Sporty Cruisers...noob question?

[ital916]

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

[Hitcher]

So what's your "noob question"?

[ital916]

Are there any sporty cruisers, sounds stupid, kinda a paradox since sporty and cruiser don't really go together. The bobber i saw made me think though.

P.S no offense to cruiser riders, if my wording comes off wrong.

[Hitcher]

The genre of "sporty cruisers" is extensive. Not all "cruiser" type bikes are ape-hangered, gutless chrome draggers.

[spookytooth]

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

[smoky]

The genre of "sporty cruisers" is extensive. Not all "cruiser" type bikes are ape-hangered, gutless chrome draggers.

You just making a comment, or run out of time answering his question - or just couldn't think of one?

[SlashWylde]

Here's a couple from the Kawasaki stable. The Vulcan 1600 Mean Streak and the Vulcan 900 Custom, respectively.

[GSVR]

Here's a couple from the Kawasaki stable. The Vulcan 1600 Mean Streak and the Vulcan 900 Custom, respectively.

Definate parts draggers.

I'm interested in what people consider to be a cruiser. Is it a look or a bike that can get from a very long A to B in comfort?

[SlashWylde]

Also, the HD 2008 Sportster XL1200N

[SlashWylde]

Definate parts draggers.

I'm interested in what people consider to be a cruiser. Is it a look or a bike that can get from a very long A to B in comfort?

By design a cruiser is implicitly going to be a 'parts dragger', because the frame, pegs and exhaust are typically lower to the ground than for a sports bike, and the cornering clearances are less.

As a rough rule of thumb, I'd consider a cruiser to be any bike where your ankles sit further forward than your knees when your feet are on the pegs. Cruisers also typically have a more 'classic' look about them than other classes of bike.

One can get from A to B in comfort on a cruiser if it's designed for it, say a touring machine with a big soft seat and wind screen. However it it's a hard tail vintage cruiser your bum's gonna be sore after a while. Comfort over long distances doesn't define what a cruiser is.

[Ixion]

Definate parts draggers.

I'm interested in what people consider to be a cruiser. Is it a look or a bike that can get from a very long A to B in comfort?

That's a tourer, by definition. One of the defining characteristics of a crusier is a very small fuel tank, which rules them out for long A to B.

I reckon bikes like the GSX1400 , CB1300 , SV1000 should be deemed sports crusiers. And the Harley Sportsters and similar.

Crusisers is , IMHO, a bike designed for shortish trips, in a mode where speed per se , especially through corners, is not a major consideration. Characterised by small fuel range (cos they're designed for short trips), lowish ground clearance (cos cornerering isn't a major must have, and low weight makes for easy riding), comfortable seats, and some luggage capacity, though not as much as a tourer. Engines that don't produce large power , but are easy to ride (eg twist twist and go in top gear, don't have to gear change all the time )

[GSVR]

True crusiers a definately not my dream bike then.

You can't go far without running out of gas and can't enjoy the twistys which are probably out of the bikes range anyway.

[Edbear]

As has been pointed out, cruisers are by their design, not corner carvers. Some are better than others, but all will have much lower cornering limits than sports bikes or standards.

The so-called "muscle-cruisers" are fun, such as the M50, M109R, Mean Streak, etc. and are better than, say my C50T. However, cruising is a whole different ball game from sports bikes and having had experience with a "sports" bike, a "standard" and now the cruiser, I can say I prefer the C50T to any other bike I've ridden, but I'd still want an M109R in my garage as a hot rod, great fun!

It's all down to what makes you grin after a ride, and what you want a bike to do. On our last ride with my mate on his Bandit 1200S, both two-up, we had the easier time of it at the mostly legal speeds we were doing and the twisty nature of the roads meant lower average speeds. John couldn't use his 120hp and my 50 or so hp was ample for hills and overtaking and the ride position for me and the Missus was comfy and relaxed.

Just as long as you don't get a cruiser thinking you'll keep up with a sports bike around the Coro. Even a 250 will beat an M109R around there... However me and the Missus have been around the Coro on the C50T and enjoyed it immensly! Better to see the scenery!

[SlashWylde]

True crusiers a definately not my dream bike then.

You can't go far without running out of gas and can't enjoy the twistys which are probably out of the bikes range anyway.

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.

[ital916]

That's a tourer, by definition. One of the defining characteristics of a crusier is a very small fuel tank, which rules them out for long A to B.

I reckon bikes like the GSX1400 , CB1300 , SV1000 should be deemed sports crusiers. And the Harley Sportsters and similar.

Crusisers is , IMHO, a bike designed for shortish trips, in a mode where speed per se , especially through corners, is not a major consideration. Characterised by small fuel range (cos they're designed for short trips), lowish ground clearance (cos cornerering isn't a major must have, and low weight makes for easy riding), comfortable seats, and some luggage capacity, though not as much as a tourer. Engines that don't produce large power , but are easy to ride (eg twist twist and go in top gear, don't have to gear change all the time )

I see. I don't see why a cruiser can't be modified so the some of the parts don't drag lol Pegs i guess always will. Hmmm very interesting, i think i need to go test ride a cruiser now. lol Always keen for a new experience. When you say there are cruiser engines that don't produce much power but are easy to ride, does this mean lots of torque but no top end?? I totally though cruisers were for long distance too.