Cruisers are built with comfort in mind, they’re laid-back, low-to-the-ground motorcycles designed for long-distance rides or big commutes. When thinking of a cruiser motorcycle, Harley-Davidson will always come to mind. There’s no way around this fact, Harley encompasses the American cruiser ethos perfectly. A big, low revving, torque-rich V-Twin with a distinctive rumble, arms stretched wide, forward foot controls, and an upright, if not slightly hunched forward seating position.
That’s the gist of it, but what about metric cruisers? The word ‘metric’ refers to the metric system used in other countries. These are non-American manufacturers such as the big-four Japanese brands, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, and Suzuki. For a motorcycle to fall in the cruiser category, it needs to tick certain boxes. Sometimes it's hard to escape falling into a common place where all bikes seem like they are the same, no matter the brand. Although some metric cruisers try their best to mimic Harley-Davidson models, which they often do successfully, other metric cruisers are quite different and have their own appeal.
Harley-Davidson Still Has The Upper Hand When It Comes To The Emotional Connection
For the first half of 2022, Harley-Davidson’s market share based on units sold was 21.1 percent. In other words, for every five motorcycles sold Stateside in the first six months of 2022, one was a Harley-Davidson. Considering Harleys are some of the most expensive motorcycles available, that’s quite a feat.
It seems that the Motor Co. still has a strong appeal to the American public in general. The Japanese big four grabbed 46.5 percent of the pie, that’s a big chunk, and Honda was the best of them with 17.5 percent. But the Japanese brands make all sorts of different motorcycles, not just cruisers. The average price of a motorcycle sold in the US in 2022 is estimated at being close to $12,000. The cheapest Harley-Davidson on sale right now in 2023 is the Sportster Nightster equipped with the Revolution Max 975 cc engine with an MSRP of $13,499. That says a lot. It stands to reason that other manufacturers have much cheaper bikes and that brings the average price down, but the same lower prices on the metric cruisers are also commonplace. That’s the first big difference that may matter the most for a large portion of the cruiser market. Metric cruisers are usually cheaper than Harley cruisers. A good example is the excellent Honda Rebel 1100 coming in at $9,499 base MSRP.
Metric Cruisers Have The Advantage In Terms Of Size And Price Range
The Rebel is a good example because it helps illustrate the next significant difference found between Harley and metric cruiser bikes, which is their size. While the Rebel 1100 is quite powerful and can keep up with any big twin, the 1100 is actually a top-of-the-line model from the Rebel lineup.
Honda also offers a Rebel 500, and an even smaller 300 cc version. The latter priced at a very affordable $4,749 MSRP. On Honda’s cruiser lineup, there are also more classic-looking, and very docile cruisers like the 745 cc V-twin Shadow Aero, and Phantom models, as well as the chopper style, Honda Fury. Suzuki also offers smaller cruisers with the Boulevard C50 and C50T, while the M109R B.O.S.S. is a proper full-size power cruiser that won’t be left behind by any OEM Harley, and still, its MSRP of $15,599 is cheaper than most Harley cruisers. To be fair though, Harley does offer the gorgeous Softail Standard at $14,399, but all other cruiser models from the Motor Co. are more expensive than the Suzuki M109R. Yamaha has the Bolt R-Spec starting at $8,899, and it seems like it’s Yamaha’s attempt at making a bike that resembles and feels like the old Harley-Davidson Sportster, and it’s Yamaha’s only ‘cruiser’ like motorcycle currently available. Kawasaki has the nimble and agile 649 cc parallel-twin Vulcan S, and Vulcan S Cafe starting at $7,349. In the middleweight segment, it has the Vulcan 900 models starting at $8,999, and moving up toward a more touring-oriented trim, it has the Vulcan 1700 Vaquero ABS at $18,599 MSRP.
Sound Is Still Something Harley-Davidson Unquestionably Does Best
Another noticeable distinction between metric cruisers and Harleys comes down to the heart of these machines, how they deliver power, and especially the sound they make. Harley-Davidson’s big V-twin rumble remains unchallenged, and it’s not like the metric bikes sound bad. Put some aftermarket slip-on mufflers on them, and they’ll likely please most ears. Do the same on a Harley, and they’ll sound even better. Harley’s Milwaukee Eight V-twin sounds best under load and at low revs, sixth-gear roll-on is therapeutic. The Harley sound isn’t good by chance. Its engine build characteristics like the single crankpin and 45-degree configuration between the cylinders, along with everything else that contributes to how the bike is going to sound are fine-tuned at Milwaukee’s Harley-Davidson Product Development Center (PDC). At the PDC they even have a sound-insulated room with an array of highly sensitive microphones that can vary their input receiving progressively to simulate a drive-by of the motorcycle strapped in the middle of the room. Metric cruiser manufacturers simply don't apply the same attention to detail when it comes to the way they sound.
In the end, Harley-Davidson has strong brand recognition and a loyal customer base. It’s not easy to challenge them at their own game. Metric cruisers are far from being bad motorcycles, quite the contrary. With a wide variety of models and accommodating pricing, they can be an entry point for beginner riders, and they are an important part of the cruiser motorcycle market. They just lack that strong emotional attachment the all-American brand has with its fans.