Cruisers for Dummies

[justsomeguy]

Hey Guys,

I'm a sprotbiker at heart, but that's only cos I'm too poor to buy a cruiser as a second bike and have the best of both worlds.

Can someone please educate me on life in the cruiser world? Are Harley's still at the top what about the Jap Four?

In the sprotbike world a 1000cc bike is the ultimate fastest/quickest handling bike overall - What is it in the cruiser world?

When choosing sprot bikes one "just wants to go fast" generally. What are the fundamental emotional principles of choosing a cruiser?

Everyone here has heard of the super popular Gixxer Thou, R1, ZX 10R........ What are the evergreen cruiser models? Any pics would be great.

What are your cruiser jokes? Honda's gay? Suzuki sheep?.....??

Being a dummy please use lots of pictures and small words so I can understand what you say.

For me a cruiser has to be black - fully black no chrome and have some amount of decent handling - and the ability to sit at 200kmph all day everyday and I don't like the very long bodied extreme Ape hanger variety or the shorter more compact traditional British shape, something in the middle will do.

This pic of a bike posted by Slashwylde looks perfecto - http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/at...2&d=1166422143

Although in the real world this seems beautiful: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/at...5&d=1121686486
Slash I think told me it's a Dragstar??

Could you ladies and other people please keep this thread educational. Ta.

[SlashWylde]

Hey dude,

I seem to recall the Yamaha in that pic is a customized Roadstar 1600. It's a real gem. Looks sleek and fast with those tyres and rims but comfortable also.

I have to agree, cruisers dressed all in black with a minimum of chrome have a unique appeal. That bike from the HD mag article is a brutal looking black beast.

Off the top of my head, there are a couple of production bikes that come close to these aesthetics. Those being the Kawasaki Meanstreak 1600 custom edition, and the 2008 HD XL1200N Nightster, see pics.

I don't know that there is an 'ultimate cruiser' as such simply because different folks want different things from their bike whilst still staying within the realm of cruisers.

For example some may like a big fully dressed cruiser with heaps of storage space, wind-screens, floor boards, heated grips etc as a big comfortable ride for a husband & wife to tour the country on. Others may like a VN1600 or a HD Sportster with a single saddle to go hard and fast on weekend runs through the twisties.

For me, the thing about choosing a cruiser is that it's more of an undefinable emotional connection with the bike, rather than focusing on speed torque and HP specs like in the sports bike world.

A large part of it is deciding what you want the bike to look and feel like, what features you may or may not want (floorboards vs pegs for example), what size and engine displacement suits you, whether you're a big guy like Dave or a smaller fellow like you or I.

I think with HDs you are buying into a lifestyle and enjoying a certain motoring heritage. They are unique in their sound, feel and design, and by owning one you set yourself apart from the rest.

My advice is to look at the top four Japanese manufacturers, look at what they have on offer in your size and price range, pick one from each manufacturer that appeals to you most and go try em all out.

Yamaha's (like HDs) seem to be pricier than the other manufacturers. Having said that, the last time I checked, pricing on HD Sportsters was dammed competitive with the Jappas. You could pick up a new 883 for around $14k, and a 1200 custom for around $19k. Worth checking out.

[The Lone Rider]

For me a cruiser has to be black - fully black no chrome and have some amount of decent handling - and the ability to sit at 200kmph all day everyday and I don't like the very long bodied extreme Ape hanger variety or the shorter more compact traditional British shape, something in the middle will do.

.

IMO, if you think a cruiser is for 200kmph, let alone doing that everyday (cruiser on the track everyday I hope), with good handling then you really don't know cruisers.

Cruiser - it really is what it sounds like.

I think the most important thing is a comfortable bike that you can control. Geek can't ride the cruiser I have now, but the Virago she could ride. Both we very comfortable. I could ride both but Virago seemed to small to proportion of my size, and also being a Harley fan I wanted something more Harley-esq

Harley is not the beginning or the end nor the ideal. In saying that I mean, a Harley isn't what you should strive for unless it is a Harley you want. We can all agree that Harley by name is known for its absolute style and pop motorcycle culture in USA. Everywhere I went in the states the highways had Harleys going back and forth.

In the end.. my best advice, and this is probably the easiest and most common thing said on here to people asking about bikes, is that fuck everyones opinion on what has style and is good for that or this. Go try them yourself. I know not everywhere lets you test ride. But climbing on and sitting on it is the first step.

[Virago]

Hey Guys,

I'm a sprotbiker at heart, but that's only cos I'm too poor to buy a cruiser as a second bike and have the best of both worlds.

Can someone please educate me on life in the cruiser world? Are Harley's still at the top what about the Jap Four?...

...What are your cruiser jokes? Honda's gay? Suzuki sheep?.....??

Being a dummy please use lots of pictures and small words so I can understand what you say.

For me a cruiser has to be black - fully black no chrome and have some amount of decent handling - and the ability to sit at 200kmph all day...

...Could you ladies and other people please keep this thread educational. Ta.

That's got to be the best troll I've seen on this site for ages. Good stuff.

