Cruiser vs Sport/Tourer

[morayfm]

So, I would really like to buy a Victory. Trouble is I've never ridden a Cruiser style bike before where your legs are out in front of you. Is it that much different or will I need to learn to ride again? Am considering buying a small cruiser (Yamaha) to get the feel of it first before I go all out with the Victory.

It seems to me that surely there isn't as much control with the cruiser, especially in the corners. Am I right?

[imdying]

They're a bit odd to ride if you've been fed a diet of sportsbike; I always feel like the front end is a bit vague on them. But, plenty of people pedal them pretty quick, so obviously they work ok. Take one for a spin!

[ukusa]

So, I would really like to buy a Victory. Trouble is I've never ridden a Cruiser style bike before where your legs are out in front of you. Is it that much different or will I need to learn to ride again? Am considering buying a small cruiser (Yamaha) to get the feel of it first before I go all out with the Victory.

It seems to me that surely there isn't as much control with the cruiser, especially in the corners. Am I right?

I hadn't ridden for a few years and went from dirt bikes to a 900cc cruiser. It doesn't take long at all before you get used to it. Personally I think the smaller cruiser option is a waste of time if you are already an experienced rider of any type of bike.
Take a cruiser out for a test ride, doesn't have to be a Victory.

[javawocky]

So, I would really like to buy a Victory. Trouble is I've never ridden a Cruiser style bike before where your legs are out in front of you. Is it that much different or will I need to learn to ride again? Am considering buying a small cruiser (Yamaha) to get the feel of it first before I go all out with the Victory.

It seems to me that surely there isn't as much control with the cruiser, especially in the corners. Am I right?

Wifes got a Suzuki S40. I isn't difficult to get used to but a few things annoyed me on the long ride home when we picked it up...
The wind is in your face the whole time - no faring.
When going fast, you have to use muscles in your legs to keep them pointing forward.
All your weight is on your butt, so it starts to burn after 1/2 hour. Had to move backwards and forwards all the time.

My gixxer is way more comfy, especially on the motorway.

[Big Dave]

Wifes got a Suzuki S40. I isn't difficult to get used to but a few things annoyed me on the long ride home when we picked it up...
The wind is in your face the whole time - no faring.
When going fast, you have to use muscles in your legs to keep them pointing forward.
All your weight is on your butt, so it starts to burn after 1/2 hour. Had to move backwards and forwards all the time.

My gixxer is way more comfy, especially on the motorway.

Personally I dislike fairings and am much more comfortable on a naked cruiser. I like clean air on my face. We're all different.

Take a Victory for a test ride.

It only takes 10 minutes to get used to the riding position.

[Flip]

So, I would really like to buy a Victory. Trouble is I've never ridden a Cruiser style bike before where your legs are out in front of you. Is it that much different or will I need to learn to ride again? Am considering buying a small cruiser (Yamaha) to get the feel of it first before I go all out with the Victory.

It seems to me that surely there isn't as much control with the cruiser, especially in the corners. Am I right?

I went from a 1200 Triumph Trophy to a HD Roadking.

I believe the Road king is a better bike for me because:

The advantages of the Trophy is it was heaps faster, with a good power to weight.

The advanteges of the Roadking is; it has proven to be much more reilyable, it is a much bigger bike with more leg room, the seat is simply an arm chair, it is just brillant in side winds, the servicing costs is less, tires last much longer, wife likes being on the back of the RK, it has brillant weather protection behind the big ass screen, it is much less tiring to ride the handle bar loads are half that of the triumph, it has cruise control, it handles a lot better than most people think, the HD is super smooth with no vibration at all.

When I first got the Roadking and I had been riding the Trophy for 7 years, I did a 1000km round trip on the second day I owned it, no problem. Do I miss the Triumph? Not much, only the Trophys big grunty ability to easily pass cars (and not to get pinged doing so several times), thats all. In every other way the HD is a better bike.

[Big Dave]

I went from a 1200 Triumph Trophy to a HD Roadking.



I was going to keep mine till it started gathering cobwebs after I got the XB12X.

[Flip]

Personally I dislike fairings and am much more comfortable on a naked cruiser. I like clean air on my face. We're all different.

+1 to us all being different. I almost never take the screen off the Roady.

[javawocky]

...We're all different.

Take a Victory for a test ride.

It only takes 10 minutes to get used to the riding position.

