always be about style and attitude. I wouldn’t be
surprised to see displacement top out at between 2.5 and 3 liters but
realistically, anything in that range or larger is just too physically
overwhelming to have any sort of lasting appeal. I believe the
manufacturers will substantially increase options for factory
customization as their means for product differentiation, as Honda has
done with the VTX1800. I think we’ll start to see lots more of that in the cruiser market.
High end bicycles are shipped to dealers without highly personal items
such as pedals, which are chosen by the buyer at time of sale and
installed prior to going out the dealer’s door. I think the cruiser
manufacturers could do the same by establishing a core motorcycle that
is shipped from the factory to dealers without such components as
wheels, pipes, handlebars, mirrors, etc. Dealers can offer a variety of
these components to be selected by the buyer and installed before going
out the door. This might have the added benefit of reducing the cost of
inventory carried by dealers because they wouldn’t need to carry as many
entire motorcycles in order to offer variety to the customers – just a
variety of components. - My prediction is that we will see better handling, more powerful cruisers. As ‘we’ age and the belly gets bigger, the back stiffer, and suddenly we cramp up on sport bikes. So we give up clip-ons for forward controls. That bitching hard tail chopper by OCC, WCC, or ADHD nails the lower back problem. And the hooligan bikes will get traded in when you find wheelies and Metamucil don’t mix. But we still are power mad — we want HP, torque, and it all has to be reliable. Add in storage space for the extra set of glasses we need and adjustable suspension for the days when the ‘riods flare to get the idea of what the bike will look like.
Americans gave up cars for SUV because they felt solid, were reliable, and had space for our ever increasing load of crap we haul around. Hard tail chopper faddists will want a bit more ‘cushy for their tushy’, sport riders will want a more relaxed position, and we will probably want GPS/CDROM/CB/DVD/FM/SatRadio/vibromessage plus heated grip units.
The cruiser of the future will look like a Gold Wing – with flames and Maltese crosses. - A twenty year old V-Max is a better cruiser than any V-Twin could ever
be, regardless of displacement. The only cruiser future worth noting
will be when the new V-Max comes out. - I think the next trend will be to Bobbers. Now that the motors are so large
the only way to increase performance is to cut weight. This should allow
factories to both improve performance and profits at the same time by
essentially offering “less”. - I had 3 bikes in my teens early 20’s from a 150 Suzuki to a 750 Triumph.
I’m 56 years old now and got back into bikes in 2002 with a 1985 Honda V45.
In spring of 2003 bought a new Triumph America and put on 17000 km in 2003 & 04, loved the bike, but got the itch to change.
Looked at H-D’s, Victories and BMW 1200 cruisers.
Tested a BMW R1150RT and was sold on the smooth ride, handling and power. Bought a good condition 2001 R1150RT this fall.
Old guys like me (and getting older) may not want to handle a 700/800 lb dry bike with a big turning radius, poor weather protection and poor seating position for long rides. In my mind the BMW doesn’t carry the grandpa/ma label of the Goldwing and my grandma doesn’t ride anyway.
The BMW may not have the American cruiser look but it will always be respected as a great bike.
The big cruisers may have the “look”, but if you want to ride far at over 100 KPH try the sport touring class and if its in your buget get the best (BMW).
I’m looking forward to trying the R1200RT !! - With respect to the growth of the cruiser market I feel the following are to be expected: More attention to electronic gadget-goodies – GPS, “On-Star” type safety features, integrated communication systems – cell, bike-bike, stereo, et al, and on board diagnostics for the gadget hungry consumer.
Regarding the mechanical side of the bikes: We will see automatic transmissions, easy lowering ability of suspension, and lady-friendly amenities to attract more of this market share.
And finally we will see the “transformer” aspect continue to grow. For instance, the VTX Honda line. I predict we will see option catalogs that make the Harley goodie book look weak. Honda, as example, has to beat up on H-D in order to capture market. I think we will be able to swap cosmetic parts from bike to bike with the drop of a hat. Joe Biker can literally buy the Basic Black Starter Kit and end up with a totally custom fully-frenched one -of-a-kind “hey look at me” pavement ornament.
Performance – Increase in electronic alteration. The engines are big enough. I don’t think Cummins and Suzuki have collaborative plans for the Boulevard line.. - I think cruisers will develop along the same lines as motorcycles in general. That is to say in more and more specialized niches. In the rest of the bike world, new categories (or tweeners) are developed all the time. I think that as long as people keep spending the large (and profitable) sums on the cruiser segment that the designers will continue to develop more and more specialized bikes to try and reach that last customer. All that said I think it’s safe to say that one constant holds true for all motorcycle segments (at least in America). No one ever went out of business providing more power. I’d venture that the Cubic centimeters (or Cubic inches) wars will begin to turn into the Horsepower/Performance wars in the next few years. Size will still matter of course but I’d venture that quarter mile times may start to carry a little more importance in the near future. If you don’t think so ask yourself why Harley is fielding a (very successful) Vance and Hines managed Drag race team with their V-rod.
- I think cruisers should go the way of being more sporting, BUT, with less weight. The idea that cruisers have to be boat anchors is absurd. They could be very artistic and very rideable, as well as comfortable. There’s no excuse for cruisers being so heavy. How many people are killed each year because the bike just won’t turn them out of harm’s way?
Ducati like trellis frames would be awesome. Three disc brakes, which we are seeing already. Very light and efficient motors, again, more like a Ducati.
I like the Triumph Rocket 3, despite its weight. - I would like to see the Japan cruiser hog market go on a diet. Riding 750+ pounds is just too damm heavy.
- My big bike purchase this year is a tourer — an ’05 Gold Wing — for which I’ve waited 8 weeks, so far. If there had been a Valkyrie Interstate available, preferably updated, I probably would have bought it. The other touring cruisers available, from HD and Yamaha, didn’t impress me as having the quality, comfort and effective range that I wanted. So are touring cruisers the next big segment? I’m not holding my breath.
