Cruised Auckland VT750

[Big Dave]

Did the mission bay thing on a VT750 this afternoon.

Very easy bike. I can operate the clutch with pinky finger only.
Good step up from a 250 for a confident handler or someone who just wants an easy to ride cruiser.

Honda have blinged 2 of them up with the full accessory kit and I believe the plan is we're going to put some pipes on them and some aftermarket goodies as well.

If it was a song:
Babylon - David Gray

Miserable place this Auckland - tellin' ya's

[vifferman]

What I don't get is why so many of the cruisers have to be HD clones? Why can't the manufacturers develop a different style? Suzuki (M109 etc) have to an extent, and it's great.
Is it because cruiser riders are scared to ride something that may not conform to what's acceptable, so wouldn't but something a little different? If a cruiser doesn't at first glance look like a Harley, is it derided as not being "the real deal"?

BTW - nice pix (as usual).

[Big Dave]

I think the simple answer is because it's a style that people like.

And there aren't that many permutations available anyway - maybe?

[Virago]

The main critisism I've heard about the VT750 is that, while it's great fun around town, it runs out of puff remarkably quickly on the open road. How did you find it, Dave?

[Gremlin]

At your size, you should be wafting around on the vtx1800...

[Hitcher]

Has Honda seen fit to add HORSEPOWER to this latest 750 cruiser, or are they still positioning it as a round-town cafe communter?

The last version was gutless, with a capital t.

[Big Dave]

At your size, you should be wafting around on the vtx1800...

:-) Small fry. I just picked up a Rocket III long term test bike.

FWIW The gig isn't about me. It's 'if i was interested in this bike - what would I like to know?'

The 'me' part is simply employing a good experience and comparison base.

The 750 is very comfortable for the larger chap too btw.

[Big Dave]

The main critisism I've heard about the VT750 is that, while it's great fun around town, it runs out of puff remarkably quickly on the open road. How did you find it, Dave?

Still pretty green - under 100km on the clock and it's losening up by the KM.
I think it would be OK, depends on what your expectations are.
It's a middleweight cruiser with a detuned 750.
I found it quite acceptable as that.

[Big Dave]

Hitch, It's the first one I've ridden. It compared OK with the Vulcan to me.

["D" FZ1]

The new Yamaha Raider is a nice looking cruiser.

[Hitcher]

The new Yamaha Raider is a nice looking cruiser.

Like many cruisers, it needs a belly pan. The damage that accrues over time from the front wheel throwing stones and shit back onto the frame and engine is horrendous -- particularly all of the rust that forms where the powdercoating gets lovingly flaked off.

Mrs H's first Marauder got a serious working over in its 30,000km life. But armed with that knowledge, we got Wellington Motorcycles to make a belly pan for her next one that went on first thing. Bloody brilliant it was too.

[SPman]

Rode a VT750 in the States - great around town, once used to the feet forward position - very easy to cut through traffic.
On the highway....about 90 mph (chasing Mstriumph on the Harley), it was just about all out of puff (as I clung grimly to the bars, feeling like Dick Darstardly chasing Muttly...)

[turtleman]

My VT750 is a good "compromise" cruiser, in my opinion. 25,000km in 15 months, of which about 80% is commuting. It's small enough for commuting, but big enough for 1-up trips between Auckland and Wellington. Runs outta puff on the hills a little - a lot when 2-up. It's a compromise I live with when I can only have (afford) 1 bike.

If commuting wasn't a requirement, I'd definitely have something with a bit more grunt (ie more cc's), though around town riding is fine.

[Big Dave]

90mph is still 10kph into the disqualification zone.

Good summary turtle.

[Big Dave]

The new Yamaha Raider is a nice looking cruiser.

What are the capacities D?