Sporty Cruisers...noob question?

[Ixion]

What about chook chasers. And sprotsbikes can have high seats, my SV is the highest of my bikes.

[Toaster]

how bout this;
Cruiser = low seat, lean back, forward controls
Touring = tall seat, upright, mid controls
Sport = med seat, lean forward, rear controls
mix & match these & you get ........... a mongrel

maybe this could be a new catagory

Good summary.

Panniers can be fitted to any of those. But certainly, as Johnny said, capacity of said luggage is usually more akin to Tourers and the need for it.

[damo]

http://www.polarisindustries.com/en-...n/Vegas/Vegas/

muscle type cruiser... I can't go past the Vegas or Hammer by Victory.

word is there is a dealership opening up in NZ very very soon.

my bike of choice would be the Night Rod Special, or the Vegas 8-Ball with a Ness Front Wheel and swept pipes

[mudthug]

It is an amazing era that we live in where the motorcycle industry can cater for all walks of life from the mild mannered accountant to the hardcore bad arse biker to the speed demon adrenaline junkie and of course your average joe blow there is such a vast range to choose from, catering for every need and whim. We have come a long way from Gottlieb Daimler's 1885 single cylinder Bone Crusher. I say pick the one that suits you,who gives a shit what you call it and fuck everyone else !!!!!!!!

[lefty]

Ooohhh, I wouldn't say that. My VN800 (see profile pic) has a 15L tank. Around town I get 270km out of it till dry. On th open road (touring) I get 330kms out of those 15L.

She's very comfortable to ride in any situation; town, open road or loose-metal country roads.

I can have a blast carving it up on twisties, and my favourite ride is the Kaiaua loop. She's quick for a 250kg bike and can run happily up to 180kph. Just ask Zapf Gremlin or Draco.

I checked out your profile pick of your bike, pro pic of ya bike.
I am picking up a Green VN900 Custom from Mt Eden Motorcycles tomorrow, Saturday morning.
My old bike was a CB1300S.
I have ridden with mates with the Vulcan and unless I really push the Honda hard there is no real speed difference while on the open road.
Yes the Honda is more suited to touring, with the screen but fuel range is better on the Vulcan. Honda 300k Vulcan 350k.
Cornering wise the Vulcan isn't too shabby either.
That guy who posted the two kawasaki pics was onto it.

[Grizzo]

Check out the Moto Guzzi Griso. I reckon thats a fine mix.

[Lord Derosso]

I checked out your profile pick of your bike, pro pic of ya bike.
I am picking up a Green VN900 Custom from Mt Eden Motorcycles tomorrow, Saturday morning.
My old bike was a CB1300S.
I have ridden with mates with the Vulcan and unless I really push the Honda hard there is no real speed difference while on the open road.
Yes the Honda is more suited to touring, with the screen but fuel range is better on the Vulcan. Honda 300k Vulcan 350k.
Cornering wise the Vulcan isn't too shabby either.
That guy who posted the two kawasaki pics was onto it.

I just got my new bike, a Kawie VN800, yesterday but had a fully faired Katana 600 over a year ago and I have to admit I have already managed to get the Vulcan to corner pretty well. The problem with the Katana was it was affected by the wind while the VN has a windscreen and I am sitting so low and comfortable, I can just add down pressure to one of the wide bars to get around tight corners.The bike is beauifully balanced which of course is part of the advantage of having a bike with a big V machine, low centre of gravity effect. Of course, The Rimatuka gorge is going to be something esle, but everyone knows this which is why bikers love that ride. I am really enjoying the VN and for a 800cc its got heaps of power beyond legal speeds and goes really well. I quess its the old story, what do you consider real motorcycling? Getting there as fast as you can, or sitting back and enjoying the time you are actually on the bike. Isnt that what riding should really be about? Getting away from the rush of modern stressful life? Of course I have had my speed machines too. As for the VN800, the petrol tank is huge and I brought the bike mainly for long distance travel in comfort, in my older age. Its nice to sit on and I can keep my back straight and legs forward. Just a problem remembering where the bloody pegs are while taking off after having the Katana 600. Whatever you get, enjoy and you can always trade it in after a while. You will no doubt go through the fast stage and get to enjoy the slow long haul stage sometime.

