A line about cruisers

[Big Dave]

I'll tell you why I like harleys and cruisers on the road.

They have to be ridden within the machine's limitations - not the rider's.

[DMNTD]

Dang BD...got to be the most truthful post of this year.

[Ixion]

But, the same applied to my BSA Bantam.

[kiwifruit]

Well fathomed

[Jantar]

But, the same applied to my BSA Bantam.
And to a postie bike. :doctor:

[98tls]

I'll tell you why I like harleys and cruisers on the road.

They have to be ridden within the machine's limitations - not the rider's. Uh huh.....nice that you have shared.:wait:

[Taz]

Na Dave it's just that you look so freakin cool on them where as I just can't quite pull it off....... Bit like a nerd tryin to be a gangsta in my case.:crazy:

[98tls]

Na Dave it's just that you look so freakin cool on them where as I just can't quite pull it off....... Bit like a nerd tryin to be a gangsta in my case.:crazy: Wtf..........dont lick his arse you make his head swell.

[slowpoke]

I'll tell you why I like harleys and cruisers on the road.

They have to be ridden within the machine's limitations - not the rider's.

Personally I'd rather not find the machine's or my limitations on the road. Gimme something where there's always something in reserve, be it a bit more lean, a firmer squeeze of the brakes, a bit more stomp etc if/when you need it.

Having said that a mate of mine swapped from a Gixxer to a Harley 'cos he reckoned it was the only way to have any fun close to the speed limit.

[Big Dave]

Na Dave it's just that you look so freakin cool on them where as I just can't quite pull it off....... Bit like a nerd tryin to be a gangsta in my case.:crazy:

Find a copy of a book called 'True Hip' by Ignatious Jones
and never be nerdy again.

I wish ah writ it.

[Big Dave]

Personally I'd rather not find the machine's or my limitations on the road. Gimme something where there's always something in reserve, be it a bit more lean, a firmer squeeze of the brakes, a bit more stomp etc if/when you need it.

Having said that a mate of mine swapped from a Gixxer to a Harley 'cos he reckoned it was the only way to have any fun close to the speed limit.

It's not 'the only way' - but it's a cool way.

limitations wise - well - you know it's going to scrape at 83 - so you hit it at 82 and kiss the tarmac gently and absolutely nail the exit. Hammer time and you're doing 110. It's not as skillful as going through at 90kazillion with hero strips on the tyre wall (BMW megamoto - true) but it needs skill just the same and if you do f*ck it up the consequences are not as dire.

Stick on an open face helmet on and 95kph will do - mostly - and it's just as 'hairy' as doing 200 behind all the plastic.

[Big Dave]

Wtf..........dont lick his arse you make his head swell.


Mind your own beeswax.

[Big Dave]

But, the same applied to my BSA Bantam.

And to Mr Jantar's Postie I would pose that you ride them 'to' their limitations - not 'within'?

[98tls]

Mind your own beeswax. Sorry sire,forgiveness please:bash:a moment of weakness.

[The Lone Rider]

I'll tell you why I like harleys and cruisers on the road.

They have to be ridden within the machine's limitations - not the rider's.

Oi! Why have you said harleys AND cruisers? Oi! :P

[Big Dave]

Oi! Why have you said harleys AND cruisers? Oi! :P

Freudian - but I don't class a nice Sportie or FXDX as a cruiser either.

[Ixion]

And to Mr Jantar's Postie I would pose that you ride them 'to' their limitations - not 'within'?

Semantics. You ride anything 'within' its limitations, not 'to' them. Until you reach the limits.

I understand what you are saying. And I agree. I just don't agree that the only way to do it is to ride a crusier.

I ride (sometimes) an XT600 Yamaha. With knobblies. So part of riding is riding within the limitations of those knobblies.

I ride classic machines. With frames made from damp spaghetti , with a hinge in the middle. And no suspension. Once again, riding is a matter of finding those limits.

