Do PHers like cruisers?
Discussion
They get a lot of stick for being slow, loud and for posers. I agree some Harleys with aftermarket exhausts rattling the whole towns foundations are a bit ridiculous, but I cant help but love their looks and sounds when done right. Might not be fast but are comfortable as anything on the motorway with a windshield.
Edit: I ride a Suzuki Intruder 800 (C800). Before that I had a VL800, before that a MINT Virago 535 (wish i kept it) and my first ever bike was a GZ125. Paid £600 for it and it got me through my Mod 1 and 2, never let me down. Im 26, so young to be riding cruisers but the power isnt going to kill me and i love the relaxed seating position.
Edit: I ride a Suzuki Intruder 800 (C800). Before that I had a VL800, before that a MINT Virago 535 (wish i kept it) and my first ever bike was a GZ125. Paid £600 for it and it got me through my Mod 1 and 2, never let me down. Im 26, so young to be riding cruisers but the power isnt going to kill me and i love the relaxed seating position.
Edited by EazyDuz on Wednesday 25th April 09:23
EazyDuz said:
They get a lot of stick for being slow, loud and for posers. I agree some Harleys with aftermarket exhausts rattling the whole towns foundations are a bit ridiculous, but I cant help but love their looks and sounds when done right. Might not be fast but are comfortable as anything on the motorway with a windshield.
The saying on this side of the pond is that loud pipes save life's. I followed a friend of mine on a 15 minute journey to get something to eat. He was on a Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 and i was in my car behind him, He almost got wiped out 3 times just on that journey. People just don't look.I was made to sell the Ninja and get a cruiser on my 60th birthday, by the wife, it does what it does very well but I'd have a sport bike back tomorrow. Just done 900 miles on it in 3 days and got a 600 mile ride home over the weekend, it does that sort of thing well, and is ok up to 85 mph with a screen, so it will keep up with Europe traffic, biggest issue is tank range.
There are a few cruiser owners on here, some people ride all different kinds of bikes - the older and longer you have been riding then you may need different bikes at different times of life for different purposes.
There are a few different variations of "cruisers" these days, with cruiser style bikes like Ducati Diavel, Triumph Rocket, Yamaha Vmax at one end of the spectrum and traditional aircooled big twin American bikes like Harley and Indian at the other.
You dont have to dress up like a fake outlaw bike gang member or gay pirate to ride a cruiser, there *are* others out there riding cruisers that dont
I have a couple of bikes at present, one of them is a Harley with feet forward riding position and cruiser style looks, although not aircooled. I have ridden a few big Harleys and Indians, mostly when on holiday touring abroad. I like them for what they are, just as I do all other bikes.
There are a few different variations of "cruisers" these days, with cruiser style bikes like Ducati Diavel, Triumph Rocket, Yamaha Vmax at one end of the spectrum and traditional aircooled big twin American bikes like Harley and Indian at the other.
You dont have to dress up like a fake outlaw bike gang member or gay pirate to ride a cruiser, there *are* others out there riding cruisers that dont
I have a couple of bikes at present, one of them is a Harley with feet forward riding position and cruiser style looks, although not aircooled. I have ridden a few big Harleys and Indians, mostly when on holiday touring abroad. I like them for what they are, just as I do all other bikes.
I have a Indian, a 700 Tracer and couple of classics. I love the Indian for its more relaxed riding style, comfortable for just cruising around with lots of torque. I dislike the whole "outlaw" thing that goes with cruisers esp dare I say a fair number of Harley riders.
I admire sportsbikes and enjoy watching a well ridden sports bike feck off into the distance but as I get older have no desire to ride like that anymore
I admire sportsbikes and enjoy watching a well ridden sports bike feck off into the distance but as I get older have no desire to ride like that anymore
I talked to a petrolhead owner of a tyre centre recently - he had a Victory Hammer S parked outside & said is was the most fun he's had in years of biking & better than an HD by a country mile. He reckoned it handled properly, had great brakes, decent chrome that didn't rot in the winter & loads of grunt.
I would consider something like this, maybe an Indian or Suzuki Intruder if I lived abroad, or as a second bike if I had the £££. For everyday riding in Blighty, I think they're a bit much.
As for fake tattoos, chaps, bandannas, ultra-high monkey-bars, tassels etc - no thanks, we're not in Texas!
I would consider something like this, maybe an Indian or Suzuki Intruder if I lived abroad, or as a second bike if I had the £££. For everyday riding in Blighty, I think they're a bit much.
