Cruiser (motorcycle)

Cruiser has been the name for a category of motorcycles since the 1990s , the design features of which can be traced back to American series machines ( Harley-Davidson , Indian , Henderson ), as they were built around the 1930s. Style-defining features are the long wheelbase, wide tires, large-volume engine, large fenders, wide handlebars and running boards mounted relatively far forward and the resulting upright seating position, (from 1949 also) telescopic fork covers as well as typical touring accessories such as windshield, panniers, additional lights and crash bars. From around 1948 onwards, the first so-called choppers were created by converting such series machines .

Cruisers are typically powered by a large-volume, long-stroke V2 engine, which is characterized by high torque even in the low speed range. These engine characteristics make cruisers ideal for smooth, yet powerful gliding. However, there are exceptions, for example BMW made a cruiser based on their 2-cylinder boxer engine and Honda uses a 6-cylinder boxer engine from the Gold Wing .

Both light motorcycles with 125 cm³ (e.g. Honda VT 125 Shadow ) and large-displacement machines up to 2,300 cm³ ( Triumph Rocket III ) are offered in the cruiser style .

A selection of cruiser models from various manufacturers:

• Harley-Davidson FLSTF Fat Boy , FLSTN Softail Deluxe , FLSTC Heritage Softail Classic , FLHR Road King
• Indian Chief Classic
• BMW R 1200 C , BMW R 18 with 2-cylinder boxer engine
• Honda VT 750 C Shadow , VT 1300 CX , Valkyrie Rune with 6-cylinder boxer engine
• Hyosung ST 700i
• VN series "Vulkan" (including VN 1600 VN 2000 )
• Moto Guzzi California
• Suzuki Intruder C 800 and M 1800 R
• Yamaha XV series (including Yamaha XV 1600 Wild Star and Yamaha XV 1900 A Midnight Star )

Extreme examples are, for example, the custom-made motorcycles from Boss Hoss with Chevrolet V8 engines of over 8,000 cm³ displacement and the Triumph Rocket III with 3-cylinder in- line engine and 2,300 cm³ displacement.

Picture gallery

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  BMW R 1200 C.

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  Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail

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  1931 Henderson KJ Streamline

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  Honda Valkyrie rune

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  Indian Four from 1935

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  Kawasaki VN 1500 Classic

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  Moto Guzzi California

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  Triumph Rocket III

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  Yamaha XVS 650 Classic

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  Yamaha XV 1600 Wild Star

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  Yamaha XV 1900 A Midnight Star

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1. ↑ Oluf F. Zierl, Dieter Rebmann: Harley-Davidson History and Myth, Könemann Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Cologne 2000
2. ↑ Darwin Holmstrom: The Harley Davidson Century, Mobi Dick Verlag, Kiel 2003
3. ↑ D. Rebmann, H. Rösler, F. Sander: Harley-Davidson Legenden, Heel Verlag GmbH, Königswinter 2008
4. ↑ Albert Saladini, Pascal Szymezak: Harley Davidson, Karl Müller Verlag, Cologne 2008