Welcome to NESR! Most features of this site require registration, including replying to threads, sending private messages, starting new threads, and uploading files. Click here to register.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 46

Cruiser style Bikes, whats good??

  1. #1
    Default hondarider102's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Lancaster
    Posts
    1,558

    Cruiser style Bikes, whats good??

    Although i never thought i would do it, i'm looking for a cruiser of some sort! As much as i want a Streetglide, that will just have to wait a few years! I'm looking to spend 2-3k. Whats good in that price range? what size should i be looking for? is an 800 enough or am i going to be wishing i went with something in the 12-1600 range? I know sportbikes well, i know next to nothing about cruisers!

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Corey

  2. #2
    Lifer PhilB's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Pittsfield, NH
    Age
    61
    Posts
    3,137

    Re: Cruiser style Bikes, whats good??

    For that, you might be able to get an older Honda Magna 750. Good Honda quality, good strong V-4 engine (related to the VFR750 engine).

    PhilB

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    "A free man must be able to endure it when his fellow men act and live otherwise than he considers proper." -- Ludwig von Mises
    1993 Ducati Monster M900; 265,000 miles -- killed by minivan 30Oct17

  3. #3
    Lifer Falko's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    MoonTown
    Posts
    5,102

    Re: Cruiser style Bikes, whats good??

    Older MeanStreak ??

    1 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  4. #4
    Senior Member MHenry600's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Concord NH
    Age
    36
    Posts
    601

    Re: Cruiser style Bikes, whats good??

    For that kind of cash you would be right in the area of early 00's Honda Shadows (750 or 1100cc), Yamaha Vstars (650 or 1100cc), or Kawasaki Vulcan (800-1000cc). All of the Jap cruisers are pretty similar to me, and can be pretty decent for what I know of cruisers. Sure, they're no Harley, but they're still pretty decent for what they are. Much more reliable usually too.

    My girlfriends brother has had a couple different Shadows and a VStar now, just because he buys and sells, then buys again a year or two later, but they've been pretty decent bikes. Not for me, but still nice.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  5. #5
    Senior Member MHenry600's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Concord NH
    Age
    36
    Posts
    601

    Re: Cruiser style Bikes, whats good??

    Quote Originally Posted by Falko View Post
    Older MeanStreak ??
    Might be close to that price range for a Mean Streak, and a guy I work with loved his until it got backed into. 1600 too, so it will have plenty of grunt.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  6. #6
    Super Moderator TheIglu's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Royalston, MA
    Age
    43
    Posts
    21,762

    Re: Cruiser style Bikes, whats good??

    Vmax.

    2 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    2021 KTM Duke 890 R
    2016 BMW S1000XR
    1982 Honda CB750F Super Sport

  7. #7
    Default hondarider102's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Lancaster
    Posts
    1,558

    Re: Cruiser style Bikes, whats good??

    Does anyone know what years these cruisers started using FI? i would really like to stick to FI but will go carbed if need be, thanks guys!

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Corey

  8. #8
    Senior Member gamorg02's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    cny
    Age
    39
    Posts
    703

    Re: Cruiser style Bikes, whats good??

    Quote Originally Posted by TheIglu View Post
    Vmax.
    +1

    Quote Originally Posted by hondarider102 View Post
    Does anyone know what years these cruisers started using FI? i would really like to stick to FI but will go carbed if need be, thanks guys!
    vmax never did unless you start looking at gen2.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  9. #9
    Satans Donkey Uncle Snake's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Central VT
    Age
    57
    Posts
    2,734

    Re: Cruiser style Bikes, whats good??

    If I bought a cruiser it would be a Honda VTX1100 or 1800. V-Max would be a close second.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Jake
    2006 ZX-10R
    1999 Kawasaki ZRX1100

  10. #10
    Senior Member MHenry600's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Concord NH
    Age
    36
    Posts
    601

    Re: Cruiser style Bikes, whats good??

    Quote Originally Posted by hondarider102 View Post
    Does anyone know what years these cruisers started using FI? i would really like to stick to FI but will go carbed if need be, thanks guys!
    I don't think a lot of them went FI until almost 2010 or so. For the price range you're looking, it might be tough to find anything not carb. I wouldn't let that scare you away from something you like otherwise.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  11. #11
    Lifer jasnmar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Chichester, NH
    Posts
    4,409

    Re: Cruiser style Bikes, whats good??

    Early model Honda VTX 1300 can be found in the $3k+ ish price range.

    I rode one for ~5 years, and it was absolutely bullet proof.
    Change tires.
    Change oil.
    Add fuel.

