Has anyone here done the jump from a sports bike to a cruiser? What are your thoughts long term?
I have grown up on a diet of inline 4 sports bikes, and currently have a 2017 Kawasaki Z1000SX. I love the bike but get frustrated at trying to rain it in with speed limits and average speed cameras everywhere. I think I generally fancy slowing my riding down a little, or at least not feeling stupid when I do.
Currently tempted by Indian but want to know if anyone else has left sports to go cruiser... |
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I'm in the same boat, got a mk1 bandit 12 , not standard, it can and will get you in trouble, bought a virago 1100 after a few beers a couple of years ago just to try it. It was a lovely bike to ride, just didn't have the thrill of the bandit, although I do still fancy the suzuki vzr1800.. |
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See where your coming from, tried it myself went from a 899 panigale to and shadow 750 and, will admit i did enjoy but ended up stuffing the pegs quite a lot, now back on a panigale v4s, so my advice is try a street fighter of sorts best of both. |
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I changed a couple of years ago after having sports bikes for many years I had a thruxton r (my forever bike lol ) but medical issues made it hard to ride so swapped it in for the 1200 speed master same intoxicating engine and handle prity well but feet forward is a little strange to start with lol |
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Over many years gone from Ducati’s, Aprilia RSV, Yamaha R’s and heaps of other sports bikes going back decades.
I got to the stage that all my sports bike friends were either dead or retired etc. Frankly I felt I was getting too old for sports bikes.
So I finally opted for a new Harley Road King. I absolutely love it. It is much more nimble on the bends than I expected after driving sports bikes.
Perhaps the only issue is that too many Harley riders are OAPs and ride like it. I love the look of the bike. I love the style but I don’t like driving with a bunch of old codgers getting over taken by mobility scooters. So I’m still struggling to find a like minded group that actually “ride” rather than “drive” their bikes. |
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"Over many years gone from Ducati’s, Aprilia RSV, Yamaha R’s and heaps of other sports bikes going back decades.
I got to the stage that all my sports bike friends were either dead or retired etc. Frankly I felt I was getting too old for sports bikes.
So I finally opted for a new Harley Road King. I absolutely love it. It is much more nimble on the bends than I expected after driving sports bikes.
Perhaps the only issue is that too many Harley riders are OAPs and ride like it. I love the look of the bike. I love the style but I don’t like driving with a bunch of old codgers getting over taken by mobility scooters. So I’m still struggling to find a like minded group that actually “ride” rather than “drive” their bikes. "
This is very simular to my issue. I rode alone as a result and often ride slower as a result. My major concern is that when I do want to have fun will the pegs scrape too easily. I've never been a knee down person but at least want a bike that can be a bit playful.
For reference I'm looking at the Indian sport chief. |
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I used to run rd250s and RG500, last sports bike was a ducati 900, until the after effects of an accident and getting old, made it uncomfortable for me.
Moved to cruisers, Yam Virago, Guzzi California and now a Harley Sportster,
My days of pegs down has well gone, it handles OK for a heavy ish bike and suits my riding now |
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I went from a 998 to a ducati monster and now have a BSA classic scrambler and a 650cc BSA, make me grin a lot, the road bike will pull 90+ any day of the week and doesn't have any fancy gadgets like electric start, just a great riding experience chocke kickstart etc etc, proper suck squeeze bang blow  |
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"Has anyone here done the jump from a sports bike to a cruiser? What are your thoughts long term?
I have grown up on a diet of inline 4 sports bikes, and currently have a 2017 Kawasaki Z1000SX. I love the bike but get frustrated at trying to rain it in with speed limits and average speed cameras everywhere. I think I generally fancy slowing my riding down a little, or at least not feeling stupid when I do.
Currently tempted by Indian but want to know if anyone else has left sports to go cruiser... The new Indian range is awesome to be fair-had a fair few up the Excel show February this year!"
|
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Not sure if it counts, I went from a cafe racer style 125 (bars where the same setup as say the r125 etc) to a cruiser 125.
After 18months of the cafe one it felt weird to be on a cruiser again, mostly the bar style/gears/brakes.
Definitely have more fun on the cruiser though and the plus side under seat storage is a hell of a bonus |
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By * and BCouple 9 weeks ago
Durham |
"Has anyone here done the jump from a sports bike to a cruiser? What are your thoughts long term?
I have grown up on a diet of inline 4 sports bikes, and currently have a 2017 Kawasaki Z1000SX. I love the bike but get frustrated at trying to rain it in with speed limits and average speed cameras everywhere. I think I generally fancy slowing my riding down a little, or at least not feeling stupid when I do.
Currently tempted by Indian but want to know if anyone else has left sports to go cruiser... "
I did this years ago, not for the speed thing as I could ride fast or stick to speed limits. I did it for comfort. What i did was to keep the fireblade and add a cruiser to the stable as not sure how it would go. Well, I found that when I was going into the garage I was choosing to ride the cruiser, as your legs flip forward onto the forward pegs a smile arrives upon your face. I found the fireblade was being left behind more and more. Cruiser won out in the end as you don't need break neck speed to have fun on your bike (Mr B)  |
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"Has anyone here done the jump from a sports bike to a cruiser? What are your thoughts long term?
I have grown up on a diet of inline 4 sports bikes, and currently have a 2017 Kawasaki Z1000SX. I love the bike but get frustrated at trying to rain it in with speed limits and average speed cameras everywhere. I think I generally fancy slowing my riding down a little, or at least not feeling stupid when I do.
