Cruiser Motorcycles Are Doomed! Here's Why
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In the last few years adventure and adventure touring motorcycles have been exploding in popularity. Dollar for dollar, they provide more features, more power, with the same comfort and carrying capacity as Grand American Touring Motorcycles. Are ADV bikes going to take over? Are Cruiser motorcycles doomed?
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00:00 - Intro
00:37 - Riding Buddy & Bike
02:32 - Hitting The Road
07:13 - We Made It
12:17 - Downtown San Fran
15:26 - Cruisers Are DOOMED! - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
![[TH] VCT Pacific Stage 2 - Week 2 Day 1 // RRQ vs TLN | DRX vs PRX](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/_OWt_-Lu3AE/mqdefault.jpg)
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No, not every one can deal with the seat heights......
No, because cruiser riders like the look and sounds of the cruisers. Some also like the much bigger wind protection, and lower seat height. I have a Tiger 900 GT low ride height, so mine is nice and low and I love it for cruising, but not everyone likes the look of it, etc.
Nah, the guys in the leather vests have a reputation to uphold.
The problem with Adv bikes is that they basically appeal to the same demographic as Harleys - and that's a demographic that's constantly getting older.
as a twin owner, if you got the leg, its the way to go. even if you dont have the leg and the want is there, its doable. glad you rode one.
I believe the era of cruisers being dominant in the US is waning, but won't ever be "over" due to seat height. Whether it's older folks, shorter folks, fatter folks, or just out-of-shape folks. Last I checked, America has a surplus of those in the last two categories.
There's plenty of ADV options for shorter riders, to include lowering kits that work surprisingly well.
@@spitescorner I personally REALLY like the Triumph scramblers in terms of feel. They weigh as much as ADV bikes (the 900 and 1200s), but they fell much small. Very comfortable.
@@spitescorner Short people can manage but there are a lot of people who struggle to kick their leg over the typical 25-26" seat height on a HD. Even a baby GS equipped with every lowering option available will be over 29". Sport tourers haven't replaced cruisers either.
Cruisers- more hip bend less knee bend
ADV- more knee bend less hip bend
I’d like to see more tall seat options for cruisers and forward control kits for ADV/standard bikes which could be nice for people that don’t actually ride off road.
@@spitescornerbut wouldn't lowering an ADV bike kind of defeat the purpose? How else are ADV riders going to clear the curb to get to Starbucks when the drive thru line blocks the entrance?
It's 2060. Honda sells more T-shirts and "lifestyle gear" than motorcycles. All they produce is P-Twin ADVs.
Bold of you to assume that anything with cylinders will be allowed to exist in 2060.
@@NtmoffiIf brains were gasoline you couldn't do two laps around a bagel in a go Kart. Normally I'd explain why you're wrong, but I feel like you're the type to be hypocritical about the "fact don't care about your feelings" sentiment.
@@fullmetalcorgi1350 wtf are you going on about? I want bikes and hotrods with real engines. I can't control the regulations. They're gonna make what we like disappear.
@@Ntmoffi then get some knowledge and hot rod it. If your room temperature IQ can't figure out how to spice up a neutered factory V8 you shouldn't even begin to comment on the current state of emissions regulations. Turn off newsmaxx and touch grass.
@@Ntmoffistop blaming "they", start blaming "us"... there's proposals to have an EV tax now and the EV ppl are losing their minds and questioning the whole eco factors...it's our fault
"The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco" - Mark Twain
lol, I think you mean Tony Bennett.
Costal Bay Area represent.
Saying HD bikes are a little overpriced is a colossal understatement.
As a older rider I no longer have any desire to ride a 900lb super Cruiser Harley etc that is a pain to service and a very unreliable machine with pour fuel mileage etc and performance. Why not buy a modern lightweight 750 to 1100 cc twin adventure bike with cruise and modern instrumentation etc and suspension that handle poorly maintained roads and reliable well engineered engine with all the comfort necessary to challenge any adventure to your local nature park.
Tall bikes aren't a relaxed ride for most people.
Both my HDs get 44 to 50 mpg, are simple to service, and are extremely reliable. You are talking trash.
I'll bet this guy has never had a harley bagger.
Hope you are tall.
I had not ridden a motorcycle for many years, several decades in fact. I found ItchyBoots on TH-cam and began watching her Season 6. By the time I reached episode 35 I went out and bought a new motorcycle. I first thought to get a Honda like hers; a little 300, but having been used to riding a 750 for a decade, a 300 was not quite enough bike for me. My 750 btw was the 149th Virago Yamaha had assembled in its first production year, 1981 and became the first Japanese cruiser. It was an excellent bike, still is, actually in mint condition in my brother's garage. Anyway, I went out to seek a bike at the Yamaha dealership after having visited local legendary dealership, Turple Brothers. Indeed, Glen, the 95 year young owner still rides everyday on his Spyder or Stryker, or perhaps his trike. Last year Glen clocked 45,000 km. He was 94 then. Anyway, I digressed as I spoke of a friend of mine for whom I have a high regard. Glen is a legend. So, anyway, I went to the Yamaha dealership and after first sitting on a Chinese made adventure bike with hard panniers, which fit quite nicely but, it was Chinese made and I am not much of a Chinese made fan. The disinterested sales agent who is no longer there, ha ha, pointed to a Kawasaki Versys 650 that was on sale, ten grand all in. I like that sort of deal and went home to research the Versys. Well, as you likely all know, that bike is one of the most top rated ADV bikes on the planet and so I bought it. That was at the end of July, 2022. The bike is a 2021 model; all beautiful slate grey with silver and red highlights. I began riding it in August. In Alberta our riding season is not so long, much too short in fact, but whatever, I am not a fair weather only rider. Yesterday I returned with a new chain and front sprocket, all service is done, I have a pair of good Shinko 705 E tires and am ready to embark on my third season on this bike. There are over 26,000 km on the clock. The only thing I wish it had was a larger front wheel because I do take this bike places where you would never take a HD for example and the scratches and gouges on my bike prove it. And, that 17 inch wheel makes it difficult for my big hands to get in and take a pressure reading or put the pump on the valve. However, eventually it all works out, so if you have large hands, check that out to see if you can get in to keep an eye on something lots of riders neglect. I am religious about my tire pressures if I am going out on the open road because sometimes I get up to a 100 miles per hour plus. The fastest I clocked was 180 km/hr. An American rider with a GPS clocked me at 110 miles per hour one day on Alberta highway 93 heading south to Banff. But, that is the bike's top end. I couldn't squeeze another km out of it. Not bad for a 650. But one would expect that since it is a Kawasaki and the Versys is built on a Ninja platform. Vroom, vroom.
