Moving from a Sport Bike to a Cruiser...

[chwilson0607]

I just purchased a previously owned Kawasaki Vulcan Classic 1500. I had previously been riding a 2005 Suzuki SV650S. After riding this past year, based on the kind of riding I was doing, I decided a cruiser would be better for me. IMHO, sports are just really not that comfortable for travelling longer distances.

With that, what kind of changes can I expect in riding a cruiser v. a sportbike? (cornering, for example)

Also - the previous owner had some custom foot pegs and gear shifts installed. Your feet are sort of stretched out in front of you. I was thinking of getting some new ones and moving them back to a more "stock" position. I am new to body work - is this something relatively easy to do or does it vary according to bike manufacturer? Thanks...

Carl

[Sev]

Greater turning radius, reduced cornering clearance, more pressure on your lower back and hips.

[safety-boy]

I find cruisers to be as uncomfortable. Leaning back all the time and the wind resistance are h3ll on your shoulder and neck muscles on long rides.

Standards are the best, in my experience. The wife's (mine, sort of) Ninja 500-R is an all day rider. Took a five hour trip on it with no stress. Legs get a bit stiff, but I am a little tall for it, and have bad knees anyway.

As above, the handling on a cruiser is worse. The bigger engine/higher torque make distance riding better, and the weight and softer suspension should keep the road rumble down a lot.

Your feet are sort of stretched out in front of you.

That might just be the way the pegs are, unless they are obviously out of place. Kawa pegs are pretty easy to replace - pin, spring, clip.

--Dave

[Wrider]

Since you have the cruiser, get a windshield for it if you don't already have one... It really does make all the difference in the world when riding anywhere above 30 MPH.
Wrider

[DivideOverflow]

My dad has the 1500 Nomad. I've piloted that barge a couple times... I'll fill you in to some of the differences.

The bike hates U-turns. It is like trying to U-turn a mac truck. It has a very long wheelbase, and the bike is very very heavy. It goes around normal corners fine, once you get used to it.

Very comfortable cruising. The bike has the stock seat, and I could ride it all day. You can switch your pegs closer quite easily. Look for instructions online somewhere (for that particular bike). Vulcan owners group, perhaps?

My dad actually wants to trade down to a smaller bike because the 1500 is almost too big for around town. It is great for highway rides where you don't turn, but it can be a real pain when corners and turning are involved. It is also pretty heavy, and bothers his knee at stoplights. You can't really keep the bike straight up at stoplights due to the floorboards on the Nomad, and he has a bad knee anyways.

If you are doing distance riding, definitely go for the windshield, it makes a big difference. I went on the highway with his bike, and at 80mph no wind was even touching me.

[Loonette]

I moved from a sports bike to a cruiser a couple of years ago, and once my body adjusted to the new riding position, I was fine. No back problems ever (except that I do need to get a new seat for my Mean Streak, but that seems typical with a lot of bikes). I use a windshield for long distance rides or when it's cold outside. However, this summer I rode a lot without the windshield at speeds of 80 MPH or higher and I never got sore arms or shoulders - and I'm only 5'3" tall with a short torso.

You will have to adjust your riding style a bit for things like cornering, but again, it just takes some time to get used to it. I ride my cruiser almost exclusively, but once in awhile I'll hop on my husband's ZRX, and while it's very different from my bike, it doesn't take long for the brain and body to adjust.

Ride it for awhile with the foot controls still in their forward position and see how it feels. Same with a windshield - ride for awhile without one, and then decide if you want to add that.

Cheers,
Loonette

[safety-boy]

...I never got sore arms or shoulders - and I'm only 5'3" tall with a short torso.

I am 6' and my body is like a sail on a cruiser I gust of wind hit me once, and my speed dropped 15mph!

Smaller cruisers can be fun around town. The handling is not too bad at low speeds, up to 45mph or so. There always seems to be a huge feel difference to me, but after riding a bit everything falls into place.

Personally, I say I'd never go back to a cruiser, but that new Meanstreak is a SWEET looking bike

--Dave

[Loonette]

I am 6' and my body is like a sail on a cruiser I gust of wind hit me once, and my speed dropped 15mph!

I have taken visual notice that taller people look a bit awkward on a cruiser if they are hunched over. Because of the reach involved for me, my back stays in a more elongated stance - I've described it before as similar to the leaf spring of a car (anyone remember what those are?)

... but that new Meanstreak is a SWEET looking bike

No kidding - it has all the chrome bits blacked out, which is what I eventually want to have done to my bike. If I had only waited one more year... Anyway, IMO the Mean Streak is such a great handling cruiser, it doesn't seem to fit the same mold as most cruisers out there. I know it's much different than the Shadow Spirit I used to own, but those are my only two reference points for cruisers.

Cheers,
Loonette

[MotoF150]

Mr. chwilson0607, A cruiser bike is uncomfortable for long trips, any cruiser bike is harder to handle than any sport bike, the heavy steering on a cruiser bike will physicially wear you out and you have to fight a cruiser bike for it to handle. Im switching from a cruiser bike to a sport bike cause I want a comfortable long distance ride.

[blues2cruise]

I never rode a sportbike. I learned on a cruiser and do all my riding on a cruiser.
I've gone on road trips on my cruiser. I find that it is just fine for comfort and handling.

As for the weight when doing a u-turn....how often do you really need to do a u-turn? And.....who cares if you have to put your feet down to complete a u-turn?

I couldn't imagine going on a road trip on a sport bike because with the forward body position with the head looking up position would be hard on my neck.