- As a dirt and sportbike rider, cruisers just don’t appeal to me for some reason. I’m even old enough to be part of the target market. (Over 40)
What would interest me would be a more stripped-down type of cruiser, more like a chopper, but built with factory fit and finish. (Not to mention reliability.) - Having ridden Harleys since the early seventies, I have never been a fan of the word Cruiser. I like to ride American Road Bikes, and the style that entails. I would like to see truly world class power and cornering ability in this sort of package. For instance, when I am not riding my Harley, I like to ride a beemer R1100RT, however the seating position is not as comfortabe as the seating position on the Harley for me. So I would like to see a Harley with the power and roadability of the european bikes. I have had great hopes for the Vrod engine in a better chassis, but so far it has not come to pass. I would like to see Harley step up to the plate and offer more power and better handling in their regular bikes, but realize that as long as they can sell everything they can make plus, they probably won’t feel the need to do so. Having loved Triumphs for years , I may take a look at the new Rocket III, but it’s large size and weight, vs my medium size and weight may stand against it.
- I begin my ventures in motorcycling 35 years ago. A 650 cc engine was a big engine and many of us crossed the country on 650s, like Triumph Bonneville’s and even smaller bikes. Defining the “right size” of a motorcycle (engine and weight) is like defining beauty…clearly it is in the eyes of the beholder.
For years, I choose sports bikes over cruisers because sports bikes were lighter, more agile and had better technology. However, currently I ride a Suzuki Boulevard C50 cruiser.
While many manufacturers will see offering a mega-bike (over 2000cc) as an essential “manqué” in their bike line-up, I think bikes, like the new Suzuki Boulevard line, will dominate the market. The bulk of new cruisers sold over the next ten years will be lighter (under 550 lbs), agile, employ newer and better technology and include comfort items as standard equipment (for example, heel-toe shifters).
Like many bikers, I spend rainy days with my friends in one of their garages standing next to a bike talking about the prefect bike. Our perfect bike (and we have disposable income and buy new bikes)
– has an 1150 cc to 1300 cc engine,
– weighs 500 to 530 lbs,
– dual disk brakes,
– electronic fuel injection,
– shaft drive
– heal-tow shifters
– easy mounting luggage racks/supports
– a comfortable seat – for a 250 mile ride
– a 27 to 28 inch seat height with moderately forward controls)
– “maybe” ABS (there is a no consensus about ABS)
AND cost between $9,000 and $10,000.
The question is whether bike manufacturers are doing the type of market research they should be doing. Clearly the big bike manufacturer in America is focused on this year’s sales numbers and will soon find itself, once again, out- marketed . Past on past experience with other consumer products, I suspect that Korean manufacturers are listening to the market – in terms of price and features, and within ten years, they will seize a good portion of the new bike market. - What I see being needed is a ‘next generation’ Vmax. That was a bike that
always sold and was a lot of fun. But there’s not another “power cruiser”
out there. And hopefully something without the ‘feet on the front axle’
seating position. - The TV influence will impact production eventually.
- As a sport bike fan I still admire all of the current stamped out cruisers. In the next 2 years we will see even bigger and longer machines with big motors and sport bike suspensions and added ground clearance.
Huge radial brakes, small projector headlights,various seating and handlebar lay outs.
Expect the size of these behemoths to be really long and really wide. America loves big and these will be marketed to the us. Technology will bring a good handling and fast package for all of you who want such iron. I will pass on the new cruiser. But I would love to have a 82′ Yamaha Maxim 1100. - Demographic trends: aging boomers, more women riders. The first major manufacturer that builds a 750-800cc (the new middleweight) class cruiser with a modern CVT automatic transmission will have a best seller on their hands. (I’m imagining something like a Volusia with a Burgman 650 style transmission.)
- With the ever increasing displacements of new cruisers, I have also observed a direct correlation with ever increasing prices. I think this will lead to expanded development in the moderate displacement market ~ 1000cc or less. Smaller engined cruisers tend to be lighter and better handling and virtually on par in most performance categories. How outrageous is it that you can buy a cutting edge sportbike for 11 grand, but can’t get a harley or victory for less than 13. It would seem that the middleweight category is ripe for development in terms of new models and new engine technology that would appeal to folks on a more moderate budget.
- I think the biggest draw to cruisers is the traditional engine design of the V-twin…and fashion.
The sporty cruiser and the big engine cruiser…they are so “last year”.
The next wave of bikes may be the “high concept” prototype design. More unique front end designs and cleaner, higher revving engines. The craze over the Rune and the upcoming MT-01 show that it’s not just the sportbike guys that like the bizarre and techno edge.
It’s tricky though considering many have pointed to slow sales of the V-rod to kill this trend. Though honestly I think the V-rod is more of an investment bike for Harley and hope they stick with it.
Are more touring oriented line of cruisers next? I sort of see that too but as sportbikes get more and more focused, get worse and worse press and insurance rates destroy the will of people to buy them, they will want the high concept cruiser. The reasoning being that most standards get detuned engines and 2nd Gen bit from the parts bin, so the high tech choice could well be a cruiser. - Well sarcastically I’m tempted to say fringe on the tires, windscreen, frame and fenders. But likely what I think we’ll see is the continued development of the power cruisers, with footpeg and handlebar placement more appropriate for leverag, and upswept mufflers etc. to increase ground clearance. What these things are missing is the handling that an FZ1, V-Strom or Z1000 provide. As long as it’s a cruiser it will sell, but the industry needs to continue to move towards competitive performance compared to the other segments of the motorcycling industry. As you say, the displacement race has probably run it’s course, a 2.5L cruiser is unlikely to offer anything that a 2L cruiser won’t, especially when something like the V-max performs so much better (not that the Max doesn’t need an update).
