From sports bike to cruiser

MrKeeno

MrKeeno

MrKeeno

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Joined
13 Mar 2004
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Derry
Looking for some opinions on this guys. I have always had cruisers but decided recently to give the sports bikes a go so bought a 2004 zx6r.

The speed and performance of the zx is obviously far greater than any cruiser but I just dont enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I sat on a friends vn900 the other day and it was like sitting on your favourite armchair, it just felt instantly better.

I have been offered a straight swap for a Suzuki Marauder vz800, the bike is in immaculate condition and has been very well looked after by the current owner. The 2 bikes are worth roughly the same amount of money so its a fair deal.

What do you all think?
 
What didn't you enjoy, the speed? the rawness? the comfort? riding position?

If I was in your position I would go out and test ride as many bikes as I could all types then you will know what type you like, other than your cruisers of course :p
Maybe try something like a Fazer 1000 or CB1000?
 
Fireskull said:
What didn't you enjoy, the speed? the rawness? the comfort? riding position?

If I was in your position I would go out and test ride as many bikes as I could all types then you will know what type you like, other than your cruisers of course :p
Maybe try something like a Fazer 1000 or CB1000?
Click to expand...

I would add the bigger CB1300 and XJ1300 to that as well.
 
Rossi~ said:
I would add the bigger CB1300 and XJ1300 to that as well.
Click to expand...

I can definatley vouch for the XJR1300, it's a big ol comfy retro cruiser, kept mine for 10 years before i finally parted with it, which in hindsight, is something i regret.
 
Fireskull said:
What didn't you enjoy, the speed? the rawness? the comfort? riding position?
Click to expand...

Sorry its took so long for me to update this.

For me the thing about the zx6r is the rawness and lack of comfort, I find it hard to relax. On my cruiser I could sit back and enjoy the scenery a lot more.

I have read up on a lot of comments about peoples wrists hurting on sportsbikes, most have said that the rider needs to adjust how they sit on the bike so I have been giving that a go, it has helped a bit tbh.
 
I bought a ZX7R had it for 4 weeks did a 1000 miles on it then realised it just wasn't for me, I'm 6ft 5 so it was uncomfortable & riding around like a Loon is not safe or what I want to do but it's hard to go slow on a race bike.
I got a BMW F650 Funduro an earlier version of the GS mentioned above, Owning my F650 is like night & day compared to the sports bike as I can ride it all day without issue & the riding position is perfect for me. The bike is also much more suitable for All weather riding & dealing with our **** roads. Great fun to ride a 650 single as well, It's like an old DT175 but with untold torque. :cool:
 
Yeah I also have that problem with speed, riding at legal speeds on a sportsbike feels ridiculously slow for some reason :)
 
Ive just gone from the daytona to the zedthou and love it actually makes me realize how much i didn't enjoy sports bikes.
 
On the ZX7R If I just tweaked it up through the box when I started to **** myself & shut off the clock was coming back past 130, All on a private track of course.
Now on my F650 I sit bolt upright & play with the torque between 30 & 90 & feel like I'm the nutz instead of some inexperienced idiot clinging on to a bike that is well beyond me & UK roads.
My F650 is comfortable good in all conditions & suits my noob level of riding, It's built my confidence & taught me how to ride where as the ZX7R was just showing which way Death was. :p
 
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