Cruiser or Sport Bike?

[vtprairie]

What is everybodys prefrence I like cruisers myself
The silver Kawi 900 Vulcan is my fiance's
The 2 tone 1500 Vulcan classic is mine

[GreatWhiteHunter]

Well, I don't fit into either category. My ride has been described as a standard, a dual sport and an adventure tourer.

I'll let you be the judge.







Here's one that was taken before I had the luggage.

[PJ]

Sweet pics of both your guys rides !!!
I thought if I got back into street bikes I would go with one of these....

[GreatWhiteHunter]

Sweet pics of both your guys rides !!!
I thought if I got back into street bikes I would go with one of these....

Dude!!! That is probably the sweetest sport-tourer made! I've had the pleasure of sitting on a couple and I'm afraid to find out what would happen if I rode one.

Wah! So sweet!

[PJ]

Dude!!! That is probably the sweetest sport-tourer made! I've had the pleasure of sitting on a couple and I'm afraid to find out what would happen if I rode one.

Wah! So sweet!

My neighbor had one... till he was hit on it.... totaled it and put him and his wife in the hospital.
He was out of riding for a couple years...
I always admired that bike.
I admire his replacement bike now....
It looks like this.... same color and everything, I would swear that is him and his wife....

[vtprairie]

awesome bikes I read that the Vstorm was really nice what size is it they make 2 don't they?

[Adirondack Man]

The Concourse is all new for this year.  It is a super bike.  I looked at one over at Green Mtn Powersports.  $12k, but one h-ll of a bike.

For now, I am riding my old Honda Shadow, purchased from VTprairie's fiance when she got her new Vulcan. 

[GreatWhiteHunter]

awesome bikes I read that the Vstorm was really nice what size is it they make 2 don't they?

Yepper, they sure do. There is a 1000 and a 650. Hard to tell the difference until you twist the throttle. Mine is the liter variant and that motor is very nice for taking the wife and I anywhere we point it, fully loaded.

The 1K motor has a long lineage. Started life in the TL-S, made it to the TL-R that Yoshimura used to kick Ducati butt with and now it sits in the SV's and the DL's. The Strom motor is significantly detuned (just over 90hp), but there is a wealth of knowledge out there so the sky's the limit. I'm hoping to add another 10 to 15 hp before next spring. 

[Low Tolerance]

Yepper, they sure do. There is a 1000 and a 650. Hard to tell the difference until you twist the throttle. Mine is the liter variant and that motor is very nice for taking the wife and I anywhere we point it, fully loaded.

The 1K motor has a long lineage. Started life in the TL-S, made it to the TL-R that Yoshimura used to kick Ducati butt with and now it sits in the SV's and the DL's. The Strom motor is significantly detuned (just over 90hp), but there is a wealth of knowledge out there so the sky's the limit. I'm hoping to add another 10 to 15 hp before next spring. 

Hey GWH , speaking of the Tl1000 , do you think its to much bike for a 17 year old like me to start off on ? My dad has one sweet tl1000 he never even rides it and wont give it to me because he says it would kill me , I been riding dirtbikes and atvs my whole life and I do respect the power of them so I dont feel it would be to much. When I did some searching on the TL , they said its a replica of the ducati 916 but it can romp on it , I figure if I can con him into giving it to me I would be set for a while and I can grow into the bike and never get tired of the power that thing has.

[Rather-B-Riding]

Hey GWH , speaking of the Tl1000 , do you think its to much bike for a 17 year old like me to start off on ?

YES YES YES!!!! if its your first street bike, its waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much for a first time ride. it doesn't get the nickname "Widow Maker" for no reason. I would be even more adamant about it not being a first time bike for you if its the TLR and not the semi-naked TLS...
I owned an 2001 for 2 years. although its a fantastic bike, and the torque/grunt of that v-twin is addictive, as a first time bike, i would steer clear. if you are looking for a phenomenal v-twin from Suzuki, look for an sv-650.
don't know how often Rage still frequents here, but i am sure he can back me up on the tiller....

i am still a die-hard sportbiker at heart. i decided to slow things down a little in the interest of self-preservation.
current ride is a Kawi Mean Streak 1600, but i'll snag another Ducati Monster in the near future...

[GreatWhiteHunter]

Hey GWH , speaking of the Tl1000 , do you think its to much bike for a 17 year old like me to start off on ?

I think that a 1000cc anything is not the right choice for a first street-bike, no matter what your experience is. Sorry.

YES YES YES!!!! if its your first street bike, its waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much for a first time ride. it doesn't get the nickname "Widow Maker" for no reason. I would be even more adamant about it not being a first time bike for you if its the TLR and not the semi-naked TLS...

I have to completely agree with Rather-B. What I've read about TL's handling traits go hand in hand with what he has said. Both TL's had some quirkiness that made them a handful in all but the most experienced hands.

You really need to check out the SV. From the day it came out, riders and bike mag guru's alike have been amazed at the high end hardware the bike carries and how amazingly capable it is for such an incredible price. I would have to say that this holds true for the DL650 as well. I know that the DL650 outsells the DL1000 about 3 or 4 to one and I'm sure the SV650 to SV1000 numbers are similar.

[PJ]

My dad has one sweet tl1000

I have always loved these !!!
MMM.... love v-twins !!
Not that my fat ass would fit on one....
What year? color? S or R ?
Post up some pics of that bad boy !!!

[Rather-B-Riding]

I have always loved these !!!
Not that my fat ass would fit on one....

i beg to differ with ya there PJ. the last time i met you, granted it was a while ago, you seemed to be about the same size as me.
unless you are short, the TL is actually well-suited to people of, lets say, big-boned ( )
that bike fit me to a 'T', probably better than any other sportbike i had. there was enough room to move
around and find a comfy spot. if i could have coordinated the wrist and the brain a little better, i would still have the TLR.
but, there is one thing you can't do with any sportbike, and thats toss the kids on the tank and ride around the backyard.
for that, saying bye-bye to the TL was worth it. both the boys grin from ear to ear cruising in the backyard.

[Thefox]

The Concourse is all new for this year.  It is a super bike.  I looked at one over at Green Mtn Powersports.  $12k, but one h-ll of a bike.

For now, I am riding my old Honda Shadow, purchased from VTprairie's fiance when she got her new Vulcan. 

Nice Shadow!  Is that the 700 or 750?  The old Shadows are one of my favorite looking bikes, my friend has a 750 and if I could fit on it I would have bought it already (sometimes being 6'2" has disadvantages). 

I like a mix of cruiser and sport bike, I still want a Suzuki Bandit 1250 but for now my Seca is going the job.  The Kawasaki Concourse and Yamaha FJR1300 are also nice bikes.  I like the thought of being able to pack a long weekends worth of gear without having to bungee anything on but still be able to enjoy a quick paced ride through the back roads.  If the Bandit wasn't so much cheaper I would reconsider getting one of those (lol, not that I will be getting anything till the '09 riding season, darn school loans).


Here is my friend's 1983 Shawdow 750...

[Adirondack Man]

Fox,

Your friend's Shadow is sweet!  Mine is an '84 and is a 700.  They had to drop the cc in '84 due to government regulations/ tariffs on anything 750 cc or over, at the time.  I love the six speed transmission.  In fact, that is the one thing that I find missing on many of the cruisers today.  I know the new Harleys have six speeds, but they are out of my price range, and I would not be willing to spend $$ for a name.  In fact, if I had the money for a Harley, I would be giving serious consideration to the Victory's.