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"i" before "e" except after "c"
Power Cruiser Preview
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155 Posts
"Cruisers, cruisers, and more cruisers." Okay, good. Mind telling us which ones are involved, maybe?
Hardly a "fad"...
...more likely a "trend". This "power cruiser" segment is a marketing maven's nirvana... it can be crafted to appeal to a broad and yet diverse demographic. It suggests competitive performance and enhanced testosterone experiences - just watch how the advertising evolves. It's not a "bad thing... just slightly wicked" is a likely theme. It appeals to many, offends some, and surely undermines social decorum and conscience... beware the weekend road warrior. Poseur bait? Perhaps, but generally harmless... in fact, who cares?
If it gets more people on two wheels, it's a good thing. If it means the motorcycling experience will have its fun factor enhanced - outstanding! It matters not if riders bear allegiance to the Squid Squadron, the Touring Horde, the Dirt Brigade, or the Milwaukee Mistique... MORE POWER & PERFORMANCE to ALL!!
May our dreams outgrow our reach, and our skills match our rides - whatever they may be at that moment... just ride safe & savor life!
...more likely a "trend". This "power cruiser" segment is a marketing maven's nirvana... it can be crafted to appeal to a broad and yet diverse demographic. It suggests competitive performance and enhanced testosterone experiences - just watch how the advertising evolves. It's not a "bad thing... just slightly wicked" is a likely theme. It appeals to many, offends some, and surely undermines social decorum and conscience... beware the weekend road warrior. Poseur bait? Perhaps, but generally harmless... in fact, who cares?
If it gets more people on two wheels, it's a good thing. If it means the motorcycling experience will have its fun factor enhanced - outstanding! It matters not if riders bear allegiance to the Squid Squadron, the Touring Horde, the Dirt Brigade, or the Milwaukee Mistique... MORE POWER & PERFORMANCE to ALL!!
May our dreams outgrow our reach, and our skills match our rides - whatever they may be at that moment... just ride safe & savor life!
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105 Posts
Re: Hardly a "fad"...
I don't mind if motorcycle mfgs. make cruisers out the wazoo as long as they keep making other bikes out the wazoo too. I just hope that the expansion of the cruiser market doesn't lead to the demise of real performance bikes.
I don't mind if motorcycle mfgs. make cruisers out the wazoo as long as they keep making other bikes out the wazoo too. I just hope that the expansion of the cruiser market doesn't lead to the demise of real performance bikes.
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1 Posts
and words that say "A", like neighbor and weigh, and, uh, the name Keith
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Wow a hardly-davidson that'l smoke the rear wheel, a honda with a 40 pound crankshaft ( and proud of it! ) , and a yamaha with a two into one pipe. It's a revolution I tell ya. Why would you worry about adding horsepower to a 650 pound bike. Put $20,000 in performace mods and it's still slow. Cruisers are for women. Either a woman riding it or a some guy looking to impress the girls with loud noises and bright shiny objects. Not a bad thing, just the nature of some people I guess. We should just admit it to ourselves, and stop putting performance and cruiser in the same sentence.
bwhahahaha.......Sport bikes forever!
p.s. Please don't get me started about those naked bikes.
bwhahahaha.......Sport bikes forever!
p.s. Please don't get me started about those naked bikes.
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214 Posts
I look at this site nearly every day, and every time, it's for the same reason, to find out what's new and what's next. Every time I read about a new bike, I sit and think what it would be like to own and ride it.
Except for sport bikes. I feel kind of guilty about this, because I know I would love the laser-like handling, the brick-wall brakes, and the warp-speed power. But every time I look at the latest ZX-GixxeR-1 RR, I say to myself, "Damn, that looks uncomfortable." I know I could never justify spending that much money on a bike that had so little real-world practicality. Worse still, there is very little you can do to a sportbike to make it into a practical daily driver.
Power cruisers, on the other hand, are a step in the right direction. Take a practical bike -- one that doesn't fold you up like a monkey humping a watermelon -- and make it perform.
And I'll bet that if you got 2 guys, gave one a Gixxer 1000 and the other a VTX with a Corbin dual-tour seat and a windscreen, and had them race from L.A. to San Diego via Portland, Maine, the guy on the VTX would win.
