[Sangria7]

Munch – that is a good point. I never even considered the marketing behind the bike types. They definitely contribute to the differences. This thread would probably be a good article to be put in a major magazine as this topic has been taboo – but nonetheless it needs to be aired out so the gap is bridged and understood.

Hmmm keep the thoughts coming – I might end up writing up an article to submit LOL

[Sangria7]

Agreed – it was way too fast for my blood. It was a good experience not to be repeated. I just wanted to see if my muscle bike was able to keep up with the speedsters. Luckily we rode in a Texas national park area where LEOs are rare and only there for incidents. BTW we did have two guys scrub the pavement on a 25MPH turn – they took at 80mph and couldn’t stay on the road. One guy just minor scrapes. Other guy broken bones and had to get stitches on his knee. Lucky for them I was right behind them and administered first aid on the spot (i knew that combat life saver course in the army was good for something LOL).

[Sangria7]

Just a few of my observations on the sportbike/cruiser segregation:

1. Generational Differences – typically your “younger” crowds ride the sports and the “older” ones like me prefer the cruisers. This also creates differences in music, interests, and preferred hang out areas.

2. Truth in stereotypes – Sportsbike riders are seen as the dangerous ones cutting in and out traffic giving bikers a bad name in general (speedsters with no regard to others safety). Cruiser riders are the roughnecks who look and smell dirty from the old Hollywood movies (think Hells Angels).

3. Predisposed historical prejudices – I know this will be controversial but here goes. Cruisers in general were associated with the Harley Davidson motorcycles, and were considered very “American”. Opposed to sportsbikes which are mainly “rice-burners.” Case in point when I pulled up next to a HD rider he was all nice to me until he found out I had an Asian built bike; then he told me to get a real bike LOL. On the other hand, I seen Sports bike Riders call any Cruiser Rider as a “Honkey Tonk Confederate Flag Yielding Whiteboy.”

4. Riding differences – Cruisers like to cruise. Sports riders typically ride hard. The last ride I went on was with all sportsbikes (20 of them) and I was the only cruiser. I could barely keep up even though I had pegged my speedomoter at 120mph. They had Hyabusas, Gixxers, R-1’s, etc. In the deep turns their lean angles were amazing. I couldnt do that and would have scraped my pipes/pegs. Luckily my M50 is built more like a sportsbike with a cruiser body (inverted forks, and same suspension as the gixxer). Then I had a friend with a sportsbike that went a ride with a bunch of cruisers. He was bored out of his mind. So you’ll rarely see a mixed riding group.

Again these are just my observations and encounters and do not reflect my opinions. In my world if you ride a bike…youre a biker! I dont care what you ride!!

[Sangria7]

Hi Candace…

Have you tried the website Meetup.com. Just put your area in and see what you have around there…

[Sangria7]

HAHA….

The windshield is great it is a Memphis Shade Hellcat – handlebar mountable and will fit just about any cruiser bike.

No, the gig is not my real full time job, though I wish it was. Its a second job nonetheless.

Yeah I have yet to see a dual sport in our bike nights though the last two bike nights we had about 40+ sports and the 50+ cruisers…so equal showing. I think the bikini bike wash had something to do with it LOL. The stunt riders were fun to watch too, and finally topping it off with old fashion blues/rock band in the tune of ZZtop/Aerosmith type.

Yes Dagger I do miss the Star – and how nimble that 650 really was. The M50 now is a little over 100lbs heavier but not too bad.

Busy with vendors as well – I am about to receive the new AFX helmets for review. Then the largest MSF course in Texas wants to distribute our magazine. Then I have to help find more models for the events…yea poor me LOL. Lots of work but fun work!!

[Sangria7]

Yea I will swing by more often…just been so busy will real life motorcycle stuff. BTW hitting 10,000 miles so far in 8 months of riding…woot woot.

[Sangria7]

I always go for full comprehensive insurance…

[Sangria7]

Hey Dagger…yea the EFI is great on the M50. I did check out the 950s but I decided to go completely different with the M50. Post some Roadliner pics when you get it.

Yep almost 9K miles in 8 months and still safe

[Sangria7]

LOL close – 3 bikes in 8 months….but not going to get another one any time soon……years probably. Not at all rich, but I broke even on the last two trade ins….

I don’t have a car…so its my main transport.

[Sangria7]

Crampbuster is awesome. The gloves may be a bit much…wouldnt recommend them for the summer.

[Sangria7]

wear mine all the time!! I have Sliders and Shift Racing

[Sangria7]

Haha you know that old married saying “If mama isnt happy…no one is happy…”

Most of the time the woman has the final say in the marriage due to obvious reasons…lol

[Sangria7]

1000rr without MSF as first time biker = statistic…

[Sangria7]

90% of the time I wear Shift Racing Kevlar Jeans or Sliders Kevlar Jeans. Other times I wear my overpants with padding and carbolex material – which has the nearly the same abrasion resistance as leather.

[Sangria7]

Editor’s call to put my bike pics in there…I submitted several others. Did you see the Thunder Roads Cam pages (30-31). Now there are some good pics in there LOL from the Daytona Rally.

[Author]

Posts