Great episode, keep them coming and with greater frequency please. I like the real world feel of the conversation, not all scripted and "everyone gets the same time to have their say" I would advocate for less concern for political correctness with all the bleeping but perhaps that's to maintain a clean rating, don't know but the beeps are distractions. Feel free to give Lemmy back his beer, as removing it makes this less a chat between amigos which is what is so appealing and more a "show" Great topic with no single right answer, viewers get to make the personal decision and we get to hear opinions from folks we respect. No ads, no selling, the only way to make this better is more often, and a weekly show/podcast. Far more interesting to me than lots of other content, including stuff now hidden behind a paywall.
The right bike is the one that puts a big smile on your face when you sit on it. It's the one that you make up excuses to go into the garage so you can look at it.
Who's give a shit what bike you ride as long as if makes you fill good when you are on it if you are looking for people to wave at you then you have forgotten what riding a motorcycle is all about
@@jerryswope1797 Exactly! I've had my cruiser for a year (Granted I know, it's not much compared to most other riders) but I still stop and admire it, and still puts a smile on my face when I start it up.
I'm about to buy a Kawasaki Vulcan S 650 for my first bike. I'm 6'1" and 300lbs. In all honesty, that bike is just perfect me. I'm getting that bike because I like it. It just happens to be a cruiser. It's comfortable and it gives me what I need.
ArcAngel643 Great choice. I think those are fantastic bikes. I really wish I would’ve bought one of those as my first bike. They look good, they have the adjustable ergonomics for various sized riders and they have a rock solid engine with enough HP and torque that you probably won’t get bored with it anytime soon. Have fun and ride safe brother.
Have you checked out a Vulcan 900 by chance? I think it's a pretty good bike to start on or even just to have, they run pretty good on the highway as well. I learned the basics on a Vulcan Custom 900. I was thinking of getting a Vulcan S or Vulcan 900 as my first bike, but found an 06 Victory Jackpot that was about the same price. Having been on the Jackpot for about 2 and a half years, couldn't have had a better first bike for me personally. I'm 5'8" by the way.
@@SupaVlinSantonE I don't think you're too young. I'm only 23 and I've decided I want this as my first bike. I hold the belief that riding is purely for fun and pleasure.
I swore I'd never get a cruiser. After my Z1000 was stolen, I ended up getting an iron 883. Great bike overall and now it has me wanting one of its big Brothers. All I can say is don't knock a thing, because you never know.
David Elliott man i have a 07 gsxr 1000. I was thinking bout getting the iron 1200, but now i think i will end up getting the 2019 scout bobber, loving how those are looking
I mean. I kinda do know. Not that a 96honda cb500 would have tons of lean angle to offer, but. If that's scratching pegs and I'm not so happy about that i dont need to try a cruiser. Except. If i had money to waste i might enjoy a vmax.
Sport bike rider “let’s rip across town” Cruiser riders “hey let’s ride across town to the park” Hd riders “well I used to ride everywhere but I can’t anymore, I ride to the bar 2-3 times a year and make it a point not to wave at anyone” Adventure bike riders “I think I’m gonna ride down the Amazon river today on my way to work” Bmw riders “it snowed 32 inches last night but I have a reflective vest so I’m fine” This is an honest generalization of bike riders made by a Harley and Honda rider.
So those of us who own an ADV bike, a sportbike, and a cruiser and enjoy them all, where do we fit in? I've ridden all of them on long multistate tours, and my cruiser is pretty fast with 145 hp and a 10 second 1/4 mile. My ADV bike is easily the slowest, but it's still fun to rail around the mountain roads. Why limit yourself with labels invented by other people? Do what makes you happy.
@@azb2010 100% heard that man, I have a harley fat bob and a yamaha fj09, looking to add the sumo/enduro to the list soon so I can rip any way I like. Bikes are bikes man #anythingon2wheels although you do come across 'those' riders who have one bike and are die hard set in their ways and they think everyone should have the same opinion as them, for those people the above descriptions are (somewhat) accurate :'D I would say the HD riders who take it out to the bar a few times a year don't wave because they aren't confident riders anymore lol but some harleys won't wave to other bikes than harley which is stupid and disrespectful IMO. I wave to all bikes, even scooters lmao like I said #anythingon2wheels
New rider here. Found y'all on RU-vid then I searched your store. Not only have I learned an immense amount from y'all, I absolutely respect that you stand behind the products you sell.
