I rode a cruiser for the first time today... [Archive]

Mrs. Colleen

03-06-2011, 6:41pm

The local Kawasaki/Victory dealership was doing test rides today for the Victory cruisers and touring bikes. This is what I rode...

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/AFIDrummerGirl/Bike%20Pics/Colleen-Hammer1.jpg

Mark went on two cruises. He chose these two...

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/AFIDrummerGirl/Bike%20Pics/Mark-Vegas1.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/AFIDrummerGirl/Bike%20Pics/Mark-CC1.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/AFIDrummerGirl/Bike%20Pics/Both.jpg

We did not know until this morning that the test rides they had set up were actually up into the mountain. I nice 26 mile cruise. :cheers: Those of you that know the area, Cold Springs Tavern is at the C marker...

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/AFIDrummerGirl/Bike%20Pics/Loop.jpg

First reaction...weird. :rofl:

I red lined that thing so many times because first gear is SO short compared to a sportbike. :willy:

The Hammer (the red one I rode) and the Vegas (the black one Mark rode) have HUGE rear tires. Those things do NOT want to turn. :rofl: You have to muscle that thing around turns. When we were going through the twisty part of the mountain I was laughing so hard inside my helmet because it was so funny to ride.

We had a great time and they even gave out certificates for free BBQ when we were done. :cheers:

Sea Six

03-06-2011, 6:42pm

Oh... I thought you were arrested for something.

:D

Looks like fun! :cheers:

JRD77VET

03-06-2011, 6:47pm

Kerrmudgeon

03-06-2011, 6:52pm

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/AFIDrummerGirl/Bike%20Pics/Mark-CC1.jpg
Um....is it just me or is that bike a little large for the rider?
Looks like a twelve year old on it, heh,heh.

78SA

03-06-2011, 6:52pm

At least you were dressed for it. :dance:

Mrs. Colleen

03-06-2011, 6:54pm

Cruisers are fun in their own way but I would still prefer something sportier myself. Good to hear you had a good time :cheers:

Is it the picture angles or don't Mark's shoes cover his ankles? :confused5:

:seeya: Jeff
No, he was just wearing regular shoes. :toetap: Even though his boots were in the car.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y47/AFIDrummerGirl/Bike%20Pics/Mark-CC1.jpg
Um....is it just me or is that bike a little large for the rider?
Looks like a twelve year old on it, heh,heh.

I know...Mark looks tiny on that huge thing.

I was too scared to ride the big ones. :rofl:

Hoog

03-06-2011, 6:55pm

The Hammer actually doesn't handle bad, for a cruiser.

JRD77VET

03-06-2011, 6:57pm

No, he was just wearing regular shoes. :toetap: Even though his boots were in the car.

They're his ankles, not mine :leaving:

I know...Mark looks tiny on that huge thing.

I was too scared to ride the big ones. :rofl:

You have to be comfortable or it's no fun. Wise choice.

Mrs. Colleen

03-06-2011, 6:57pm

The Hammer actually doesn't handle bad, for a cruiser.

:willy: I was fighting that rear tire the whole time! :willy:

Mrs. Colleen

03-06-2011, 6:59pm

They're his ankles, not mine :leaving:

You have to be comfortable or it's no fun. Wise choice.

When we first got there all they had were the huge ones (all the other ones were out on a cruise) and I started seconded guessing myself as to whether or not I actually wanted to go one a test ride. Then when the group came back and I was able to snag a small one I was ready to go. :lol:

Y2Kvert4me

03-06-2011, 7:01pm

:willy: I was fighting that rear tire the whole time! :willy:Now imagine how a real big tire bike turns :D

http://i51.tinypic.com/np3lex.jpg

JRD77VET

03-06-2011, 7:03pm

:willy: I was fighting that rear tire the whole time! :willy:

It's all what you're used to. :yesnod:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v78/JRD77VET/ZR1100/DCP_3975.jpg

That's my 1993 Kawasaki ZR1100. It was "old school" when it was brand new. I'm sure if I rode the Hammer, I would have said it didn't handle "too bad".

You ride a few year old sport bike that you just got done doing a track day on. No wonder the Hammer didn't impress you with it's handling. :lol:

Mrs. Colleen

03-06-2011, 7:03pm

Now imagine a real big tire bike turns :D

http://i51.tinypic.com/np3lex.jpg

Is that bigger than the one on the Hammer? Seems about the same...

EDIT: Nevermind...I just looked up a picture of the Hammer's tire...not as big as that one. :willy:

Mrs. Colleen

03-06-2011, 7:06pm

It's all what you're used to. :yesnod:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v78/JRD77VET/ZR1100/DCP_3975.jpg

That's my 1993 Kawasaki ZR1100. It was "old school" when it was brand new. I'm sure if I rode the Hammer, I would have said it didn't handle "too bad".

You ride a few year old sport bike that you just got done doing a track day on. No wonder the Hammer didn't impress you with it's handling. :lol:

You don't even have to ask the R6 to turn. :rofl: But the FZR was definitely not as great at turning...you had to ask and convince it to turn. :rofl:

Hoog

03-06-2011, 7:06pm

Now imagine how a real big tire bike turns :D

..or doesn't turn, depending on your point of reference.

Y2Kvert4me

03-06-2011, 7:08pm

Is that bigger than the one on the Hammer? Seems about the same...According to Victory site, the Hammer has a 250 rear tire.

Pictured is a 300, roughly 2" wider.

:cheers:

VatorMan

03-06-2011, 7:10pm

Cruiser vs sports bike. Kind of like Caddy vs. Miata. Each has their own purpose. Cruisers are great for enjoying your surroundings. With a sports bike you are just looking for the next corner. Glad you had a good time.:dance:

Mrs. Colleen

03-06-2011, 7:14pm

According to Victory site, the Hammer has a 250 rear tire.

Pictured is a 300, roughly 2" wider.

:cheers:
Gotcha. :cheers:
Cruiser vs sports bike. Kind of like Caddy vs. Miata. Each has their own purpose. Cruisers are great for enjoying your surroundings. With a sports bike you are just looking for the next corner. Glad you had a good time.:dance:

A different mind set for sure!

Burro (He/Haw)

03-06-2011, 7:54pm

Holy shit are those ugly MC's,,

DJ_Critterus

03-06-2011, 7:57pm

Cruisers are great for longer rides. I find that my back isn't so sore after a long ride on them vs the R1.

LATB

03-06-2011, 8:18pm

Love my cruiser...

I thought this pic was cool...in the shadow against the white dunes...

http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/6200/hd22611001.jpg (http://img822.imageshack.us/i/hd22611001.jpg/)

Grey Ghost

03-06-2011, 8:26pm

Blademaker

03-06-2011, 8:32pm

Last cruiser I was in, I had to make bail.

Kerrmudgeon

03-06-2011, 8:39pm

Here Colleen, try turning this one..
http://oi53.tinypic.com/v3dmrn.jpg

snide

03-06-2011, 8:43pm

Last cruiser I was in, I had to make bail.

:waiting:

LATB

03-06-2011, 8:49pm

My last cruiser was 15 yrs. ago. Took it to Daytona Bike Week...(no, I didn't wear all the H-D leather crap lol) I still get the fever every once in awhile for another street bike...and Bike Week in Daytona.

I never been to Daytona Bike week, and I live in Florida. L0L And I don't do the HD garb-wear. (although most of their stuff is well made, and I have a piece or 2) I did visit Panama City Thunder Beach a few times.

I just dig the HD bikes...always have, I've been around them for decades, but only been an owner for the past one.
Harley's to me, have a special kind of stupid cool...I love the old technology (although the new ones are pretty well upgraded)
I love the air cooled V-twin rumble and feel of a fat...heavy bike.
I like the history of the moco...and if you look at one close, they are an engineering marvel...

And contrary to urban myth...they don't leak oil (mine never has)...they are very dependable...more nimble than their styling would suggest...and, with simple and not very expensive mods the motor can be a real barn burner (no pun intended)

pretty cool American company too.

...Whitepower...

03-06-2011, 8:50pm

Did you ride around with the high beam on?:D

LATB

03-06-2011, 9:03pm

Did you ride around with the high beam on?:D

I try to remember to...

serious.

69camfrk

03-06-2011, 9:53pm

I didn't see a Harley in the pictures!!!:D Looks like a good time, but yeah, no comparison between a sportbike and a cruiser.

Grey Ghost

03-06-2011, 9:54pm

Cool. I never had trouble with my H-D either. My leather gear consisted of a WW2, type A-2, flight jacket :D. I toured the H-D factory in York, PA. a few times while there for Corvettes at Carlisle. Put it on your bucket list. A great tour !

I never been to Daytona Bike week, and I live in Florida. L0L And I don't do the HD garb-wear. (although most of their stuff is well made, and I have a piece or 2) I did visit Panama City Thunder Beach a few times.

I just dig the HD bikes...always have, I've been around them for decades, but only been an owner for the past one.
Harley's to me, have a special kind of stupid cool...I love the old technology (although the new ones are pretty well upgraded)
I love the air cooled V-twin rumble and feel of a fat...heavy bike.
I like the history of the moco...and if you look at one close, they are an engineering marvel...

And contrary to urban myth...they don't leak oil (mine never has)...they are very dependable...more nimble than their styling would suggest...and, with simple and not very expensive mods the motor can be a real barn burner (no pun intended)

pretty cool American company too.

Yamma

03-06-2011, 9:56pm

very cool! Great way to spend the weekend. How hard was it to handle that cruiser due to the weight difference?

son93sl2

03-06-2011, 9:59pm

so were they comfortable at least?

Mrs. Colleen

03-06-2011, 10:00pm

Cruisers are great for longer rides. I find that my back isn't so sore after a long ride on them vs the R1.
Yeah, the riding position is much nicer. It was fun trying to put my feet on imaginary foot pegs. :rofl: Whenever I started from a stop I had to find the foot pegs each time. :rofl:
Here Colleen, try turning this one..
http://oi53.tinypic.com/v3dmrn.jpg
Oh no! :willy:
Did you ride around with the high beam on?:D

:rofl:

Mrs. Colleen

03-06-2011, 10:01pm

very cool! Great way to spend the weekend. How hard was it to handle that cruiser due to the weight difference?
The hard part was stopping on a incline. :willy: Trying to get the clutch/gas just right and not roll backwards was interesting. :rofl:
so were they comfortable at least?

:yesnod:

son93sl2

03-06-2011, 10:09pm

We are still cold here, barley reaching 50, rain rain rain snow rain. Maybe going for a ride on Tuesday, 58 degrees.

LATB

03-06-2011, 10:40pm

Scissors

03-07-2011, 8:40am

:willy: I was fighting that rear tire the whole time! :willy:

Judging from the reviews of the Ducati Diavel, which sports a 240 and still manages to handle excellently, my guess is that it's more due to steering geometry than the rear tire. Cruisers tend to have more trail, which makes them harder to tip in, and more rake.

For example, the Yamaha R6 is sitting on 24 degrees of rake and 3.8 inches of trail. The Victory Hammer, on the other hand, has 32.7 degrees of rake and 5.5 inches of trail. That's what's making it hard to steer in the twisties. That's also why you'll never go into a tank slapper on it, though.
:lol:

Mrs. Colleen

03-07-2011, 8:53pm

Judging from the reviews of the Ducati Diavel, which sports a 240 and still manages to handle excellently, my guess is that it's more due to steering geometry than the rear tire. Cruisers tend to have more trail, which makes them harder to tip in, and more rake.

For example, the Yamaha R6 is sitting on 24 degrees of rake and 3.8 inches of trail. The Victory Hammer, on the other hand, has 32.7 degrees of rake and 5.5 inches of trail. That's what's making it hard to steer in the twisties. That's also why you'll never go into a tank slapper on it, though.
:lol:

They warned me when I chose that bike that I would have to "muscle it." I wonder what the specs are for the cross country because Mark said those were much easier to ride/turn.

1911fool

03-07-2011, 8:59pm

You don't even have to ask the R6 to turn. :rofl: But the FZR was definitely not as great at turning...you had to ask and convince it to turn. :rofl:

On my R6 all you had to do was think about which direction you wanted to go and it went there.

Fastguy

03-07-2011, 9:03pm

I tried one of those big Kawa-cruisers but just did not like the forward controls and the girth of it.

NEVRL8T

03-07-2011, 9:53pm

I try to remember to...

serious.

So, you try to remember to break the law (http://law.onecle.com/florida/motor-vehicles/316.238.html)?

Mrs. Colleen

03-07-2011, 10:05pm

On my R6 all you had to do was think about which direction you wanted to go and it went there.
Pretty much. :cheers:
So, you try to remember to break the law (http://law.onecle.com/florida/motor-vehicles/316.238.html)?

Oh no. :willy:

MattW

03-07-2011, 11:54pm

I tried one of those big Kawa-cruisers but just did not like the forward controls and the girth of it.

In my experience (which isn't a lot), the bikes with forward controls really aren't all that great on truly long trips. The feet-forward position makes you bear the weight of your spine... on your spine. It's tiring. It's why genuine "touring" bikes almost 100% go for mid-mount on the foot controls...

high desert

03-08-2011, 2:01am

So are you going to the dark side and buying one?

Scissors

03-08-2011, 8:33am

So are you going to the dark side and buying one?
The "dark side" is when you put a car tire on the rear. :lol:

Scissors

03-08-2011, 8:54am

They warned me when I chose that bike that I would have to "muscle it." I wonder what the specs are for the cross country because Mark said those were much easier to ride/turn.

29 degrees and 5.6 inches of trail. That reduced rake would be why it's easier to steer. Having basically the same trail, though, it'll be just as stable and just as susceptible to standing up faster if you use the front brake while cornering.