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EazyDuz |
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EazyDuz World Chat Champion
Joined: 12 Apr 2011 Karma :
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Posted: 20:48 - 01 Mar 2019 Post subject: Are cruiser motorcycles dying out? |
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I've noticed the UK has always had a respectable selection of cruiser styled bikes up until recently. As far as I can tell, most of the 'metric' suppliers have simply stopped making them. Examples:
Honda no longer doing the Shadow, or any cruiser on their website for 2019.
Suzuki no longer doing the Volusia/C800/M50/VL1500 etc, again no sign of any new models on their site.
Yamaha completely seized production of their 'Star' line of cruisers.
Kawasaki no longer do their 'Vulcan' series of cruisers. Well apart from this cruiser/street bike hybrid with a 650cc Ninja powerplant. (I admit it looks quite nice)
https://storage.kawasaki.eu/public/kawasaki.eu/en-EU/model/18EN650D_44SBK1DRS2CG_A.png
Which leaves us with Harley Davidson which surprisingly is very popular in this country. Indian (quick google shows they have quite a few dealerships dotted around England) and Triumph I guess? Closest thing they do is the Bonneville Speedmaster:
https://www.cycleworld.com/sites/cycleworld.com/files/styles/2000_1x_/public/images/2017/10/triumph-bonneville-speedmaster-location-front-quarter-hero.jpg?itok=f7HKouWj&fc=68,50
I couldn't find much on why manufacturers have dropped cruiser models, except I did read that due to stricter and stricter EU laws on safety and emissions, manufacturers just don't see it worthwhile redesigning their bikes to meet such standards, so drop them all together.
Others say the used cruiser market is so big (garage queens) that simply no one wants to buy brand new when you can get a 3 year old minter for half the RRP.
The US market still has some new offerings from the above manufacturers but again, not like it used to be. ____________________ To shreds you say? Tss tss tss |
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Ste |
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Ste Not Work Safe
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Nobby the Bastard |
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Nobby the Bastard Harley Gaydar
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MarJay |
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MarJay But it's British!
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chris_hu_cheng |
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chris_hu_cheng Renault 5 Driver
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Ed Case |
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Ed Case World Chat Champion
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EazyDuz |
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EazyDuz World Chat Champion
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Bhud |
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Bhud World Chat Champion
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Posted: 22:35 - 01 Mar 2019 Post subject: |
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Just for variety, I'm going to present a sympathetic view of people who want cruisers.
Cruisers are so quintessentially American it's hard to imagine anything more quintessentially American. Nothing wrong with that, as everyone likes a bit of Americana now and then. I, for one, would like to live in a more democratic, meritocratic, less classist society. The right to play with guns in the privacy of your own 'yard' would also make for a nice hobby. The American Dream is, for most people locked in the drudgery of this rather miserable place, a nice little bit of escapism. Most people don't mind the occasional visit to McDonalds, or watching a Hollywood movie, for example. But watching Hollywood movies and eating McD isn't something that you want to do every day, even if you're so balls-deep into Americana that you own a Chevy big-block V8. The fascination someone in Britain may have for cruisers is the same as watching that American bloke on TV who goes around America eating the biggest, unhealthiest comfort foods he can, in eating competitions at restaurants.
Wanting a cruiser is different from wanting a bike. We've got three types of road: motorway/dual carriageway with lots of other cars and frequent lane and junction changes, town and city riding (slow, lots of filtering and nimble maneuvres, special alertness and sixth sense needed at rush hour), and country riding (bendy, empty but narrow roads). Only one of those 3 is fun, and guess what, a cruiser is the least suited bike for any of those 3.
For these reasons, the market for cruisers has to adapt to fit into what those people who want an occasional fantasy escape-ride away from the daily office grind want. Those people who ride cruisers regularly and do it all year round do exist, but they aren't a significant enough market sector for the manufacturers to think about. So nobody will cater for them in the future. It's going to be all about the occasional weekend America-phile escapist, and no Japanese bike will ever be as American as an American bike. |
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Nobby the Bastard |
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Nobby the Bastard Harley Gaydar
Joined: 16 Aug 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 23:03 - 01 Mar 2019 Post subject: |
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Bhud wrote: | Just for variety, I'm going to present a sympathetic view of people who want cruisers.
Cruisers are so quintessentially American it's hard to imagine anything more quintessentially American. Nothing wrong with that, as everyone likes a bit of Americana now and then. I, for one, would like to live in a more democratic, meritocratic, less classist society. The right to play with guns in the privacy of your own 'yard' would also make for a nice hobby. The American Dream is, for most people locked in the drudgery of this rather miserable place, a nice little bit of escapism. Most people don't mind the occasional visit to McDonalds, or watching a Hollywood movie, for example. But watching Hollywood movies and eating McD isn't something that you want to do every day, even if you're so balls-deep into Americana that you own a Chevy big-block V8. The fascination someone in Britain may have for cruisers is the same as watching that American bloke on TV who goes around America eating the biggest, unhealthiest comfort foods he can, in eating competitions at restaurants.
