Cruiser vs Sport/Tourer

**morayfm** · 15th July 2010, 13:21

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** · 15th July 2010, 13:31

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** · 15th July 2010, 13:36

Originally Posted by 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?

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** · 15th July 2010, 13:45

Originally Posted by 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?

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** · 15th July 2010, 14:09

Originally Posted by javawocky

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** · 15th July 2010, 14:10

Originally Posted by 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?

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** · 15th July 2010, 14:16

Originally Posted by Flip

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** · 15th July 2010, 14:44

Originally Posted by Big Dave

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** · 15th July 2010, 15:02

Originally Posted by Big Dave

...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

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!!!

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** · 15th July 2010, 15:05

Originally Posted by javawocky

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** · 15th July 2010, 15:11

Originally Posted by ukusa

??, 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** · 15th July 2010, 15:25

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=** · 15th July 2010, 15:36

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** · 15th July 2010, 16:04

Originally Posted by =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.

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.

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.

**beyond** · 15th July 2010, 18:27

Originally Posted by 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?

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