What is a "metric motorcyclist"?

[Jimellow]

While at the book store today, I grabbed a stack of motorcycle magazines, and ultimately settled on Rider and RoadBike. I haven't had the opportunity to read either in their entirety yet, but I noticed that RoadBike claims to be "All Metric," and their website claims to be "the #1 web resource for metric motorcycle riders!"

What exactly is a metric motorcycle rider? I've never heard of the term applied to motorcycles before, and I haven't had much luck searching Google, either.

I like the content and writing I've read so far in RoadBike, but as someone that is just recently entering the world of motorcycles and riding, I'd like to make sure I am reading material that will ultimately be at least partly relevant to my own interests and pursuits. Thus, clarity on what exactly "metric" is in regards to motorcycles and/or riding would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[Starshine]

I found this question interesting, so I went and asked my father (who is really big into his Harleys and BMWs) and he said that "metric" is just a sort of nickname for Japanese bikes because all the adjustments and measurements are in metric system.

[ratbastid]

Yeah, a little googling turned me up something like what Starshine says. It appears that in the custom bike world, there's Harley and there's Metric. The main thing that makes metric bikes metric is that they're imported. They use the metric system, and so their parts are all different from US bikes (of which only one maker's name seems to be mentioned).

[Cynthetiq]

I don't see it much different than cars. The imported japanese cars are metric, and the American standard.

I had a 250 Ninja at one point in time, all of that was metric. I assume the rest is the same for the japanese bikes.

[Plan9]

Crompsin = metric biker.

Standard = Harley / American.
Metric = Everything else.

[Baraka_Guru]

Originally Posted by Crompsin

Crompsin = metric biker.

Standard = Harley / American.
Metric = Everything else.

Correction:
Imperial = American
Metric = Everything else

Though an Imperial biker might need something more like this:

[Ilow]

Simply it's pretty much American vs Everybody else. Think about the 600 and 1000cc engined bikes vs. the TC88 Harley motor. cc's vs. cubic inches...

[Jimellow]

Great info, thanks!

Learning new things is certainly fun, and I'd say this is something I'd likely not find out on my own.. So thanks for the clarification.

[Charlatan]

Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru

Correction:
Imperial = American
Metric = Everything else

Though an Imperial biker might need something more like this:

Nice...

[Plan9]

Thanks for advising me on the proper vernacular.

Honestly, I'd never encountered anything "Imperial" in regards to bikes before, though. In my experience over the last year and change with ordering parts and busting my knuckles to put them on the beast... it's always been standard (inch / American) and metric (metric / non-American).

Standard is also a "type" of motorcycle, also meaning a bare bones cruiser (a ride without all the junk that makes it a "touring" bike).

Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru

Though an Imperial biker might need something more like this:

Odd you'd mention that one. Yeah, every time I get on one of those babies... I feel the need to chase shaggy-haired people through the woods.

[Charlatan]

Originally Posted by Crompsin

Odd you'd mention that one. Yeah, every time I get on one of those babies... I feel the need to chase shaggy-haired people through the woods.

I'm sure it's just an occupational (former) hazard.

[souzafone]

You guys are too young to get this correct. Metric implies anything Oriental, and late model Euro. Imperial also encompasses anything acceptable to a real old school biker. Many manufacturers from England also fill the bill, long gone names like Norton, Triumph, BSA. Metric bikes screech, scream, whine, or sound like jets. The automotive equivalent of anything from Toyota to Porsche. "Regular" bikes rattle windows, and thump the earth. Like an Olds Rocket v-8 for comparison.

[debaser]

I can stand those thrust flap adjustments. I mean, really, who carries a 7/16th inch spanner with them?

[blade02]

I've always heard the term just applied to just the "cruiser bikes". Pretty much you have the guys that ride Harleys and then the guys that ride things like Vstar. So Harleys or "Metric Cruisers"

[Ilow]

Originally Posted by blade02

I've always heard the term just applied to just the "cruiser bikes". Pretty much you have the guys that ride Harleys and then the guys that ride things like Vstar. So Harleys or "Metric Cruisers"

well, cruiser bikes are a designation of a style of bike, and Harley riders are likely to be more picky about the term when bikes could be confused with theirs, but metric really applies to the country of origin. While a Vstar is trying desperately to be a Harley, it is still a metric bike, and Imperial riders definitely do not want any confusion. Pretty much anyone can tell when something is a crotch rocket so maybe they don't care to throw the term around as much with them.