I recently bought my first Harley, and I gotta say, I get it. After work I just kept riding past home and happened across a gently winding two lane highway with a 55mph limit. No traffic, just the burble of a 45 degree v-twin and a late afternoon sun. The bike was a perfectly content and compliant companion. Such a simple formula but honestly one of the better motorcycling experiences I've had.
Sounds like the perfect place to enjoy a cruiser ride. Unfortunately for me, I'm in the SF Bay Area and there are no empty roads. Anywhere, any time. For me to get out I need to hit the hills and while a HD is certainly capable of it, you can't explore off the main highway without getting into some really tight switch back roads, and from what little I know of HD, that isn't it's optimum play ground. Every HD video I watch is out on a lonely two lane, mostly straight highway. I envy those riders because there's nothing like that around here since Silicon Valley exploded.25-30 years ago, it was nice to live here, but now, it's just traffic 24/7.
I appreciate all bikes. For me a cruiser is the right bike - riding it makes me smile. Ride whatever makes you smile. And don't forget to salute a fellow rider as you pass, whatever they are riding.
I've ridden everything from scooters to cruisers and everything in between. Had fun with all types but my love is naked bikes. Street fighter or factory model, all get me smiling.
I don't usually watch long videos, but this one had me hooked. Great healthy discussion between 3 civilized men that know what they're talking about with the right amount of humor.
Winter Bike: K100RT (fairing) Summer bike: TDM900 Travel/Rough road bike: BMW K100 sidecar I have no use for a Cruiser or an out and out sportsbike. A single cyl dual purpose could be useful.
It already is. I just shifted from the ZX6R to Shiver and purely satisfied with the choices I've made. Comfortable for daily commute and long distance ride. Naked bikes just make much more sense.
Everything changes every few years and things tend to come full circle over time. Eventually the popularity of standards and super nakeds will fade away and some other new style will become the go to.
I can’t say it enough. Keep these coming and more often(even if in podcast form). The long format is great. This is the closest thing we have to a serious motorcycle talk show. Love the long takes 20-30 min fly by when you have great content.
I love the discussion, but youn's (just gave away my area with that word) really need to quit trying to talk over each other. Kinda gives a "whoever is loudest is most correct" sort of feel. Anyways, I think Lemmy hit the nail on the head. At the end of the day, it's all about how it makes you feel. The "emotional performance" is the most important aspect. I love my Yamaha Bolt. It was the right choice for me. I ride it every chance I get and spring through fall it's pretty much my daily driver unless I have to haul something. But what's right for me, may not be right for you.
Right, my son is a sport bike enthusiast. He thinks anyone buying a Harley is wasting their money because the bikes do not perform or handle well. I just can't get it into his head that not everyone feels the need to rip the canyons and do 160+ on 2-lane highways. Personally, I'd love a Harley but I do want to be able to ride up into the hills at times, plus they are DAMN expensive. So, I'm looking at a Yamaha XSR 900. I think it's a nice looking bike, not a racer (I don't want/need that) but can corner well enough, and out the door should be 7-$8000 less than the HD Slim I'm attracted to. Ride what puts a smile on your face and accept that someone elses favorite ride might just be another style than you like.
An element of this argument is beauty of art. One of the joys of owning a cruiser is that they are a piece of rolling beautiful artwork. Not many (if any) adventure bikes can be called beautiful and certainly not artwork. And that matters to some, but not to others. It's just a personal choice.
DaveOMT, tribalism. It's why humans try to get everyone to like what they like, from cars to sports teams, to fast food restaurants. Nobody wants to be the only person who realy likes a thing
..."Champagne don't drive me crazy Cocaine don't make me lazy Ain't nobody's business but my own Candy is dandy and liquor is quicker You can drink all the liquor down at Costa Rica Ain't nobody's business but my own"... Taj Mahal
I never thought I’d own a Harley after all my years on Euro and dirt bikes - but I bought a Road Glide and love it. Killed motor - not so much on the brakes or cornering - but still something very special about the ride. I’m thankful I can still have my euro bikes though!
