Low powered big bikes.

[Ixion]

"Great engines move slowly, and are not so soon put out of frame"

(Bacon, I think, though the reference to the loom seems to indicate a later period)

[onearmedbandit]

You're looking for obvious ones. Mods on cruisers are internal to the engine. Borring it out, removing the baffles (as Slash has done to his) Still apears stock but open the throttle.....

You know what to look for on a sportsbike cause that's what you ride. I don't know what to look for to indicate mods on a sportsbike because that's not what I ride.

An engine is an engine at the end of the day though, and being an efficient pump is what it all boils down to, so while the application of the mod's may be different the outcome is the same. How many cruiser riders would bore out a good std engine? Removing the baffles, not being smart but that's hardly a mod that warrants an understressed engine.

You can't see the mod's done to a sportsbike engine, like ignition timing, cam work, skimmed heads, ported and polished intakes, power commander, etc, save for an aftermarket system. I would've thought more sportsbikes would see this kind of work then most Japanese cruisers (which is what RM is refering to in several posts) would, and these mod's would place a lot more stress on the std engines components (conrods, valve train, etc) then a big bore kit and opened pipes.

I'm not trying to cause an argument here. I grew up watching my brother put S&S carbs, Screaming Eagle Cams, open slash cut pipes, etc onto his HD's over the years and I know how well they accelerate.

[Waylander]

An engine is an engine at the end of the day though, and being an efficient pump is what it all boils down to, so while the application of the mod's may be different the outcome is the same. How many cruiser riders would bore out a good std engine? Removing the baffles, not being smart but that's hardly a mod that warrants an understressed engine.

You can't see the mod's done to a sportsbike engine, like ignition timing, cam work, skimmed heads, ported and polished intakes, power commander, etc, save for an aftermarket system. I would've thought more sportsbikes would see this kind of work then most Japanese cruisers (which is what RM is refering to in several posts) would, and these mod's would place a lot more stress on the std engines components (conrods, valve train, etc) then a big bore kit and opened pipes.

I'm not trying to cause an argument here. I grew up watching my brother put S&S carbs, Screaming Eagle Cams, open slash cut pipes, etc onto his HD's over the years and I know how well they accelerate.

Someone who has actually modded a cruiser would be a better person to talk to than me. I've only dreamed about it mate.

Though plans in the works for the Vmax.

[Virago]

......As for low power, cruisers are all about cruisin', (funny dat!), and style. Manufacturer's design and tune their engines according to the target market, and a low revving torquey motor has a charm of its own in its particular application. I love getting my bike "on cam" and feeling the power, but also like the lazy, easy cruise of a v-twin depending on my mood and the type of riding I want to do at the time.

Well said!

This man's answered your questions for you RM. If you want power and high speed, stick to the sprotbikes. If you want to cruise, then get a crusier....

[SlashWylde]

Well as my next bike, I like all bikes and don't piss on any of them (except rg150s...... )

Whats the top speed the 800 vulcan can go? I heard it can only really get up to about 130km/hr? Which seems a big waste of 700cc if it can get there (a gn250 can get up to that cant it?)...

Ohh fuck no. I've had my VN800 up to $180.00 when it was still as from the factory. Only reason I buttoned off was cause I was running out of road.

Anyway, outright speed is not what a cruiser is about. The VN produces the same amount of torque as the CBR600RR but at about half the revs. She accellerates quick for a cruiser and will out perform ohter cruisers up to the 1200cc mark in the straights and through corners.

[Waylander]

She accellerates quick for a cruiser and will out perform ohter cruisers up to the 1200cc mark in the straights and through corners.

lol

[SlashWylde]

i'll guess i'll just have to test ride some of the basterds and see how I get on.

Would the mid size(800ish) be sweet for the commute?

Definately, use her every day for commuting.

For the sake of it, go to the AMPS open day and check out the HD 883 Sportster as a basis for comparison against the metric cruisers. Also read these reviews:

http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/roa...ke_comparison/

http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/roa...ter/index.html

[vs04]

The Vn2000 is not air cooled. Infact I think only Yamaha and harley still have air cooled cruisers.

The 1400 intruder is oil air cooled, same with the s83 boulevard,same bike different name.

[Scouse]

Not really crusiers are they.

I was thinking of getting one (sick of sportsbike riders trying to be the fastest thing since rossi....) but it seems to me to be a big waste I mean the kawa vn2000 only gets 100hp? 2L and 100hp? I was thinking there must be a reason why its so small?

No but they are still large capacity v twins and your question vas why cant you get more power out of a large capacity v twin

[MSTRS:Me]

Different engine designs for different applications. Plenty of high HP V-twins out there, but aimed at the sportsbike market. Cruisers have low-revving 'lazy' engines with tons of torque. Check out the redline revs to compare.

[Bonez]

Don't get me wrong, I don't WANT more power, im just wondering why so much CC and little hp? Surely the factory must be able to pump out more than 0.05hp per CC... arnt big power cruisers in fashion or what not? Its always baffled me why they have no power....

Your query has been answered a number of times. They go as fast as riders are happy to CRUISE at. Yes they are popular. I've seen more on the road lately around our area than sprotbikes. Not everyone wants a godzillion HP at a godzillion revs and are quite happy to, I dear say repeat myself, CRUISE.

[skidz]

The way I see it is if you want to cruise, buy a V Twin cruiser. If you want to go fast and have to do a runner from the law, have a sprotbike. Simple as that. Everyone to thier own.

[Troll]

You can't see the mod's done to a sportsbike engine, like ignition timing, cam work, skimmed heads, ported and polished intakes, power commander, etc, save for an aftermarket system. I would've thought more sportsbikes would see this kind of work then most Japanese cruisers (which is what RM is refering to in several posts) would, and these mod's would place a lot more stress on the std engines components (conrods, valve train, etc) then a big bore kit and opened pipes.

.

No and most evo riders couldn't see the ported, polished skimed & twin plugged heads on my shovel, the mild camshaft, the mikuni carb, the single fire ignition, the s&s flwheels or the delcron cases

What they usually saw whene ever they tried to take me on at the lights was the tailight

from my experience people play with harleys more so than most bikes because it is so easy to get a 20% increase in power with no downside in either ridability or reliability

[onearmedbandit]

No and most evo riders couldn't see the ported, polished skimed & twin plugged heads on my shovel, the mild camshaft, the mikuni carb, the single fire ignition, the s&s flwheels or the delcron cases

What they usually saw whene ever they tried to take me on at the lights was the tailight

from my experience people play with harleys more so than most bikes because it is so easy to get a 20% increase in power with no downside in either ridability or reliability

Hence why I clarified my statement with the word 'Japanese', I'd agree that the most modd'ed bikes would be HD's.

[Gremlin]

From my own experience riding a 650cc yamaha thing while my bike was in service... get an 800 or something at least... from what slash says, it goes well...

Racing a bus down the motorway to get into another lane before it was an offramp was not a highlight of my week, nor was almost sending it down the road twice (it stepped out on me so far the second time, it was starting to lean right over) cornering was.... pathetic... when I told the guys about the headshake through a corner, they told me it was normal, and called wallowing. Whatever it was, I didn't like it

But different strokes for different folks, and that was definitely not me, although the amount of sound it made was great for amusing others (ok, mostly myself) it just didn't work for me. I like the responsiveness of a nice sprotty.

On the other hand, it rolled off the line really easily (compared to my carbs) and torque was always there, so more ridable when cruising.