On a Bantam I would nowdays ride within the limits of the bike (cos I have forgotten them). Until I got back to riding up to the limits. I know some crusier riders to indeed ride up to the bike's limits.

I enjoy a bike where you have to push the bike: whether that be in terms of speed, ground clearance , grip or whatever. And pushing just a bit hard and a bit harder until you find just where that limit is. Then changing technique a wee bit until you find a way that pushes the limit a bit higher.

But I don't get crusiers.

Get a chook chaser instead. Still have the limits thing, and much more fun.

[The Lone Rider]

Freudian - but I don't class a nice Sportie or FXDX as a cruiser either.

You've just been spoiled for choice in bikes :P

[Big Dave]

Get a chook chaser instead.

The correct answer would be get a chook chaser as well.

Then we consider Id.
Elvis, the Fonz and James Dean, Pulp Fiction, Officer and a Gentleman, Brando, Marvin, Eastwood. Scarcely a giblet between them.

[Big Dave]

You've just been spoiled for choice in bikes :P

Fark yeah. There is only other journos (and some mechanics) that have ridden more. And not many of them. And with a few exceptions they don't ride them as far or through as demanding conditions as I get to.

[James Deuce]

Yes, but stick Steve McQueen in there and there's enough giblets for a decent pate.

[YellowDog]

I do find it funny that my Harley friends boast about and admire when they see the road grazings from ambitious Harley cornering (almost leaning over). Why don't they just buy a bike that can take corners?

[James Deuce]

The willful "missing the point" is quite annoying, eh Dave?

[The Lone Rider]

Fark yeah. There is only other journos (and some mechanics) that have ridden more. And not many of them. And with a few exceptions they don't ride them as far or through as demanding conditions as I get to.


Well share with you buddies man!

I can't even afford a bike that I want :(


But I can dream.
I want a V4 Suzuki 109r with an Arlen Ness harley front light. Fuck it, I want a v8 one, 2.5 litre.

And bright red.

Or black with lighting paintjob.

And a speed limiter so I dont kill myself. 150kmp sounds like enough to me.

Why has no bike company hired me for my clever design ideas? :blank:

[Ixion]

The correct answer would be get a chook chaser as well.

Then we consider Id.
Elvis, the Fonz and James Dean, Pulp Fiction, Officer and a Gentleman, Brando, Marvin, Eastwood. Scarcely a giblet between them.

So, if one chromed a chook chaser? The perfect solution ?

[Big Dave]

Or a chook chaser with a Harley Engine? :whistle:

[Big Dave]

But I can dream.
I want a Fuck it, I want a v8 one, 2.5 litre.



where is your 'BAM' cisco? We don need no steenkin revvs

The reassuring throb of the vee twin stump jump plough thanks.

[Ixion]

Or a chook chaser with a Harley Engine? :whistle:

But where's the chrome?

[The Lone Rider]

V twin nice, but a cleverly timed and tuned v4 (or at least mine seems to be) sounds nice as.

Throb throb skippty throb skip throb... yeah baby.
If only I could afford the aftermarket pipes.

I'm tossing up between Jadine drags and Vance & Hines Classics.

Jadines insane apparently, VH alright.. apparently also.

[Big Dave]

Why don't they just buy a bike that can take corners?

I agree there is no honor in those battle scars.

But what they lack in crossing the Kaimais is well compensated for on the Desert Road.

[Big Dave]

But where's the chrome?

On the Thunderbird :slap:

[Ixion]

I do find it funny that my Harley friends boast about and admire when they see the road grazings from ambitious Harley cornering (almost leaning over). Why don't they just buy a bike that can take corners?

How is that different to sprotsbike riders boasting about and admiring their chicken strips?

I don't think the clearance thing is any matter. Every bike will sooner or later hit a limit in cornering. On a crusier , the limit's metal , on a sprotsbike it's rubber, that's all. The rider still has to work within those limits.

The limit may be reached at a lower speed on a crusier, but unless one is racing, so what? You just go round a bit slower.

The real question is , what happens when you reach the limit? Is it saveable? We used to scrape the Briddish 650s all the time, it was no big deal.

[Big Dave]

The real question is , what happens when you reach the limit? Is it saveable? We used to scrape the Briddish 650s all the time, it was no big deal.

The rooster tails of sparks off my T140 centrestand on the Canning highway in Perth - *sigh*.

Depends on the cruiser - usually the frame digs in somewhere and triangulates the back wheel off the ground and the whole thing lurches sideways.

Uncomfortable feeling.

[Ducman]

Cruisers are for lazy cyclists.

[Big Dave]

Backing 350kg out of a parking space is lazy how?

[slowpoke]

Cruisers are for lazy cyclists.


Backing 350kg out of a parking space is lazy how?

If it weighs 350kg's and you've gone in front first you are lazy and stoopid, LOL

[Ixion]

Or -- you have a reverse gear! Eat your heart out.

[Big Dave]

.. Bit like a nerd tryin to be a gangsta in my case.:crazy:

Here's one - expired though

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Books/Fiction-literature/Humour/Author-JL/auction-134085176.htm

[Nagash]

Well personally im a huge fan of cruisers.

Nothing lazy about trying to shift the weight round a corner on one of those things, and you're right about meeting the limits. My foot pegs are near demolished which I should probably try and avoid..

Not keen on hitting the frame, can only imagine the jolt you'd get from that.

But even just riding my 250 Rebel I get a kick from it, slow speed in comparison to the sports bikes of the same age (Max about 130) but every bit of it is enjoyable, i've taken on many a boy racer and pulled out ontop.

I've always been tempted to get a sporty bike but nothing can take me away from the cruisers..

[Edbear]

Backing 350kg out of a parking space is lazy how?


Or -- you have a reverse gear! Eat your heart out.


Or you can go for 246kg and not need a reverse gear...:rolleyes:

As for handling, I'm not too far behind my mate's 1200 Bandit up the Kaimai's and that mainly because the Missus doesn't like the scraping sound so I try not to scrape too much, even though I assured her that the folding footboards mean it's just noise and not hazardous.:niceone:

I didn't know if I'd like a cruiser after the GSX-F600, but it didn't take long before I was hooked and although I'd like a GSX-R750 for a play bike, I love the cruiser ride. My C50T has a very natural ride position and we're both happy for the longer rides. Plenty of performance at legal(ish) speeds and we like the pose factor. Last ride my mates Bandit was ignored while the Boulevard was admired everwhere we parked! Even had a Japanese family want to take a pic of their boy, (guess about 10yrs old), beside it, and they were overjoyed when I offered to let him sit on it for the photo!:first:

[rogson]

For some reason the older you get the more cruisers appeal.
You getting old too Dave?

[Toaster]

Cruisers are for lazy cyclists.

Absolutely!

Cycling is for people that like something hard up their arse.

[Toaster]

I just read my own post.... I mean't to say Cruiser riders hate cycling..... duh!

[buellbabe]

I'll tell you why I like harleys and cruisers on the road.

They have to be ridden within the machine's limitations - not the rider's.

So true...thats why I bought a Buell cos I had the measure of my HD and I wanted something that was gonna challenge me.
And just so I don't offend anyone I wanna point out that I am talking specifically about MYSELF.

That said, I still occasionally take a Harley for a ride and love every bad-ass minute of it!


I do find it funny that my Harley friends boast about and admire when they see the road grazings from ambitious Harley cornering (almost leaning over). Why don't they just buy a bike that can take corners?

Er...they can take corners... you are just are a helluva lot closer to the road when you're leaning it...and that can freak some people out. My HDs had scraped up pipes cos I wasn't gonna let a little thing like lack of clearance stop me from chasing my buddy on his Ducati...LOL Yep! an I-tai and a Yank riding together ;-)

[Big Dave]

For some reason the older you get the more cruisers appeal.
You getting old too Dave?

Mate - I'd still like to be doing 160 everywhere - seriously.
The strength of a ZX14 appeals greatly. But I'd eventually be walking - I know me.

These things offer the challenge to ride competently with the tolerances, naked so going slower feels faster and offer a better long term prospect on the wallet.

And they are beautiful blingy things which have merit on that right alone!

But I'd still need the Buell too.

[Big Dave]

And thanks for the discussion all - my Article on the 2008 Harleys was just dispatched.

I'll post up some pics shortly

[MD]

I've just returned from riding Wgtn-Tauranga-Hamtn-Wgtn on the Daytona this week.
Holiday season; heaps of cops, tar melting, holiday traffic, trucks, caravans, boat trailers, more cops and too hot to wear leathers. So I donned jeans both ways and took it easy. Doesn't work so well on a 675 Daytona though.

I took some of the same backroad detours that I did on the same trip in 2004 on my Triumph America (via Kimbolton).
Without a doubt I would have preferred to have been on the America again.
In fact I regularly thought about that enjoyable 'America' trip.
It's laid back manners, no need to rush, no need to show off, and the comfort Yes, I definitely recalled the comfort - my sore butt reminded me often of how soft and plush the seat-suspension was on the America.

Cruisers do make sense and will make even more cents to many when the new anti-speed laws come into effect this year.

[Ixion]

But you could get the same comfort level on a tourier without the crusier oddities.

Plus stuff like ABS brakes , and some weather portection. And ground clearance, and no vibration.

And a decent tank range.

[Big Dave]

But you could get the same comfort level on a tourier without the crusier oddities.

Plus stuff like ABS brakes , and some weather portection. And ground clearance, and no vibration.

And a decent tank range.

And on Newmarket overpass today a dressed up tourer would be hell.

I hate windscreens and bodywork - the weather protection is good for 5 minutes and the buffeting and noise are far worse than the 'wind blast'.

All they do is make it more comfortable at 80mph. That works well here hey.

Not to mention the HTFU factor and how nice they look with half an aquarium on the front of a bike.

Harden up and loose the plastic.

Vibration is not an issue. Balanced motors these days.

I personally have no desire for ABS.

Ground clearance is fine to 30kph beyond the limit or advisory signs. That also makes sense.

[Ixion]

You need an electric screen! Best invention ever.

I can ride von Klunken for an hour and more in all but the most torrential downpour without waterproofs. And in hot weather drop the screen for 'wind in the face'. And if you adjust it midway there is total silence!

For HTFU I ride naked two smokers!

And I like ABS. Don't have a problem if it's not there , but if it is it's one less thing to need sorting.


And I don't need to lean back and spread my legs ! Cos the footpegs are in the proper place.

[James Deuce]

MT-01. Best cruiser ever. Footpegs are in the right place.

[McJim]

I have to ride my baby Ducati within it's limits. Does that mean it's a cruiser too? :rofl:

[James Deuce]

Yes. It only has a single disc like most cruisers too.

[McJim]

Yes. It only has a single disc like most cruisers too.
You really don't like my bike do you?

[limbimtimwim]

It's laid back manners, no need to rush, no need to show off,Funnily enough, I rode a proper Harley on Saturday and came to the same conclusion. Every previous bike I have ridden has either been a) boring or b) begging to be thrashed.

The Harley softtail something-or-other almost was neither boring, nor begging to be thrashed.

"Highway pegs" are retarded though. Otherwise, better than I expected.j

[Big Dave]

MT-01. Best cruiser ever. Footpegs are in the right place.

That's not a cruiser - it's a 'Standard'.

[Big Dave]

You need an electric screen! Best invention ever.

I can ride von Klunken for an hour and more in all but the most torrential downpour without waterproofs. And in hot weather drop the screen for 'wind in the face'. And if you adjust it midway there is total silence!

For HTFU I ride naked two smokers!

And I like ABS. Don't have a problem if it's not there , but if it is it's one less thing to need sorting.


And I don't need to lean back and spread my legs ! Cos the footpegs are in the proper place.

I agree about the windscreens - made that point on Concors and FJR tests, but I prefer strapping a motor to my butt rather than getting 'in' a vehicle.

'Sure' with the hour riding, or 2 minutes when stopped.

ABS = no <img src="http://homepage.mac.com/david_cohen_design/.Pictures/misc2/wheel1.jpg"> (but might be a good thing on a croozer though)

[Ixion]

I prefer strapping a motor to my butt rather than getting 'in' a vehicle.


You need a two smoker !



'Sure' with the hour riding, or 2 minutes when stopped.



Easy. Don't stop. Works for me. Sorted.

[ratusratus]

education.we dont need no thought control.............

[Big Dave]

Everybody look out - Bruce is having an acid flashback!!!!

[James Deuce]

You really don't like my bike do you?

Your jealousy detector is obviously flawed. ;)

[scumdog]

Freudian - but I don't class a nice Sportie or FXDX as a cruiser either.


Seeing as we own one of each I guess this thread is not pertinent to CB and I??:scratch::wait:

[scumdog]

Depends on the cruiser - usually the frame digs in somewhere and triangulates the back wheel off the ground and the whole thing lurches sideways.

Uncomfortable feeling.

Ah, ya get use to it.


Eventually.

[Big Dave]

Ah, ya get use to it.


Eventually.

Used to it - I's a master at it.
Apparently I get a Rocket III well airborne.

It's the noise that gets ya.

[James Deuce]

That's not a cruiser - it's a 'Standard'.

Not in a million years.

Way too heavy, slow, and pricey to be a standard.

[Swoop]

So, if one chromed a chook chaser? The perfect solution ?
Do you require tassles for that?
Or tassles with chromed bits on the ends of each tassle?

[Big Dave]

Not in a million years.

Way too heavy, slow, and pricey to be a standard.

Didn't ride it. Like the look of it though.

[Ixion]

Do you require tassles for that?
Or tassles with chromed bits on the ends of each tassle?

Feathers would seem appropraite for a chook chaser.

[Big Dave]

Feathers would seem appropraite for a chook chaser.

As long as they were from a large cock.

[jafar]

I'll tell you why I like harleys and cruisers on the road.

They have to be ridden within the machine's limitations - not the rider's.

You have to ride any bike within the machines limitations regardless of the style.:buggerd:
Cruisers just do it better on the road than Sportsbikes thats all :whistle:
Why would you want a 300kph rocketship for the goat tracks we laughing refer to as the national highway network ?:crazy:

[Big Dave]

You have to ride any bike within the machines limitations regardless of the style.:buggerd:


Obviously you ride a semantic cycle.

[James Deuce]

Didn't ride it. Like the look of it though.

I REALLY like it. But you have standard-type handling and a cruiser engine and it takes a major effort to NOT rev the thing. Redline drops you back into the fat of the torque and can give you quite a shock. I'm a bit short to be comfortable on most cruisers, but I could thud around all day on an MT-01.

[Ixion]

You have to ride any bike within the machines limitations regardless of the style.:buggerd:
Cruisers just do it better on the road than Sportsbikes thats all :whistle:
Why would you want a 300kph rocketship for the goat tracks we laughing refer to as the national highway network ?:crazy:
But most large crusiers are far from the most appropriate bikes for 'goat tracks' either. If that is the basis of determination then the most suitable machine is undoubtedly a large dual purpose. BMW GS , Suzuki DL series etc. (Oh, all right and a Buell Ulysses. Satisifed now ?)

[Big Dave]

I'm a bit short to be comfortable on most cruisers, .

Mid control Street Bob - have a look at the blue one in 'recent test bikes' thread.

corchous.