Except for sport bikes. I feel kind of guilty about this, because I know I would love the laser-like handling, the brick-wall brakes, and the warp-speed power. But every time I look at the latest ZX-GixxeR-1 RR, I say to myself, "Damn, that looks uncomfortable." I know I could never justify spending that much money on a bike that had so little real-world practicality. Worse still, there is very little you can do to a sportbike to make it into a practical daily driver.
Power cruisers, on the other hand, are a step in the right direction. Take a practical bike -- one that doesn't fold you up like a monkey humping a watermelon -- and make it perform.
And I'll bet that if you got 2 guys, gave one a Gixxer 1000 and the other a VTX with a Corbin dual-tour seat and a windscreen, and had them race from L.A. to San Diego via Portland, Maine, the guy on the VTX would win.
So buy a VFR and get a comfortable ride that has eye-flattening power, brick wall brakes, scalpel sharp handling, reliability and low maintenance costs. I'd beat both the guys you mentioned, and according to the NHTSA, I'd be less likely to get into an accident!
luvmyvfr
luvmyvfr
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33 Posts
Re: Hardly a "fad"...
You make a good point; my eyes are now opened! I've always wondered why anyone would want to ride a "cruiser". Just because I started out at a young age on little dirt bikes, rode many years and miles, suffered lots of falls and minor damage prior to migrating to the asphalt, I always thought "thats the way you're supposed to learn to ride bikes". But you know what?, at age 50, riding a dirt bike has as much appeal to me now as doing some of the other hare-brained stuff as did as a younger man.
If people want to ride cruisers, or learn to ride motorcycles using a cruiser as their entrance to the sport...great. I expect some will stay with cruisers and some may morph to sport/sport-touring/touring bikes. Overall the sport will have more political clout and better informed cagers when more drivers experience riding. Thanks.
You make a good point; my eyes are now opened! I've always wondered why anyone would want to ride a "cruiser". Just because I started out at a young age on little dirt bikes, rode many years and miles, suffered lots of falls and minor damage prior to migrating to the asphalt, I always thought "thats the way you're supposed to learn to ride bikes". But you know what?, at age 50, riding a dirt bike has as much appeal to me now as doing some of the other hare-brained stuff as did as a younger man.
If people want to ride cruisers, or learn to ride motorcycles using a cruiser as their entrance to the sport...great. I expect some will stay with cruisers and some may morph to sport/sport-touring/touring bikes. Overall the sport will have more political clout and better informed cagers when more drivers experience riding. Thanks.
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48 Posts
Re: VFR
While I can't dispute the ride and reliability quality of the VFR, I'm not sure I agree about:
Eye-flattening power - mmm, no. Perhaps if you just came off an EX500 or the like, but the VFR's motor is not as powerful as it could be, given the displacement. There are ways to fix this, but not many, and they're expensive.
Brick wall brakes - Can't comment on 98-01's because I only rode one down the block, but the brakes on my '96 suck. Badly. A fork swap and set of PFM 6-piston calipers and rotors from a VTR1000F is my next mod, if I keep the bike that long.
Scalpel-sharp handling - Perhaps, if the rear ride height is raised about an inch, and you don't use Dunlop tires. A set of Azaro II's and shimming the rear shock help out immensely here.
Just venting..I'm stuck at work and bored as all hell
-a_nominal_squid-
While I can't dispute the ride and reliability quality of the VFR, I'm not sure I agree about:
Eye-flattening power - mmm, no. Perhaps if you just came off an EX500 or the like, but the VFR's motor is not as powerful as it could be, given the displacement. There are ways to fix this, but not many, and they're expensive.
Brick wall brakes - Can't comment on 98-01's because I only rode one down the block, but the brakes on my '96 suck. Badly. A fork swap and set of PFM 6-piston calipers and rotors from a VTR1000F is my next mod, if I keep the bike that long.
Scalpel-sharp handling - Perhaps, if the rear ride height is raised about an inch, and you don't use Dunlop tires. A set of Azaro II's and shimming the rear shock help out immensely here.
Just venting..I'm stuck at work and bored as all hell
-a_nominal_squid-
Considering the unbelievable power (!) of the Mean Streak, why not including the Magna which is a couple of tons lighter? Because @ $7500 can't be considered as a cruiser? And how about throwing in a nice Indian!?!? Those babies aren't any heavier than a Kaw or a V-Rod (by the way, you can find a $18000 Scout @ $14,500, go compare with a Mean Streak!) and give 80 ponies in stock version. Also, isn't a Fat Boy or a Dyna Super Sport more "power cruiser" than those big underpowered Kawasaki or Yamaha things (of course, I'm not talking about the V-Max)?