- Diesel cruisers, with stacks and superchargers. Perfect type of power for a cruiser!
- The next big thing will probably be what Victory — and I think Honda — are doing right now — ordering a “custom” bike from the factory. The motorcycle and car customizing shows on TV are really glamourizing customs, but the pricetags on those things put them out of reach of most consumers. Customs are available from most, if not all, of the bigger manufacturers, but a lot of the customization is achieved after the bike is delivered and at a (sometimes substantial) cost beyond that of the bike itself. Factory customs offer the best of both worlds — a bit of uniqueness at a more reasonable cost. I think the options lists will continue to grow.
- 1) Handling! Don’t expect sport bike handling but a bike should exude confidence when rolling around corners at a decent clip.
2) Styling! Bold, modern, and somewhat understated. Honda’s last concept had some of the queues right. This Harley clone stuff keeps me away from this market segment. If I wanted a Harley look alike, I’d just buy a Harley.
3) Lighter! Why would I want an 800-pound gorilla to scoot around on? Bigger engines don’t mean squat when the thing weighs half a ton. Let’s use aluminum, alloys, and composites. Let’s get real, 12K – 15K for undeveloped steel. I thought we were in the modern technology age?
4) Power! Do you really need a 2000 cc motor to produce serious power? Sport bike engineers don’t seem to have a problem! There’s got to be a balance between displacement, power, and rpm. Will someone please spend some R&D dollars?
5) Braking! More stopping power, please! Oh, and lets put some real rubber up front. No rubber bands or balloons.
The first generation of the race replica supersport and superbike is aging and I think looking for a more comfortable ride to cruse on. But in my own experience, cursers are slow lumps of steel that feel unsafe to ride. I will always have a superbike in the garage, but sometimes would just like to cruse on a comfortable responsive cruser! The industry is not there yet! - I saw this guys Ducati creation at the Long Beach CycleWorld show two weeks ago. Mix of aircooled engine with 996 racing suspension components in a slammed cruiser style. From what I understand, he handbuilt the frame and bodywork and everything else on the bike. Supposedly the only stock part is the front fender.
He was also showing pictures of a customers Ducati 996 based version also that had a dyno chart of 152hp at the rear wheel! Weight is supposed to be around 400 pounds.
I heard rumours that he is doing a Honda RC51 version of the bike too.
His website is www.motocreations.com and is somewhere in Arizona via his business card that I took.
From the response at the show, the magazine people were on top of him all weekend looking for a feature. Hopefully the whole story will be heard as I know that I want to learn more.
It is definiately a “sport cruiser” with the emphasis on sport. Wild mix of racing components, high power engines in a package that has not thrown the handling aspect away. I know that I want one! - I bought the mean streak. Power without massive weight while keeping
cruiser style. That’s what I would like to see. But bigger is better will
drive high displacement. I hope a high performance segment is kept with
modest displacement. - There are really two segments of the growing cruiser market. One is the over 40 age group that prefers the traditional cruiser style that is so popular now. The Harley riders and those that want the same style at a more reasonable price.
Group two is the over 30 group that has gotten over the Sportbike and wants to do more touring but has become accustomed to high performance vehicles.
As this group ages and moves away from the Sportbike it will become increasingly important for the manufacturers to produce motorcycles that offer more long distance rideability without sacrificing the performance that the newer generation of riders has come to expect.
I personally ride a Meanstreak for this very reason. No, it isn’t the most powerful but it is the best handling sport cruiser on the market today. I have ridden the Yamaha, Honda, and V-Rod and the Meanstreak is head and shoulders above the rest. Even still, I am waiting for some manufacturer to produce a v-twin liter bike with either shaft or belt drive, 100 HP, ergonomics that are sport oriented but accommodate touring, and weighs less than 500 lbs. - I foresee a morphing of the naked sportbike into a
large displacement v twin. 200+ rear tire size and
very agressive Euro styling. I eagerly await Harley’s
entree into this market. The new Yamaha is a harbinger
of this trend. A more upright relaxed seating position
is essential. One more prediction… a move back to air cooled
engines on these bikes. - I expect to see a chopper line emerge from the big manufactures. These
lines will have much more front rake, lower seats and larger back
tires. Customs are getting much more visibility thanks to the
Discovery Channel and “American Chopper”. Victory has a line like
this. I would think the Japanese and Triumph would want a piece of
that action.
I personally hope that we get bikes like Honda’s VTX concept. That
would be really cool! But this is America, and great designs often go
unappreciated. I’m not holding my breath. - My 8-ball says that new cruiser trends are represented by different
machines, like the Honda Valkyrie Rune or the Triumph Rocket III. We will
probably see more V-fours (new V-Max?), longitudinal engines (like a
cruiser version of the Honda ST Pan European), and many others. The
cruiser will still be a showpiece, a slow-rolling blend or art, machinery
and sound, but we will see a greater variety of styles, engine
configurations and displacement capacities alongside the eternal V-Twins.
New cruising categories will sprout like weeds, with names like “Relaxed
semi-sport-excursion-tourers” or
“Urban-Bigshot-Chickmagnet-Insanely-Torquey-Cruisers”. Basically there
will be an explosion of models, brands, styles, engines, options and
categories. - The writing on the wall is clear for anyone to see – cruisers have been
falling all over each other trying to imitate the same old tired styling,
the same retro look (and in most cases, the same retro handling). The
reaction to the Suzuki G-Strider and Honda VTX Techno Cruiser shows that
what we need is a bike that retains a cruiser’s rakish geometry and
Clydesdale stump-pulling engine, has the sportiest handling and brakes
possible, yet clearly, unequivocally makes no styling pretense whatsoever
at being part of “Easy Rider” crowd. - I believe alternate front and rear suspension designs will start to become more common in the high-end, big displacement cruiser genre. A hint at this market desire in the premium cruiser segment is the unique suspension that Honda used on the Rune concept/production machine. I think we will start to see more “neo-springer” type front ends and trick single sided swing-arm/low profile wheel and tire combos on the rear ends. Just my 2.5 cents!
- I’m still waiting to see/hear about a bigger better badder V-max. Imagine if they’d pump that sucker up to 2litres!! That sound, the power…where can I sign up!
- I generally am poor at predicting trends, but I would personally like to see more bikes like Yamaha’s upcoming MT-01 as well as Honda’s VTX Performance Cruiser. Both of these are less like “traditional” cruisers but more like naked standards with V-twin engines. Just as Jesse James showed what he could do with a Honda VTX “café racer”, there is a lot of unexplored territory in a V-twin based bike that can handle as well as go, without being a real sport bike (a la’ Buell).
- As someone who will likely never have the resources (or time) to have a large stable of motorcycles, I am personally encouraged to see the “Sport Cruiser” segment getting attention. Although I appreciate and admire many of the pure cruisers available today, they are simply too one dimensional. I would be far more inclined to invest my dollars in something with the general comfort and cool factor of a cruiser, yet still had the handling to do a reasonable job at canyon carving. Something like the Yamaha MT01 or Moto Guzzi Grisso (Grizzo?) stand a far better chance of getting into my wallet than anything with floorboards.
- I think one trend is to make a “sportbike” cruiser. Sportbikes have, when
compared to to the cruiser market, always been competive in the tech. dept.
The difference will be more attention to performance up grades. Where they
are all concerned. If you compare the difference between a Vulcan, and a
Mean Streak I think the gap will become even wider on the part of the Mean
Streak segemnt of cruiser’s.
Yamaha’s new MT-01 is not really in the same catagory, so there is a niche
in the current market. - I am responding to your question about “What’s Next for Cruisers?” because I’m curious if my hopes and desires for the future of cruisers (as well all motorcycles) are shared by anyone else.
First of all, please bear with me. I understand that you are looking for input about future trends in the cruiser market segment. I believe there is a void in the current US market that is linked, in part, to the future of cruisers. Second, I really want anyone reading this to understand that I truly appreciate all motorcycles equally, regardless of type. I wish I could afford more than one, but alas I cannot. I am forced to live with one bike that must function (as they say “over-there”) as an all-rounder. Currently the all-rounder role seems to have fallen, more or less, on the growing and very diverse market segment loosely referred to as “Standards” or more popularly as “Naked Bikes”.
I presently own a 2003 Yamaha FZ1. I traded in a 2001 Kawasaki ZRX1200 for it. I loved my ZRX1200. Actually, I started with a 2000 ZRX1100, which I traded for the 1200. That trade, you should be proud to know, was prompted in no small part by Dirck’s excellent ZRX1200 review on Motorcycle Daily (March 26, 2001). The ZRX1200 has many great qualities, but it’s that bottomless-pit-of-power engine and classic good looks that really stand out. However, I still wanted more in the handling department. This led me to the FZ1. Over all, the FZ1 suits my need for an all-rounder better than the ZRX. It’s handling and brakes were exactly what I was looking for. I find it’s seating position more comfortable and it also has better wind protection. But, while the FZ1’s engine is undeniably breathtaking, I still keep wondering if I would like it even better with more bottom end power. Yes, more like the ZRX. By the way, I also miss the looks of the ZRX.
So what does any of this have to do with the future trends of cruisers? Hold on, I’m getting there.
One new trend that seems to be gaining momentum rapidly is the “hybrid” motorcycle. For example look at the popularity of bikes like Suzuki’s V-Strom and Ducati’s MultiStrada. These and other bikes like them merge the characteristics of sport bikes with those of dual-sports. The result is a wonderful solution for those who either don’t want or can’t afford both a sport bike and a dual-sport. Unfortunately for me, that is not the mix I’m looking for in a hybrid. But hark, what bike through yonder web browser breaks, ‘tis the 2005 Yamaha MT-01! Oh, hell yeah! Wait a minute. Quit drooling. It will not be coming to America. Curse you Yamaha!
Why does the MT-01 appeal to me so much? My FZ1 has almost everything I want in a motorcycle. It’s got awesome handling, killer horsepower and unmatched comfort. What’s missing then? How about arm stretching, forget what gear you’re in, bottom end power with jaw-dropping style & good looks. Few would disagree that the cruiser segment is the industry leader in these characteristics.
So there you have it. Here’s hoping that the next big trend in cruisers will also be the next big trend for all motorcycles… hybrid bikes or crossover bikes. It’s all about bikes that let you have your cake and eat it too. - A “custom” chopper straight from the factory. Factories almost always follow the aftermarket trends.
- I’ll try to limit my ranting and stay on your requested message, but as a mid 50 year old rider, the closest I came to buying a modern cruiser was the current Yamaha V Star, is it the Classic? Reasonable design, shaft drive, not to big, but I didn’t go through with it.
I’ve tried, I mean really tried to like modern cruiser’s; Kawasaki’s Mean Streak, especially among them, but I remain currently happy with my cultish Kawasaki W650, a 2001 and last of it’s three year importation run here in the States. Thankfully, it’s still being produced, and shipped to Europe and Japan; but I digress. I could afford if stretched, to buy a new cruiser, and most easily appetizing is HD’s newest for 05 Softail Deluxe FLSTN. It closely resembles my aged 1971 NY Police Special, I practically stole, so to speak at a late ’70’s auction for $825.00. What I still fine attractive about the classic HD lineup perse` is basic engineered simplicity. This is at the heart of what I believe will not be the coming thing in Cruisers in general.
