Cruiser vs. Sport bike

[Clint]

Jim, I've read twice now that you have a Bandit, yet your profile shows a Savage. What Bandit did you get?

[jbrough7]

Sorry about that Rowdy, but I first joined a while ago when I had my Savage and then two months ago picked up a 2006 650S. I'll post a pic. I have to change my profile and went in to do that but I have ADHD or something and got waylaid.

My Bandit is bright red and I love it! I go from 31 hp. to 78 in one fell swoop and the handling goes from archaic to pretty darn good.

It's not a real sports machine but is comfortable enough for an old guy like me. 4500 clicks in two months and I have a big trip planned in a month to Texas and CO.

What you riding?

Take care.

Jim

PS - I can get in and lLOOK at my profile but I can't seem to figure out how to CHANGE my profile!

[Clint]

Originally Posted by jbrough7

What you riding?

Take care.

Jim

PS - I can get in and lLOOK at my profile but I can't seem to figure out how to CHANGE my profile!

I'm riding the silver machine in my signature (click it for more). You might be referring to your signature and not your profile. Use the 'edit signature' link in the CP.

[jbrough7]

RowdyRed: Thanks for the clarification . You have a nice looking bike! I was just out for a long run in my truck and I rode alongside a guy on the exact same bandit! I waved at him but he musta just thought I was weird, being in a F-150 and all.

[bikernoj]

touring bikes are nice
you sit upright like a cruser almost, it insures like a cruser, rides like a sportbike almost, corners like a sportbike, and they dont have to have full fairings or saddel bags

My '06 ZZR600 is identical in almost every way to the top-dawg ZX-6R from 2002, but they put a 599cc motor in it, took away the FI, and called it a "sport tourer." The insurance is cheaper, and the bike was $2000 less than the "cool" 636 crotch rocket.

[92Notch]

I think my next bike will be a FJR1300. I like the 6.6 gallon gas tank, and the fact it'll do mad wheelies. ... I'll get one when the c-50 is paid for... I do not plan to get rid of the c-50.

[CManT1914]

Originally Posted by 92Notch

I think my next bike will be a FJR1300. I like the 6.6 gallon gas tank, and the fact it'll do mad wheelies. ... I'll get one when the c-50 is paid for... I do not plan to get rid of the c-50.

6.6 GALLONS?! That's cool. The only complaint I have about the Gixxer is the tank is too small. I wish I could go 180-200 miles like I could on the 250.

[Gabe]

Originally Posted by RowdyRed94

All I can say is that about ten times the number of riders go from cruisers to sportbikes as vice versa.

I would have to strongly disagree with you. I am 26 and have alot of friends that are between 25 and 35. Many have gotten rid of their sport bike and picked up a cruiser. Alot do it for the reason I did. I am married and really enjoy riding with the wife. My previous bike was a 98 nighthawk 750, although the hawk was comfortable to a point, my m50 rides so much better with a passenger. It sits lower so you have less wind and is alot smoother. You get two things with a sport bike, speed and apperance. My m50 can do over 100, why would you need to go faster? As far as looks, both have their positives.

[Clint]

I was referring to forum data, including polls.

[JAX_MIKE]

i really want to ride a sport bike. i hate that the stores wont let you test drive one. everyone i know has cruisers. i love my m50 but i think a sport bike would be so much fun! of course, i would probably also get myself in trouble or killed.....thus the reason i bought a "sporty cruiser" rather than an actual sport bike.

[keith_mahoney]

Originally Posted by Gabe

I would have to strongly disagree with you. I am 26 and have alot of friends that are between 25 and 35. Many have gotten rid of their sport bike and picked up a cruiser. Alot do it for the reason I did. I am married and really enjoy riding with the wife. My previous bike was a 98 nighthawk 750, although the hawk was comfortable to a point, my m50 rides so much better with a passenger. It sits lower so you have less wind and is alot smoother. You get two things with a sport bike, speed and apperance. My m50 can do over 100, why would you need to go faster? As far as looks, both have their positives.

I am with you. I went from CBR to M50 and won't look back. I did my first 2 up riding today on the M and couldn't believe how well it rides like that.

[Clint]

I just realized that Gabe rode a CB750. I owned one. It's NOT a sportbike.

[mike-s]

I've had a cruiser (kawasaki ltd450) and a couple of sportsbikes (gpx750f1 (zx750f1) ) and a suzuki RF900. Each bike style is its own animal and is dependant on what you want.

A cruiser is, well, as you know. Your weight is on your back and you grip with the knee's a bit due to the forward-ish placement of the feet. Steering is a bit tip-in ish, but relatively upright still and the bike balance is relatively low.

My GPX was a lot taller in the saddle (about 10cm/3inch+) and the balance was initially a bit higher in comparison, but once i got used to it, it was rather neutral. the seating was a bit weird at first with the pegs as i'd had the LTD for about 18 months or so. It took a lot of getting used to the bike tipping in on the cornering substantially more. It's still a pretty neutral upright riding position and nowhere near racerish, gripping with your thigh's and keeping yourself upright with your stomach, etc..

Now i got my RF about a month and a half ago, and got myself caught by the cops on it on Saturday. This bike has all of the positives of the gpx, but none of the handling negatives, power wise it takes a hell of a lot to get used to it, the effort i would previously be using to do 110 on the gpx has me doing 140+ on the rf, which is a bit of a bad thing, and a partial influence on my getting nabbed. The riding position is pretty much similar to the gpx, but its a bit more forward.

Needless to say once i get off the suspension i'm going to be getting myself booked on a few lessons at superbike school and some trackdays to get the bug out and to help me exercise some self restraint.