[Big Dave]

But most large crusiers are far from the most appropriate bikes for 'goat tracks' either. If that is the basis of determination then the most suitable machine is undoubtedly a large dual purpose. BMW GS , Suzuki DL series etc. (Oh, all right and a Buell Ulysses. Satisifed now ?)

Paraphrase - 'good, long travel suspension and an upright ergonomic.'

It is the most sensible choice.

The most sensible choice is rarely the coolest.

Lucy walks past Snoopy and says - 'How could anyone wear a fur coat on a day like today'.

Snoop Dawg thought Balloons 'Some of us prefer to sacrifice comfort for style.'

I been hip since I was Six, dude.

[jafar]

I'm a bit short to be comfortable on most cruisers.

Err a mate of mine can ride my VTX1800 & he is 5'3" . MOM tried the VTX out & could stand with BOTH FEET on the ground & she is around the same height.
The seat height is a lot lower than an MT01.:scooter:

[buellbabe]

Yeah but some cruisers have got really wide seats and altho they may be low to the ground by the time you're straddling it things are different LOL

[Ixion]

The problem often is not reaching the ground, but reaching the footpegs and controls, stuck far out in front!

[Pixie]

The real question is , what happens when you reach the limit? Is it saveable? We used to scrape the Briddish 650s all the time, it was no big deal.

Reminds me of the hardly that delayed me on the road to Kawakawa bay recently,It was wobbling like 5 different bags of pigshit at 110Km/hr,and it was no where near it's ground clearance limit.

It was also a 2007 model - some sort of chopper shit styled bike.

[jafar]

Yeah but some cruisers have got really wide seats and altho they may be low to the ground by the time you're straddling it things are different LOL


If 2 people of short stature can ride a VTX1800 it kind of blows your argument apart :rolleyes:


The problem often is not reaching the ground, but reaching the footpegs and controls, stuck far out in front!

Some cruisers have forward controls but not all do, you would have to shop around for one that suits you, no different from looking for a standard bike :doh:

[jafar]

Reminds me of the hardly that delayed me on the road to Kawakawa bay recently,It was wobbling like 5 different bags of pigshit at 110Km/hr,and it was no where near it's ground clearance limit.

It was also a 2007 model - some sort of chopper shit styled bike.

I'll bet the problem was the rider & not the bike :Oops:

[James Deuce]

Err a mate of mine can ride my VTX1800 & he is 5'3" . MOM tried the VTX out & could stand with BOTH FEET on the ground & she is around the same height.
The seat height is a lot lower than an MT01.:scooter:

It's not the seat height. I get hip cramps on most forward control bikes from keeping my feet on the pegs. I have really big feet so I have to put the heels on the peg or I wear through the backs of my boots.

The mid-peg cruisers all seem to put a bend on my knee that is more extreme than even Italian Race replicas. I've done "things" to my knees. Having said that, the Nightster has a really good seat-peg relationship for me.

[Big Dave]

Some of you need to GTFU. :chase:

[jafar]

It's not the seat height. I get hip cramps on most forward control bikes from keeping my feet on the pegs. I have really big feet so I have to put the heels on the peg or I wear through the backs of my boots.

The mid-peg cruisers all seem to put a bend on my knee that is more extreme than even Italian Race replicas. I've done "things" to my knees. Having said that, the Nightster has a really good seat-peg relationship for me.

Have you tried a soft tail ??

[buellbabe]

If 2 people of short stature can ride a VTX1800 it kind of blows your argument apart :rolleyes:



Some cruisers have forward controls but not all do, you would have to shop around for one that suits you, no different from looking for a standard bike :doh:

Actually I am not arguing.:sleep:
All I meant was that short peeps come in all shapes. Some short people have a long body and short legs...which does kinda back up my point.:rolleyes:

And yep I can understand the forward controls issue. The first time I rode a V-Rod I couldn't reach the foot controls if I was sitting in the correct position on the seat. I had to keep pulling myself forward almost onto the blimmin tank LOL.

[James Deuce]

Have you tried a soft tail ??

You leave my wife out of this!