How the golly gosh darn flip do you ride a cruiser?

**The Pastor** · 2nd April 2012, 12:42

So i recently bought a 95 virago 1100.

WOW

What a shit house bike. How do you go around corners.

Can Robert Taylor or someone improve the suspension on cruisers?

So wobbly at high speed in corners.

And WOW dose the front twin discs feel like the rubber brakes on an old moutain bike!!!

Impressive rear brake tho.

**The Singing Chef** · 2nd April 2012, 13:01

Originally Posted by renegade master

So i recently bought a 95 virago 1100.

WOW

What a shit house bike. How do you go around corners.

Can Robert Taylor or someone improve the suspension on cruisers?

So wobbly at high speed in corners.

And WOW dose the front twin discs feel like the rubber brakes on an old moutain bike!!!

Impressive rear brake tho.

From my understanding, you are not supposed to take corners on a cruiser. My advice is to find a nice stretch of straight road, unload the bike off the trailer and go for gold.

**gijoe1313** · 2nd April 2012, 13:20

Because you are not wearing tassles and arseless chaps, which help to corner the cruiser! Also, you are meant to get off the bike, push it around the corner before resuming straightlining.

**willytheekid** · 2nd April 2012, 13:29

I hear ya!

I just went from a 95 1100 Guzzi sport, to a +300kg XV1600 Midnight star!

The difference in riding style is HUGE!!
And I laughed like hell in regards to your comments about the front brakes....must be a cruiser thing to equip them with massive brakes that are connected with an old garden hose!

I have completely stripped & rebuilt both of my front calipers etc and there still shit!...gonna get braided lines to see if they help the issue
...where as the rear brake is just amazing!? (strongist back brake Ive come across to be honest)

As for suspension, its usually quite limited functionality wise on crusiers (No rebound damping etc), but anything can be improved

(Im looking at progressive springs, new internal dampners & trying different oil weights)

Main thing mate...its a cruiser! and should be treated as such, if you push it hard...your gonna learn a painful leason

...when a cruiser reaches its "limit"...they don't give you much warning, and they are actually HARDER than a sport bike, to regain control of when the shit hits the fan.

In short....slow down & cruise...enjoy the comfort and that big V-Twin

**FJRider** · 2nd April 2012, 13:36

Originally Posted by The Singing Chef

From my understanding, you are not supposed to take corners on a cruiser. My advice is to find a nice stretch of straight road, unload the bike off the trailer and go for gold.

Nah ... Cruiser riders never use the front brake. If he took it off and gave it a good clean ... all will be well.

Chances are ... the front suspension is slogged out anyway. From the 2 1/2 tonne's of gear the tie on them to go to rallys ...

Virago's are only show bike's ... you're not really supposed to ride them ... on the roads.

**Bald Eagle** · 2nd April 2012, 13:55

Originally Posted by renegade master

So i recently bought a 95 virago 1100.

WOW

What a shit house bike. .

So why'd you buy it then.
Have done over 14 thousand k on my boulevard ,daily 100km round trip on a road with corners. No problems.

**ducatilover** · 2nd April 2012, 14:00

When the sparks come out of the bike in corners it means you're a pussy and going too slow.

**Big Dave** · 2nd April 2012, 14:03

'95 huh. It probably still has the original fork oil, needs a wheel alignment and the shocks are munted.
Steering head corroded and swing arm bushes shagged too.

**baffa** · 2nd April 2012, 14:04

Is it on decent rubber?
Ive seen a couple of Cruiser riders with impressive corner speeds in my usual haunts around coastville-riverhead highway.
In saying that, I could keep up on a 250, but still.

**iYRe** · 2nd April 2012, 14:07

yeah I just replaced the front pegs on my Volusia 800 cuz I keep wearing down the edges..

They _do_ go around corners, you just have to attempt them at a more sane speed. I can keep up fine with my mates on their sports bikes.. Its just roundabouts that cause me grief

**ducatilover** · 2nd April 2012, 14:13

Originally Posted by iYRe

yeah I just replaced the front pegs on my Volusia 800 cuz I keep wearing down the edges..

They _do_ go around corners, you just have to attempt them at a more sane speed. I can keep up fine with my mates on their sports bikes.. Its just roundabouts that cause me grief

Unless they ride faster than you can punt a cruiser.

**iYRe** · 2nd April 2012, 14:14

Originally Posted by ducatilover

Unless they ride faster than you can punt a cruiser.

well, if they rode their bikes like I ride mine... but they're girls :P (no disrespect to the females on the forum :P)

**Insanity_rules** · 2nd April 2012, 14:52

Serves you right for buying a virago LOL

**ducatilover** · 2nd April 2012, 15:01

Originally Posted by iYRe

well, if they rode their bikes like I ride mine... but they're girls :P (no disrespect to the females on the forum :P)

I got beaten by a girl once...

but I ride like a pussy

**Maha** · 2nd April 2012, 15:24

Originally Posted by gijoe1313

Because you are not wearing tassles and arseless chaps, which help to corner the cruiser! Also, you are meant to get off the bike, push it around the corner before resuming straightlining.

Dont....he'll do it...and end up looking like one of those ashen females I once mentioned not so long ago in a time when men were men...