Yeah, and I had a marriage crisis when she said she wanted a cruiser. After a few days I gave in and let her get one :innocent:

Thing is now that I got Scarlett the wife is eyeing it out threatening to take it for a ride - their is hope for our marriage yet!!! :love:

But seriously, I do enjoy taking the S40 our on occasion, but for me right now, I want the handling, breaking, acceleration and weather protection (what little I can get from my small faring). I still wave a HD riders just for laughs and wave at sports bikes when I am on the S40.

[ukusa]

Wifes got a Suzuki S40.
When going fast, you have to use muscles in your legs to keep them pointing forward.

??, mine's got handlebars!

[javawocky]

??, mine's got handlebars!

So that's why I am finding it so uncomfortable!

The handle bars are actually quite comfortable on the S40 but the forward peg position is not too comfortable when you legs start getting buffeted around by the wind.

[Edbear]

By all means, try the Victory, but no test is ever balanced without riding a C50T. They are plenty fast, (ask my mate with the GSX1400...), about the best handling of the cruisers and with the adjustable screen you can get quite comfy.

Not saying you'll buy a C50T over any other bike, but they are the benchmark in mid-size cruisers. The M50 is the "sporty" version and a great bike, there are a few on KB.

[=cJ=]

Hehe, I took a Boulevard out for a lash the other day, was great.

Chalk and cheese compared to the gixxer, but I actually enjoyed the ride nonetheless.

You do have to recalibrate your expectations a bit though, it's quite relaxing to not be riding a "sharp" bike for a bit and take a more relaxed approach.

[Edbear]

Hehe, I took a Boulevard out for a lash the other day, was great.

Chalk and cheese compared to the gixxer, but I actually enjoyed the ride nonetheless.

You do have to recalibrate your expectations a bit though, it's quite relaxing to not be riding a "sharp" bike for a bit and take a more relaxed approach.

Hmmm... The Gixxer 600 is a scalpel by comparison and you do need to pretty much forget how to ride a sports bike. I went from a GSX-F 600 to the C50T and that was chalk and cheese. But after a few weeks I was hustling the Boulevard around to its limits with, if you'll pardon the expression, "gay abandon"! In company with cruisers of twice the capacity and with said GSX1400 and a 1200S Bandit it was far from disgraced and left the other riders questioning its engine size. :sunny:

I love mine, and unfortunately with a broken back I've put the rego on hold as it's going to be months before I can think about riding again. :bye:

[beyond]

So, I would really like to buy a Victory. Trouble is I've never ridden a Cruiser style bike before where your legs are out in front of you. Is it that much different or will I need to learn to ride again? Am considering buying a small cruiser (Yamaha) to get the feel of it first before I go all out with the Victory.

It seems to me that surely there isn't as much control with the cruiser, especially in the corners. Am I right?

Buy my GSX1400. You can't get a better all rounder that goes like a sports bike in the twisties but you can ride all day long :)

[AD345]

So, I would really like to buy a Victory. Trouble is I've never ridden a Cruiser style bike before where your legs are out in front of you. Is it that much different or will I need to learn to ride again? Am considering buying a small cruiser (Yamaha) to get the feel of it first before I go all out with the Victory.

It seems to me that surely there isn't as much control with the cruiser, especially in the corners. Am I right?


Jack up a demo from TMG, send me a PM and we can go for a cruise on the weekend. You can meet a few of the boys and girls from our club and generally have a good time. All of this not very far from where you live - we're based in Souf Auckland

try to get a Vegas, 8ball or Kingpin demonstrator - very forgiving and you'll be amazed how quickly you adapt. Like BD said , 10 minutes then its all about the fun

[Old Steve]

I've been looking lustfully at larger cruisers, 6F possible in four to five months. I'd go for the Suzuki C50 before the S40, if only for the shaft drive - get away from chains.

I only have a 250 cruiser, but I do prefer the upright seating position and lower seat. Can't imagine myself on a sport bike with my chest glued to the fuel tnk and my heels jammed up my anus.

[BMCruiser]

I've recently come back to riding and alternate between an R1200C and a F650GS The cruiser is great for highway travel and surprisingly nimble in the twisty bits once you get the feel of it. I find the seating position comfortable and personally I like the naked bike style and feeling the wind

[javawocky]

I've been looking lustfully at larger cruisers, 6F possible in four to five months. I'd go for the Suzuki C50 before the S40, if only for the shaft drive - get away from chains.

I only have a 250 cruiser, but I do prefer the upright seating position and lower seat. Can't imagine myself on a sport bike with my chest glued to the fuel tnk and my heels jammed up my anus.

Nobody said you should by a Triumph Daytona, I was surprised how comfortable my GSXR 600 is for road use, but it all depends on your size.

I suppose it depends on your application. Going to tour the country - get a Blackbird or Triumph ST. Or perhaps a VRF 1200. Wana do it quicker? get a Busa.

Reckon for me, if I had the cash would have - Busa for long road trips and weekend group rides - GSXR 600 for group rides and track days and daily commuting - have some kind of cruiser for the occasional ride into town or to mates house when its really hot in summer and I want to feel the wind in my hair.

BTW, the S40 has a fancy belt drive. At least my wifes version does. Its fine at motorway speeds and can get past most cars ok, but if I was getting a cruiser for myself I would want something with more grunt to blast past cages.

[Edbear]

Buy my GSX1400. You can't get a better all rounder that goes like a sports bike in the twisties but you can ride all day long :)

Time for an upgrade, mate? Newer model in your sights...? :shifty:

[Big Dave]

Rating cruisers is like dancing about architecture.

It's about how they sing to the individual's eyes and heart - not the performance - which is limited by ground clearance and suspension travel on all of 'em.

[SMOKEU]

I've ridden a cruiser a few times before and the riding position was horrible. The bike felt difficult to control because of the long forks, and it had little steering feel.

[hellokitty]

Rating cruisers is like dancing about architecture.

It's about how they sing to the individual's eyes and heart - not the performance - which is limited by ground clearance and suspension travel on all of 'em.

Yes, not much ground clearance - low seat height which is great for the short people, and low centre of gravity which is perfect for the less confident female rider like me :yes:
I love my cruiser, it took me all of 10 minutes to adjust to the forward controls.
My husband had a CBR1000 which he loved but he traded it in on a cruiser which he loves as well, he finds it much easier on the old body on longer rides......

[blackdog]

http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/triu/triumph_sprint_st%2011.htm

That's probably the end of the conversation isn't it?

[Corse1]

Rating cruisers is like dancing about architecture.

It's about how they sing to the individual's eyes and heart - not the performance - which is limited by ground clearance and suspension travel on all of 'em.

Rode a M109R over the Kaimais once. Got pissed off with a couple of Harleys passing me up the hill. I couldn't match their lean angle as the pegs were tilting my feet up from the road contact with sparks flying and they road around the outside of me!!! On our group wides we havew an old guy that rides a M80?? not sure of actual model details and he seems to fly ok. I think the M109R has very limited ground clearance compared to the other boulervards.

If I was going to get a cruiser it would be a Victory. Apparently handle real well with plenty of road clearance.

[Big Dave]

Rode a M109R over the Kaimais once. Got pissed off with a couple of Harleys passing me up the hill. I couldn't match their lean angle as the pegs were tilting my feet up from the road contact with sparks flying and they road around the outside of me!!! On our group wides we havew an old guy that rides a M80?? not sure of actual model details and he seems to fly ok. I think the M109R has very limited ground clearance compared to the other boulervards.

If I was going to get a cruiser it would be a Victory. Apparently handle real well with plenty of road clearance.


There was something wrong with the M109 sorry. :-P I reckon they are the second fastest of the class with serious exiting schtonk. You just nail it past apex and the 120hp kicks in.

Yeah Victory motorcycles do have good ground clearance - for a cruiser. So does a Bonneville America - that and the Yamaha Star Series are the best handling cruisers. For Cruisers.

I feel like an episode of Seinfeld when I review them - substitute 'for a cruiser' for 'not that there's anything wrong with that' - I feel like saying it after every sentence. I like 'em. If I could have a stable of bikes A Thunderbird, 8-Ball, M109, Rocket III and a Street Bob would come under serious consideration.

They all easily and comfortably do licence losing speeds.

But then I'm dosey-doe-ing about parapets.

[Corse1]

There was something wrong with the M109 sorry. :-P I reckon they are the second fastest of the class with serious exiting schtonk. You just nail it past apex and the 120hp kicks in.


Reckon you are right there. I was quite shocked....plenty of grunt though!