[Flip]

how bout this;
Cruiser = low seat, lean back, forward controls
Touring = tall seat, upright, mid controls
Sport = med seat, lean forward, rear controls
mix & match these & you get ........... a mongrel

maybe this could be a new catagory

Whats my Road King then? It has a low seat, lean back and forward controls, but it also has a big ass screen, full luggage, heated bars and cruse control. Me I see myself as a tourer and thats what I do on the Road King. If I was doing the round the bays sunday pub run and thats where my riding was you could say I was into cruising. Ok I'm no sports bike rider not any more. Does motorcycle form and function have to be the same. I would hate to think that just because we own a 'X' brand or style of bike we cannot be an 'X' 'Y' or even a 'Z' type of rider.

[rogson]

Sporty cruisers? Yep, there is one very suited to NZ conditions.......the Magna 750 (92?+ model).

Brilliant Honda V4 engine (will out-perform cruiser V-twins double the capacity) in a lightish package with chassis that looks/feels cruiser but can handle the NZ twisties and bumps.

Downsides are; chain drive and smallish fuel tank, but not as ridiculously small as some cruisers.......and they can't be bought new (discontinued) and there are not many in NZ (why?).

[XF650]

Hey Rogson - Isn't a VX800 a "sporty cruiser" ?

[rogson]

Hey Rogson - Isn't a VX800 a "sporty cruiser" ?

Horses for courses I guess but IMO the VX800 is more a cruisey sportster.

[Cross Rider]

Whats my Road King then? It has a low seat, lean back and forward controls, but it also has a big ass screen, full luggage, heated bars and cruse control. Me I see myself as a tourer and thats what I do on the Road King. If I was doing the round the bays sunday pub run and thats where my riding was you could say I was into cruising. Ok I'm no sports bike rider not any more. Does motorcycle form and function have to be the same. I would hate to think that just because we own a 'X' brand or style of bike we cannot be an 'X' 'Y' or even a 'Z' type of rider.

Interesting point, it has to come down to how you feel about the style you ride prehaps more than the bike you ride. Had a v-rod and it made me feel more sports rider then a vn1500 which had me cruising more than sporting. Now have a classic rocket and I can be either depending on the mood of the day.

[1 Free Man]

instead of worrying about what the bikes "classed"as Just find one you like the look of and how it rides and stuff what anyone else thinks of it

Well said Spooky. At the end of the day it's what pushes your buttons that counts.

[GrayWolf]

G'day all cruiser riders.

As a noob who is absorbing lots of bike information and compiling a very very long list of bikes to test ride once i get my full lol...I have always liked the nimbler of bikes and seeing many of todays cruisers thought "that's not me". This though changed a bit after I started riding as i came accross what is called a "bobber" *is that right*. Basically it was a cruiser with tires that could tip in, no drag exhaust bars so it could corner without scraping and low "dragger handle bars". It was simple, cut to the max and to the point. Anyway this got me thinking as to if there are any factory made sports cruisers, where you get the laid back riding, with the aggressive corner carving ability. The bike i saw was wicked hot....and i'm not one to deny that some cruisers just get the blood pumping, and it was cornering *you gotta love discovery channel aye*. Anyway, a lot of people have said cruisers can't corner...This can't be true lol.

Thanks for reading

ride safe

Drider

++
Hi Drider,
before venturing back into 4pot land, I rode big twins for 20+ years, XV1100, R100GS, Guzzi SP, Guzzi California 1100, VN1500C.
I disposed of the Cali coz 'er indooors' found it too hard suspension wise. Should have replaced her, which happened a few yrs later anyway.
There was an English bike Mag did a 'real' road test with a CB1000 and an injected Cali in the mid 90's. Road riding the CB couldnt outdo the Cali until the road was empty. If you want a sporty cruiser? Throw a leg over a Cali, they go well, stop well and go round corners. The biggest problems most have with Guzzi's is 1) the gearbox, it isnt a sweet little toe nudge to change gear, Guzzi's are SOLID, HEFTY motors, the gearbox is built the same. Requires a 'hooft'. 2) The linked braking system is the other oddity, the rear brake is the main brake, operates 1 front disk and the rear with a splitter valve. Honda did simliar years afterwards. Front brake lever operates the other front disc. Trust me the pulll up strong and straight squatting rather than diving onto the front wheel.

[GrayWolf]

But I like 'em all! Touriers, crusiers (Except the ones with y' legs stuck out like a woman giving birth. can't get used to that) , sprotsbikes, chookchasers, they're all good. Each in their own way.

Except of course, that nothing quite matches a two smoker. Which I guess is really the problem with crusiers. No two strokes.

Wrong Ixion............ Jawa/Cz did a chopper/cruiser version of the 350 twin 2T they produced........ So I believe did the Russian Jupiter 350 have a 'custom version'.