Why do I love motorcycles and motorcycling? My first memories of motorcycles are from when I was about nine years old. I lived in the country in Montana where there was naturally a lot of opportunity for good riding fun to be had. A family near us had a motorcycle for each of their four or five children ranging in age. This made for a variety of rides and riding styles. Bicycles had sparked my interest at a young age as it does many I believe because the physical challenges of balance and coordination fueled by the exhilaration of speed combined with the satisfaction of rapid travel to a destination. As a young boy bicycles and motorcycles were 5e closest things I could get to being able to fly, and I loved it. Preferences of style of bikes, riding terrain and riding habits have changed in my 56 years mostly out of the realization that I AM mortal, I don’t Ike pain, injury or the healing process. I still enjoy much of the same things about riding but I have attenuated my glee with the knowledge that I’m lucky to be alive and even breathing the air as I ride makes me happy for the day. Sport v. Cruiser motorcycles: I like all things motored. What I wanted to do when I was in my twenties is different than what I want to do now. I wouldn’t want to have to choose one, but since I have to right now I have a Triumph T100. What would I get if I had money? One of each, .. +1 Note: although I’ve loved HD all my life, toured the York plant twice in my life, I’ve never been able to afford the one I want.
I ride an 05 Boulevard C90 with 72K miles on it and I am completely in love with it. I catch flack from the HD crowed but I will not get rid of it. It is comfortable and rock steady.
I'm on an 07 Boulevard c50. Love that bike to bits. Every time I get on it I smile like a jackass. Like someone wiser said, "It's not what you ride, it's that you ride."
I ride a Kawi Vulcan 2000, but I've got my eye on a '12 Boulevard C90 that my mechanic is tasked with selling for his late cousin's estate. I will proudly catch flack from HD people for my Vulcan...and would proudly add that Boulevard to my garage!
I absolutely LOVE my '07 V-Star 1300 and wouldn't trade it for anything. It's the first bike I've owned in over 10 years and just can't figure out why I went that long without one.
It's a shame you're running into people who can't appreciate how your bike makes you feel, the same way theirs does to them. Knees in the breeze, the wind feels the same!
Great conversation guys. Loved hearing the pros and cons of riding a cruiser style motorcycle I personally am a cruiser style fan been riding them since the mid-eighties when Honda came out with their first Shadow still riding one day this day VT 1100 C2 2005 model and I absolutely love it I'm 63 years old and I can still ride all day long because to me it's the most comfortable by going down the road and definitely a comfortable bike for an old man keep up the videos guys I love the conversations love the camaraderie between you three guys y'all be good take care be safe
Harley Davidson offers large cruisers, smaller cruisers, cheaper cruisers, expensive cruisers, and if you don't like cruisers, they also offer cruisers. They used to sell Buells, but they replaced those with a $30K battery powered dildo because that's what men want.
Gents - one of your best...you guys rock...well done! I've had a 1981 Yamaha Maxim and 1986 Suzuki GS650L...they were great bikes...agree perhaps too perfect...now I've got a 2012 Sportster Nightster, a 2013 Dyna Street Bob, and a 2016 Softail Slim S...each with their own personality...definitely a cruiser guy...lots of great bikes out there...liking what Triumph, Ducati, Yamaha, and Ducati are doing...if only money and space were unlimited!
We ride bikes for the feeling be it cruisers, sport bike, dual sport or adventure...the culture we want to be part of HD or otherwise is another choice we make. I say “ride your ride” and let the cagers try to figure it out!
You guys hit a lot of the high notes. Different strokes for different folks, and some like multiple types of riding. The other great point was do you want multiple bikes specific to those riding types, or one that is more "Swiss Army Knife". I grew up on sportbikes, and cruisers aren't really my thing. Nothing wrong with them, or those that love them, just not really my speed. As I've gotten older, I've had 2 VFRs....an 04 and 15 with an r6 and FZ1 in between. For me, the VFR is that "Swiss Army Knife" of road going sporty motorcycle that has character and speaks to me. It does a lot very well, and checks the boxes for how I ride. Lots of people will probably disagree, and that's ok. There are lots of different bikes out there for the different kinds of riders.I'm glad there are cruisers out there for those that want them. Don't matter what you ride, just ride.
Great conversation, great discussion, learned a lot. I think 'performance' is the wrong word to focus on. As the guy who designed the Ducati Monster said, you're designing an emotion. If people get the emotion they want from ANY bike, more power to them.
My Dyna is the one tool for me. Comfort, handling, looks, sound, rideability. I commute it daily and hit the canyons on the weekends with zero issues in-between.
I love these conversations. This is the only video content that I have found like it other Australian show. Thank you guys. You have hit another home run! BTW, I agree with Spurg, I get cruisers but there isn't enough room in the garage or money in the bank for every type of bike. Something has to go and cruisers are it!
I agree with all 3 of you. For me , I’m with spurge... on that fact that cruisers aren’t versatile enough if you can only afford one bike. So get a bike that does just about everything aside from track. which is an ADV bike. The answer for me is the 790 adv R or 1090 R But a cruiser would be an awesome second bike for those lazy days to relax and slow down and just enjoy the sound on some back country roads when the mood strikes.
I honestly never worried about braking and slideouts until I got a Harley. I didn't worry about scraping pegs and having some disaster occur from that either. On the contrary, I have never had so many people come up and ask me "What is that? It looks totally rad!" I have a Fat Bob that I chose specifically for it's aesthetics myself. At first I loved the V-twin thud of the Harley mixed with the exhaust note (which I had to customize). Now after a year of riding it I am really considering an MT-10 when I feel financially better about picking one up. The Harley (cruiser) has treated me well so far, but performance-wise...I want to be able to lean over, pull around and not have my brakes lock up trying to slow down when a car pulls out in front of me. I feel safer on something touted as something more dangerous. I'm not a fanboy of any manufacturer, but at the end of the day I want something I really fell good on in all conditions. Disclaimer: I have been riding (mostly sport bikes) for 10 years and know how to brake, it's nice to actually have responsive brakes just like it is to have a responsive engine.
Give the MT-09 a shot while you are looking the bikes over. It is still wicked fast. The 07,09, and 10 all have amazing motors. The 7 for 7.5K brand new is pretty incredible (and actually easier to wheelie, strangely enough).
@@jeeves6490, I have to admit I am confused by the "claim innovation" part, would you explain pls? From my point of view nakeds have been an important segment since like forever, maybe around the 90s the sportbike segment was prominent as well, but they are still the motorbikes we used to love, just better and with different styling.
I think you guys are all coming to the conversation from a perspective of very experienced very knowledgeable motorcycle riders. As a new rider, I want boring in the sense it works as it should everytime and as expected. "Character" for a new rider is a little intimidating. Also, new riders don't need a jack of all trades because, chances are, they are only going to be driving a nail to start. I really enjoy this format. Thanks for the video
I loved the Triumph Thunderbird Storm. I really well put together P twin that looked great, hauled ass & was even fun in a corner but it got dropped because sales just weren't there. A real shame.
I started out on an adventure bike, a 1991 Honda Africa Twin. I'm 174cm/5'7", and I barely touch down on that bike. I loved the biked for trailing and long trips, but couldn't really enjoy just hopping on the bike and taking a ride around town. I swapped it for a Yamaha XV1600 Wildstar (Roadstar in the U.S.), and I'm loving it. So I went from Spurgeon to Lemmy :P
First, let me start by saying I love these discussion series. Everyone has interesting ideas and it's great to hear them. However, there are a lot of cringy parts where you guys are ganging up on each other -- which is not the most comfortable listening experience. I think if you guys practice listening to established podcasts like joe rogan, you could easily overcome this issue. Everyone is very well-spoken, so the talent is there -- the free-talking coordination just isn't, yet. Also, I think you guys shouldn't shy away from making these videos extra long -- discussion videos (podcasts) arent negatively affected by length, and perhaps having some extra time will allow more feedom for everyone to say what they want to say. Lastly (and this is just my personal opinion), I feel like Spurg's comments about cruisers declining in popularity (compared to other bike types) is JUST FACT. I'm not sure why this was dismissed as unimportant. I'm not bashing cruisers at all, I think they are beautiful, but if you guys want to really start a podcast series about motorcycles in general -- you need to properly acknowledge the trends and address why its happening. This cruiser decline issue is closely linked to why Harley Davidson is suffereing these days -- the cruiser has an image of being old, obnoxious, and worst of all -- its associtated with "bikers and biker culture." Kids who buy motorcycles these days want their bikes to be associated with the larger sports, fashion, or adventure culture -- not "bike culture." In other words, pretty much every bike category apart from cruisers and choppers fit into these larger mainstream cultures. Think about it dudes~
"the cruiser has an image of being old, obnoxious, and worst of all -- its associtated with "bikers and biker culture." Kids who buy motorcycles these days want their bikes to be associated with the larger sports, fashion, or adventure culture -- not "bike culture."" I don't know if there is any objective evidence to support that theory. I would love to hear some, but I think it has more to do with Harley Davidson's prices and lack of value than any kind of an image. I'm hoping a younger person who's used to comparing tech products before they buy them would do the same with a motorcycle they are about to buy. They would look at a Sportster or a Street 750 and even on Harley Davidson's website there just isn't much to talk about to sell those motorcycles besides the brand and the brands history. Once they compared a similarly priced motorcycle from another manufacturer they wouldn't ever go back to Harley Davidson's webpage again. Now I don't have any objective evidence that back that up either, but I hope the younger generation isn't swayed by Harley Davidson's brand and can see through the marketing and see what they are actually getting for their money.
I can't talk about the USA but in many European states the market share of cruisers is declining indeed. It's not because the buyers value performance over style, other retro/heritage bikes are setting very well and some such as Ducati Scrambler or RnineT have been huge hits. It's not because of H-D either, in fact H-D grew recently thanks to all but 2 other manufacturers either pulling out or reducing their cruiser offer greatly. It may be due to the associated "American biker culture", retro bikes offer great looks without it and sell well. It may be due to prices, except for the GS most of the well-sold bikes are not at the top of their class: MT-07 and 09 sell better than 10, so do Z650 and 900 compared to 1000...
@@robertp457 Hey man! I'm sure there's some objective evidence to support my opinion out there -- but my point is definitely meant to be subjective. It's just my opinion as a late twenties rider, and I definitely don't speak for all riders in my age group. However, I am willing to bet that i'm not a minority in holding these opinions.
Rode Honda’s for many years. Took an ace and bobbed it out. Absolutely loved it . Then I bought a 2019 Harley and was like .... NOW I GET IT. I absolutely love it . And that’s after test riding the new Goldwing . The Road Glide Special I bought is just awesome.
I get tired of people waxing romantically about the death of the Dyna when: 1) They are still available on the used market and 2) the only thing going for the Dyna was their price. They were the cheapest motorcycles in Harley Davidson's full sized motorcycle line.
My point was that harleys can be sporty and great fun un canyons and stunt riding (nationallmotors). Of course the big ones are mostly for hauling miles (cbearstunts being an exception) my examples are instagram accounts. 🤘🏻😎⚡️
Each type of bike brings a different slice of fun to the table. I've owned sports bikes, unfaired bikes, dual sport/scramblers and cruisers. I've loved them all for different reasons but the most fun will always be off road for me but I'll always wanna get out on the Harley to meet up with everyone down the road or do a road trip on. Has a great social & riding balance. I'd have a sports bike these days purely for track days again once the bank balance allows lol!
I wouldn't be caught dead on a cruiser, but that isn't what matters. It's not what you ride, it's the fact that you ride at all. Hating is the first step on the path to squiding.
Cruisers. For me the most comfortable seating position. On longer trips I have a bag strapped to my sissybar anyway which gives me good back support. No pressure on my wrists, no stretching my neck to hold the head up and a relaxed knee angle. I like the torque, the aircooled engine, the low center of gravity, the heavy weight in strong winds, the metal instead of plastic parts, the maintenance free belt drive, the sound, old school style and overall feel when riding. Also when loaded up with luggage I don't have to perform a kung fu kick to get on or off the bike.
ADV rider myself, but you made me laugh because the first few times I rode my KTM ADV, that's literally what it looks like when you try to get on one. Your description of why you like your cruiser is also why I like driving hot rods (67 Nova). Its loud, simple to work on, great style, relaxing. Its impractical as shit, but who cares.
@@Deaddriftbum I don't hate just choose not to participate. My big issue is the Harley culture seems to think a bandana will protect them. I take safety very seriously and that's something the Harley culture doesn't seem to do.
Andrew Gisler HD rider here! I wear a full face helmet, kevlar riding shirt and kevlar jeans. I am not a big fan of leathers but wear a leather jacket when weather gets below 50 (blocks wind really well). We aren’t one description fits all type of riders. I am also not a brand snob. Will ride with anybody no matter the bike. This HD vs everyone else BS is just that...BS.
Cruisers actually have great ergos, they just need to be adjusted a smidge. 1.The factory wants scooped seats to look kewl. Get a pad or three and fill in that hole. 2. Dump the forward pegs for floorboards. This gives you legs infinitely more support at speed and over time. 3. Recycle the goofy, swoopy handlebars and get something reasonably wide and flat. 4. For higher speed interstate riding, add a windscreen and fork wind breakers. I've had a couple bikes like this and both were all day comfortable.
Hey guys, keep these long-form discussions coming! I didn't particularly care for this topic, but I think you're all fun to listen to and clearly knowledgeable. I could see this becoming a regular podcast type of production. I'd rather listen to you all BS about bikes for half an hour than watch most of these other moto vloggers. Cheers.
My motto, since owning a 2014 ultra then a 2018 chieftain ( amoung several naked cruisers) is, if you can't ride a bagger hard enough to get your adrenaline flowing, you're not a good enough rider yet. Keep challenging yourself! I'm comfortable, I have tunes and built in navigation, a power windshield and I go fast on a twisty road. There's no downside.
1st of all, the Harley glides and the road king are all touring bikes not cruisers. I have 2 cruisers , 1984 FXST evo soft tail and 2016 fat boy twin Cam. With bars, seat and peg adjustments I can load either of these bikes and go 500 miles A-day on a 2000 mile trip comfortably. They both put out around 110/105 and have all the speed and quickness I will ever want. The carbureted evo has the feel and engine sound I love. I do need extra padded gloves to go with the custom seat for a long haul. The old kicker 4 spd is better suited for old hihgways than 85 mph Interstates. With the Mustang seat and 12" Carlini bars I can stay on the road for very long mile runs on the Fat Boy. As I am 6'4" I need to throw away the crash bars and highway pegs and move the running boards forward 2 or three inches. That's the thing with Harley cruisers. You can make them fit you with a few bolt ons. I love my softail cruisers. I do have a 1976 KZ900 with big bore kit and big cams I picked up in 1979, but it sits in the garage now. It has a King and Queen seat and can also do the long miles but not as comfortably. If this tall old 65 yr old can still do the miles on these cruisers, I suspect a lot of other riders can do whatever ride they want on a cruiser.
"Harley glides and the road king are all touring bikes not cruiser" They are built on cruiser frames, have cruiser ergonomics, and a bit slow spinning V-twin. It's a cruiser.
I own two non traditional cruisers and love them. One is a third generation Honda Magna the other is the Honda CTX1300. Both are liquid cooled and have sport bike acceleration with excellent handling and are bullet proof and comfortable for long rides. Both have V4 engines, one is installed longitudinal the other transverse to the chassis. One is chain drive the other shaft. Being in the senior age of riders I can no longer ride sport bikes but with these bikes I can have both comfort and fairly good performance and ride on long trips still and not worry about maintenance issues. I still do all my own maintenance on my bikes because I like doing it. It allows me more knowledge how the machines work. It all goes back to ride what you like and let the other person ride what they like. We motorcyclists are the minority, and need to stick together not argue over which bike we ride and devide ourselves by what bike or brand we ride.
Started on a Standard, got a Cruiser and toured the Country. Finally got an ADV bike, and it blows the Cruiser away in every category except the classic looks.
I think a lot of my generation are interested in rider safety. While I love riding HDs I don't I'd own one as my day to day bike because of the safety issue, too heavy and the brakes just don't stop the bike fast enough when compared to other types of motorcycles
5'6, and I can't use a dual sport or ADV as a daily commute ride. I like a lot of sport bikes, but I prefer a cruiser for the seat height...hell if they started making scooters higher than 650cc(that didn't look like a land barge I would be riding that too, and I have a suzuki burgman 650). I have a SV650, and suzuki Burgman.
5'5" here. I picked up the Versys-x, and I can touch enough that I don't hate life. Worth looking into if you were looking for an adv that is good for short riders.
Did 3700km on a Street Triple (Naked Daytona) last year and the body position was perfect. Not one body part was tortured and I had a number of seating options to shake things up. Movent is key as is using your legs to support your back.
I really enjoyed this discussion and owning multiple motorcycles myself I never really put any thoughts into the why I was accumulating different brands and styles. I think you guys hit many points there and yes I am the style of guy who want a specific tool for a job and like flaws into my bikes to give them a personality. Excellent video, continue your good work. I don’t know if you reach your entire audience with this video but you definitely reach the purists and I love it.
That confirms it. Spurg and I are basically the same person. I really enjoy these videos. When does the podcast start? :D Also "...I have great credit for a reason!" lol so good.
@@SpurgeonDunbar Is that the thing when you buy a guitar and you forget about it in storage for years? Or is that when you're addicted and spending burger money on pedals and pickups and stuff. I am the former personally. I don't know much, but there doesn't seem like much middle ground when it comes to guitar habits!
I love my 12' Yamaha Raider S cruiser. Its the best of both worlds. Its a mean looking chopper inspired Yamaha with 113ci/1854cc, 85hp to the wheel stock motor with 40 degree rake, up angle 4.2gal gas tank, and 210mm stock rear tire. I can throw a 250mm on the stock swing arm and rim and have no problems. And with the right aftermarket pipes, (Freedom Performance Sharp Curve Radius) it sounds great. And on long trips I throw my quick disconnect saddle bags on and I have plenty of storage. So it looks great in town as a cruiser and hauls all I want on long trips as a bagger. Love my Yamaha Raider S cruiser!
Great conversation guys. One correction on the TC and M8 regarding the M8 was built to shake more. You need to further breakdown the TC A and B models. The TC B is balanced and rigid mounted whereas the A is rubber mounted and shakes wayyyyyy more than the M8. They actually reduced vibration in the M8 compared to the TC A engines.
Great to hear honest opinions from seasoned riders. I think that you nailed it...everyone is looking for a ‘Swiss Army Knife’ bike that can do everything (Goldwing?)...bottom line, there is always that lust for a comfortable Sunday ride that rattles and roars, an aggressive canyon carver and a long distance tourer! I’ve traded in my Electra Glide Ultra for a Goldwing a couple of years ago and love the sporty handling of the ‘Wing’, but I miss the sound and rattle of the Harley! Ideally, in a perfect world where money is no object, I would have a Ducati, Goldwing and Road King in my garage! Great show...keep the conversations coming!
Preference. I'm living in Florida now, so Cruisers are a blast to ride with the weather and no helmet... When I used to live in DC, smaller displacements, maybe a 600, was the weapon of choice. I love ALL bikes.
Spurge misses the point completely about cruisers. Sort of like him missing the point of putting on a fresh t-shirt when you are doing a video for the company you work for on youtube.
Spurgy, my lad, your passionate first words "Hate them" warmed my heart and endeared you to me. 😂 Also, I think you have a point about the American market. Here in Europe it's a bit different. Harleys actually sell quite well, strangely enough, but they have the lowest brand loyalty, possibly because they're not really good on narrow twisty roads. The biggest segments are adventure tourers like the GS and the KTM SAS and the nakeds.
Different Strokes for Different Folks guys. Great debate I really did enjoy it but gotta put my two bobs worth in. What I love about motorcycles is the vast options available for all of us different folks and......suited to......."what type of riding we do" . I wouldn't own alot of various types of bikes but I do have a total appreciation for them. Same as im not into bling bling cars but am happy to see someone else happy to spend their money on them.
I can buy 3 brand new UJM’s or 1 Harley. Let’s see Honda dual sport, Triumph Bobber, and Honda Grom= $20k! Or 1 HD Heritage= $20k !!! I am with Spurge on this one!!!
If you dont pretend they're Harleys I won't pretend they don't exist? Neither of them would replace the Bobber, Grom or dual sport in any way, shape or form.
@@johnjacob688 They maybe affordable in HD terms, but there are better options in performance, quality and value from almost any other manufacturer. You can't even claim they are 'Made in America', even patriotism won't sweeten the deal.
If you PERSONALLY do not like a “cruiser” fine so be it. But don’t start making up reason why they are “not good”. If I ever needed the benefits of a Adventure bike I would happily buy one. Do I knock anyone who rides them because they are not my personal style, nope. You do you boo.
Sport bike riders tend to be really insecure when it comes to cruisers and how many people love them. So they bring in the elitist attitude and complain about performance while completely ignoring every other characteristic of a motorcycle.
@@derek96720 I guess it all depends on where you are riding. The Cruiser guys around here are the only people with elitists attitudes and won't even acknowledge you if your not on a HD. "Get a real bike bro."
@@derek96720 on the internet it is hard to tell whether some extreme Harley fanboys came first shitting on the faster lighter genuinely more hightech bike first, claiming it was jap crap and exclusively plastic or whether they started making fun of Harley first.
I've been enjoying the video series you've been doing, but honestly this video on cruisers left me feeling like you guys beat the subject to death. I just couldn't finish it. Keep up the series though. I'll keep watching.
Great discussion guys! :) I want to add why I love cruisers: in the real world when riding, it has massive torque in any gear at any speed. !! Someone merging on your right? doesn't see you? a LITTLE flick of the throttle even at 35mph or less IN TOP GEAR and you are instantly ahead of them. No need to downshift 3 gears. :) I won't mention why I don't like cruisers. Cruisers have a place, depending on what we want or need, that's why they are still popular (Well, for Harley's it's also the community!! Huge PLUS there.)
Both my legs are amputated below the knees, I built a KZ750 bobber with a rigged frame. I built my bike low for I have no ankles to put my toes down when on those high seated bikes. I had a katana 750 and after loosing my legs there was no way I could ride it safely. I ride my bike many miles my butt and back is never an issue. My hands are and no mater what I ride they will get sore, I don't cry about it I ride on. My thing is ride what you like. if you want super comfort get in your cager and go. I love the look of cruisers.
yes, pleas do a chopper episode. I'm preparing to build my first one and i would love to hear an open minded opinion.. 300 rear, spring front end chopper.
The guy in the middle is the most reasonable one. Polite, speaks succintly, and makes good points. The rest of the discussion is just an extra to make the video longer.
In my ~20-year riding career, I've ridden both sportbikes and cruisers. For me, cruisers are like muscle cars with loud pipes and (often) huge torque. The two cruisers I've owned were a 2003 Honda Shadow Sabre 1100cc and a 2005 Yamaha Roadstar Warrior ~1700cc. Both were fantastic. However, for real on-the-road performance, I had to go back to sportbikes because I was constantly riding my cruisers at "11" - I was out-riding the capability of the bikes. For sportbikes, I've owned a 2001 Suzuki SV650S, a 2005 Honda F4i, a 2003 Honda Interceptor, and a 2007 Suzuki SV650S. All were fantastic, but really hard to ride on long rides. A few years ago, I found the perfect combination of comfort and performance (for me) - naked bikes. My current bike, a 2015 Triumph Speed Triple 1050 is my favorite all-time bike - the perfect blend of cruiser appearance (and ergonomics) with a superbike's performance. I adore it. In fact, even if I had limitless funds, there's no other bike on the market I'd rather have. All that being said, if my father-in-law offers me the chance to ride my old Sabre again (I sold it to him), I'd jump at it! I love 'em all! :)
Just traded a 99 fatboy (1340cc) for 2012 Road King, the fatboy was okay around town but If i took it on a long ride, say Tucson to Vegas (430 miles) without windshield it would beat me up pretty good and that 5 speed tranny was just not happening and no storage space. The Roadking (1690cc) just gets down the road and having that extra gear really makes things nice. I ride with a small windshield and I can ride at 90 mph without taking a beating and I can pack things in the saddlebags. I loved the fatboy, but the Road King gives me a better riding experience.
I'm only halfway through the video so apologies if this was covered but I think the main thing Spurge is missing out is the culture surrounding cruisers. A big part of why people are drawn to motorcycles in the first place is because they want to look and feel like the bike riders they see in Movies and hear about in songs. And like Lemmy said, the "emotional performance" is more important to some people than all out performance. It's perfectly OK in my opinion for someone to just want to feel like Arnie in Terminator 2 and feel like a badass riding through town with their buddies. Cruisers and Harleys are disproportionately represented in popular culture and have a cultural gravitas to them. I have a Boulevard c50 which I love next to my F650gs and my Vtr1000 streetfighter which I also love. I still love my big bully because it makes me feel great to just cruise. Great show otherwise, but I'll echo some of the other commenters here - let each other lay out their points and finish their sentences before you start dissecting their argument. It makes for a more positive, productive discussion and a more listen able show
I am a short guy just getting into it, cruisers are why I am getting into it because of seat height and predictable power output. As well I just love how they look
The weird quirks give a satisfying feeling of "this is mine". The whole "no-one knows my bike like I do"... In a way being proud of its flaws. Which I believe is one of the best parts of ownership and is what I believe is what y'all where trying to get at.
Loved the discussion. First and foremost, let me say that if you're on a 2 wheeled or even 3 wheeled vehicle, you rock! In fact, I have a soft spot in my heart for even those tiny little moped/scooters which can also be a hell of a lot of fun. (I've even heard a few of those guys argue that you have to have bigger balls to be on smaller wheels. Not sure I agree, but it does seem like a good argument.) That said, I do think you missed a point where it comes to cruisers - ART! I feel cruisers are very much an art form that anyone with a deep familiarity or even a simple appreciation of the internal combustion engine can understand. To me, this "art" is almost hidden on modern bullet bikes and seems to be reduced to a basic utility on dirt bikes. Nothing wrong with that - to each his/her own. But on a cruiser, you have all kinds of unnecessary (chrome) extras that can only exist in the world of art. Even the general stereotype of what cruiser rider is might be confused for an artist. Anyway, that's my 2-cents. Ride free ...at least until it's time to get some more gas. ;-)
I think Lemmy's comment about anthropomorphizing one's ride because of its flaws is what makes me love my FZ 09. Her name is Orangina, and in my mind, she has a very stoic, but gentle personality. Like she knows she's a wild creature, but she treats me patiently while I slowly grow as a rider and learn to tap into her power.
My first street bike was a old Japanese cruiser because it was cheap. Any motorcycle is better than no motorcycle but getting rid of it and getting an adventure bike made me a happy boy! Beyond the ride position I find most of my friends who have cruisers the image is more important than riding. Your mileage may vary
