Harley handling!

[Spearfish]

That's OK - I thought I was wrong once too.

Handling is a different issue to ground clearance. There isn't much difference in handling in all large modern cruiser motorcycles. (Victory hammer excluded).

They are all pretty good until the cornering clearance is all used - or they have a back tyre so wide it starts to mess things up.

Touring Chassis Harleys and the XR1200X are actually very tidy turners and quite nimble at low speed. Low COM.

Horses for courses, but not always.

[Crasherfromwayback]

I wasn't aiming at you Mr Paranoid.

Nothing paranoid about my comment either! It was actually a dig at the fact that most people had missed the point of my post.

[Big Dave]

Nothing paranoid about my comment either! It was actually a dig at the fact that most people had missed the point of my post.

>insert sound of fishing reel zinging here< with lolocopter.

[Crasherfromwayback]

>insert sound of fishing reel zinging here< with lolocopter.

Cheeky Coont. Is that like a plopocopter?

[Big Dave]

Cheeky Coont. Is that like a plopocopter?

If it's anything like 'going the helicopter' I don't want to know about it.

More like lolcano.

[awa355]

The glides have a backwards facing triple clamp, the stearing head axle is in front of the forks, at slow speeds they don't drop into corners the way that other bikes do. They also retain heaps of felt caster without the effects of centrifugal stability on the front wheel.

It takes practice but my bike is basically very stable at slow speed. Its also heavy and has a low CoG which helps.

Flip, Do you own a Road King? If so, can you tell me the wheelbase please?

Have been told that my XVS650 has the same wheelbase. 64" or 1625mm. Has a min turning radius of 3.5m. I'd like to compare with a lager cruiser. Thanks.

[Big Dave]

I think interesting is that Yamaha claims their Star series motorcycles are very good handlers because they have been able to get over 50% of the vehicles weight to the front wheel.

[Spearfish]

I think interesting is that Yamaha claims their Star series motorcycles are very good handlers because they have been able to get over 50% of the vehicles weight to the front wheel.

Whats the bias for the XR1200X in comparison?

[Big Dave]

Whats the bias for the XR1200X in comparison?

Don't have that data sorry.

It's not that good an example for comparison though. It doesn't have the pre-requisite slammed rear end of a normal cruiser - it's more a 'standard' in term of rear suspension travel and ergonomic. The rider can get more weight over the bars accordingly.

[awa355]

I think interesting is that Yamaha claims their Star series motorcycles are very good handlers because they have been able to get over 50% of the vehicles weight to the front wheel.

As far as modern cruisers go, I had only ridden a '98 Marauder, which was a pig to ride after years of lightweight bikes. My Yamaha 650 felt like a whale to start with but now I'm flicking it through corners and enjoying it.

I do think my model Yammy does handle well, but will ride a bigger cruiser one day just to compare.

[Spearfish]

Don't have that data sorry.

It's not that good an example for comparison though. It doesn't have the pre-requisite slammed rear end of a normal cruiser - it's more a 'standard' in term of rear suspension travel and ergonomic. The rider can get more weight over the bars accordingly.

I've been done some more learnin..

Ok so the XR is out as far as comparison its more sports than I thought..what about the others. Surly over the centuries of development the rear bias has negligible effect when comparing Yamaha balanced(?) bias over traditional cruiser bias?

I have to admit, I find myself going back to the yam 650, dunno why yet, I'll just say it must be the shaft drive for now. LOnot so L

[Spearfish]

As far as modern cruisers go, I had only ridden a '98 Marauder, which was a pig to ride after years of lightweight bikes. My Yamaha 650 felt like a whale to start with but now I'm flicking it through corners and enjoying it.

I do think my model Yammy does handle well, but will ride a bigger cruiser one day just to compare.

Just for interest- what size/type do you call lightweight?

[fokky]

I think interesting is that Yamaha claims their Star series motorcycles are very good handlers because they have been able to get over 50% of the vehicles weight to the front wheel.

is 50 50 weight distribution unusual?

[YellowDog]

Nice skills this Plod has...

"If you take this training course, you'll be able to ride a motorcycle just like that!"

Yeah Right

[awa355]

Just for interest- what size/type do you call lightweight?

,If you are looking at the physical weight of a cruiser, they are all heavyweights. Except for the 250cc class maybe.

At 246kg fueled, I dont think my 650 is a lightweight bike by any means. To move around, its a heavy bike.

Engine wise, 650 maybe a 'lightweight' compared with the 1600-2000cc bikes. Engine size doesn't make the smaller bike any less of a bike tho.