I am tall, 6'2" and the Versys 650 fits me perfectly, is very comfortable, can handle carrying camping gear and ride long distances without problems. One ride was 750 km and another lasted 18 hours in one day. As for age, today I am 73.5. If your life is boring, get a motorcycle and Spite is correct, the ADV products such as the Africa Twin or my bike will continue to attract riders and potential riders, no question. However, there will always be that group which likes to ride around on colossal, heavy, chromed up, mostly Chinese made HDs and be potential organ donors as they cruise about in flip flops and a hanky on their head.
Thanks for making this video, Spite. I enjoyed this foggy tour, and to be reminded how beautiful SF is. There were actual architects who designed houses there. Ride safe, mate. Greetings from Alberta.
You can take my Rebel 250 from my cold dead hands.
Rebel 250? That will run longer than either of us, lol.
Tiny piece of shit? Okay, nobody wants it.
Hell yeah! Those old Rebel 250 are awesome!
The little Rebel 250, once you ride one, you understand why this underpowered, slow bike is such a unique, fun classic.
If I didn't need a freeway mount and could only keep one bike, I'd have kept my "Mini Me". Still miss her.
@@ronoldcross8189Hmm, I rode Rebel 250 and it was just that, underpowered old tech bike
Sold my cruiser this year and got a naked bike. I am definitely not going back
Did the same a couple years ago. When I want the comfort one day, I'll figure out a solution for my short legs on a sport tourer before going back to a heavy slow cruiser that isn't as fun in the twisties
i like mine naked bike to. not a fan of my feet in front lol
Cruisers have already gone down a bit in popularity, but they will never be gone. A large part of the appeal of the cruiser is the style, the retro aspect of them. I currently own a Lowrider ST, and I absolutely love it in every way. Would a bunch of other bikes serve the same purpose? Yes, but they don’t have the same style or feel of a cruiser bike
As someone who rides ADV bikes and appreciates cruisers my biggest problem with ADV bikes is specifically the height when carrying a passenger. I've got no issues riding my bike with only my toes touching the ground when it's just me and the bike, but add a passenger which puts a lot of weight up very high and ADVs can get a little hard to manage if you aren't the tallest person
Us oldsters like our comfort. I don't care what label the manufacturer chooses when they categorize a bike. If it's comfortable with good wind protection and stowage to accommodate rain gear and such, I'm in. If you analyze the demographics of who is buying motorcycles, you have to conclude that there will always be a market for comfortable and boring.
That's what cars are for.
If I want to be comfortable, I don’t want to be riding a motorcycle… riding is time for being on point.
Comfort of my Buick vs any bike ever made... Not comparable
Just drive a car ;)
@@AlexS-gn9tq I don't own a car but if I did it would be a large Lexus sedan.
I live in Northern Europe. In 1978 I did my first 2.500 miles camping trip with my girlfriend as passenger to Monaco and back on my two stroke three cylinder Suzuki GT550. Later I got a Moto Guzzi 850 T3 California and it was great for the long distances. Now I'm 66 and just got myself a Suzuki SV650. It's 37 lbs lighter than the adventure version and easier for me to push around. It's more nimble due to the shorter wheelbase which is good in the mountains and for U-turns. It's good we have so many different types of motorcycles to choose from today. I would wish we had more smaller ones about 250 - 500 cm³.
Don't forget the KLR 650. A basic bike with no unnecessary tech, fully loaded for under 10K.
And very reliable.
Cruisers aren’t doomed. HD is doomed… While ADV bikes are on the rise of popularity they aren’t for everyone unfortunately. Shorter people opt out myself included. Love them, love working on them, too tall for me to ride.
This is one of the reasons that I don’t like adv bikes. I am 6’2” and I took a test ride on a Harley Pan America and I could barely get my toes to the ground. As a taller person I can’t imagine that anyone shorter than 5’10” could ride that bike at all, if it weren’t for the advanced suspension that lowers when you come to a stop.
@@billsheppard2433 as a 5 foot 9 inch tall guy.. with a 32 inseam... I had a pan america with a Kodlins 2 inch lowering link.. Did not change any of my abilities to ride it like a sport bike on or off road... Plus I could comfortably flat foot one side.
Flat footing is a crutch not a necessity.
You people are quitters. It's slightly difficult, so you'll choose to fail instead. For shame.
Me currently trading my bmw gs for a harley fatboy because heavy prairie crosswinds suck & ive never been more comfortable on long trips in my life
I have a 2021 Goldwing that I've put 70K miles on in the last two years. It's the nicest vehicle I've ever owned. We're about to do 7K in two weeks headed out west from the east coast. I can't imagine doing that with the wife on an Africa twin. I hope that touring bikes aren't going anywhere. Oh, and 200 to 400 miles is not a big day.
For like $30,000 dollars, it better be the nicest vehicle ever.
@@logangodofcandy Meh, You start putting options on some of those "adventure" bikes (which most folks do) and you can come real close to $30K. Heck I just priced a BMW with some options and it exceeded $30K
As someone that's only ever ridden crusiers I'm starting to look towards ADV bikes.
I don't see HD/Indian Cruiser/Bagger/Dressers; or Touring Bikes like the R1250RT, K1600, and Goldwing; or sport tourers like the 1290 Super Duke GT, R1250RS, S1000XR, F900XR, Tracer 9 GT+, etc; getting replaced any time soon by ADVs. I honestly think ADVs are more of a fashion trend like crossover SUVs are. Most riders never take them any further off road than a camp site, they are tall, the seat is high, the weight can be high up as well (particularly with the bigger tanks), and the wind protection can be virtually non existent to somewhat decent.
Bagger/Dressers generally have much better wind protection, the newest models have better suspension (took HD ages to put half decent rear suspension on their touring bikes), and they can be extremely comfortable with the right modifications (a lower back rest is a must, and bars positioned to allow a relaxed riding stance). The only issue they have is that HD has stuck to their biker image for so long that they may not appeal to younger generations.
I also think many people touring on an ADV would be better served by something like the R1250 RS/RT, or even the S1000XR/F900XR/Tracer 9 GT+/Multistrada, as they are designed for on road touring. They don't have the 21" front wheel (something you don't want for a 95%+ on road bike), or 50/50 tires, they tend to have better aero, and other features for long touring.
You're right. You and other people are excessively short. An adv is as tall to you as a Harley is short to me.
I would also add that most tire sizes that ADVs come with usually don't offer the best road tires as well. There are also very very few "GT" type of tires with stiffer carcasse and side walls for the increased weight+power
Compared to sport tourers with standard 120/70/17 front and 180/55/17 rear that have almost every road tire in existence
"The only issue they have".... I think you forgot to mention that cruisers are painfully slow, handle like barns, are comically overpriced, and often give you minimal features for that money.
That fact that a Low Rider ST costs significantly more than my faster, better handling, better specced and more versatile Tiger 900 is why cruisers don't appeal to many younger folks. Harley and Indian need to drop a third off their prices.
Have FDXF Fat Bob 2014 as a tall guy I can see it is not comfortable for long rides. And problem is same for all. Yes seat and weight is low, putting aside bad stock suspension and brakes the real problem is position of rider where your lower back gets a lot of kicking on increasingly bad roads even in developed countries. Keeping it for local fun, but put my Yamaha Royal Star Venture as deposit for Voge 900 DSX. Great overall touring bike with a lot of benefits to any cruiser. But especially wheels and suspension which is needed even as you do not go off road plus modern adv bikes are designed that you sit in them and not on them so they have lower seat and voila even shorter rider can enjoy them plus it helps tremendously with wind protection in the same time. I can see cruiser still going on in eg. USA and its states where there are long boring straight roads for hundreds of miles. Here in Europe it is very different story.
There are two types of ADV. There is the africa twin and tenere type which is off road focused and then there is the second type which is the vstrom and versys type for road. The second are smaller, lighter and cheaper touring bikes that burn less fuel.
Yes. Last week I sold my BMW r1100rt. This week I'm picking up a Honda cb500x. 🙂
Got it… love it!
I think there's one point missing on this debate: cruisers will always win for me because I'm really short.
As an 2020 Honda AT AS driver, I'm probably a bit biased.. but what I see in my environment is that on trips now there are a majority of ADV drivers.. There are actually three of the drivers who have HD who have bought ADV.. which they now use on the longer trips... and that's only because of comfort and ease of driving. The advantage for us who already drive ADV is that we can now drive everywhere, and not be tied to asphalt on all trips. There is nothing that I have driven before that is as comfortable as an AT AS with air suspensions :)
Nice segment! Cool that you passed my town on the "Cruisers Are DOOMED!" clip.
Here's why I'll never buy another adventure bike. I'm 6'1" & bought a new Suzuki Vstrom 650 in 2007. Seat was junk so I bought the optional gel seat. I couldn't reach the ground so I had to buy lowering links. Now the center stand & side stand were too long & I had to spend more money buying adjustable length stands. Center of gravity on this bike is so high I couldn't lift it up when I dropped it. If I had just bought the Suzuki SV650 I'd still be riding it today. Lighter, cheaper, faster, more nimble & no modifications needed to ride it. I know plenty of riders with the same story.
Motorcycle sales in general are on the decline in the US. ADV’s will have their glory in the sun and like everything else the tides will turn and either something with a different title will come out or what old will become what’s new again. Personally I don’t see crustier culture going anywhere in the US. I would like to see more middle weight bikes on the market like there were in the early 2000’s. You can find some awesome muscle cruisers for great prices out there and they are a joy to ride. I have an ADV type bike and a middle weight cruiser and I enjoy the cruiser more on all street scenarios.
Middleweights are thriving rn but its mostly nakeds
No one rides the speed limit in California. You could have rode 90+ back to Roseville no problem
Unless there's a traffic jam.
Advs will never replace cruisers because they don't have the style that a lot of people still love.
Yes, they do. They both make you look like a fake idiot. You don't Adventure and you aren't a badass. You're skinny, have a beer gut, can't fight, don't camp, don't know how to start a fire, etc.
They both have the "I'm fake, laugh at me" look.
The biggest plus a ADV bike has over a cruiser is visibility and comfort. My lower back and butt gets sore on longer trips on cruisers. On a adv bike you sit a little more upright so it doesn't hit that pressure point on your butt the same way as it does on a cruiser. I mean if you get a cruiser with a big couch seat forget about it that's a game changer then at that point get a goldwing. The visibility thing is another plus you're up higher and can read traffic better and make earlier adjustments as traffic does what traffic does.
