A Magna is actually a Universal Japanese Motorcycle (UJM) and not a cruiser,they began to drop production in the mid 80's When sport tourers came out.Basically a UJM was the first attempt at a compromise between a sport bike and a cruiser.I spent years trying to replace my Midnight Maxim.The only two bikes really left from that segment is the V max and the V rod.The V max replaced the Maxim and does nothing well except go fast.I agree that a sport tourer is the proper choice for the highway but i tourer for weeks on end in the summer and a cruiser is a far better choice than a sport bike(soft ride and plenty of storage) I will ride to BC on a cruiser but cant get out of Ontario on a sport bike and make any time because I have to stop constantly to stretch.
Am I the only crazy1? SS and a cruiser simultaneously.
- Thread starter r6singh
- Start date
A Magna is actually a Universal Japanese Motorcycle (UJM) and not a cruiser,they began to drop production in the mid 80's When sport tourers came out.Basically a UJM was the first attempt at a compromise between a sport bike and a cruiser.I spent years trying to replace my Midnight Maxim.The only two bikes really left from that segment is the V max and the V rod.The V max replaced the Maxim and does nothing well except go fast.I agree that a sport tourer is the proper choice for the highway but i tourer for weeks on end in the summer and a cruiser is a far better choice than a sport bike(soft ride and plenty of storage) I will ride to BC on a cruiser but cant get out of Ontario on a sport bike and make any time because I have to stop constantly to stretch.
I disagree, I have done days of over 1,000 miles on the vmax for touring, use it to tow other bikes, and can corner it very well, it does a lot of things very well, if you dare to ride it.
While Magnas from the 80s were UJM a 1999 Magna is not. It's a small power cruiser. Nothing in common with that original generation. It's a very good cruiser as well. Fuel tank is too small and it's got no gas gauge but other than that I liked it a lot, however I would never take it over my VFR800 for any kind of riding, city, hwy, long or short.
For me - a sport touring bike is the king. Generally more range and more comfort than SS while maintaining a vastly superior handling and performance over any kind of a cruiser.
As for storage. Touring bikes usually have more options than cruisers. Usually hard shell as well. Some more sporty machines are limited, however when it comes to storage. And SSs are just not designed for that.
If I had money and time, I wouldn't mind owning one of each though, as I admire all bikes. The problem is that I have to work with certain limits and something like VFR800 covers my needs best.
For me - a sport touring bike is the king. Generally more range and more comfort than SS while maintaining a vastly superior handling and performance over any kind of a cruiser.
As for storage. Touring bikes usually have more options than cruisers. Usually hard shell as well. Some more sporty machines are limited, however when it comes to storage. And SSs are just not designed for that.
If I had money and time, I wouldn't mind owning one of each though, as I admire all bikes. The problem is that I have to work with certain limits and something like VFR800 covers my needs best.
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Griffin
Well-known member
Count me with those that find SS far more comfortable than cruisers. Or sport tourers, for that matter. I can ride 12 hour days on my SS. My sport tourer had my butt on fire after 8 hours. My back is in agony after 30 minutes on a typical cruiser.
Storage is a factor. But I prefer the lack of storage to trying to pilot 400 kgs of ill-balanced metal.
To each their own, I suppose.
I would advise the OP to at least take the Stryker, or similar bike, for a long ride. You may be surprised at the handling and comfort, or lack thereof.
Storage is a factor. But I prefer the lack of storage to trying to pilot 400 kgs of ill-balanced metal.
To each their own, I suppose.
I would advise the OP to at least take the Stryker, or similar bike, for a long ride. You may be surprised at the handling and comfort, or lack thereof.
MarcosSantiago
Well-known member
Why is everybody arguing which one is better?
The OP is saying he is going to have one of each. More power to him, and I'd do it too if I could afford it.
The OP is saying he is going to have one of each. More power to him, and I'd do it too if I could afford it.
We argue because it powers the internet! To throw another log onto the fire:
Interceptor = Sport Bike.
Sabre = UJM
(Super) Magna = Cruiser
Similar V4 motors (500/750/1100), different packaging for different market segments.
I vote for the 90 degree knee, or more, in daily use. No back issues on a Burgman and that's mostly boots forward riding. Maybe a dualsport would be different, but my legs definitely did not support much on either of my previous streetbikes--they were to scrunched up to offer it. The seats/suspension did the supporting and not very well when running stock parts, just like a stock cruiser would.
Think about mattresses (or anything that needs to fit). Some people can't sleep without a soft mattress, some are nearly crippled if forced to use one. Others can tolerate both hard & soft. The human body is a peculiar mechanism.
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I don't think we're arguing that much actually. Managed to keep this pretty polite as opposed to some other threads. It's inevitable that people will bust out pros and cons.
However, bottom line, you're right. If OP can afford two different types of bikes than more power to him. I wish I could do the same although at this stage I would probably get something off-road capable instead for my second steed.
However, bottom line, you're right. If OP can afford two different types of bikes than more power to him. I wish I could do the same although at this stage I would probably get something off-road capable instead for my second steed.
pfbmgd
Well-known member
I disagree, I have done days of over 1,000 miles on the vmax for touring, use it to tow other bikes, and can corner it very well, it does a lot of things very well, if you dare to ride it.