I truly deplore how complex and overly engineered motorcycles have become, across the entire spectrum. I am not a luddite in any regard, but the trend toward liquid cooling; (yes clean air requirements are necessary), but how damned complex can a bike get before even spark plug changes require, say an upper end disassembly of some sort. I clearly see this trend accelerating, pardon the pun, toward more and more complexity, as a sort of factory level hubris. Fuel injection, hydraulic valve trains, liquid cooling and excessive plumbing, just seem to be headed out of hand, I think.
While trendiness can be it’s own victim, I wonder aloud at times, if a more contrarian direction, perhaps an ultra simple, albeit modern rendition of a Cruiser, sort of a more meaner leaner (accent on the leaner here) Cruiser couldn’t make it on it’s own.
I remain addicted to those early thirties HD, Indian, Crocker, Cleveland, tractor seated cruisers if you will. With the same tall 18 or 19 inch wheel / tire combinations at both ends, that didn’t give you a pain in the thigh’s as you could easily hug their more streamlined fuel tanks. What truly, lean classic lines they posess. God, wouldn’t it be neat to see some factory, produce something like that; and maybe a real factory “Bobber” version as well. I wish I still had my old XLCH magnetoed kicker and Yetman hard tailed solo seat on the factory plunge and spring mount!
I do not believe, I’m blearily avoiding the fact that old was completely better than new, but, clean n simple, form following function in design is a virtue lost, most visibly in the cruiser market. In software, they call it bloatware. If Triumph’s newest cruiser effort is any indication, I can only see more bloatware in cruisers to come. They’re supposed to be motorcycles after all, not computerized Chrysler 300 Hemi’s. In any event, thanks if you have read this far! - What is going to happen in the cruiser market? As we all know, a vast majority of the cruiser market is people returning to bikes after “X” years of not riding. Many of them do not take a class to re-establish critical and important skills. Yet…these people are piloting 750+ pound motorcycles, helmetless(where allowed) and not often attempting to improve their riding skills(braking, turning, swerving to avoid obstacle,slow-speed manuevers.)
My question to the manufacturers is…why are we continuing to build these monsters? Much like the sportbike world, there is no need for gobs and gobs of HP and torque. The current crop of motorcycles in ALL styles have ample of both. The skill level of the general motorcycling population is barely capable of handling a Suzuki GS500 2-cyl with any level of competence.
How much bigger can a V-twin be made? As big as the pocket books of the people that are willing to dish out the money. The more valid question would be…how much bigger would the cojones of a manufacturer be that could say; enough is enough let us build a bike capable of more than bragging rights. - Just look at what Yamaha has accomplished with the MT-01. Its a start in the right direction but cruiser riders are looking for Power, Light Weight, Small Footprint, Stylish bikes. If the MT-01 had 120hp 125lbs of Torque and weighed in at just about 400-425lbs it would be a sales Blow-out!
- To be honest I doubt that this will be the next trend, but it should be if the manufacturer’s want my money: a frame mounted fairing on a cruiser for touring.
At the present time the only cruiser with a frame mounted fairing is the Harley road glide. While the concept is sound, it’s too heavy and too expensive for my tastes. an 1100 Honda shadow aero (the last model made with a properly balanced motor !) with a frame mounted fairing would do nicely.
I’m a Guzzi owner, and would prefer Guzzi do it, but considering their current financial state I’m not holding my breath! - I don’t know if you are looking for the next revolution in design or
not. But I don’t see anything quite that dramatic coming down the
pipes. Rather I expect to see more factory use of certain aftermarket
themes, like fat rear tires, stretched out front forks, lower seats,
and other chopper elements.
Perhaps other factory options might be targeted towards those who are
new to motorcycles, like ABS brakes, traction control, or automatic
transmissions. Such offerings might appeal to those who are new to
riding, but want to start with a bike that looks big and mean —
without being hard to ride.
The next big trend for cruisers? Big, mean, chopper looking bikes with
options for beginning riders. - I would like to think it would be a move towards more usefull cruisers. By that I mean ones that can do a bit of posing, but can also tour quite nicely AND have fun when the road turns twisty. I’m a little biased here, but I think the Moto Guzzi Stone Touring is pretty much just such a bike.
Oh yes and lighter cruisers would be nice. I would like to think that the Rocket 3 is the end of the displacement wars… - In order for this category to interest me cruisers are going to have to have better handling, long distance capabilities (cruise, detachable bags), lighter weight and better/safer brakes (i.e. ABS ). What I really want is a light weight, great handling , tourer with cruise,adjustable w/s, heated grips, radio system, ABS, detachable bags. So far BMW is the only one that is listening but “OH” the price of that R1200RT. Can’t somone else make a twin with all that stuff? Honda are you listening, yamaha, suzuki.
- I think cruisers and naked bikes will morph, like the Yamaha MT-01. Mondo
horsepower combined with handling and brakes. There are bikes called sports
cruisers but they still have the basic geometry of the cruiser. Steeper
steering angles, less trail, better brakes all blended with the prodigious
torque of the cruiser engine. That’s my take anyway. - Honda will have to develop a single-pin crankshaft VTX model to counter the
poor sales of the current 1800 model. The “poppa-poppa” sound doesn’t
inspire any buyers and cruisers in this class need character. For most, the
“potato-potato” sounds right. - I don’t necessarily know what the next trend in cruisers will be, but what I would like to see, would be a lightweight cruiser with a high performance lower displacement V-twin. Maybe throw an RC51 type motor into an extremely light cruiser geometry chassis that can actually handle. That would be interesting. All the “sport cruisers” out there now are just too heavy to come close to sportbike handling. Obviously the geometry of cruisers will always hinder their handling but losing alot of weight should help tremendously. A 400lb high revving 1000cc aluminum chassis inverted fork cruiser, now that would be cool!
- I don’t know what the next big trend in cruisers will
be but I know what I would like it to be.