I don't have the experience with either, but they don't make comfy cruisers, like a gold wing without all the crap?
@@logangodofcandy Honda had the cb1100 which was a cool bike. They stopped making it like least 10 years ago. It was basically a modern ujm. Most everything else is just a naked bike with a round tank now.
As a local resident, it's great to see you visit and have fun and take advantage of our lane splitting laws. Sorry about the grooved concrete and abrupt microclimates and terrible drivers!
Oh this is such a cool video. I'm so glad you did this instead of edited video up in Sacramento. This is my neck of the woods, so it's a lot of fun to see how much fun you all have going over the Golden Gate. Makes me appreciate what I take for granted too often living here. Thank's Spite!
Cruisers are mostly a culture over function. Especially Harley culture. I think the big issue is that the generation of people that got attached to the Harley lifestyle are mostly aging out of the ability to continue riding, and Harley as a company specifically doesn't know how to adjust.
Gain more audience? Sure.
Replace? No.
Bikes are emotional purchases, not rational ones.
I don't think there are very many people cross-shopping cruisers and ADV bikes. While I give you huge credit for being open-minded and finding something to like about almost any bike, I don't think you're representative-wish it were otherwise. The die-hard Harley fans are very unlikely to ever buy anything else, and it's nothing to do with practicality or value. Conversely, cruisers have never really appealed to me or the family and friends I ride with. I just don't "get" them-and that's fine! To each his own!
Ofc I know him, he's me! I am looking for something long distance in which I won't lose the pillion like I do on my gixxer. I've looked at a bunch of cruisers but at the end I think it's gonna be a versys 650. I had the naked version in school and it was a very well mannered bike. The only thing I found wrong with it was it was buzzy after 60mph but I can't afford more cylinders so it will do. I'll fix that in the aftermarket. Plus I expect it to have a slightly lower first gear too compared to the naked. Plus I barely uses any fuel and it comes with a huge tank, 21 liters. That helps!
@@SoulTouchMusic93 Good choice!
No matter what time of year I've been to San Fransisco, it's always cool around the bay. Even in summer you need a sweatshirt.
Love the San Francisco footage, especially riding the bridge in fog. Riding big bridges on motorcycles is an adventure unto itself. Had a blast going from Sault St. Marie to Canada as part of my Lake Superior tour.
I was worried about all the human crap he might slip on.
In Europe, they mostly already did, and most vendors scaled back their production: The only JP cruisers left are the Rebels and Vulcan S which use inline twins from CB 500, AT and ER 6/Z 650, and EU vendors also dropped many models such as the Moto Guzzi Californias (incl. Audace and other models with the engine) and Triumph Thunderbirds.
Many people talking about adv bikes do not realize they're touring bikes and as such, they are for example light (normal touring bikes like R 1250 RT weight 40 more kg and cruisers even much more), do not have a mass of plastics, yes, they have worse wind protection but for some this is a pro as it gives you more of a bike feel. The suspension is much better than on a cruiser (which is great on bad roads) and they're much sportier, although they share the last 2 things with touring bikes. Having your legs below you is an advantage for some as they help soften the bumps which go to your backbone on cruisers.
There are some people who like the "americana", such as many MCs, but there is not so much of them compared to other bikes, and for those who want a retro bike, there is a lot of other options and those are often better priced than cruisers.
I currently own a cruiser but my previous bike was a Husqvarna 701 supermoto. My current state is that motorcycles should be looked upon as show pieces of combustion engine engineering. I truly love going down the road and thinking about the v-twin 1500 pounding underneath me. If what you are looking for is really fast performance on the street, then go buy a car. I think most people would agree with me because the one's that don't are dead.
One issue is that ADV bikes are less accessible due to their high seat height. Anyone can hop on a cruiser and get their feet down.
This is very true. They have lowering seats and kits, but you don't normally have to do that to cruisers
The limiting factor is people thinking they need to or should be having two feet down.
@@logangodofcandywhat kind of bike do you ride that you can back in/out with only one foot?
Here in Australia cruisers are more of a neverwas than a hasbeen. We have the HD "freedom" riders & the blip in sales in the 90's when every dentist & accountant wanted a Harley, but HD's & cruisers in general are a pretty small segment in our market.
If you wanted to tour in Australia you used to buy a touring bike. BMW K's & RT's, Yamaha FJR's & the like ruled the roads, with the odd Goldwing now & again. But, thanks to obi Wan Kenobi & his Long Way Round miniseries, the dentists & accountants switched to BMW GS's in the mid 00's & ADV's started cannibalizing touring bike sales.
Australia doesn't have roads. The large carnivorous spiders and drop bears destroy the asphalt and concrete to quickly. Obviously you need armed adv style bikes.
We all saw mad max.
@@logangodofcandy Nah, the spiders are too small & easy to run over. And the Drop Bears are too stoned on backpacker blood to properly time dropping onto a moving motorcycle. What you really have to watch out for is the poisonous hoop snakes. When they form their bodies into a circle & start rolling down the road you'd better watch out. They've been clocked at over 100 mph & can hug the road like Rossi in his prime.
Where do you live? Where I am cruisers are around 50% of the bikes on the road. If you're in somewhere like Sydney you'll see a lot more of non-cruiser types as they're used for commuting, but other places cruisers make up a huge percentage of the entire road bike fleet. I wouldn't say they're a 'never has been', but compared with the USA (or at least what I saw of it) there are less cruisers but there's still a LOT around
If you must finance a car, motorcycle or any depreciating liability longer than 3-5 years you really can not afford.