Wanting a cruiser is different from wanting a bike. We've got three types of road: motorway/dual carriageway with lots of other cars and frequent lane and junction changes, town and city riding (slow, lots of filtering and nimble maneuvres, special alertness and sixth sense needed at rush hour), and country riding (bendy, empty but narrow roads). Only one of those 3 is fun, and guess what, a cruiser is the least suited bike for any of those 3.
For these reasons, the market for cruisers has to adapt to fit into what those people who want an occasional fantasy escape-ride away from the daily office grind want. Those people who ride cruisers regularly and do it all year round do exist, but they aren't a significant enough market sector for the manufacturers to think about. So nobody will cater for them in the future. It's going to be all about the occasional weekend America-phile escapist, and no Japanese bike will ever be as American as an American bike. |
Fuck off, fag ____________________ trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
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grr666 |
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grr666 Super Spammer
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Posted: 00:29 - 02 Mar 2019 Post subject: |
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____________________ Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off. |
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WD Forte |
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WD Forte World Chat Champion
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BTTD World Chat Champion
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Arfa__ |
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Arfa__ Traffic Copper
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Posted: 00:50 - 02 Mar 2019 Post subject: |
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EazyDuz wrote: | I think the issue most have is they learned on a typical sports bike or commuter bike like a Bandit, so when they ride a cruiser it feels alien. Feet stuck out in front, back straight, using only arm muscles to counter steer etc. |
Yep totally, having only ridden stuff like Fazer's, CBF's and sports bikes, I hired a Harley in the California a couple of times for shits'n'giggles (Dyna Low Rider 103 and RoadKing 107). And yes, spent first 15 mins out of the hire shop flaying my feet around trying to work out where they should go. Crazy see-saw gear change on the RoadKing was definitely a bit queer...
TBF, they were quite fun. Different, but definitely enjoyable. And yes they did go round corners, even on tight mountain climb hairpins, but I did scrape pegs, boards and god knows what else along the way. And, yes they could shift it when needed on the highways, torque on them was mad. And yes, I did manage to pick the RoadKing up after dropping it (at standstill onto bars), but god I swore.
But yeah, back in blighty now, queer harley experimental phase done, certainly wouldn't buy one, all straight and back on Fazer's again now. You can't knock it, until you tried it, ditto the Harleys'... ____________________ Beginner Biker Adventures Blog
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Bhud |
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Bhud World Chat Champion
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grr666 |
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grr666 Super Spammer
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EazyDuz |
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EazyDuz World Chat Champion
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ADSrox0r World Chat Champion
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Sister Sledge World Chat Champion
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EazyDuz |
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EazyDuz World Chat Champion
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Posted: 11:13 - 02 Mar 2019 Post subject: |
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jnw010 wrote: |
Yeah, that's my point. Harley gained that ground back making the Jap bikes no better. The Jap versions never got the character of the bike in the same way, so when Harley got the rest of it right the copies lost favour.
There are still some who like cruisers, while hating the Harley brand, but that's a small market, and Harley are working on image to pull in younger riders and get away from the pure gay pirate vibe.
You don't see a lot of 'em in the UK because they are f'in expensive over here compared to the US, which is a shame.
Also, lack of gay pirates in UK. |
Thats not the point though. Cruisers as a whole are less popular. It isnt that metric cruisers are unpopular and Harley have taken a much larger market share.
'Harley-Davidson reported a lower than expected quarterly profit on Tuesday, hit by declining sales in the United States, its biggest market, as its loyal baby boomer customers age, sending its shares down nearly 6 per cent.
Harley's loud, bulky and expensive cruising bikes preferred by baby boomers have not clicked with millennials, as many of them spend on paying off home, car and student loans.'
Not only that reason, but they've outsourced a lot of their manufacturing to Thailand which has completely turned off the mouthbreathing 'I'll ONLY buy MADE IN AMERICA!!!' types.
I can't wait to see their electric bike monstrosity though ____________________ To shreds you say? Tss tss tss |
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Nobby the Bastard |
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Nobby the Bastard Harley Gaydar
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stevo as b4 World Chat Champion
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EazyDuz |
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EazyDuz World Chat Champion
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
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Posted: 15:25 - 02 Mar 2019 Post subject: |
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EazyDuz wrote: |
Thats the con though. Harleys are purposely sold massively undertuned and sluggish, just so every customer blows another few thousand on their 'Screamin' Eagle' cam upgrades and fuel processors etc.
Whereas the Japs just do it right the first time. |
Except where suspension is concerned. If it isn't the latest sports bike, budget at best. Then they'll upgrade it a bit on the first or second revision of the model.
But since cruisers (allegedly) handle like barges anyway, I guess that doesn't really matter where the thread topic is concerned ____________________ Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE! |
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Old Thread Alert!
The last post was made 5 years, 58 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful? |
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