Two and a bit years later im still playing catch up on the different handling style from the cruiser i had for a while. I'll have a lot of time to think about my attitude while im walking.

But to be honest i regret this bike a little bit, but im glad for the most part i got it. and as others say, each to their own, sing your own song, just hum a few bars to figure out what suits you.

if i was to get a commuter, a gs500 or a er5/er6 would suit me fantastically.

[S83]

There are cruisers, tourers, sport bikes (tend to lean towards what some would call a standard or naked) and there are Super Sports (replica racers). And of course various attempted hybrids of each class.

I've always had sport bikes. Decided to give the cruiser thing a try and see what it was all about when I got the Boulevard S83. Have spent a bit of saddle time on a C90 and VStar also. Couldn't get over the lack of handling and limited performance. Went back to sport bikes. My wife and daughter has found the 3 cruisers above to be less comfortable than any of my other bikes I've had. Cruisers get me in the lower back, super sports get me in the wrists and shoulders. Sport bikes (sport tourers) are just right for me.

[Clint]

So do we need to change your username?

[texrider]

Not so scientific, but I've noticed a large crop of used sportbikes with obvious body damage at the local shops. Same shops seem to be sold out of many popular cruisers and standards...

[dcstrng]

I've noticed a large crop of used sportbikes with obvious body damage at the local shops...

I think comparing cruisers and sport-bikes is a lot like comparing apples and oranges, or more like comparing apples and avocados... the mission, technology, ergonomics, styling and style of riding requires are so different, it is hard to figure out where to begin... But I think one of the main reasons we see a fair number of slightly damaged sport bikes is because all that Tupperware doesn’t survive being one with the asphalt without something getting tweaked... the cruisers’ crash-bars actually do a fair job of taking the brunt of a fairly awkward fall...

Not sure if sport-bikes go down more often, I doubt it given their more nimble handling and better brakes, but insurance companies seem to think so – or at least they want us to think they think so... Over the years I’ve had a few get offs on my cruisers (baggers, dressers... whatever) and to date the total bill has been one front fender, one spot light and the top of a two-piece windshield (this is after something like four decades and including putting a cruiser – wasn’t called that, then – straight through the front window/bricks of a store, and various other get-offs at modest speed). At least up to a point cruisers seem to handle get-offs with less observable damage than standards or sport-bikes... but I don’t think that reflects much on the bike versus bike question... the apparent counter question would be, would the sport-bike have avoided the get-off altogether, given its superior tires, brakes, suspension, whatever...

[S83]

Originally Posted by RowdyRed94

So do we need to change your username?

It has another meaning to me. Good to go. But thanks for the offer.

[RF900Flyer]

I rode a Yam Seca2 from '97-dec 2000. I read that the RF was good machine
for the money and the Seca strained carrying to ppl.@ 80. I bought my RF w/7500 mi.,yoshi pipe,tank bra, and a jet kit as I found out ,later. I pretty much took it easy on the throttle for the most part although I did hit 140 going to Sarasota,Fl.. It is a very comfortable bike for it's not as low as the GSXR types and still has good power. It'll do 90 @ 6k RPM and I made a back tyre last almost 12k mi.So you know I'm not pushing it.My longest ride was 300 miles and the only thing bothering me was my can and a some of my lower back. Doing a 100 becomes like walking......until you see troopers.
I've always wanted a Harley but couldnt justify the car payment,lack of power,chrome maintenance,risk of theft,etc.. I almost bought one , 0 down ,$1000 off if I bought it "now" deal ,a 2005 model in Feb '06.I was on a layoff and just didn't want the bills also,later I got rehired to a high dollar job. The foreman had the hots for an ex-cop bike HD w/4k miles and was offering me his old Victory Sport Cruiser for a steadily decling price until I waited him out to $5 k. The SC came w/ an aftermarket pipe,chip, saddle bags,seat and shield and only had 4k miles. It'll move very nicely and I've been riding it till I get the RF case welded where a thrown chain sheared off the "bolt holes" in 2 critical spots for the clutch pump/plate. A guy on my job says I should get a Moto Guzzi...."the real thing". So for $11g I can be cool or go fast.

[intimid8er]

Originally Posted by RF900Flyer

I rode a Yam Seca2 from '97-dec 2000. I read that the RF was good machine
for the money and the Seca strained carrying to ppl.@ 80. I bought my RF w/7500 mi.,yoshi pipe,tank bra, and a jet kit as I found out ,later. I pretty much took it easy on the throttle for the most part although I did hit 140 going to Sarasota,Fl.. It is a very comfortable bike for it's not as low as the GSXR types and still has good power. It'll do 90 @ 6k RPM and I made a back tyre last almost 12k mi.So you know I'm not pushing it.My longest ride was 300 miles and the only thing bothering me was my can and a some of my lower back. Doing a 100 becomes like walking......until you see troopers.
I've always wanted a Harley but couldnt justify the car payment,lack of power,chrome maintenance,risk of theft,etc.. I almost bought one , 0 down ,$1000 off if I bought it "now" deal ,a 2005 model in Feb '06.I was on a layoff and just didn't want the bills also,later I got rehired to a high dollar job. The foreman had the hots for an ex-cop bike HD w/4k miles and was offering me his old Victory Sport Cruiser for a steadily decling price until I waited him out to $5 k. The SC came w/ an aftermarket pipe,chip, saddle bags,seat and shield and only had 4k miles. It'll move very nicely and I've been riding it till I get the RF case welded where a thrown chain sheared off the "bolt holes" in 2 critical spots for the clutch pump/plate. A guy on my job says I should get a Moto Guzzi...."the real thing". So for $11g I can be cool or go fast.

If you live in Florida and want to get rid of the Victory....shoot me a line...