The idea that cruisers are doomed is nonsense. Do they dominate the roads like they used? No, but they have a place. As a new rider myself, cruisers are what drew me into bikes. Now the big bagger style cruisers? No, I prefer the sporty smaller cruisers like the Indian scout. I have currently have a Vulcan S. And its performance is great for how much I pay for it which leads me to my point. Big Harleys and other baggers the cruisers that don't give you bang for buck, but the scouts, the vulcans and the rebels do and I think those cruisers are very popular right.
I ride a 2006 BMW R1200GS and Love it. The center of Gravity is down low, gets great gas Mileage, and is the most comfortable Bike I have ever ridden. The Wind protection is incredible. No Head buffeting what so ever. I can even Ride when it’s pretty Cold Outside. It has heated grips, no Electronics to worry about. I added a Cruise control. I have 4 Fusions in my Neck, and 2 in my Lower back. I have to have Surgery again for 3 more Fusions in my lower back. I also have a Syrinx (Tumor) in my Spinal Cord. The GS puts me in the perfect riding position to be able to Ride without hurting. I also Love the Telelever front end, with no Fork Dive. Plus the Engine stays cool. I don’t feel any Engine Heat. It’s to each its own. Whatever makes you happy is the Bike for you. Who cares what anyone else thinks. It’s about whatever makes you the Happiest. We all just want to be able to Ride in peace.
I have a 1000c c VStrom. Comfortable, good power, good price and good tourers. I like that you sit up higher which makes you visible and you get a good view of the scenery. And it is reliable.
For anyone who has played a ton of GTA: SA, it's impossible to see the building you're in front of around the 11-minute mark and not see Jizzy's Pleasure Dome Club.
don't forget that you can ride on all types of dirt road depending on your skill level! I have a 2005 GS1200. It is basically analogue with none of the electronic bullshit! I know how to start on the most extreme uphill, turn safely without help and as I am old school I still use paper maps! I have a cell if I need GPS which is rare. Sometimes I will even stop and ask directions and get into great discussions!!!
The casual no hands at 70+ ice in the veins bro
You should watch me ride a BMW GS then 🤣
Man, motorcycles are so complicated today Manufacturers will give us whatever we are willing to pay for. lol.
Well you see, I'll never be able to ride an ADV bike. Ever. They're not made for 5'2" people like me. They're wider and heavier than nakeds and sports, as well as incredibly tall. You mentioned lowering kits in a reply, but how many inches are we really able to shave off with that? 1? Maybe 2? That's not enough for someone like me to be comfortable.
I'm already on the ball of one foot on my Triumph Trident sporting a 31.7" seat height thats had the seat shaved 0.5". An ADV bike cannot be lowered enough for me to be comfortable, because theyre significantly heavier than the Trident (by 100 lbs or so). I'd have the same amount of foot down with less ground clearance to boot, meaning lean angle is less and it changes things.
It's really easy for you, as a very tall dude, to sit there and claim tall ADVs are superior to low cruisers because you've never had the experience of being short. And you, like every other reviewer/youtuber that's male, completely ignore the fact that plenty of us women riders are under 5'5" and can't do what you claim shorter riders can do, because we're not who you're thinking of. I've seen it in more than one of your videos. It's tiring for us fun sized riders to not be given any real advice and/or be ignored.
You popped the question wrong. Are we talking about american made cruisers or in general? The american brands like Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycles will survive because they are clearly a niche based on tradition and remarkble marketing advantages. As you can see the real cruisers under the big japense companies have vanished from their portofolio. Especially in Europe and the rest of the 5 eye countries (Australia, Canada, new Zealand etc.). Some brands still hold their cruiser market in the USA under the japanese banner, but most of their cruiser portofolio has either vanished or substituted by a cruiser cross over sport naked bike like the Honda Rebel (wich survived due to its long lasting legendary name) or another example the Kawasaki Vulcan 650, which used to be from the 90s until 2010s real cruisers. Whats left over is just the name vulcan rebranded on their cute 650s, sharing the same engine with the Ninja, Z-model and versys. If you take the unicorn Honda Fury in consideration then you will notice that the bike only sold in the USA quite well (in the beginning) and in other countries not at all. Well it is also to be blamed the timing when the Fury was released, when custom cruiser had their major downfall just after the global banking crises in 2008 (Release was one year after in 2009).
I have both a BMW ADV bike and a Harley. I use the BMW more as I often do down dirt roads in my state. BUT...I will say that the Harley is easier to ride in some ways. For one, it is lower. ADV bikes tend to have long shocks to do the off-road thing, but this means that a lot of average height people are stopped on their tippy-toes at intersections, or leaning the bike over onto one foot. Not so with Harleys. Most people can flat foot with their knees bent.
I do not understand why the ADV bike manufactures design bikes optimized for 6' tall people. The average American male is 5'9". Just scale everything down (including tires) proportionally so we can stand properly!
While I respect HD for the legacy... the quality hasn't been there (Nightster), and the prices are insane. I think the pricing has gone mental on them, and the stigma of the overall people riding said bikes are wanna-be billy badass riders. The new rider mentality is cost-effective, fun craving, and wanting to be friendly to each other. I think the arrogant nature of a lot of HD owners and the exorbitant cost of them to own and maintain is absurd. Cruisers aren't going anywhere as a whole... it's the high price, elitist mentality of HD (and Indian) that are in danger of falling into the past.
I would love to get an ADV bike, but the problem is I'm 5'7" with a 30" inseam. I also have big thighs, so I struggle to get my feet down because most ADVs are too tall. I sat on a Tracer 9GT which in my research has one of the lowest seat heights, but with the seat at its lowest setting I was still on my tip toes. They need to make an ADV like the Africa twin for shorter riders.
get taller boots and it's ok to use 1 foot to stop just slide to the side a lil bit lol
Thats my commute. The secret is to wear a summer mesh jacket under a winter jacket. Switch back and forth.
Nothing feeds the soul of a cruiser rider like the feel and sound of easing back and relaxing while the miles just melt away the stress and pain of modern life. Suzuki, Honda, Harley, Yamaha, Indian, Norton...who cares. Two wheels is two wheels, but I got no use for a ADV or sport bike.I'm perfectly happy with my Intruder 800 and my '91 FXR. Remember, there's only three things in this wild and wooley universe of ours that you can count on. Your brains, your bros, and your BIKE! Let's ROCK & RIDE!
you forgot death and taxes!!!
I ride a harley because of the seat height. I just feel safer when I can flat foot, I don't know why they can't build an ADV bike with lower seat height
Summer in San Francisco is the coldest winter.
I just got back from the ANNUAL 2024 BMW MOA in Redmond, OR this weekend. Anything 1150, 1200, 1200 WC and 1250 WC was represented there. Most prominent were the GSA's, followed by the RT's and then the Beasts, the K1600's. I also saw 1200 and 1250 R's set up to tour as well as a few RS's with bags, too. Seems Shad is a popular brand in these. In addition to all the nolstagic Airheads, and early model GSA's, Paris to Dakar models. People mostly rode them in, from all over the country. But I would say far and away most representative were any of the GS and GS Adventure models as well as the RT models. Very few, 750- 850 twins or the 1000XR models. If Harley is King of the 45 V Twin, then BMW is the King of the Boxer motor designs. And the culture is completely different... I would say 99% of the bikes had stock exhausts or if after market, like Akrapovic, they were all very very quiet on cold start ups and idles, as well as all the early riser tent campers that packed up in the dark on Saturday or Sunday mornings to make big mile rides back home. No half naked women, no noticeable drunks, 2 live bands each night. A far cry from Sturgis. I will also say that there were many, many older riders, that mentioned being former RG and SG owners, but the bikes got too heavy for them as they aged out, so a 600# R1250RT was a blessing, to still be able to ride on. Some of the older guys just went with the 7.9 gallon tanked GSA's and just bought them with low suspension and low seats, to be able to reach the ground.
I've owned a Goldwing that I did an iron butt on have owned four Harleys, owned a concours and a Vstrom . All are capable. For busting miles on Freeway nothing tops a Wing. But I'll take a road king if we're hitting the two lane. The cruiser is the Cockroach of motorcycles. ADVs are nice they have impacted the Sport touring bikes.
Trends will come and go but two wheels will always be fun. 😊
I own a triumph thruxton also boys will be....😅
Harley-Davidson has priced themselves out of the market for most riders. Their customer service is horrendous! Traded my 2021 Road Glide Special for a new Indian Challenger. Loving the Challenger. Keeping my wife's Heritage 114 for now.
Love to see responsible filtering/ splitting, should be legal everywhere.
You dont need a big bike to have an adventure .
And an ADV bike you can explore gravel and dirt roads and get to sites via these roads.
Not all of us like ADV bikes... I don't like them at all. I love cruisers though.
i have talked to harley riders, they usually aren’t riding brand new bikes, and at least the ones ive talked to would probably laugh if someone told them to get a adventure bike , because it’s cheaper and better on paper. Personally i don’t really care, but im a mechanic so i would just buy a cheaper used bike harley or whatever and have fun, spending 20k+ on any bike is ridiculous
I owned a hd for 10years and bought myself an africa twin last year to replace it. I can only confirm all the things you mentioned. A very good bike, not to expensive and can do everything
Well cruisers are different then touring bikes. The older generation, who still tour will opt for comfort on longer rides. That being said I'm thinking that there are less people touring now a days on on motorcycles. I'm 70 and I traded in my Street Glide for a Heritage. It's perfect for long rides and bike nights. We are aging out and the younger generation would be more into middle weight bikes. That is why the Japanese are producing so many parallel twin street fighters. They will take a lot of business away from Harley and big touring bikes. The younger generation would rather fly or drive a car for long distances. They don't have that romantic desires of the open road like we do.
I think you are correct. I'm older (65) and own a 2010 BMW RT and a 2007 BMW GS. Both have very low miles because I bought them used from guys who buy new then never use them. I ride with Harley guys sometimes. They are a bit like lemmings in that they all have the same model Harley, same pirate clothes and lack of protective gear. I can tell you that either of my bikes are much faster, quieter, and just as comfortable. I have much less invested in both bikes than any one of their Harleys. I've ridden their 900 lbs. rolling couch bikes. No thanks, I want back on my bike asap.
I think I agree with you almost in totality. I think but cruisers are in fact doomed IF they can not capture the hearts and minds of newer younger riders. Yeah, most millennial riders I know (myself included) would love a big comfy mile muncher, but 30-40k???? That's absurd... Both HD and my brand Indian are guilty of this. Catering to the rich old generation who are starting to not even be able to ride anymore, while Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki ect are all making cruisers and/or more interesting bikes for less than half the price will prove to be a losing strategy.
In many ways the motorcycle market is akin to a neighborhood. Some are upscale tawny others are low-rent type and many are middle of the road. They can be apartment condo complexes or cookie cutter row houses. These neighborhoods can be urban, suburban and even ex-urban. So when it comes to choosing a motorcycle every rider can decide which "neighborhood" suits them best, It's just a matter of which neighborhood do you see yourself living in?
