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Cruiser vs. Sport
- Thread starter cuend
- Start date
ST Guy
Well-known member
For some, the cruiser riding position seems to work, but in general it sucks. It gives you the least control of the bike and is actually more tiring than a standard riding position where you have just a bit of a forward lean. I'd bet that if you put different bars on your Ninja, you'd have found it to be a very different bike.
Or you could get a standard bike and have the best of both worlds
. I love the upright position of my 550 and with my superbike bars there's a slight forward lean. Lots of leverage for quick transitions, comfy seating position for long rides and easy low speed manuvers. 
louemc
New member
It does not matter what most preffer it maters what you like.
I started on a Virago 250 and ended up on sportbikes later, but the little Yamaha was a perfect first bike for me. Fit my frame better than any bike since and was very easy to ride.
I'm not going to lie, 12years later I love bikes more than ever yet cruisers don't even exist in my world. You could not give me one for free, I don't care which one it is. But that should mean nothing to you.
I ride whatever I ride because thats what I enjoy not because others think its cool
Gold
ST Guy
Well-known member
Threre's much more to choose from than those two. Those categories are extremes at either end of the spectrum. Truly comfortable and all around capable bikes are in the middle. Much of the reason the sport bikes and cruisers are popular are because the majority of the riders secretly want to be a bad-ass biker or Ricky-racer. Real motorcyclists ride something inbetween.
SummerLove
Tired SRE
- Joined
- May 17, 2011
- Location
- Saratoga-San Jose West
- Moto(s)
- '99 Ducati M750 (Gone) '04 Ducati MTS 1000 DS '09 Buell XB12XT
- Name
- Sam
I like neither! I want my legs under me with a little forward lean. I think the most comfortable bike I've ever sat on (in riding position) was the Aprilia Futura with 1" risers on the bars. Following that it's a toss up between the ST3 and Multistrada. The Multistrada really needs a better seat to be comfortable and I'm looking into putting a set of S bars on it because that would put my wrists in a slightly more natural position instead of flat and parallel to the bars.
Entoptic
Red Power!
I like sport bikes cause they have the power to get up and go at a moments notice. I haven't been on to many cruiser that can do that with ease but I know some are out there. I also do not like the clam shell body position of a cruiser but I do like the standard/sportbike crunched up position of a sportbike. I feel like I have more control and the ability to manuever on a sportbike is awesome.
ST Guy
Well-known member
A standard riding position gives you every bit as much control, sometimes more, than a sport riding position. And it does it while being much more comfortable. The only thing a sport bike position does for you is make the bike/rider combo more aerodynamic.
Gary856
Are we having fun yet?
When I'm out late, in bad weather, and on the more remote roads, I see more cruiser riders than anything else.
NoTraffic
New member
Threre's much more to choose from than those two. Those categories are extremes at either end of the spectrum. Truly comfortable and all around capable bikes are in the middle. Much of the reason the sport bikes and cruisers are popular are because the majority of the riders secretly want to be a bad-ass biker or Ricky-racer. Real motorcyclists ride something inbetween.
True but the post was about Cruisers vs. Sport bikes. It wasn't Cruisers vs. Enduros vs. Standards vs. SuperMoto vs. Adventure.
Real motorcyclists have a collection, a tool for the right job. Not something in between.
tonedeaf
have tires will ride
Real motorcyclists have a collection, a tool for the right job. Not something in between.
It's hard not to start collecting
I agree, it's more fun to be extreme and have a specific tool, than an "ok" multipurpose tool.
and just btw, any time i hear people defending cruisers because sportbikes are more "dangerous", i go
my opinion:
sportbikes don't go fast if you don't give it that much gas....duh.
sportbikes don't "brake too fast" if you don't squeeze the lever that hard....duh.
sportbikes don't "get you in trouble" if you ride the speed you mean to.
i think cruisers appear to be "more predictable to ride" because they cover up jerky and unskilled rider inputs....which promotes bad riding technique for people who don't get it.
if i had a "survive a busy freeway challenge" i would be scared sh*tless on a cruiser. the brakes are not consistent, they will fade badly...the acceleration would not be trustable to get out of a bad situation....the turning would not allow me to avoid danger very well...
cruisers are definitely more comfortable for the body. but with that i think comes a HUGE amount of vulnerability.
there.
ok i'm done now 
ScottRNelson
Adventure and Dual Sport
I'm not here to support cruisers, but you've pointed out that sportbikes are less forgiving. Not a problem if you NEVER make a mistake, but it's easier to get into trouble on one.
