Entry level cruiser equipment - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

Oaf · 06-22-2006, 08:56 PM

Something I've been wondering for a while... why are 600-800cc cruisers so poorly equipped technology-wise? When I started this spring looking for a bike I was initially drawn to cruisers e.g. V-Star 650, M50. I was put off by Honda's bike because I prefer a single shock suspension. I used to ride dirt bikes back in the early 80's and I remember that as I was getting out of riding, that the newer bikes were being equipped with disc brakes and single shock rear suspensions. So, I was appalled to see so-called modern cruisers had in 2006, were still using old style suspensions and drum brakes.

At first I thought it was purely about keeping costs down but then I started to look at sport bikes and found them to be much better equipped for the same or even lower price. A sport bike without disc brakes and modern suspension are more of less unheard of. Fuel injection is still hit and miss but more and more common. Sports also have better instruments and even, gasp, fuel guages. So, what gives? Is it a cost issue or is it just adherence to a stuck in time mentality that a cruiser should be basic for sake of basic?

Now, I haven't looked at larger cruisers so the story might be different there but I still wonder when you can look at what appears to be similar machinery side by side and see such a discrepancy in equipment.