A pullback handlebar joins with a chrome instrument console and teardrop fuel tank to set the cockpit up just like H-D does.

The Shadow Aero doesn't copy any model in particular but is an amalgamation of parts that could have been on any model H-D cruiser.Ī full front fender and fat front end set the stage with FL proportions. This coincides with the last year of the Shovelhead Big Twin before The MoCo switched to the Evolution Big Twin.

Honda launched its Shadow line back in 1983, and it has always been about giving people an alternative to the H-D lineup. Harley-Davidson evolved the American cruiser look uninterrupted since the '40s, and without direct competition, once the original Indian Motorcycle Company shut its doors in '53, so it's the most copied and emulated brand in this particular genre. These bikes are strong examples, though it is by no means an exhaustive list. Tongue-in-cheek, we refer to metric bikes going for that American cruiser style as “Charlie-Davidsons,” specifically the machines from Asia, but the umbrella is a large one, so the Europeans and Brits end up thrown into the mix. It has a custom culture all its own, and sometimes serves as the catalyst for a cultural shift to the American-biker lifestyle, whether in a club or not. There's only one acceptable engine, a great big V-twin in most cases, and a smaller V-twin in the rest. The rider is generally in a comfortable, upright position with hands just below the level of the shoulders for good leverage and feet either in a mid-mount or forward-mount position. American-style cruisers tend to be low-slung with a long wheelbase.

Yamaha bolt club style