    Not in that order, but you get it.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  12. #12
    Lifer 01xj's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    CT
    Age
    38
    Posts
    1,854

    Re: Cruiser style Bikes, whats good??

    I had a Shadow 750 when I started riding. Having ridden a multitude of different style bikes I would say that even though the 750 does fine with one person, I wouldn't get anything smaller than 1,000cc cruiser for two up comfort plus some weight in hard bags or accessories.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  13. #13
    Lifer
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Posts
    16,509

    Re: Cruiser style Bikes, whats good??

    Meh. I have a buddy that bought a Shadow 750 Phantom a couple years ago. IIRC this was the first Shadow 750 with EFI. It looked great from a distance. But up close it was chinsy and had meh build quality. Lots of plastic. Around town it was fun. But it weeeeeeeezed on the highway. My DL650 would smoke that thing to 100. They only have ONE throttle body. IIRC the carb versions only had one carb.

    I'd pass on the Shadow 750.

    I test rode a new Bolt recently. It sucked worse than the Shadow.

    I rode a friends Kawasaki Vulcan 800 a few years ago. It looked like a Harley (kind of). It sounded a lot like a Harley. And it went reasonably good. Although I only rode it around town. It could have been as anemic on the highway too.

    VTX 1100 or 1300 would be higher on my list.

    I happen to know someone selling a Valkyrie.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  14. #14
    Rookie Rada's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Granville, NY
    Age
    53
    Posts
    1,878

    Re: Cruiser style Bikes, whats good??

    I had an 05 Boulevard M50. Fun for about 30 miles at a time. Even at that my ass would be begging for mercy. For short rips it was a fun. Handled well and had pretty good brakes. Also was FI. A friend had a VTX. Way more comfortable.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  15. #15
    I hardly know ‘er Spooler's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Worcester
    Age
    43
    Posts
    1,064

    Re: Cruiser style Bikes, whats good??

    My dad had an 80's honda magna 750 which is probably his favorite bike he's owned. He also had amid 2000's shadow 1100 and a 2011 vulcan 1700, both of which he was ultimately unsatisfied with. FWIW he's currently riding a Concours 14, so that's the completely different direction he went after the vulcan.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    2019 Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE
    2022 Husqvarna fe501s

  16. #16
    Default hondarider102's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Lancaster
    Posts
    1,558
    Wirelessly posted

    Quote Originally Posted by Spooler955
    My dad had an 80's honda magna 750 which is probably his favorite bike he's owned. He also had amid 2000's shadow 1100 and a 2011 vulcan 1700, both of which he was ultimately unsatisfied with. FWIW he's currently riding a Concours 14, so that's the completely different direction he went after the vulcan.
    Any idea why he disliked the Vulcan so much?

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Corey

  17. #17
    I hardly know ‘er Spooler's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Worcester
    Age
    43
    Posts
    1,064

    Re: Cruiser style Bikes, whats good??

    Quote Originally Posted by hondarider102 View Post
    Wirelessly posted



    Any idea why he disliked the Vulcan so much?
    He definitely didn't hate it, but he thought it was overly vibey (not sure what he was expecting from a v-twin cruiser), it consumed quite a bit of oil (according to Kawasaki it was within spec, I don't remember exactly how much it was), and he said the fit and finish weren't great. Having said all that, my dad kind of sucks at bikes and tends to be disappointed with most bikes and cars he owns. I don't think he ever had a serious mechanical problem with any of those bikes, except the magna needed a new fuel pump. It was like 25 years old. I probably should have just kept my mouth shut having only very limited seat time on any of them. Good luck with your search!

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    2019 Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE
    2022 Husqvarna fe501s

  18. #18
    Senior Member bstnsboy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Douglas Ma
    Age
    54
    Posts
    496

    Re: Cruiser style Bikes, whats good??

    If you can spend a bit more ( 4000-4500) you cant go wrong with a roadstar warrior. Aluminum frame,1700cc. I loved mine! It was a cruiser with a sport bikes soul. Handled great in the twisty's and all day comfort.

    1 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  19. #19
    Super Moderator TheIglu's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Royalston, MA
    Age
    43
    Posts
    21,762

    Re: Cruiser style Bikes, whats good??

    You aren't going to find any bikes in your price range with FI worth owning.


    Still don't understand the aversion to carbs. I've never had to get into mine on the Vmax or ZRX.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    2021 KTM Duke 890 R
    2016 BMW S1000XR
    1982 Honda CB750F Super Sport

  20. #20
    Default hondarider102's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Lancaster
    Posts
    1,558
    Wirelessly posted

    Quote Originally Posted by TheIglu
    You aren't going to find any bikes in your price range with FI worth owning.