ST Guy
Well-known member
True but the post was about Cruisers vs. Sport bikes. It wasn't Cruisers vs. Enduros vs. Standards vs. SuperMoto vs. Adventure.
Real motorcyclists have a collection, a tool for the right job. Not something in between.
'Just stirring the pot.
V4
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE
meh...i just like cruisers cuz it's the right machine for my riding on el camino....
Gixxergirl1000
AFM #731
- Joined
- Oct 30, 2006
- Location
- Stockton
- Moto(s)
- GSXR-1000; GSX-R 450 Triple race bike "Timmay"; GS 500 race bike "The Murderbike"
- Name
- Connie
I'll never own a cruiser. Aside from being ugly ass slow bikes that don't turn worth a damn, have no instant throttle response, and are generally ridden by people with minimal riding skills (yes, painting with a broad brush, but if you know how to ride, I'm not talking about you- and if you don't know how to ride, you're probably oblivious to it, and will just assume I'm not talking about you! ). Beyond that, due to a badly compressed disk in my lower back, that upright riding position KILLS my back.
If I want to ride chill, and enjoy the scenery, my gixxer has the amazing ability to go at the speed I tell it- even when that speed is really slow.
If I want to ride to another State, my gixxer will make that trip happily. Me? Not so much... I can't imagine piling a bunch of crap on my bike and slogging through the heat to get someplace I could drive to in much more comfort in my truck... but that's just me. Hell, I hate putting a tank bag on it- I don't see panniers in my future!
The ONLY other bike I'd like to have, in addition to my Gixxer and my race bikes, is a motard... I'd pick up a DRZ in a heartbeat. Stupid-fun bike, turned me into a total hooligan the one time I rode one... now THAT would be FUN!!
But hey... the more people who go out and get a cruiser means less people out in the places I ride, so it's all good!
). Beyond that, due to a badly compressed disk in my lower back, that upright riding position KILLS my back. If I want to ride chill, and enjoy the scenery, my gixxer has the amazing ability to go at the speed I tell it- even when that speed is really slow.
If I want to ride to another State, my gixxer will make that trip happily. Me? Not so much... I can't imagine piling a bunch of crap on my bike and slogging through the heat to get someplace I could drive to in much more comfort in my truck... but that's just me. Hell, I hate putting a tank bag on it- I don't see panniers in my future!
The ONLY other bike I'd like to have, in addition to my Gixxer and my race bikes, is a motard... I'd pick up a DRZ in a heartbeat. Stupid-fun bike, turned me into a total hooligan the one time I rode one... now THAT would be FUN!!
But hey... the more people who go out and get a cruiser means less people out in the places I ride, so it's all good!
V4
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE
[youtube]iDS4FfzXRzE&feature[/youtube]
tonedeaf
have tires will ride
That's true, but there's a flip side to that: those situations where trouble finds YOU, and you must react quickly....if a rider has spent months or years riding with poor technique, accidentally approaching 95% of available traction violently, not smoothly, with no clue it's happening (because the bike forgives), then the one time something jumps in front of them and they use their previously forgiven techniques and it happens to push the bike past 100% available traction, then they crash with no hope of a save, no idea why.
By comparison, when someone is on a sportbike playing around below, say, 75% available traction and gets "slapped on the wrist" for poor technique by the bike wobbling or feeling jerky, it will teach them to be smoother (without a crash), and in the case of an emergency they will be much better prepared to avoid it. also the traction limit is easier to feel, so accident avoidance is much easier to begin with. AND has much more available traction, so the limit is further away.
But all that said, yeah there's nothing wrong with a good rider riding a cruiser nice and mellow, understanding they need to give themselves a big margin for accident avoidance. In fact, I may get one some day
ScottRNelson
Adventure and Dual Sport
I generally agree with all but this part.
Being able to feel the traction limits often depends as much on the tires you have on the bike as what kind of bike it is, and starting to feel the limits on a bike with higher limits - when riding somewhere other than a race track - might not leave you enough margin to keep from crashing.
Typically the point where you feel the limits and the point where you're past them is much narrower on a sport bike than on other motorcycles.