Fulfilled my resolution, but buggered if I get it

**98tls** · 5th January 2010, 21:13

New years eve on the piss with some bike people,conversation gets to bikes (no shit) and i get some flak from a Honda guy that rides (for lack of a better word) a VTX1800,all good but a skinful of piss and the non-stop "when ya going to sell that old heap of shit,your to old for even that old thing,step into the real world blah blah blah"

(hes a mate,gets gobby when drinking) i finally accept the offer of a ride on this thing,choose the Waimate gorge for the revelation and away i went,

....well finally,big handful down the straight leading into the good bits ,ended up yelling at the top of my voice "cmooonnnnnn moooove" thinking "f@%k me do i need to get off and push" we finally approached the easy lefthander,over oveeerrrrr

get the f#&k over combined with the realisation that all that noise wasnt from the wind it was simply the fact that this was over and the noise was mother earth protesting about the pathetic attempts at starting a fire happening above

Long story short what an earth are these things about,i can understand Trumpets big banger ie zero to hero in zip and some clearance no doubt but this thing,1800 cc of shite to be honest.When i gave it back to the bloke the kindest thing i could think to say was "the VT?750 you traded in on this must have been without doubt the worst motorcycle ever built".

**JimO** · 5th January 2010, 21:18

it may be because your to old mike

**monkeymcbean** · 5th January 2010, 21:32

your brave thats all ill say!

**98tls** · 5th January 2010, 21:43

Originally Posted by jimjim

it may be because your to old mike

Must be it mate,best i stick to my ill handling old slapper then eh,honestly fella i have never ridden anything in my life so wrong.Comfortable my arse,riding position sucked,i could see all the willow trees down the gorge waving at me saying "up here Tarzan".Crusier my arse,i was well stressed just trying to get the f$#kin thing up to a speed,bang it down a gear and it seemed to say "hang on will just get my respirator out,hang on".

**pritch** · 5th January 2010, 23:07

Originally Posted by 98tls

"the VT?750 you traded in on this must have been without doubt the worst motorcycle ever built".

I rode a VT750 - not at all sprightly. Anything but. Perfect for the newly born again.

One day while out with Nadroj I saw a very cool looking (and sounding) VT1800. Not my cup of tea though. It didn't look too big parked next to a Rune...

**Big Dave** · 5th January 2010, 23:27

A large comfortable lounge chair that does 160kph and looks pretty sharp doing it.
The Torque schtonk pulling out of corners of the real big V-twins is part of their attraction.
It's not fast - but it's quite enjoyable around the speed limit - so strong feeling - have you noticed how many Police cars are on the road?

When does your TL start cookin' - at what - 140kph?
Now, what makes more sense again :-P

**BMWST?** · 5th January 2010, 23:49

Originally Posted by Big Dave

A large comfortable lounge chair that does 160kph and looks pretty sharp doing it.
The Torque schtonk pulling out of corners of the real big V-twins is part of their attraction.
It's not fast - but it's quite enjoyable around the speed limit - so strong feeling - have you noticed how many Police cars are on the road?

When does your TL start cookin' - at what - 140kph?
Now, what makes more sense again :-P

you have to be able to LEAN a motorcycle.Any motorcycle that prevents you leaning a long way over aint a motorcycle in my book.And that cruiser riding postion with all the weight on your bum,and you have to pull on the bars to change postion,its just wrong....imho

**Edbear** · 6th January 2010, 06:49

It's a completely different ride from a sports bike. Although the VTX1800 is probably not the best cruiser to introduce yourself on as it is known as having one of the worst cornering clearances of all the cruisers.

My C50T is much better, and the ride position reminds me of my old B31 BSA, very natural. You're not going to get a cruiser that performs like your bike and you have to adjust to the torque as BD says. It's a relaxed style of ride. I tried a VTX1300 before the C50T and I couldn't wait to get off it, it was uncomfortable for me, yet my bike is one I can ride all day. Horses for courses and what fits one doesn't fit the other.

Try another cruiser with better clearance. I loved the M109R once I realised one needed to ride it more agressively and it was rocket-city when twisting the throttle!

**6ft5** · 6th January 2010, 07:01

Originally Posted by 98tls

New years eve on the piss with some bike people,conversation gets to bikes (no shit) and i get some flak from a Honda guy that rides (for lack of a better word) a VTX1800,all good but a skinful of piss and the non-stop "when ya going to sell that old heap of shit,your to old for even that old thing,step into the real world blah blah blah"

(hes a mate,gets gobby when drinking) i finally accept the offer of a ride on this thing,choose the Waimate gorge for the revelation and away i went,

....well finally,big handful down the straight leading into the good bits ,ended up yelling at the top of my voice "cmooonnnnnn moooove" thinking "f@%k me do i need to get off and push" we finally approached the easy lefthander,over oveeerrrrr

get the f#&k over combined with the realisation that all that noise wasnt from the wind it was simply the fact that this was over and the noise was mother earth protesting about the pathetic attempts at starting a fire happeninmg above

Long story short what an earth are these things about,i can understand Trumpets big banger ie zero to hero in zip and some clearance no doubt but this thing,1800 cc of shite to be honest.When i gave it back to the bloke the kindest thing i could think to say was "the VT?750 you traded in on this must have been without doubt the worst motorcycle ever built".

Never been on a VTX1800, own a Roadking and yes its is a different feeling getting around corners. Its not about how fast can I go but how comfortble can I ride and enjoy the ride - all day long !!!! IMHO its a way of life !!

**Big Dave** · 6th January 2010, 09:15

Originally Posted by BMWST?

you have to be able to LEAN a motorcycle.Any motorcycle that prevents you leaning a long way over aint a motorcycle in my book.And that cruiser riding postion with all the weight on your bum,and you have to pull on the bars to change postion,its just wrong....imho

You need a better book. :-P Two of the most enjoyable day rides I've ever done were on a Rocket III and a Fat Boy.

**JimO** · 6th January 2010, 10:06

what was the fat boys name???? bahahaha

**dipshit** · 6th January 2010, 10:35

Originally Posted by 98tls

Long story short what an earth are these things about

Doing lots and lots of miles on these types of roads.

Buggered if I know why you would want one in NZ..???

**vifferman** · 6th January 2010, 10:42

Can I chip in?
Yes? No?

Too bad - I will anyway.
While the concept of relaxed crusing appeals to me (in principle, at least), the execution is fundamenatally flawed. The crusier riding position is ergonomically and intrinsically wrong, and it takes a very disciplined rider to make sure they're not wrecking their spine. Yes, they generally have big comfy seats, but that's about it as far as a vague nod to comfort. Everything else (except on crusiers with sensible bar and footpeg/board positions) is usually all wrong, and kinda just a two-wheeled version of a car (which when you think about it, is quite understandable). Except unlike a car, you have no lumbar or other spinal support.

Yes, I have ridden crusiers, and although I hated the first one (no cornering clearance, no power, and the gears seemed to be there solely to offer different frequencies of vibration), the next one I rode was more enjoyable. However, the 'bars were too weird (felt like steering a wheelbarrow), and I felt very silly riding it as it was so cartoonish.

But... to each his own. The world would be a very sad and boring place with no customs or cruisers. However, I wish the dick/accountant/commodities trader/IT professional up the road from me would fix his own and put some proper zorsts on his Road Rage Custom - it may look very nice, but it is really fkn annoyingly loud, and sounds like a very sick tractor!

I guarantee that if you are really honest, those of you who are really into crusiers would have to admit that image and 'street cred' are very important, and that even if Zhongshen, Hyosung or whoever made a crusier that was excellent, good-looking and that went really well, you wouldn't buy one.