Five years ago, if you wanted a cruiser motorcycle you bought a Harley. End of story.
But that was before cruisers became an American phenomenon. Come summer, highways and parking lots will be buzzing with these machines designed for easy long-distance travel and characterized by their roomy saddles and upright, relaxed riding positions.
Cruisers represent 55 percent of the American motorcycle market, said Don Brown of DJB Associates, a consulting firm in Irvine, Calif., up from 10 percent in 1991. He estimates that cruiser sales grew 17 percent last year, to 154,000. He expects sales to top 180,000 next year.
Cruisers offer their buyers–many Baby Boomers–freedom from their cars and individuality, adventure and fellowship with other riders. With increased disposable income in a booming economy, cruisers offer an alternative to adult toys such as sports cars or boats. They are more maneuverable than heavy touring bikes and more comfortable than agile sport bikes.
There are more cruisers for sale this spring than ever before. Not only is Harley-Davidson working on new models to supplement its 24 on the market, but all four Japanese manufacturers also have invested heavily in cruisers and the Europeans aren’t far behind. There are also two new American manufacturers, Excelsior-Henderson and Polaris.
Harley-Davidson’s share of the American cruiser market may have slipped–to about 55 percent from 100 percent in half a decade–but it sets the tone for cruisers. Harleys are imposing with their big V-twin engines, big torque, big fenders, big tanks, saddles for two, small mufflers (the better to keep the noise level high), low seat (more accommodating for male or female riders), lustrous paint and chrome and lots of custom accessories.
Harley-Davidson may have had this market to itself for decades, but its tremendous success convinced other motorcycle companies to jump into the cruiser segment. Here are eight of the leading cruisers on the market this summer:
BMW R1200C
The giant German auto and motorcycle maker introduced its first cruiser last year after 75 years, and it became the company’s best-selling motorcycle. The R1200C uses BMW’s traditional horizontally opposed, or “flat,” 1,170-cc, fuel-injected engine, the company’s largest, most powerful ever. It produces more than 70 foot-pounds of torque with a five-speed transmission and BMW’s shaft-drive system.
The suspension is unlike most cruisers,’ with the company’s patented Telelever front and Monolever rear suspension instead of conventional forks and swing arms. The R1200C is the most radical-looking cruiser, with its pulled-back handlebars–nearly chopper style–a solo saddle with a pillion pad behind it, a simple bar-mounted gauge cluster and more chrome than you’ll find on any other BMW. Options include saddle bags, a tank bag and anti-lock brakes.
Excelsior-Henderson Super X
A combination of two American motorcycle brands that went out of production decades ago, the Excelsior-Henderson is built by the Hanlon family and their staff in a new factory in Belle Plaine, Minn. The Super X has a 1,386-cc, 50-degree, V-twin engine with overhead cams, four valves per cylinder and electronic fuel injection. There is an exposed coil spring leading-link front suspension; the forks go through the fenders like those on the 1931 Excelsior. The fenders are fully valanced to cover the tread and much of the sidewall of the tires, another nostalgic touch. The Super X has quiet belt drive instead of chain or shaft drive, but it’s pricey–$18,000 for solid black, more for two-tone versions.
Harley-Davidson Road King
Of Harley’s 24 models, the Road King is the prototypical cruiser. This year, it features the new Twin Cam 88, a 45-degree, an 88-cubic-inch V-twin engine that produces 82 foot-pounds of torque. The engine is mounted indirectly to minimize vibration and is linked to a 5-speed transmission and a quiet, reinforced rubber-belt drive system.
Like all Harleys, the Road King makes few concessions to weight reduction; while the Japanese and German bikes are using aluminum, the Harley packs a lot of iron and steel under its paint. It weighs 699 pounds on a short 63.5-inch wheelbase.
The Road King can be dressed out with hundreds of Harley accessories from windshields and extra driving lamps to saddle bags and chrome.
Honda Valkyrie
Honda uses the 1,520-cc, 6-cylinder, flat engine from the huge Gold Wing touring bike, only with more power and torque. The Valkyrie is the quickest and fastest cruiser.
For 1999, Honda offers the basic Valkyrie, the dressed-up Valkyrie Tourer and the full-dress Valkyrie Interstate, all using the flat 6 with six carburetors and more than 100 horsepower. They all have 5-speed transmissions, shaft drive and triple-disk brakes.
Unloaded weight is 682 pounds. The Honda has a 66.5-inch wheelbase and a relatively tall seat height of 29.1 inches. Valkyries run from $12,799 to $15,999.
Kawasaki Drifter 1500
The new Drifter is a cruiser designed to look like the Indian Chief last produced in 1953. Its designers chose black paint instead of chrome for its frame, forks, headlamp housing, fender braces and bag mounts, a retro thing to do. The Drifter’s 1500-cc, V-twin engine has four valves and two spark plugs per cylinder and uses digital electronic fuel injection. There is a counterbalancing shaft and rubber engine mounts for smoothness. The 5-speed transmission helps the rider find neutral and uses shaft drive to transmit power to the rear wheel.
The Drifter weighs 668 pounds, rides on a 65.2-inch wheelbase and has a 29.1-inch seat height. Prices start at $11,499.
A lot of extras are available, including two saddles, a tank trim panel and accessory headlamps.
Polaris Victory V92C
This is the first motorcycle from Polaris, known for snowmobiles and personal watercraft. Built along traditional lines, the deep-fendered Victory uses a 1,507-cc, V-twin engine with the cylinders splayed at a 50-degree angle. It is a single-overhead-cam engine with oil cooling, four valves per cylinder and electronic fuel injection for a lot of torque.
The Victory uses a 5-speed transmission and belt drive, as well as cast aluminum wheels. Unlike most cruisers, the Victory’s engine is used as a part of the frame to give the chassis added strength.
Suzuki VL1500 Intruder
Suzuki builds V-twin cruisers with the most radical designs, featuring very tall engine cylinders with a narrow V-angle, chopper-style gas tanks and alloy front and rear wheels.
The VL1500 Intruder has a 45-degree V-twin engine like Harley’s, liquid-cooled and tuned for peak torque at very low speeds. The engine uses dual-downdraft 36-millimeter carburetors and hydraulic valve adjusters for minimal maintenance. There is also a digital electronic ignition system, a 5-speed transmission and maintenance-free shaft drive. The suggested retail price is $9,899.
Yamaha Road Star
This is the most Harley-like of all the Japanese cruisers, and its mechanical formula is simplicity. It uses a 1,602-cc, 48-degree overhead valve, V-twin, the largest in the industry. It has one cam, four valves and two spark plugs per cylinder, and the most torque–99 foot-pounds. The single-carburetor engine puts power through a 5-speed transmission and Yamaha’s first belt-drive system.
The Road Star has a retro instrument cluster with Art Deco graphics, lots of chrome and accessories from lights to luggage.
JUST THE SPECS
A brief look at how the Cruisers match up:
BMW R1200C
– Engine: 1,170-cc, Boxer twin
– Drive: Shaft
– Weight: 686 pounds
– Seat height: 29.1 inches
– Price: $14,500
Excelsior-Henderson Super X
– Engine:1,386-cc, V-twin
– Drive: Belt
– Weight: 647 pounds
– Seat height: 26.5 inches
– Price: $17,995
Harley-Davidson Road King
– Engine: 1,440-cc, V-twin
– Drive: Belt
– Weight: 699 pounds
– Seat height: 27 inches
– Price: $15,065
Honda Valkyrie
– Engine: 1,520-cc, Opposed 6
– Drive: Shaft
– Weight: 682 pounds
– Seat height: 29.1 inches
– Price: $12,799
Kawasaki 1500 Drifter
– Engine: 1,500-cc, V-twin
– Drive: Shaft
– Weight: 668 pounds
– Seat height: 29.1 inches
– Price: $11,499
Polaris Victory V92C
– Engine: 1,507-cc, V-twin
– Drive: Belt
– Weight: 600 pounds
– Seat height: 28 inches
– Price: $12,995
Suzuki VL1500 Intruder
– Engine: 1,500-cc, V-twin
– Drive: Shaft
– Weight: 652 pounds
– Seat height: 27.6 inches
– Price: $9,899
Yamaha Road Star
– Engine: 1,602-cc, V-twin
– Drive: Belt
– Weight: 677 pounds
– Seat height: 27.9 inches
– Price: $10,499
— New York Times News Service