[bmz2]

suzuki sheep, this beast will blow your mind 250km+, and you need balls to ride it, my beast has a 280 wide rear and 1800 cc , and been dynoed at 127 hp at the rear ,slammed 3" at the rear, and its black, one bad ass 9

[jafar]

suzuki sheep, this beast will blow your mind 250km+, and you need balls to ride it, my beast has a 280 wide rear and 1800 cc , and been dynoed at 127 hp at the rear ,slammed 3" at the rear, and its black, one bad ass 9

Nice pic of you on your 109 there bmz

Cruisers are the way to go, top speed
Torque to pass & a decent ride are the points I look for, bling is secondary.
Others will have a different view & thats all good too .
Who needs a bike that can pull 300k & has 200 hp @ the rear wheel ? I can't use it on the road & seriously doubt anyone can, legally or otherwise.

[McJim]

suzuki sheep, this beast will blow your mind 250km+, and you need balls to ride it, my beast has a 280 wide rear and 1800 cc , and been dynoed at 127 hp at the rear ,slammed 3" at the rear, and its black, one bad ass 9

Mate that bike is sooo bad it makes you look like a little girl sitting on it. Nice one.

[RDJ]

This is my preferred cruiser

Miss B has a fair amount of torque on tap

to the point where I have not yet hit the NOS

cruises the highway at 80mph in 1st (only 2 gears )

for a couple of hours (until the tank runs dry )

[johnnyflash]

Nice pic of you on your 109 there bmz

Cruisers are the way to go, top speed
Torque to pass & a decent ride are the points I look for, bling is secondary.
Others will have a different view & thats all good too .
Who needs a bike that can pull 300k & has 200 hp @ the rear wheel ? I can't use it on the road & seriously doubt anyone can, legally or otherwise.

So true Jafar, having ridden all types of bikes over the years, the modern Cruiser is by far the best in all round performance, comfort and pure exhilaration powering such a beast through the corners...

[Winger]

Nice pic of you on your 109 there bmz

Cruisers are the way to go, top speed
Torque to pass & a decent ride are the points I look for, bling is secondary.
Others will have a different view & thats all good too .
Who needs a bike that can pull 300k & has 200 hp @ the rear wheel ? I can't use it on the road & seriously doubt anyone can, legally or otherwise.

right on if you can do what your talken about 200K your good man you gota think about it dude on cruisers where cruisen if we wanted to go faster we would have keep our 750 bonnies and dukes when we were mad like you but now were cruisen man take in the sites chill with the babe on the back instead of her ripping your balls off while your tryen to make us cruisers look slow.

[RDJ]

Who needs a bike that can pull 300k & has 200 hp @ the rear wheel ?

Ah, but which lady needs Prada bags and Jimmy Choo shoes, which guy needs Sidchrome spanners and 18-year-old single malts... maybe need is not all she wrote

[bmz2]

if i hit the full gas on the beast , i will not be able to see the sheepcruisers are like a good woman , sexy , style and look good from the rear

[justsomeguy]

Hey dude,

That Harley looks beautiful. Exactly what I would like my cruiser to look like. *Put's it on dream list and saves wallpaper*

You really don't know cruisers.

Cruiser - it really is what it sounds like.

I've got no clue, honestly. This thread is helping me learn. Thanks for your comments - green bling sent

That's got to be the best troll I've seen on this site for ages. Good stuff.

Always a critic....I like bikes and cars and if I live long enough would like to have ridden and driven all kinds.

This is my preferred cruiser

WOW!!!!

right on if you can do what your talken about 200K your good man you gota think about it dude on cruisers where cruisen take in the sites chill with the babe on the back instead of her ripping your balls off while your tryen to make us cruisers look slow.

I understand, I've slowed down a lot on the roads, I used to ride pretty hard (not fast compared to most - but at my max).

I once rode a dirt bike with a top speed of 80kmph on the road and ... did you know there were trees and views out there? Who would have known...

[The Lone Rider]

I've got no clue, honestly. This thread is helping me learn. Thanks for your comments - green bling sent

No problem.. cruisers are for cruising. Sit back and enjoy getting from one place to another, or follow the sun until the road ends.

Cruisers also excellent and comfortable for pillions. Nice laid back soft seat.

Bling it if you want, ride it when you can.

And... watch American Chopper or something like that. Come on.. thats kinda cool eh! They argue and fight and yell at each other, but look at all the originality and design going into those dream bikes. Each bike a unique personality. Can't say I'd want a cruiser or chopper with a suicide switch though!

[Edbear]

When I was thinking about a suitable bike to return to biking on, I was about settled on a cruiser style when a mate offered me his GSX-F600 at a price I couldn't refuse. After 3+ years on it I finally got my wife back on pillion after 30 years and after our second ride she said she wanted better pillion accomodations for her old age!

As most of our friends and family rode cruisers and after trying a few out for their pillion seats, we settled on the Boulevard C50T. I didn't think I'd be really happy after the performance and handling of the GSX-F, but cruisers are a completely different animal altogether and we absolutely love it! I could ride it all day and now the Missus is the one who suggests going for a ride!

I have attached a review I wrote after buying the Boulevard, you may enjoy it.