So, getting back on 2 wheels

Rilot · 11 Sep 2011 at 17:15

My health has now improved to the point where I'm looking to get back on 2 wheels. It's been over a year and my god does it itch.
Unfortunately, my usual staple of sports bikes and streetfighters isn't going to cut it any longer. The old reactions aren't good enough and I WILL be tempted to play silly buggers with the throttle and the back wheel.

So, cruiser time.

This is my short list:

Triumph Rocket III 2300cc I3

Suzuki M1800R 1800cc V2

What do you think?
I'm leaning towards the Suzuki at the moment as I can get a better one for the same money as a miley Rocket but, there is something pulling me towards that 2.3L engine in the rocket.

The Suzuki just looks so clean though. Very tidy lines and by all accounts, handles very well indeed for a cruiser.

Rilot · 11 Sep 2011 at 19:31

I'd love a NightRod but they have a Harley Tax associated with them. Plus they don't seem to fit. Harley riders hate them as they aren't an agricultural push-rod engine and Jap bike riders hate them because they are a Harley.

Rilot · 11 Sep 2011 at 22:56

duc999 said:
Ducati Diavel would be my choice.

Mine too, but with the cheapest in the UK at the moment being £11.3k, they are nearly double what I was planning to spend.

I am planning on spending £7k tops.

Rilot · 15 Sep 2011 at 22:55

Well, I've ridden them and it's looking like the Suzuki is going to be the one.
It feels very, very right and sounds great. The Rocket felt rather top heavy.

Rilot · 16 Sep 2011 at 22:16

atpbx said:
Much as they are comedy motorbikes as far as handling and performance go, if you are hell bent on (wrongly) heading down the gay cruiser route, it has to be the genuine article. such as the monstrosity pictured.

The acceleration of the Rocket and the Intruder 1800 isn't really comedy in the sense you are getting at. They are both, very fast in a straight line. Both handle reasonably well for bikes of this type too.

Rilot · 17 Sep 2011 at 19:03

Not really knock offs. They are cruisers. I suppose though if all cruisers are knock-offs of HD's bikes then you can call any modern Jap 4 a knock-off of the old GPZ600R which was the first middleweight, accessible 4-cyl sports bike with a fairing that handled.

Personally I wouldn't have a Harley as the Japs and Brits do similar stuff but better.

Rilot · 17 Sep 2011 at 22:10

atpbx said:
As has already been mentioned, there are other, better alternatives to dodgy cruisering about.

We've had two suggestions so far, a dull BMW R and a Ducati I can't afford.
This is what I've ridden over the last few weeks:

Speed Triple 1050 - Too twitchy
Aprilia Tuono R - See Speed Triple 1050
Hayabusa 1300 K9 - I don't have the arm strength any more to support the sports riding position
Tiger 1050 - Owned one before, it was ace but too tall for me really

My recent bike history:
Triumph Tiger 1050
Aprilia RSV1000 Factory
Cagiva X-Raptor
Suzuki Hayabusa
Suzuki GSXR1100

With my current outlook on life, everything keeps drawing me towards a cruiser but I really don't see why so many people hate them so much. Every time I tell a biker I'm looking to get a cruiser I always get the response "Why? They're ****" IMO they are relaxing, fun, good to look at and fun to modify.
The other thing is that when I finally do stop being able to ride on two wheels, I can turn it in to a trike.

I suppose I could look at an old V-Max. It seems to be the only cruiser that doesn't have a stigma.

Rilot · 18 Sep 2011 at 10:20

atpbx said:
Because however good they are "for a cruiser" in the handling and speed stakes, they are light years away from proper bikes in the handling and speed stakes.
If you want what you say you want from a cruiser then a Harley is the ONLY way to go, the sound, the accesories, the scene, the quality of build etc etc, only Harley Davidson offer the full "lifestyle" option which you are after.

If you are going sacrifice everything a decent road bike offers by getting a cruiser, then at least get the brand that will give you the most of "everything else" (tassles, leather waist coats, studs, moustaches) that you are after.

I dont know whether its a sensitive subject for discussion, but what exactly is up with your health? was it an accident or is it illness?

Illness. I have multiple sclerosis.

I see your point but I'm not a Harley person. The only HD I'm interested in is the V-Rod but then I'm going to be ignored by both schools of biking. HD owners hate V-Rod owners because the V-Rod isn't an agricultural, pushrod, 2 valve piece of lard, and all other bikers hate V-Rod riders because it's a Harley.