As for fake tattoos, chaps, bandannas, ultra-high monkey-bars, tassels etc - no thanks, we're not in Texas!
I love the look of some of them but can't stand riding them, I have a real phobia about having my feet ahead of my knees, it affects me like nails on a chalkboard ..... makes me feel like I'm heading for impending doom feet first, can't explain it, riding without gloves has the same effect.
Enjoy seeing them about as variety in our hobby is key to its survival ...
Enjoy seeing them about as variety in our hobby is key to its survival ...
crofty1984 said:
The "lifestyle" b
ks annoys me but I don't mind Harley Davidson, just for me, for any given budget there's other bikes I'd rather spend it on. Might have an Ironhead one day.
I'm getting quite into some of this "lifestyle" biking thing, probably being due to my mate and the brands he is bringing in. It's all choppers, customs and stuff. Some of them are pretty trick, and I quite fancy one. My mid life crisis is going from sportsbikes to choppers. Weird.ks annoys me but I don't mind Harley Davidson, just for me, for any given budget there's other bikes I'd rather spend it on. Might have an Ironhead one day.I have never ridden a cruiser but I do keep looking at them with a bit more interest, as I get older…
For me it will be a simple test – the riding position will either feel comfortable or not.
Not keen on the “fully dressed” bikes and the associated lifestyle apparel, but some of the basic Harley Sportsters look OK.
The typical straight through pipes sound crap – too loud and harsh – not as nice as a booming V-twin (Ducati or TL1000).
If I do have one, like the OP it will probably be Japanese, though.
This I would like – Kawasaki Eliminator 900 with de-tuned GPZ motor and ‘cruiser style’
For me it will be a simple test – the riding position will either feel comfortable or not.
Not keen on the “fully dressed” bikes and the associated lifestyle apparel, but some of the basic Harley Sportsters look OK.
The typical straight through pipes sound crap – too loud and harsh – not as nice as a booming V-twin (Ducati or TL1000).
If I do have one, like the OP it will probably be Japanese, though.
This I would like – Kawasaki Eliminator 900 with de-tuned GPZ motor and ‘cruiser style’
crofty1984 said:
The "lifestyle" bks annoys me but I don't mind Harley Davidson, just for me, for any given budget there's other bikes I'd rather spend it on. Might have an Ironhead one day.
The lifestyle thing’s no different in any walk of biking though. Go to a classic meet and you’ll see people in pudding basin helmets, with Lewis jackets and white socks over boots. Go to a sports bike meeting and you’ll see people in Repsol leathers on Repsol bikes etc. ks annoys me but I don't mind Harley Davidson, just for me, for any given budget there's other bikes I'd rather spend it on. Might have an Ironhead one day.I’m with you though, cruisers are ok but there’s a lot of things would be in the garage before I bought one...
On my second Street Glide now. I can't enjoy road riding on a quick bike or even an adventure one, too much risk involved. On the old armchair I go slower, sit comfortably and go very long distances.
Horses for courses and all that. For weekend thrills a dirt bike can't be matched (for me).
The lifestyle thing is a bit embarrassing but each to their own. I don't wear assless chaps etc and I am not in the club scene (or worse, the Harley Owners Group).
I tried other bikes and this one is perfect for me. I did Newcastle to Milan in less than 36 hours and wasn't even tired. Works for me
Horses for courses and all that. For weekend thrills a dirt bike can't be matched (for me).
The lifestyle thing is a bit embarrassing but each to their own. I don't wear assless chaps etc and I am not in the club scene (or worse, the Harley Owners Group).
I tried other bikes and this one is perfect for me. I did Newcastle to Milan in less than 36 hours and wasn't even tired. Works for me
FocusRS3 said:
I've found a good 'half way house' is the z900RS i've jjst bought.
Straight down feet but with a relaxed riding position that encourages cruising too.
Would love to add a Harley Fatbob to the garage too however
I think a lot of the "retros" fit the bill very well, quite happy cruising, relaxed riding position, in most cases lighter and handle/go better than the traditional cruiserStraight down feet but with a relaxed riding position that encourages cruising too.
Would love to add a Harley Fatbob to the garage too however
I like the Fatbob too, first Harley I've been interested in for a while
My VRod in the Scottish Highlands on holiday last year...I have put 26k miles on it since 2012, it was a present to myself for getting fit post hip replacement, I find it very comfortable to ride. Very reliable, quick enough to be interesting (130bhp ish) and with a few mods,handles well enough to use all the tyre through the twisties
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