By the way, I have nothing against Kawasaki, in fact I ride a Vulcan 500, and I have a whole lotta fun on it (I even go for the long haul!).
Peace.
By the way, I have nothing against Kawasaki, in fact I ride a Vulcan 500, and I have a whole lotta fun on it (I even go for the long haul!).
Peace.
I kinda like sport bikes, I may even think about getting one... OK, I would probably go for a naked bike and yes, I like plain black or dark gray or whateveritis on that new Honda. The problem with "pure" supersport bikes, IMHO, is that you cannot really appreciate them unless you go to the track. If you do, it's REALLY OK. If you don't, you have something that gives you lots of HP at revs you don't normally reach, on the street, unless you reach them and then you have to push hard your brakes before ending up in jail, in plain words lots of unused power! Kinda like having a Ferrari and using it on the street with 60mph speed limit.
I'll tell you what: I've been here for 4 years, I'm Italian, and if I were in Italy I would consider buying something like the naked Honda 900 or the naked Kawasaki, but I would have a serious reason: the chance to go @ 140-150 on the highway with very little chance to go to jail (OK, and a very serious one to get killed, but that's another story.
My feeling, though, is that lots of sport bikes owners are not less posers than lots of H-D owners. The only difference, it seems to me, is seeing them in front of the Varsity rather than the Roadhouse Bar, here in Athens, GA.
Please, let me know what you think about the whole story. In any case, have fun whatever you're riding, even if an electric bike.
Peace.
I'll tell you what: I've been here for 4 years, I'm Italian, and if I were in Italy I would consider buying something like the naked Honda 900 or the naked Kawasaki, but I would have a serious reason: the chance to go @ 140-150 on the highway with very little chance to go to jail (OK, and a very serious one to get killed, but that's another story.
My feeling, though, is that lots of sport bikes owners are not less posers than lots of H-D owners. The only difference, it seems to me, is seeing them in front of the Varsity rather than the Roadhouse Bar, here in Athens, GA.
Please, let me know what you think about the whole story. In any case, have fun whatever you're riding, even if an electric bike.
Peace.
Re: Hardly a "fad"...
I have wanted to trade my ST1100 for a Cruiser for several years now but have been held back by a long list of cruisers that featured lousy brakes and marginal handling (and I tried about 13 different ones - some several times). Every one had faults, some of them major, and I was just not satisfied (with the exception of the Duece which had a wonderful feel that I loved but could not afford).
I recently bought a Kawasaki Mean Streak. (yes I tried the VTX several times). The Mean Streak is an absolute hoot to drive! The brakes, handling and sound are fantastic. Power is good, and can be easily upped with a Thunder air kit and pipes. Frankly the bike makes many of the cruisers I tried look like the manufacturer was producing the minimum he thought he could get away with so profit could be maximised.
In my opinion the power cruiser trend is nothing more or less than a recognition of the fact the riders want bikes that are fun to ride. The new power cruiser trend should have been here many years ago. It is not a fad. It is the way bikes are supposed to be in the first place.
I have wanted to trade my ST1100 for a Cruiser for several years now but have been held back by a long list of cruisers that featured lousy brakes and marginal handling (and I tried about 13 different ones - some several times). Every one had faults, some of them major, and I was just not satisfied (with the exception of the Duece which had a wonderful feel that I loved but could not afford).
I recently bought a Kawasaki Mean Streak. (yes I tried the VTX several times). The Mean Streak is an absolute hoot to drive! The brakes, handling and sound are fantastic. Power is good, and can be easily upped with a Thunder air kit and pipes. Frankly the bike makes many of the cruisers I tried look like the manufacturer was producing the minimum he thought he could get away with so profit could be maximised.
In my opinion the power cruiser trend is nothing more or less than a recognition of the fact the riders want bikes that are fun to ride. The new power cruiser trend should have been here many years ago. It is not a fad. It is the way bikes are supposed to be in the first place.
Might as well throw in a 2002 Victory as well. Rode one down at Biketoberfest this past week. I'm not a Cruiser rider, but I have to admit, I liked this thing. Not enough cornering clearance (bounced my foot right off the right floorboard in one sharp right-hander) but it definitely has the power and torque to run with the Mean Streak. Probably more...