    Still don't understand the aversion to carbs. I've never had to get into mine on the Vmax or ZRX.
    A lot of times I like to start up and go, with carbs you have to warm up etc... I don't exactly hate carbs and realize that as long as the bike is ridden carbs don't need to be cleaned as often but would always rather fi over carbs if possible, still not 100% set on a cruiser, just looking into options seeing what's good vs bad and why.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Corey

  21. #21
    Default hondarider102's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Lancaster
    Posts
    1,558
    Wirelessly posted

    Quote Originally Posted by TheIglu
    You aren't going to find any bikes in your price range with FI worth owning.


    Still don't understand the aversion to carbs. I've never had to get into mine on the Vmax or ZRX.
    A lot of times I like to start up and go, with carbs you have to warm up etc... I don't exactly hate carbs and realize that as long as the bike is ridden carbs don't need to be cleaned as often but would always rather fi over carbs if possible, still not 100% set on a cruiser, just looking into options seeing what's good vs bad and why.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Corey

  22. #22
    Lifer
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Bristol County
    Age
    37
    Posts
    3,470

    Re: Cruiser style Bikes, whats good??

    I don't like carbs when compared to good EFI. But older tech, poorly engineered EFI is no fun either. You don't have to warm up a carbed bike to drive it, you just have to keep the choke on until you get moving. This past week I've been riding my old, carbed, GPz and I hop on, fire it up and go every morning. Doesn't run the best for the first mile, but it'll get the job done.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    nedirtriders.com

  23. #23
    Super Moderator TheIglu's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Royalston, MA
    Age
    43
    Posts
    21,762

    Re: Cruiser style Bikes, whats good??

    It's not the carb you are waiting for, it's the engine to come up to proper operating temp. Both my carb'd bikes are ready by the time I get my earplugs/helmet/gloves on. Same with my EFI bikes. WOT right away? No, but that's more to let the oil and engine come up to temp and not to any damage, not that it couldn't do it if I asked it to.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    2021 KTM Duke 890 R
    2016 BMW S1000XR
    1982 Honda CB750F Super Sport

  24. #24
    Super Moderator TheIglu's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Royalston, MA
    Age
    43
    Posts
    21,762

    Re: Cruiser style Bikes, whats good??

    I wouldn't recommend a Vulcan or most of the low dollar cruisers (shadows, intruders, etc). You'll be bored to tears in 20 minutes. Comfort is in appearance only, sitting with your feet up and out sucks.

    We should really start by identifying your goals of what you are looking to do/gain in getting a different bike.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    2021 KTM Duke 890 R
    2016 BMW S1000XR
    1982 Honda CB750F Super Sport

  25. #25
    Default hondarider102's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Lancaster
    Posts
    1,558

    Re: Cruiser style Bikes, whats good??

    Quote Originally Posted by TheIglu View Post
    We should really start by identifying your goals of what you are looking to do/gain in getting a different bike.
    Valid point! Ok long story short, My little brother is moving in with me, finally getting himself out of a bad living situation (long story, our mom was a fuck up we were adopted by different families etc...) so he was going to be buying my brothers 636 which then got stolen and now that we have recovered it my older brother has decided that if insurance doesn't total it (which i don't see happening, barely has any damage) then he wants to keep it because its "sentimental now that it got stolen and he got it back" even though i know he will never actually ride it, hasn't ridden since last September!

    So my little brother wants more of a sportier bike, been looking around and there's a few good deals out there but most above his price point of 2-2500 so i was thinking of doing a deal with him where we split a cruiser style bike and i ride that and he uses my CBR.

    Now my main objective here is comfort, i go to work and school, about 35 miles a day when i just have work and about 50 miles total when i have school, so not a ton of driving but it would be nice not having to wear a backpack and to be a little more comfortable, granted my cbr has dirt bars and such so its really not that uncomfortable but its not nearly as comfy as a streetglide, unfortunately they are way out of budget! I would also like to be less apt to going fast and speeding everywhere.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Corey

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 0
    Last Post: 09-11-11, 04:04 PM
  2. Whats good people?
    By Veteran in forum Welcome and Intro
    Replies: 15
    Last Post: 10-16-09, 07:13 PM
  3. Replies: 18
    Last Post: 02-24-09, 06:00 PM
  4. whats your style?
    By IanfromMA in forum General Bike Related
    Replies: 15
    Last Post: 04-16-03, 08:45 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •