I was looking around at current offerings. I thought the was room in the market for less expensive, metric cruisers as an alternative to the larger HDs and Indians. I'm sure the individual companies have done their research and figure otherwise. What are your conclusions?
Honda = The leader in engine displacement is the Fury. Not sure if the word "factory" and "custom" should be in the same sentence. Also the Fury is essentially a one seater (and rather uncomfortable looking as well). As we move down the lineup we Rebel 1100, essentially an overgrown uncomfortable looking learner bike. However for a little more $ you can get the 1100T (for touring); anybody read for an all day ride on this since it has cute little bags? At least the Shadow name survives, but only as a 3/4 liter bike. Will there ever be a VTX (1300 or 1800) ever again. Suggestion: Create a 2020s edition of a VTX with a full touring option bolt on options at around $20K.
Yamaha = After some searching I found that you can purchase a 945 cc Bolt which is rather naked and uncomfortable looking. If the almost one-liter engine is too much to handle than you can downgrade to a 250cc V-Star. Is this all that is left of of the Star lineup? Will we ever see a Virago again? Suggestion: Come up with about a 1500-1800 cc Virago or Star with bags and a trunk as an option.
Suzuki = I used to own a Suzuki Intruder 1500LC. Perhaps some were offended by the name, so the Boulevard line was born. It appears that Suzuki still wants to have a muscle bike as the M109. Nice engine, and also clever use of cubic inches rather than rather than cubic centimeters in the advertising. Sure would be nice to have a passenger seat and bags option. However Suzuki has a Touring cruiser available too. Anyone ready for fully loaded, two-up, state line crossing touring with about an 819cc engine? Suggestion: That 109 engine would sure make a nice, two up, touring bike (although it might need a retune for more torque rather than horsepower).
Kawasaki = Seems to be the only Japanese company that offers a larger displacement, loaded touring cruiser. Cool names too, (Vaquero and the Voyager both of which also own the Vulcan name). Kawasaki also wins the price war against any other full touring bike available. Also nice to know that you can work your way up to the 1700cc engine with a 645 and 900cc option. Suggestion: Stay the course, you are the only metric cruiser offering affordable touring or cruising as an option. Keep the starting price under $20K for as long as possible.
Is there a future for the metric cruisers with an option to be set up for touring? Let's hear your thoughts.
Honda = The leader in engine displacement is the Fury. Not sure if the word "factory" and "custom" should be in the same sentence. Also the Fury is essentially a one seater (and rather uncomfortable looking as well). As we move down the lineup we Rebel 1100, essentially an overgrown uncomfortable looking learner bike. However for a little more $ you can get the 1100T (for touring); anybody read for an all day ride on this since it has cute little bags? At least the Shadow name survives, but only as a 3/4 liter bike. Will there ever be a VTX (1300 or 1800) ever again. Suggestion: Create a 2020s edition of a VTX with a full touring option bolt on options at around $20K.
Yamaha = After some searching I found that you can purchase a 945 cc Bolt which is rather naked and uncomfortable looking. If the almost one-liter engine is too much to handle than you can downgrade to a 250cc V-Star. Is this all that is left of of the Star lineup? Will we ever see a Virago again? Suggestion: Come up with about a 1500-1800 cc Virago or Star with bags and a trunk as an option.
Suzuki = I used to own a Suzuki Intruder 1500LC. Perhaps some were offended by the name, so the Boulevard line was born. It appears that Suzuki still wants to have a muscle bike as the M109. Nice engine, and also clever use of cubic inches rather than rather than cubic centimeters in the advertising. Sure would be nice to have a passenger seat and bags option. However Suzuki has a Touring cruiser available too. Anyone ready for fully loaded, two-up, state line crossing touring with about an 819cc engine? Suggestion: That 109 engine would sure make a nice, two up, touring bike (although it might need a retune for more torque rather than horsepower).
Kawasaki = Seems to be the only Japanese company that offers a larger displacement, loaded touring cruiser. Cool names too, (Vaquero and the Voyager both of which also own the Vulcan name). Kawasaki also wins the price war against any other full touring bike available. Also nice to know that you can work your way up to the 1700cc engine with a 645 and 900cc option. Suggestion: Stay the course, you are the only metric cruiser offering affordable touring or cruising as an option. Keep the starting price under $20K for as long as possible.
Is there a future for the metric cruisers with an option to be set up for touring? Let's hear your thoughts.