The Harley-Davidson neighborhood is pond-for-pound the most expansive neighborhood in all of motorcycledom and the Motor-Company knows what its value is and price it accordingly. They also know what they're good at producing and marketing. It's a formula that works for H-D corporate and, more importantly, their dealer network.
when i was shopping around a new bike I was very interested in the 2024 HD roadglide but when dealerships were asking almost 40K thats when I turn to ADV bikes and bough a KTM 1290 SAR, a far more capable bike with a ton of power, tech, comfort and a gas tank big enough to eat a ton of miles; not mention way more fun to ride. I though about the Pan America at first but it just didnt sit with me, plus the dealerships at the time were not offering any deals; some dealers in my area had pan am's that were sitting for over a year
Ha ha! You are riding in my area! Love that ride! Yeah the water is WAY down there on the bridge! maybe I'm old... but I'll keep my v-twin cruiser until I actually want to go off road... and in that case I'm buying a dirt bike. Thanks to all the ADV Dad's out there that are helping to drive the price of used cruisers into the dirt.
I don't see cruisers going away. Here 80% of the bikes i see are cruisers, thats including all categories of bikes. I wanted to test ride a certain honda before my last purchase. None of the dealers in a 150-mile radius had any motorcycles in inventory. Five harley-davidson dealerships within that radius and always have inventory, even during the government sponsored pandemic.
"cruiser" is kind of a catch all term for any bike that isn't specifically something else. There is plenty of overlap.
@logangodofcandy no, the only other bikes I'm including in the cruiser category that aren't "cruisers" are low touring bikes with forward controls because they are just heavy cruisers.
that's because they couldn't sell the overpriced gas hogs.
@@ADobbin1 Yeah people are really hurt by gas prices. Nobody buys an S.U.V.
@ADobbin1 they sell the 💩 out of them in this part of the country.
As my friends and I get older, I'm nearing 60 now - the HD baggers are simply too heavy anymore. Less fun, I promise you...even with the top tour pack taken off via a quick-release setup, which helps - it's still an 800 lb beastie. My Pan America is closer to ~600 lbs wet, if I remember correctly - what a difference! More nimble, it's a sport-tourer in disguise! NTM 150hp, yeah? LOL Maybe ADV bikes are a fad but it's been a fair few years now that ADV bike sales have been on the rise across all brands, I believe.....so many things to like about an ADV bike, I'm hoping it's a fad that sticks. Options are needed, esp to bring new riders into the fold!
ADV bikes and wind protection are a tricky thing. The smaller the wind screen, the more nimble they tend to be off-road.
My first ADV bike was a '13 Tiger 800XC, and I broke the OEM windscreen twice due to involuntary dismounts and the handlebars smashing the screen, and I ordered a Madstad replacement for that bike. The Madstad was wonderful on the highway, but it was much bigger than the OEM screen and was a subtle source of frustration when offroad because it impaired vision of approaching obstacles and picking your path through them.
I much appreciate the smaller screen that comes OEM on the Tuareg (my current bike) versus either the OEM or aftermarket solution I had for my Tiger. Not quite as good highway protection, but I'm still able to ride the bike all over the western US. I've ridden all over Arizona, done the COBDR and the SoCalBDR on it, and later this summer doing the NorCal BDR (though my group I'm going with is going to trailer the bikes across AZ and NV rather than face the desert heat in August).
Adjustable height screens are great, but need greater adjustment
If they where not that expensive would help too
Damn you Spite… you make such good videos I’m literally sitting on my bike with one foot down watching this vid.
🤷🏻♂️💯
ADV bikes: Less than 5% are actually ridden off road. They are by and large pavement queens sold on the marketing hype of “Adventure”. It is a Fad, and just like all fads, it will fade, and then the market will crash. .
So about the same percentage as that of HD cruisers that are ridden more than 3000 miles in a year?
No, their performance on-road is good to be a valid choice over normal touring bikes like R 1250 RT etc.
People said the same about SUVs. They never go off road and this fad will fade. SUVs have endured (ugh) and I'm pretty sure ADVs are here to stay as well. (ugh). I ride a Honda NT1100 and it fits like a glove. But it seems sports/tourers are less favorable than the "tall rounders".
I think this video is for the American Audiences only. ..Adventure Bikes are not popular since the pandemic but the boom started since Obi Wan Kenobi and his slightly overweight comedian friend decided to hit Mongolia, back in 2003. In Europe, ADV bikes are popular for two decades. Cruisers, however, are fewer and fewer on the roads, especially Harleys who appeal mostly to rich dads and wanna be Jax Tellers. I used to own 3 Harleys in the past, among other Japanese cruisers, here. Exchanged the HD for a Triumph Bonneville( much more at home on the narrow twisty roads of Europe. Also got a GS 1200 for going long distance and for light, off the pavement adventures. The only HD I will buy again is the Pan Am but as we speak, iti did not yet convinced me to trade my 10 yeas old GS. The price is too high to upgrade for a slightly marginal better bike. Do is Miss the Harley rumble? Of course! But prices are insane and can be hardly justified.
Simply Adventure bikes are like Swiss knife of the motorcycles.
My street glide is still my go to for any trip over 100 miles. Easy service, great mileage, and stuff the whole stinkin house in the bag. It may not be my only bike, but I’ll definitely keep a bagger for the foreseeable future. ADV’s have their place especially for the taller crowd though.
Your knees are bent too much. I can’t ride with my feet under my ass. Bad back and bad knees require my feet to be forward. If I can’t have a cruiser, I would not ride at all
You mean that your knees would be bent too much. The shoe that fits one foot pinches another.
i can't stand m feet in front of me. i use my foot pegs to help turn sharp &fast got to have that snappy staring i like my feet under me with a bad back it feel better i ride a cb600f i sit up and my legs feel good not bent up and my duel sport my legs are flat and a soft bend in the knees idk to each its own
American style cruisers will always be number one in America. ADV bikes are more prevalent than they were before but even then, it’s not even close to cruisers. Especially when you include the other manufacturers like Kawasaki, Honda, BMW, Yamaha, and Indian that also sell cruisers.
