Motorcycles

Cruiser History Quiz

Are you a motorcycle history buff? Check out your skills by taking the quiz

January 3, 2017

How far back does your interest in cruisers go? See if you can answer these questions about cruiser history. For our purposes we are dealing with bikes that took their styling inspiration from the choppers and customs built by American riders starting in the 1950s. You can narrow down your research by keeping in mind that all these bikes were built in fifty years. Scroll all the way down for the answers. No cheating!

Here's a big hint for the first question, but that's all you're going to get.Cruiser

What was the first "factory custom" (the bike that these days would be described as the first cruiser)?
What was the first import cruiser?
What was the first factory custom built by a Japanese company?
What was the first fuel-injected cruiser?
What was the first Japanese cruiser powered by a V-twin?
What was the first Japanese cruiser powered by a tandem V-twin?
What was the first shaft-drive cruiser?
What was the first Japanese cruiser to displace more than a liter (1000cc)?
What was the first Japanese V-twin cruiser to displace more than a liter?
In 2000, Victory introduced its second model, designated SC for "Sport-cruiser." Eighteen years earlier there was another bike that used the same suffix, apparently for the same reason. What was that bike?

Answers:
1. Harley-Davidson FX Super Glide, 1971

Norton Hi Rider, 1971
Kawasaki KZ900 LTD, 1977 (built in the US)
Kawasaki KZ1000 Classic, 1979
Honda CX500 Custom, 1980
Yamaha Virago 750, 1981
Yamaha XS750 Special, 1978
Yamaha XS1100 Special, 1979
Suzuki Intruder 1400, 1987
Honda CB650SC Nighthawk, 1982

Got the wrong answers? Here's a motorcycle history lesson to help you out.

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