My buddy has a V-max he can`t get much more than 160km to a tank .It would make for a long 1K day .
Sport bikes and cruisers as we know them today started in 1983 (Honda Intercepter) and 1976 (Kawasaki 900LTD). Before that most street bikes coming from the Japan were standards. They were called UJM because the were universal Japanese motorcycles. Basically all the same.
They never went away.
First off, bikes like a Road King aren't cruisers in my books. They are tourers- almost baggers. So saying you can ride for ages on one doesn't mean anything.
Try to ride 5000 kms in a week aboard something like a Dyna or Stryker or Fury, then get back to me.
The first 3 bikes I owned were Japanese cruisers, and I used to help run demo days for a dealer and I have ridden almost everything.... so I am not just generalizing for fun. I am speaking from experience.
Now a bike like a Triumph Bonneville, is probably the ultimate if you are looking for chrome and style, and long ride comfort and all around utility.
Try to ride 5000 kms in a week aboard something like a Dyna or Stryker or Fury, then get back to me.
The first 3 bikes I owned were Japanese cruisers, and I used to help run demo days for a dealer and I have ridden almost everything.... so I am not just generalizing for fun. I am speaking from experience.
Now a bike like a Triumph Bonneville, is probably the ultimate if you are looking for chrome and style, and long ride comfort and all around utility.
-Maverick-
Well-known member
Reading this thread pisses me off. Theoretically, assuming you are the primary and only rider of your motorcycle, makes me wonder why its legal for insurance companies to charge you for multiple liability polices? You can only ride one bike at a time! They should only be allowed to charge you for one liability policy and for each motorcycle added, adjust for the extra fire/theft risk. Think of how many different bikes you could own under this premise!
When I first started riding, that's the way it was. You paid the premium of the highest priced policy for your highest risk bike, and the next one(s) was no charge.
If you had a CBR 900 and a Suzuki Bandit, and an XL250 dualsport, you would only be charged for the CBR900's policy, but the other two bikes were covered under the same policy.
If it were still like that, how many of us would have a fleet of bikes?
If you had a CBR 900 and a Suzuki Bandit, and an XL250 dualsport, you would only be charged for the CBR900's policy, but the other two bikes were covered under the same policy.
If it were still like that, how many of us would have a fleet of bikes?
First of all thank you all for your feedback. After giving it a lot of thought based on everything I read on this thread, I have decided to bite the bullet and buy the Stryker. Now comes the hard part of negotiating at stealerships. I'm hoping everything will go smoothly. Will be posting pics soon. If anyone is planning to do Blue Ridge Pkwy early next spring, please start a thread in group rides section. Me n my gf would love to tag along.
Sweet congrats on that decision! Keep us posted as that's a sweet bike!
Pretty much everyone! Scooter, dual sport, standard, sportbike, cruiser and project bike (maybe a dirtbike if you had the room). While policy changes are certainly driven by profit expectations, I suspect the "one policy, many bikes" idea was abused by people letting unlicensed friends and family use their bike. No big deal if one policy covers everything, right? Just say you were riding it. Parents still play that game by registering their children as occasional drivers when in truth they're the primary drivers. Insurers would have much less justification to hike rates/restrictions if that sort of stuff was kept to a minimum.
Talk to Cam at Oakville Yamaha.
I have a SS and a Cruiser.
Started on the cruiser and got the SS a few years later, decided to keep the cruiser. i enjoy both worlds.
BUT,
it comes down to body position, wieght and comfort. after 45 mins on cruiser my butt and tailbone get very annoyed and i feel bumps etc right on the back/tailbone.... also you can't really have an incorrect seating position on a cruiser.
SS however, is WAAAAAY more comfortable for me. i can do 500+ km on SS no problem whereas on teh cruiser my tailbone would be annoying me 45 mins in. also, on SS positioning can be wrong which can put stress on wrists and different body parts. so long as body postioning is correct on SS, i find mine to be VERY comfortable.
still, i have kept both because i enjoy both worlds. some rides (charity, volunteer etc.) cruiser is more apropriate. Commuting work, short distances, rain/bad weather i take cruiser.
for general enjoyment of motorcycles and riding i would take SS over cruiser any day. better performance, agility, braking , technology overall and of course less wind.
this really only applies to my body tho. so try them out and see how your body handles it.
Started on the cruiser and got the SS a few years later, decided to keep the cruiser. i enjoy both worlds.
BUT,
it comes down to body position, wieght and comfort. after 45 mins on cruiser my butt and tailbone get very annoyed and i feel bumps etc right on the back/tailbone.... also you can't really have an incorrect seating position on a cruiser.
SS however, is WAAAAAY more comfortable for me. i can do 500+ km on SS no problem whereas on teh cruiser my tailbone would be annoying me 45 mins in. also, on SS positioning can be wrong which can put stress on wrists and different body parts. so long as body postioning is correct on SS, i find mine to be VERY comfortable.
still, i have kept both because i enjoy both worlds. some rides (charity, volunteer etc.) cruiser is more apropriate. Commuting work, short distances, rain/bad weather i take cruiser.
for general enjoyment of motorcycles and riding i would take SS over cruiser any day. better performance, agility, braking , technology overall and of course less wind.
this really only applies to my body tho. so try them out and see how your body handles it.