There is a tendency on TH-cam to only mention Harley when they talk about cruisers, but when you’re actually on the road you see tons of different brands and it’s not even because of the whole traditional MC vibe most non cruiser riders tend to believe. More often than not it’s a combination of two things. Looks and comfort. Performance, speed, torque to weight ratios and all that is nice and all but to the average rider all that is nothing more than bragging rights to talk about with other riders at the pump, bar or motorcycle event, because most riders will never use even half of the potential performance their bike has, whether that’s a cruiser, ADV or super sport.
The one thing I wholeheartedly agree on is that the cruiser sector for the big two (Harley and Indian) has lost their minds with the prices they’re asking for. But other than that, at least in America, the cruiser is king and will continue to be.
I’ve had cruisers in the past (Goldwing & Lowrider ST) but I always end up gravitating back towards ADV bikes, the ergonomics just work better for me. Having said that I get the appeal of cruisers/baggers they do have the look/sound that ADVs typically lack.
Glad you enjoyed riding around San Francisco. We have some of the best roads in the country within 200 miles North, South and East of us. And it's 365 a year riding weather.
There are some comfy office chairs out there, but a lazy-boy recliner beats them all.
I'll never own a cruiser bike....once I'm too old and my body can't take being on a Ducati Panigale, I'll just transition over to a Street Fighter, or Multistrada.
Younger buyers today want a do it all machine. Too expensive now to have 3 different bikes for the different types; tour, street, and off-road. ADVs do all.
Too many cheap well maintained used cruisers on the FB marketplace. As a new rider with a limited budget, I was able to get a nice cruiser and gear for about 3k. Would love an adv bike though.
Welcome to Nor Cal Spite! Enjoy the nice roads here.
Suzuki just had a demo event here recently and I got a chance to ride the GSX-S1000GT+ and I really liked it. I’m interested in it as a second bike, but feel like it would just be duplicating my bagger (2022 Indian Springfield Dark Horse), so I stay with just the one bike. Maybe the NEXT bike will be something different.
Oh, hey! You passed by my place. Yes, in SF one has to be 'one with the clutch' due to all the hills and stops.
It's a big part of motorcycling so no won't think Cruiser bikes will be doomed. The heritage or loyalty to these bikes have a big following, and that's obviously cool too!
Sure there are plenty of great non Cruiser bikes out there and some switch over to them or have them added to the stable but I don't think they will be gone in X years to come.
ADV are already known as oldman bikes, cruisers will come back in to style once they cater to a more energetic demographic.
My first bike is an Indian Scout Sixty. While I enjoy the forward controls, I know I can’t do much standing since the best I can do is lift off the seat for a bump. I had to change the seat on it to stay comfortable for more than an hour of riding. I’ve been looking for a second bike that isn’t a cruiser to learn different riding techniques and ride further than 100 miles between topping off the tank. Been looking at medium ADVs and maxi scooters for daily commuting and touring.
Even so, I don’t have any plans to trade my cruiser. As much as I want to seek new experiences, I expect I’ll cherish it for years to come.
I have been riding for 55+ yrs. Got tired of sport bikes, uncomfortable , so I bought a new 2015 Victory Cross Country "Bagger" . 4 yrs later I bought a Triumph Tiger 800 used with 900 miles. Great bike! I thought the Victory would make a great touring bike, but I enjoy the Triumph more. I now have it set up for long distance touring. The Vic has it's place, but not for long rides
I have two bikes, a 2021 Sportster Forty-Eight and a 2023 Suzuki SV650.
I love both bikes. The SV does everything I need a naked bike to do. The Forty-Eight is, for me, the ultimate cruiser. In the areas I ride in, no other cruiser touches it.
Cruisers, Harley cruisers, are definitely NOT doomed. Japanese cruisers, at least partly because they’re limited lifespan bikes, might be doomed.
Sold my road glide st for a CB1000R. 0 regrets.
i ride a 750 cruiser around the neighborhood. i thought its heavy and i want something like 250cc. one time i rode my 750 on the freeway. the max i did was 80mph. faster than that i thought it feels like floating. now i understand why others are riding heavy bikes
People need to have something to say. My two main vehicles are a Pan America and a Road Glide. My third bike is a BMW M1000R. If I want a comfortable mile munch even over twisties, the choice is the Road Glide, hands down, no contest. If I don’t want to touch the “no dirt roads” slider on my nav map, I choose the Adventure Tourer. If I don’t want to cover a lot of ground but want a thrilling ride in every sense, I take the BMW. I mean, it’s good to have theories and vision and shit, but where the rubber meets the road and the leather meets your ass, you choose the bike that provides the greatest fun for the dollar amd time. Get on a Road Glide for a long trip: tons of stability, tons of thrill, hugely reliable, and, like any other bike, a challenge to learn to ride in total control. And don’t get me wrong, if the Pan America is the right bike for a long trip because I want to go off pavement for a critical part of the trip, I’ll take it, but I will not be nearly as happy during the long, on-road portions of the trip.
I there's two reasons cruisers won't die for a long time and its (as someone else mentioned) seat height and used price. I can get a fully working cruiser from the early 2000s for like $2k but anything adventure is gonna be at least $4-6k. For someone just starting that's a HUGE difference and someone who starts on a cruiser is probably more likely to buy cruisers for second and third bikes.
The farther the ride the more you will appreciate a Harley tour bike.
Cruisers will always be relevant in sales. For 2 up riding thats comfortable for long days you cant beat a goldwing or big HD. Im 5'8. To be able to hold a bike up while 2 up i need a cruiser with a low seat. Plus as we get older my wife doesn't want to climb up on a bike.