Dreaming of my cruiser...

[Virago]

Already beat you to it a few posts back :P...

Doh...!

[Blueskies]

check out a VN900 you wont be dissapointed

My thoughts exactly. Read the reports on these bikes. Awesome.

[Winger]

Evening Chaps and Chapesses.

Looking for some advice on my cruiser dreams of the (hopefully) not too distant future.
Currently riding a GN250 (YEAH!), and looking to upgrade to a worthy hog sometime next year, so have been looking around and drooling already

i'm about 6 foot 2, and over a hundred kg's, so obviously the GN is just too small, so hoping once i'm on my R an exemption should be pretty easy to obtain (also, anyone who's gone through that process, advice would be appreciated.)

aaaaaanyways...

Been looking around a bit, and have currently got my eyes set on a Boulevard C50. anyone who has/does ride one with their thoughts on them? You reckon i'll handle the step up from the GN okay?
Have straddled a couple and they fit me like a glove, also fired one up and nearly needed a new pair of pants, so it seems like a pretty good bike for me.
I'm also very open to any other suggestions people may have. Still plenty of time left to look around and drool before i get my baby yet!

Criteria:
Not wanting to go to anything tooooo big in engine (at this stage anyways), but need something with a bit of boogie on the open road (as i havent ridden anything above the GN, so i really have no idea how powerful an 800cc V-Twin is), comfort for a long days riding, but can still get around in the traffic (i do live in auckland after all). Looking at doing a little touring (but not to the extent of spending weeks at a time on the road), so storage capabilities are also a factor (though not such a biggie so long as i can throw in enough for a three day weekend).
And of course, gotta have that dead sexy V-Twin grumble baby! *Grunts*

Any advice appreciated.
Cheers!

dude just go out look around and see what you like,we can all tell you lots of shit and at the end of the day it means shit unless you no know what wher talken about. all the jap cruisers are good, it just ends up with what you like looks and performance wise good luck. and remeber you make the choice

[Solly]

All the bikes suggested are good machines....but to answer your query 'bout the C50......I have the C90 [and love her]. My neighbour has the C50, as does my boss.....they both swear by them, comfort, grunt, reliability...the lot!!. In fact my wife & I are heading to our local dealer to pick hers up in the morning....what more can I say.

[Jerry74]

The Kawasaki Vulcan is a good option, nice ride.

Not to be confused with the Harley by any means but has a cult following around the world.

If I was going to buy a cruiser this would be my choice.

[Darth Fader]

Go and test ride a M109R...it looks heavy and fat, but sit on it and you'll be very pleasantly surprised. I also did not like the front end, but trust me, it grows on you, and it most certainly helps with wind protection... the Japs know what they're doing. Ride one and I promise you that you'll not even look at any other bike.

DF

[Gizzit]

As has been said ... those M109's are great bikes .... but honestly, they are a HUGE step up power wise from a GN250 !
I'm starting to look at cruisers, and have ridden and owned all sorts of bikes, the biggest being my CB1300S. I am currently riding a CB900 Hornet, but will be looking at a C50(T), M50, or VN900, or something similar.

If your looking to ride a cruiser ... as a cruiser, maybe you don't need the horsepower that the bigger bikes put out ? I'm sure I won't, even with my pillion on board, but I tend to ride mainly between 100 - 110kmh, so more grunt than needed to do a quick overtake ... isn't really needed by me. My Hornet has a heap of grunt .... but I don't really make much use of it in normal riding.

According to others here that own 800cc - 900cc bikes, they have more than enough power even two up, and easily keep up with the bigger cruisers in real world riding.

As others have said .... ride them. We all have ideas and opinions. Like you though, I enjoy reading what others have to say regarding their bikes. You can pick up a common theme about certain bikes .... good points or bad, and that helps in gaining ideas to help with choosing bikes to try.
Good luck.
Grant.

[AD345]

As has been said ... those M109's are great bikes .... but honestly, they are a HUGE step up power wise from a GN250 !
I'm starting to look at cruisers, and have ridden and owned all sorts of bikes, the biggest being my CB1300S. I am currently riding a CB900 Hornet, but will be looking at a C50(T), M50, or VN900, or something similar.

If your looking to ride a cruiser ... as a cruiser, maybe you don't need the horsepower that the bigger bikes put out ? I'm sure I won't, even with my pillion on board, but I tend to ride mainly between 100 - 110kmh, so more grunt than needed to do a quick overtake ... isn't really needed by me. My Hornet has a heap of grunt .... but I don't really make much use of it in normal riding.

According to others here that own 800cc - 900cc bikes, they have more than enough power even two up, and easily keep up with the bigger cruisers in real world riding.

As others have said .... ride them. We all have ideas and opinions. Like you though, I enjoy reading what others have to say regarding their bikes. You can pick up a common theme about certain bikes .... good points or bad, and that helps in gaining ideas to help with choosing bikes to try.
Good luck.
Grant.

If you get a chance to get down to AKL - check out the Victory range as well. A guy up your way (Whatitiri) just bought a Kingpin. PM me if yer interested and I'll drop him a line to see if he might let ya have a nosey at it.

Failing that - there will be about 10 or so of us at the Kumeu Hot Rod show on Sunday

[Gizzit]

If you get a chance to get down to AKL - check out the Victory range as well. A guy up your way (Whatitiri) just bought a Kingpin. PM me if yer interested and I'll drop him a line to see if he might let ya have a nosey at it.

Failing that - there will be about 10 or so of us at the Kumeu Hot Rod show on Sunday

Thanks for that. I'm still in contemplation stage .... not sure "her in doors" would see the obvious need for another new bike just yet !! LOL.

[retro asian]

Is Badger still looking for a cruiser?

[Badger8]

Is Badger still looking for a cruiser?

No, this thread was put up before i got my hornet
Not lookin for a cruiser just yet, i'll be on one one day tho

[TOTO]

when you turn 70 ?

[Daffyd]

Funnily enough Yamaha don't have a mid range cruiser, they go from the XVS650 (a bit small in my book) to the 1600 bikes. In other words, the mid-size cruisers are great and a lot of different people get a lot of fun from them.

Yamaha do an XVS1100, now sold under the "Star" name. Very nice, too.