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193 Posts
Naked bikes are the ONLY bikes for non-posers...
What's the difference in a chrome monument cruiser and a sportbike all clad in flashy plastic that has little function except at speeds that require a suicdal fixation to even think about on public streets? Except for those few who get their money's worth out of them at closed tracks, sportbike riders are just as much posers as the cruiser set. A real motorcyclist rides a naked bike and only hangs crap on it when that becomes necessary due to weather and/or distance.
What's the difference in a chrome monument cruiser and a sportbike all clad in flashy plastic that has little function except at speeds that require a suicdal fixation to even think about on public streets? Except for those few who get their money's worth out of them at closed tracks, sportbike riders are just as much posers as the cruiser set. A real motorcyclist rides a naked bike and only hangs crap on it when that becomes necessary due to weather and/or distance.
Testify brother!
Sportbike geeks and cruiser geeks are two sides of the same posing coin. It's hilarious the way they talk crap about each other, then do basically the same things in different ways, and both act like they're so different and don't even know what a just-plain-motorcycle is. I may have more respect for the sportbike machinery, because it can be stripped and turned into perfectly good naked bikes, but the fratboy geeks on the stock egg bikes are just lame, and they never actually ride anywhere anyway. Around here the only difference is that cruiser geeks pose by making noise, and sportbike guys pose by riding little wheelies now and then, but both groups without actually riding anywhere. Just wheely, circle, and park. Blip the throttle til the light turns green, ride 1/2 block to the next bar and park. Oh yeah, and they're different because the cruiser geeks hang out inside sports bars and the sportbike geeks hang out outside gas stations.
Sportbike geeks and cruiser geeks are two sides of the same posing coin. It's hilarious the way they talk crap about each other, then do basically the same things in different ways, and both act like they're so different and don't even know what a just-plain-motorcycle is. I may have more respect for the sportbike machinery, because it can be stripped and turned into perfectly good naked bikes, but the fratboy geeks on the stock egg bikes are just lame, and they never actually ride anywhere anyway. Around here the only difference is that cruiser geeks pose by making noise, and sportbike guys pose by riding little wheelies now and then, but both groups without actually riding anywhere. Just wheely, circle, and park. Blip the throttle til the light turns green, ride 1/2 block to the next bar and park. Oh yeah, and they're different because the cruiser geeks hang out inside sports bars and the sportbike geeks hang out outside gas stations.
Not if I was the one on the GSXR1000...
That's really much too easy. Make it a 996, that's one reviewers like to whine about isn't it? I'll still pull 1000 mile days easy. And have you people never heard of streetfighters? It's very easy to change the riding position or whatever you want on a sportbike. You can make it do anything you need it to do--certainly anything a fake harley can do.
That's really much too easy. Make it a 996, that's one reviewers like to whine about isn't it? I'll still pull 1000 mile days easy. And have you people never heard of streetfighters? It's very easy to change the riding position or whatever you want on a sportbike. You can make it do anything you need it to do--certainly anything a fake harley can do.
Re: Daytona Preview
Ok you get points for hating the bonneville america, but why would you skip the MuZ and Guzzi tents? Have you ridden the MuZ's? The Skorpions are a really great ride, beautiful handling. I think you meant a softail deuce by the way, dynas are not softails (fortunately for them). ZZR12... yeah it's ok, but... yawn. New Hondas... all yawn except the CR450 and that 919 (that's the naked one, right?). Whoever wrote that the 919's styling is behind the FZ1's a tasteless hack. That's what the FZ1 should've looked like. You know, naked bikes should be NAKED, and underseat exhaust is cool. And I don't even like Honda and I'll admit that.
Ok you get points for hating the bonneville america, but why would you skip the MuZ and Guzzi tents? Have you ridden the MuZ's? The Skorpions are a really great ride, beautiful handling. I think you meant a softail deuce by the way, dynas are not softails (fortunately for them). ZZR12... yeah it's ok, but... yawn. New Hondas... all yawn except the CR450 and that 919 (that's the naked one, right?). Whoever wrote that the 919's styling is behind the FZ1's a tasteless hack. That's what the FZ1 should've looked like. You know, naked bikes should be NAKED, and underseat exhaust is cool. And I don't even like Honda and I'll admit that.
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