Personally I think the trend towards ‘big’ has gotten
far out of hand. I have a 2001 HD FXD and a ’05
XL1200R currently and have ridden Road Kings and
Electra Glides. To me, when a bike gets over 700
pounds (approx.) it gets pretty ungainly in handling.
What I would like to see is more development along
the lines of the Yamaha Warrior. I think Yamaha is to
be congratulated on that bike. I was not that
thrilled with some of the styling elements but they
did manage to meld some modern chassis concepts with
excellent brakes and suspension into cruiser styling
and that is worthy of note.
I’ve spent a fair amount of time and money upgrading
the suspension on my two Harleys because the factory
pieces are not overly impressive. I realize this
depends on what ones experience has been but I’ve
owned a lot of bikes, including sport bikes and big
tourers such as the Goldwing, so I know what sharp
handling and smooth ride can be.
If Yamaha (or whoever) would adapt the Warrior
principles to a cruiser which also offers some of the
traditional cruiser good points such as comfy ergos,
touring oriented windshields and larger capacity hard
bags I could be a buyer. HD went so far as to offer
the SE Road King with the 103″ motor but of course
they didn’t come up with good brakes and improved
suspension and defintiely not lighter weight.
I have been very impressed with some of the features
of the new Kaw 1600 Mean Streak but I know its not
going to have much in the way of power and I suppose
the suspension is nothing special. The brakes look
like they would be fairly powerful.
I have also been quite taken with the Victory Hammer.
Now here is a bike with a 100″ motor that doesn’t
have to weigh more than its parent bike. I don’t know
how the suspension and brakes are going to play out
but my first impression without riding one is pretty
positive.
I guess what I want to see is the principles of a
Sport Cruiser adapted to the rest of the cruiser
genre. After all, how can lighter weight, beter
handling and brakes be a bad thing? - The next big trend will be power cruisers. An updated Vmax, or
born again midnite special or Eliminator . I would like to see a gsxr1000 motor
sitting under a fatboy tank , with a nice long wheelie-proof wheelbase.
(of course, the marketing would have to be for “comfort” and “passing power”) - Standards! Flat seats with big motors, close to the Triump monstrosity that is out. OR worse, Trikes?
- The next obvious path that cruisertech will move down is to incorporate automatic transmissions ala scooters. In fact with scooter manufacturers building more and more “maxi-scooters” these days the technology must be becoming transferrable to cruisers for the right sort of price. And do non-sport cruisers really need a manual trans?
It would also be handy for some of the luggage stowing considerations of scooters to be incorporated into conventional motorcycles (of which cruisers are one example) at the design stage.
Cruisers aren’t sometimes nicknamed “scooters” for nothing…………. - I own a 2003 Magna, and love it. I’d love to step up in power a smidgon, so I’m looking for a bike that can handle, and is in the weight range of the Magna, but still has cruiser ergos. It it seems that category is no longer represented, (unless you include standards).
The Warrior probably comes closest, (but no cigar). - Don’t like “V-twins”. Wish Honda had stuck with the Flat-Six Valkyrie.
- The next big thing for Cruisers will be automatic transmissions. Think about
it. The market for weekend outlaw types who have the green to buy a Harley
has been tapped out. There are those who wouldn’t touch a motorcycle because
it has a clutch and gears. A smart marketing company like Harley will
introduce a cruiser with lots of chrome and an automatic transmission within
the next three years. - I think the next big move is to high powered non V-Twins. What the Valkyrie started and the Triumph Rocket is.
V-Twin cannot make the power or deliver it smoothly as the Valkyrie can. Honda is missing the boat, up Triumph seems to get it. - Screw V-Twins. Give me a multi-cylinder like the Valkyrie anyday. I
have ridden multi-cylinder bikes since 1970 and don’t see the draw
towards V-twins. I bought my wife a v-twin VTX 1300 and she doesn’t
even care for it after riding my bike. Wouldn’t anyone in their right
mind want to ride a smooth bike on a long trip instead of one that
vibrates. Stopping to fix squeeks and tighten bolts isn’t my idea of a
good trip. Although a GoldWing is a bit much, it may be the only way a
future rider can get the smoothness and reliability needed for longer
trips. V-twins aren’t cruisers. They are boulevard bikes. - I think the Power Cruiser market will be the new frontier. We will likely see more V-4 high performance motors in hot rod curiser chassis. How great would it be to have a production bike with a Big Bore V-4 making meg torque, a FAT rear tire, Pro Street chassis, inverted forks, duel disk front brakes, non-shaft drive, that would handled like a sport bike and turn a 10 sec 1/4 mile? WHERE DO I SIGN UP!
- You’ll see two trends in cruisers. First, more manufacturers will create limited editions of existing cruisers with performance and appearance packages, a la the HD Screamin’ Eagles. Each year the designers will work with aftermarket companies for something special to provide a turnkey custom. The exclusivity will also provide guaranteed press coverage to check out the latest and greatest.
Second, I believe you’ll see another level of performance cruisers with top notch suspension and brakes. I had a 2000 V-Max and loved it dearly despite its shortcomings; despite reworked forks and steel brake lines handling and braking were not its strone suit. However, if Yamaha put R1 brakes and forks with better shocks on Mister Max, I’d be back in the showroom tomorrow… - I think that the cruisers appeal to the baby boomers the most. As our generation gets older, I think that comfort and safety (i.e. ABS) will become more important selling features. I could see cruisers developing more toward the Yamaha Warrior style, even with small fairings.
- i just brought a new kawasaki vn2000 i don’t know why they would want anything bigger this motorcycle is awesome.
- Honda needs to bring back the Valkyrie. Not all riders are sheep. We need to have more choices when it comes to our next motorcycle purchases.
- The short answer: Factory customs; for example Honda’s Rune, Triumph’s Rocket III and now Victory’s Hammer. Factory big tires, trendy paintandand hotrod motors all with a warranty (not bad). Along with the ability to custom order your bike from the manufacturer (ala Honda’s VTX program).
I Just wanted to say “great site and keep up the good work”. As far as the “sport cruiser” movement, I have fallen into the maximum displacement trend and replaced my H-D 1200 Sportster with a Honda VTX1800C. For my purposes it is a great bike and suits me well. However, The next cruiser I would like to see would be something of a similar style but with a little more emphasis on the power to weight ratio and handling (maybe even a different engine configuration?). Ideally it would be something like a VMAX V-4 crammed into a Roadstar Warrior package with some ground clearance and under 600lbs (if Yamaha is listening). I am definitly not interested in anything bigger than my Honda (and a 180 rear section is fine by me)!!! I’ve been riding since I was 16 and I’m amazed with the advances motorcycles have made since then (even the cruisers). The Rocket III sounded rediculous when I first heard about it, but after talking to a few guys and reading a some reviews it sounds like it works pretty well. No matter what direction this market makes I’m pretty confident it will continue to improve and expand. I can’t wait!!! - I find it fairly amusing where cruiser technology is headed nowadays.
Is it truly breaking new ground or is it dipping back in history a touch.
There is definitely a fisher forming between the 2 basic cruiser markets,
being the sport and power segments, and it seems to only be growing larger.
Just as the V-Strom has blurred the lines between the sport touring, dual
purpose and standard segments to form its own niche market, I would expect
the same of cruisers.
I could be mistaken, but perhaps this was exactly what Yamaha tried to
do back in the mid-80’s when they redesigned the Maxim standard. My first
bike was a 1985 Maxim 700 which left me scratching my head asking the
question, “What is it?”. Was it a cruiser as it had the deep dish seat with
the tear drop gas tank and cruiser inspired fenders or was it a standard as
it had an inline four and was on the same basic footprint as the Nighthawk
of the same era.
Maybe, just maybe, a manufacturer will be bold enough to throw an
inline-4 back in a cruiser inspired style but shrink the ever increasing
wheelbase. Since suspension technology has come a long ways since the
mid-80’s, a manufacturer may have a winner on their hands for people in
mulitple markets; short people wanting the power of the sportbikes, people
on standards that want the cruiser style and sportbike people that may want
it all; cruiser stlye, good handling for spirited riding and the power they
have gown accustomed to. I believe with each manufacturer trying to make a
product to distance themselves from the rest, one will most likely attempt
this and blur some more lines in the process. - A few years ago H-D experimented with a triple. Really just one more
cylinder from a rotary aircraft motor. I saw some pics in one of the mags
that placed the third head pointing forward between the frame downtubes.
Supposedly the motor ran well and sounded good but they felt there was no
market for it. I bet they could sell it now! 88 c.i. + 44 c.i. = 132 c.i.
Now that would be one hell of a power cruiser.
Personally I always liked the Honda Valkyrie and thought similar projects based on the BMW K1200 and other big Tourers would be great. But, with the death of the Valkyrie and replacement by the god awful Rune I’m not so sure. - I bet the next step for the BIG 3 (Honda,Yamaha, and Kawasaki) will be Production Choppers. Not as extreme as the OCC or Jesse gang but mild versions of a raked out VTX or Road Star. Of course it will handle better.
Take a look at the Victory Hammer with the Fat back tire!!
They seem to be migrating to 200 plus rears so it’s just a matter of time before they cash in on the chopper market.
If they are worried about handleng, just slap on the same warning stickers they do there race bikes….Buyer beware.. - I ride a 2004 Electra Glide Standard. It does everything I want it to do pretty well but I would like more power. I figure HD did not develop & build the V-Rod to only have 1 model & I’d love to see them repackage the motor into a bagger….the motor already develops 100+hp, they’d have to re-tune & gear the bike for more torque & low end power. What I don’t want to see is a V-Rod bagger…the V-Rod is just too ugly!
- I agree, displacement on v-twin near the practical street limits. Superchargered v-twin possible for more power, if they feel a need. No switch to non v-twin (except v-4) due to aestetics (goofy hd mentality of no change is better than advancement).
But, where I want to see the change is, ergonomics(comfort), but most importantly, REAL braking performance and suspension that doesn’t bottom out in the back, perhaps stiffer, adjustable fork suspenion.
On top of all that, I believe the standard tube frame shall go the way of the dinosaur, with perhaps an alloy, multi piece frame which resembles tube frame, replacing current (ancient) frame tech. This should be the first step to new, performance oriented cruisers. After that, Brembo, Ohlins, etc already provide the needed upgrades to hand on that stiff, light new frame.
My 2 cents, but do we need a fatter rear tire or 150 hp bikes that cannot stop/turn in an emergency.
PS – ‘Bout time we start getting auto cancelling turn indicators on ALL bikes. I think its more important of a feature for beginner bikes than for bikes people put 50000 miles/annually. - As the owner of a built Yamaha Warrior, I can tell you that this genre is an absolute blast (105 RW HP), but there is plenty of room left for refinement in the area of power cruisers. I love the bike, but if I were designing the 06 model, I would spec the following: One: Lighter: The bike can be made 40+ pounds lighter, and there is no advantage in a heavy cruiser vs. a lighter one. Two: Larger: 1800cc is the minimum for a premium power cruiser in my mind. Three: Higher revving. Cruiser riders want the low end torque, but they don’t want the party to end to early either. The rpm limit on the Warrior is related to the valve train, not the stroke. Push-rodded premium power cruisers should come with a a roller rocker system and short push rods using high tech components. Riders enjoy the 45 degrees cadence in terms of both sound and feel, but a balance shaft to allow higher revving makes sense. I would recommend larger bores (105 mm and up) and slightly smaller strokes (closer to 100 than 115). Four: There is no real reason for transfer cases on a modern motorcycle besides styling. Axe the transfer case and extend the length of the swing arm by about 4 to 6 inches. Hide the arm in a faux transfer cover if you will, but this will improve the handling greatly (stubby swing arms on bikes with 65″ wheelbases are ludicrous). Five: Adjustable ride height. Some guys like it lower (for looks), and some guys like it higher (for quicker steering and better ground clearance). Give them the choice. Six: give us fully adjustable suspension. We’re not nimrods.
In short, bring in the engineers and do away with some of the ‘traditional’ shortcomings while keeping the ‘traditional’ elements.
Which leads me to: One, water cooling the head like the Kawi is a great idea, but hide the radiators in the sides of the tank and in the rear fender. Nothing ruins the look of a cruiser faster than a big radiator stuck up front. Two: On the Valve train side, has it not occurred to anyone (i.e. the engineers) that you can hide a couple of bevel gear tower drives (think older model Ducatis) inside those big hollow pushrod tubes? This would keep the classic look we love, a shallow head, and a reliable 7000 rpm drive train to boot. If hot rodded 454 big blocks can run to 7000rpm, so can big inch cruisers.
There it is Yamaha et. al. Build it and they will come. I’ll leave styling dissertations to your other readers. - I’m usually wrong about this stuff, but what I’d like to see evolve is a
cruiser designed to be very light with alum. frame, swingarm, cast
(forged?) wheels and sportbike rubber. The suspension should be fully
adjustable and have decent travel. Feet moderately forward and a
comfortable seat for two as well. V-twin power and belt/chain drive with
a six-speed tranny of course. Could we get around 75 rear wheel HP and
90ft.lbs torque in a package weighing around 525lbs. wet? Of course there
are bikes heading in this direction already but they are all too heavy
with limited suspension. Am I going to live to see this bike from a major
manufacturer or not? - What will be the next BIG trend in “cruisers”? I suspect that other than the lemming like dedication to continue to copy the styling of Harley-Davidson, the Japanese manufacturers will just keep making ever bigger-engine bikes.
Wow! What innovation!! What creativity!!! What a joke!!!!
What was that Harley-Davidson advertisement? “Those with out a history of their own are doomed to repeat ours”.
Rather than pay homage to their own history (with the exception of Kawasaki’s fantastic ZRX1100/1200 bikes), the Japanese seem intent on riding on the coattails of HD’s stylistic history. Follow the money. I can’t say that I blame them, and to be honest the bikes they make are very good.
Cruisers? Nice enough. But why is it Honda is incapable of recreating a modern version of their own Scrambler? Surely the tooling is long since paid for on their XL650 bike, but noooooooo, they are content to vomit out Harley knock-offs. Yamaha could give us a nice modern XS650, but nooooooo, they too are satisfied to spew forth Roadstars. Kawaski and Suzuki follow suit with their own two-wheeled version of the inflatable love doll designed to placate those that want Harley style, at lesser, but not by much of late, prices. Bigger is not all ways better, but it is all ways… BIGGER. I suppose that this lust for mass is just another form of the size-queen mentality that fairly permeates the American psyche. Sad indeed.
I can see them now. Leather clad, doo-rag-sporting-pseudo-bikers standing around the parking lot of the local Barstucks®, locked in the primordial circle-jerk that is the “my engines bigger than yours” battle, never mind that they can’t venture to far from that lot because the fuel mileage of their behemouth rides is less than that of a car. With the same size engine. The simian owner of the new Vulcan 2000 is proclaimed the ultimate silver-backed male until a new weekend knuckle-dragger arrives on his Rocket3. Hah! But the Vulcan rider still has the BIGGER pistons. And so it goes, ad nausea…
Personally, I think Harley-Davidson should be able to sue the collective pants off these companies. Think for a moment if you will; what do you think Chevrolet would do if Ford produced a total stylistic copy of their Corvette? Or if Chevy put out a duplicate of the Ford Mustang?
You know the answer.
Why, oh why can the Japanese not be innovative any more? They can be. Just look at their sport bikes. But once again, it is difficult to get away from the “lets make it bigger!” way of thinking (Kawasaki 636 or Bandit 650 anyone?). Sport bikes pay homage to the corporate ego, but it’s the cruisers that pay the bills.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. And in this case, the surest way to a profitable model year.
What can we expect to see in the genre that is the motorcycle “cruiser”? More of the same. - I think that the next big trends in cruisers will be getting maximum power
without increasing engine size while decreasing the overall bike weight.
Another trend that I think that we are already seeing is “comfort”. A lot of
the current crop of cruisers can easily be used for touring, and yet lack
the comfort of some of the big tourers.
A case in point is Yamaha’s Royal Star Tour Deluxe. This bike is very
versitile. It gives decent (though not great) power, handling, electronic
cruise control, and while being a tourer, it can easily (quick disconnects
for the windshield and the backrest) be converted for boulevard cruising. - As you have indicated, and what anyone I’m sure can tell, is the trend towards higher displacement engines. When the Rocket III came out, I was blown away with the size and power of that engine. But one trend that has been continuing with the ever increasing size/power of these engines, are that the bikes are getting heavier too. And with that, I imagine, is progressively more difficult handling.
I feel that the next place manufacturer’s will expand on is creating more lighter and agile bikes, while still continuing the trend of putting out more power. I thought my Shadow 1100 was huge, at 600lbs, but many of these higher displacement ones are roughly 800lbs for bikes that are still relatively slow (compared to the standard bikes). Clearly with what the sportbike market has shown, is that enormous amounts of power and performance can be put in to a small package. Even to this day that trend is continuing. What will be tough though, is getting the general cruiser market to accept a smaller profile/package since they are so used to huge 800lb behemoths w/ fat everything.
Cruiser’s are more popular than ever – they got the looks and riding style going for them. All they are missing now is higher performance out of a physical package that isn’t proportionally larger. Once that happens, that’ll sell me on my next purchase.
