Sport VS Cruiser

Interesting thoughts. My Dad was a cruiser guy in the '80's, Virago x2, Maxim's, but his 750 Maxim X was a rocket and crazy fun to ride. He moved on and had many Gold Wings. A couple years ago he came by and told me he was getting nervous on his 1800 Gold Wing. We went to a local Honda dealer and he bought a Honda 750 Aero. Here's the thing. I had to ride to the Soo (Northern Ontario and my home town) from Toronto and bring his Wing back to Toronto to complete the deal, about a 500 mile trek. The next week I took his new 750 Aero 500 miles north to the Soo.
I don't get Gold Wings, please no one take offense. I have ridden all of his, 1100, 1200, 1500 and 1800 many miles. The 1800 was by far the best, but to be honest I always thought I may as well be in my Jeep as on this bike. Tunes cranked, no wind, roasting my arse off. Huge power though. On the other hand the ride north on the Aero was the most fun I ever had doing that trip, and I have done it on 8 different machines. As Kurt said, theres something to be said for just putt-putting along. It was the first time I didn't feel obligated to pass every jackass in a cage on the way up.
I don't know if I can have one, though. Its been 34 years on sport bikes, I'm not sure I can do it yet. Maybe when I'm older, who knows. But I had my little feet on those floor boards, no hand cramps, no stiff neck, no sore elbows. Jeez makes you think...

 

I've always had sporty bikes, but last year I got a deal on a well-kept 98 Magna. I've become fond of the old gal. She sounds mean, outruns any other cruiser, and corners tightly with a Pirelli SuperCorsa on the front and a Metzeler on the back. She's slow compared to the VFR or the GSXR, but fast enough to have fun shooting a corner in the right gear with peg feelers dragging, and sitting down low with your feet and arms spread, you feel like you're flying. Therz a place for both, and YMMV, etc....

 

I love when HD guys tell me they don't need to go fast or need much hp to ride...then they turn around and spend thousands of $$ on Screaming Eagle parts squeeze out some more power.

There will always be one jackass that buys every Screamig Eagle part then does a dyno run on the VERY generous dyno at the HD dealership. Then declares his modern antique is now a "Jap bike killer." My all stock CBR600RR (all 36 cubic inches of it) has left a few "Jap bike killers" in the dust.

 

Ducati Diavel. That is all

 

Very few HDs are fast...and the owners know it. The Screaming Eagle parts are mostly for prestige and sound. I hang with both groups, and never once heard them say they have a jap bike killer. That's funny.
Sometimes I get my thrills driving my 530 hp '14 Mustang that is set up for the track, and other times just like to cruise in my bone stock 67 stang. Variety is the spice of life they say...
Troy

 

I've seen a few at dealers, but still never actually seen one of these on the road. I don't think I'd want to own one, but I'd do a demo ride.

 

Kinda hard to call a Diavel a cruiser. It is pretty much sit upright and the foot position is a bit awkwardly forward, but watch this vid of one passing sport bikes on the track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg3vn2boVXA

Its fast as hell and it leans very well.

Not my cup of tea, but still, this aint your grandpa's cruiser!

 

:congratulatory:

Sportbike/VFR is what is in my garage and will stay. If physical limitations occur later in life I'll move the VFR into a ST/Wing or something. I don't think I'll ever own a cruiser. I need power, brakes, and handling to ride on the road. Overweight and underpowered = a no go. I'd rather ride a tricycle.

 

I was having the same issue so I bought an ST1300
I now have two bikes and the best of both world
one that is fun to ride fast and one that is fun to ride not as fast with room for the wifey

 

When I was in my middle 40"s I bought a '92 Gold Wing because I thought it would be nicer to tour on than what I've put to the use before. In a way it was, but it handled very poorly, had no real power, and just left me feeling "Bleah". So it went away when I was in my 50's and I bought the VFR and I've never looked back.

 

So true, especially if my GF wants to ride and I try to go slow, but it just never feels to her like her 125cc Vespa... layful: