A Cruiser - How big is enough??

[marty]

although i rode one of these, and it was a BLAST....

http://www.bikepoint.co.nz/portal/al...opDefault.aspx

[Toddy]

Since returning to motorcycling after 30 odd years I have put some serious kms on my Suzuki Volusia. Its a big bike, but has more than sufficient power to blast along even when two up. It is every bit as big as any of the big engine cruisers out there. Many assumes it’s a HD - which is nice and they are even more surprised when I state it is only a 800cc engine. The machine is tight, well built, goes well, stops well, feels balanced on the open road too. Do I need a bigger engine nup, mind you it would impress the punters more when they ask me how big is that engine?

[Bob]

Just do the rounds and test-ride as many as you can. You'll find one that feels right. No real point asking for others' opinions, I think; it's all in the eye of the beholder.

Peak power ratings in horsepower or kilowatts will tell you something about how an engine behaves; a dyno chart showing the power output throughout the rev range will tell you more. But if you're buying a cruiser, you're not buying it for the wanky numbers on the spec sheet. Right?

Ride 'em and see...

I'd go along with this. You said you want enough power to overtake? Well I've overtaken at 75mph on my wife's 250cc Virago. I've also perched my backside on a 650 Dragstar and that was an excellent bike. And that would give enough grunt to overtake at legal speeds with ease.

As JRandom says, test ride as many as you can and find one that suits you. You need to find a bike that feels right, is going to be comfortable for miles (lets face it, you're going to be using it on longer riders).

The current fascination for bigger and bigger engines isn't, IMO, a good idea. Great for people who are already riding... but what are people first starting out going to ride? 3 litres of engine isn't "newbie friendly" is it?

(And for all those people who think the Rocket III rivals an R1 - get real! It may have a huge engine, but how many R1's equal the weight of a Rocket III? Four? Five? Again as JRandom says, the numbers on the specs aren't why you look to buy a bike like this).

[Lone _Rider]

Heya guys and gals at the moment im riden a VF 1100 and i find it a great bike has plenty of grunt for the hills and more than enough for over taking i love it . Just did a ride around the east coast above Gisborne magic bike for the trip . My first bike was a GS 1000 l it also was a great bike but like people say every one to there own

[rfc85]

Hi, maybe somehere can give me some info on either the Suzuki C50 or 540 single as I am thinking of getting either of these in the near future ?
Anyone got one, not looking for alot of speed, more comfort on 3-4 hr rides as long as it can pass slow cars

[Krusti]

Mates got a Rocket3 and a Street Rod, the Prick. Reckons two and a half litres of torque is addictive. Yet to give me a ride tho!

[Motu]

I had a C50 for years,one of the most useful and reliable bikes I've ever owned - but mine was a Honda not a Suzuki,so that probably explanis it....

[Big Dave]

Anything bigger is, well, some kinda comment on your head, not your bike.

You can tell that to my 6'5" 115kg bum!
I was dissapointed the Rocket 3 is so small and low.
But It's the only thing that is close to 'my size' from pegs to seat.

[sels1]

Mates got a Rocket3 and a Street Rod, the Prick. Reckons two and a half litres of torque is addictive. Yet to give me a ride tho!

I rode both those models last weekend.....the Rocket was mucho fun to ride, despite its size

[TriumphMan]

I would like to buy a cruiser one day to compliment my Yamy TX600.

Cruisers range from 250cc to 2000cc plus, but how big is big enough??
All I want to do is travel at the speed limit with a bit of spare Oomph for passing and head winds etc. Comments appreciated

Also, what's the best measure of cruiser bike performance cc or hp ???

Just buy a rocket 3. The size and weight disappears when you ride it. I went in to buy a Triumph Speedmaster when White Trash convinced me to try a ride on the rocket. 30 minutes later I was back and just bought a Rocket....awesome bike, a bit posey, but you'll grin heaps on it, and it handles too. I upgraded from a daytona 600.

[skidz]

Why not sit back and see what comes up next. It may be bigger than the rocket.

[Macktheknife]

I would like to buy a cruiser one day to compliment my Yamy TX600.

Cruisers range from 250cc to 2000cc plus, but how big is big enough??
All I want to do is travel at the speed limit with a bit of spare Oomph for passing and head winds etc. Comments appreciated

Also, what's the best measure of cruiser bike performance cc or hp ???

I'm sorry cruiser and performance are not often found in the same description BUT I reckon you should ride a few. I have enjoyed both Suzuki Intruders and Honda Shadows (700 to 1400cc) The only comment my mates have made on larger bikes (2000 or more) is that there is no where to really wind it out.

[Bagster]

Don't stuff around, buy a Harley, all other cruisers are plastic wannabe's that devalue quicker than a Warehouse computer. Example...Honda VTX 1800 used to be about $28000 new. Now they are selling them at about $18,000. Buy one now and keep it for a year or so and it will be worth about $12K.

Of course if you are on a limited budget then they are good buying, they just don't have any street cred.

[bugjuice]

Yamaha MT01 should do it...

[Waylander]

Of course if you are on a limited budget then they are good buying, they just don't have any street cred.

Mate, you don't need to ride a harley to get "street cred" and anyone who gives "cred" just on the basis of what you ride arn't really bikers. They are the wanna-bes, real bikers don't give a crap what you ride so long as you ride.


IMHO