Page 1 of 1

Discussion: Evolution or Extinction? End of the Cruiser and Sportbike

Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2017 5:43 am
by totalmotorcycle
Discussion: Evolution or Extinction? End of the Cruiser and Sportbike

Image

Sales of Cruisers and Sportbikes are slowing, manufacturers are no longer offering the huge selection of Cruisers and Sportbikes that they used to. Adventure, Dual Sport, Naked and Scrambler are bikes really starting to take over motorcycle sales. With the end of Victory, EBR/Buell, the future is becoming muddy.

Evolution or Extinction? What do you think?

Image
Honda Rune

Image
Kawasaki Vulcan 2000

Image
Buell 1125R

Re: Discussion: Evolution or Extinction? End of the Cruiser and Sportbike

Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2017 4:43 pm
by zigzag
It's the end of the Boomer oriented industry.

We won't get new sport bike, because countries are making laws agains them and new driver doesn't need bike who are cool only over 80000rpm !

We won't get any real new custom/cruiser bike because new drivers didn't live in a world where freedom equal a underpowered costly motorcycle.

Re: Discussion: Evolution or Extinction? End of the Cruiser and Sportbike

Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2017 9:38 pm
by Grey Thumper
A lot of riders will always desire motorcycles that don't necessarily have the best performance, but are good-looking, have lots of character, and can be customized to make the bike feel truly yours.

This role used to mainly be played by cruisers, but what's considered "fashionable" or "good-looking" is simply evolving, and I think that role is gradually shifting towards retro standards. Some riders aren't into bikes that look like bikes from the 50s simply because they weren't alive in the 50's. But if you're in your mid to late 40s and have enough disposable income for a bike that's essentially a toy, why wouldn't you get a bike that reminds you of the 70s and 80s bikes you loved as a child?

As for sportbikes, I guess it's a combination of factors. Bikes are getting more expensive, so if you're only going to have one, might as well get one that's more versatile. Sport bikes are getting harder to insure. The traffic conditions that allow you to really enjoy a sportbike are getting rarer and rarer. Riders might be willing to sacrifice ultimate performance for a bit more practicality.

Re: Discussion: Evolution or Extinction? End of the Cruiser and Sportbike

Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2017 1:01 pm
by High_Side
I think the evolution of the bike industry is awesome. I loved when the early interceptors and GPzs started a performance focus, and I can understand people enjoying the retro cruiser type rides as well even though I didn't ever care to own one . Then as sport bikes became very narrowly focused, standards and adventure bikes now offer performance beyond what was available in full on sport bikes just a few years ago and in a comfortable package. Lots of people who rode cruisers because they liked the comfort now find more comfort in adventure bikes as well as increased capability. New trends like naked retro standards will pull some people that way for a while, and if Indian mass produces their dirt tracker I may even go that way for a while. It's interesting and exciting. There will always be a base market for cruisers and sport bikes but they are shrinking for the reasons I mention above. When you think that a Multistrada or Superduke GT offer substantially more performance than say a Honda RC51 Superbike from 15 years ago in a comfortable package its not hard to see why things are changing.

Re: Discussion: Evolution or Extinction? End of the Cruiser and Sportbike

Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2017 6:39 am
by blues2cruise
I think there will always be a market for cruisers and sport bikes. At the same time though some of us who absolutely loved cruisers have to adapt to different styles. I still love the look of cruisers, but I'm going to have to change to something like an adventure bike or dual sport to accommodate changing physical needs.

Re: Discussion: Evolution or Extinction? End of the Cruiser and Sportbike

Posted: Sat Mar 18, 2017 6:11 pm
by faded sun
I am part of the demographic that lived through the evolution of these styles and myself wound up on a sport tourer. My new bike this year is a 2012 Victory Vision. It's the V-twin thing. But the comfort was important because I plan to ride long distance on it. I may go back to a sport tourer some day, or something like the F6B.

I think the origin of the cruiser was tied up with the choppers that were really custom bikes when it started. If you look at the Fury or many other cruisers it is basically a production chopper. It is the manufacturers responding to the market. They will make what sells. I do like the fact that there is way more choice in styles of bikes you can buy. If you really have a hankering for a particular bike you can usually find one used somewhere.

Personally I think of a cruiser as the easiest bike to handle due to the low seat height ( and centre of gravity) generally associated with the style. Most adventure bikes or dual sports are a bit high and thus more tippy IMO, depending of course on the weight, but I'm not sure what changes you are experiencing physically. Then there is the ST which is a tip-over queen!

Re: Discussion: Evolution or Extinction? End of the Cruiser and Sportbike

Posted: Mon May 29, 2017 8:17 pm
by Vivikos2
I think it is the extinction.

Re: Discussion: Evolution or Extinction? End of the Cruiser and Sportbike

Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2017 5:07 am
by MadHorse
Extinction for Sportbikes, high price and wasted for a street use.

Here in Italy there are a lot of Cruisers, most of it are HD but some Honda and Kawasaki too.

The most used are Naked (i'm in this group with a Suzuki SV 650) and Maxi Enduro/ Sport Touring.

I think Supermotos too are dead :(