Currently tempted by Indian but want to know if anyone else has left sports to go cruiser... "
We went from a fzr1000 exup to a customer cruiser and to be honest i harldy wanted to ride it,it felt slow and the brakes where awful also you had to slow down for bends or risk catching the foot boards.
In the end it nearly put me of riding altogether, I sold it and didn't want another bike, but that only lasted about two years lol now we have a vfr750 and a blackbird and would never look at a cruiser again lol |
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"Has anyone here done the jump from a sports bike to a cruiser? What are your thoughts long term?
I have grown up on a diet of inline 4 sports bikes, and currently have a 2017 Kawasaki Z1000SX. I love the bike but get frustrated at trying to rain it in with speed limits and average speed cameras everywhere. I think I generally fancy slowing my riding down a little, or at least not feeling stupid when I do.
Currently tempted by Indian but want to know if anyone else has left sports to go cruiser... "
went from my gsx1400 to a harley davidson street bob,on my 4th harley now still have 3 of them,slower way of life,makes me smile every time I crank that v twin into life,I still get the itch for speed now and then so I pick up jap have some fun then sell on |
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By (user no longer on site) 8 weeks ago
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Not a real sports but I have a Suzuki gsx650f and a pan European only thing to remember is the riding styles bit hard to get your knee down on a pan unless you drop it |
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By *JandCMCouple 8 weeks ago
cardiff |
Be careful incase a cruiser style bike may not suit you.
I hadn't had a bike for quite a few years n then got myself a cruise style bike (royal enfield meteor) , only kept it for 11 months, found if riding it for more than an hour I would get pains in my lower back, never suffered with it before.
Sold the bike n got myself an up right sitting bike (royal enfield interceptor) n now can go for hours n no pain at all when riding. But every now n then I still get the pain comeback when doing other things n I do put it down to the riding position of the cruiser n I sold it nearly 3 years ago.
Never get a cruiser style bike again |
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By (user no longer on site) 8 weeks ago
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"Over many years gone from Ducati’s, Aprilia RSV, Yamaha R’s and heaps of other sports bikes going back decades.
I got to the stage that all my sports bike friends were either dead or retired etc. Frankly I felt I was getting too old for sports bikes.
So I finally opted for a new Harley Road King. I absolutely love it. It is much more nimble on the bends than I expected after driving sports bikes.
Perhaps the only issue is that too many Harley riders are OAPs and ride like it. I love the look of the bike. I love the style but I don’t like driving with a bunch of old codgers getting over taken by mobility scooters. So I’m still struggling to find a like minded group that actually “ride” rather than “drive” their bikes.
This is very simular to my issue. I rode alone as a result and often ride slower as a result. My major concern is that when I do want to have fun will the pegs scrape too easily. I've never been a knee down person but at least want a bike that can be a bit playful.
For reference I'm looking at the Indian sport chief. "
Im on heritage softail 114 and i love it! But i do also struggle with OAP Harley riders. The peg scrape is a bit of an issue but i have so much fun on it through the twisties. Ide say its a slightly different kinda fun, but fun all the same. |
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"Has anyone here done the jump from a sports bike to a cruiser? What are your thoughts long term?
I have grown up on a diet of inline 4 sports bikes, and currently have a 2017 Kawasaki Z1000SX. I love the bike but get frustrated at trying to rain it in with speed limits and average speed cameras everywhere. I think I generally fancy slowing my riding down a little, or at least not feeling stupid when I do.
Currently tempted by Indian but want to know if anyone else has left sports to go cruiser...
I did this years ago, not for the speed thing as I could ride fast or stick to speed limits. I did it for comfort. What i did was to keep the fireblade and add a cruiser to the stable as not sure how it would go. Well, I found that when I was going into the garage I was choosing to ride the cruiser, as your legs flip forward onto the forward pegs a smile arrives upon your face. I found the fireblade was being left behind more and more. Cruiser won out in the end as you don't need break neck speed to have fun on your bike (Mr B) "
I have to be honest, I can see this being what happens with me. |
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You could ask 100 bikers their opinion and you’ll get 100 different back. I’d suggest you try it but be flexible. Dont think a £5 grand Harley will do the same as your sports bikes it’s not gonna happen. If your happy to chill and watch and enjoy the scenery as your cruising by then cool. If not don’t waste your time and money buying a cruiser. If you’re curious try them all at the events they have UK wide. The V-Rod was a great middle place but it’s gone unfortunately.
And for the people that call the Harley/ cruiser people ignorant have a wee look at yourselves. Do you wave, nod, chat to all other bikers? I do, but a lot of you don’t then call us this and that. That’s weak. Dont care what you ride as long as your cool. Enjoy!! 😊 |
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My pal had a V rod and loved it only sold it due to moving house. My other pal has had various Harleys and currently has a new Breakout but does admit lacks the raw power of his old R1 but they now do euro tours in his Harley which they love-different strokes for different folks |
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I've a few bikes in the stable but went from an R1 that I loved to an 1800 intruder BOSS and it's my 1st choice when I open the garage door.
A different kind of fun and gets more admired than the plastic missiles I rode for decades.
I still fancy another missile but can't justify another bike in the collection. |
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Ive got a tuned Bandit 1200 and a standard 1996 Honda Magna Cruiser. Its horses for courses. I do love a chilled ride on the Magna 750, 60 mph, soaks up the shite roads we now have and is very comfy.
The Bandit on the other hand, no matter how I intend to ride I always end up at mach5 and then think I'm to old for this.
Next purchase a HD ultra limited. That should slow me down |
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