Best bike to enter cruiser scene? | GTAMotorcycle.com

Best bike to enter cruiser scene?

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Vontwowheels

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I've been looking into getting a cruiser for this year, I've got a cbr650f but love the "mean" look of some cruiser.
Any recommendations on where to start without going to huge Harleys.
Something quickish, fuel injected, Rebel 500 is out as I don't like the seating position at 6ft just feels tight to me, something that can do 2up occasionally without struggling for highway speeds.
The vulcan S caught my eye but even used 15' are listed at 8K thanks to spring.
M50 BOSS fills the looks dept not sure about performance.
Harley street rods seem like another ok choice?
In/around $8000 what would you buy?
 
Scuba Steve said:
V-Max is quickish and should work or Diavel
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Not sure if that would work in his budget, vmax maybe

OP sounds like hes describing an adventure bike but wants the look and poser-ability of a cruiser at the parking lot 'scene'
 
Few choices in the 8k range if you want a bit more leg room...vstar 950 or Bolt, Vulcan 900, Boulevard 50 maybe a 90 if you find a deal. Lots of older Sportsters in that range, too.

None of them will feel quickish compared to your cb650 though.
 

Lightcycle said:
If you're open to used bikes, an older V-Rod can be had for around $8K.

They go like stink and the reach to the handlebars and pegs would fit a 6' guy well.

And they look awesome!
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Had a NRS for ten years great bullet proof bikes . Look around they can be had for a god price .
 
Vontwowheels said:
I've been looking into getting a cruiser for this year, I've got a cbr650f but love the "mean" look of some cruiser.
Any recommendations on where to start without going to huge Harleys.
Something quickish, fuel injected, Rebel 500 is out as I don't like the seating position at 6ft just feels tight to me, something that can do 2up occasionally without struggling for highway speeds.
The vulcan S caught my eye but even used 15' are listed at 8K thanks to spring.
M50 BOSS fills the looks dept not sure about performance.
Harley street rods seem like another ok choice?
In/around $8000 what would you buy?
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In my opinion if you liked the cbr650f and are considering a Vulcan, try out a Shadow 750. It's in your price range, not a "huge Harley ", super customizable for whatever look you want and a Honda so you are already familiar with brand related quirks. Crazy comfortable and reliable, in particular for cruisers.

Sent from my SM-A705W using Tapatalk
 
I'll take a look around see what's out there used maybe old-new stock depending on there cost?
Paulo M. said:
In my opinion if you liked the cbr650f and are considering a Vulcan, try out a Shadow 750. It's in your price range, not a "huge Harley ", super customizable for whatever look you want and a Honda so you are already familiar with brand related quirks. Crazy comfortable and reliable, in particular for cruisers.

Sent from my SM-A705W using Tapatalk
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I love the look of the shadow phantom but a buddy has a shadow and it's a dog, his is an 05 so maybe a newer one could work.

I'm not looking for sport bike quick, but just some good get up and go, I know torque can make em feel fast. Maybe that's enough
 
Be absolutely certain to test ride the cruiser for at least 30 minutes before buying it.
I've ridden a bunch of different ones - some absolutely hurt my lower back in the worst way whilst some are very comfy. The most fun I had on a cruiser was a Victory Hammer S. Got the finger wagging "Bad. Bad. Bad." after dragging the peg feelers on a demo day.

Stay away from the cheapie HD Street models. The 750 motor is peppy, but the brakes are beyond terrible. Worst of any bike I have ever ridden, including those with front drum brakes. Fit and finish is by a 4 year old with crayons and a glue stick.
 
Vontwowheels said:
I'll take a look around see what's out there used maybe old-new stock depending on there cost?


I love the look of the shadow phantom but a buddy has a shadow and it's a dog, his is an 05 so maybe a newer one could work.

I'm not looking for sport bike quick, but just some good get up and go, I know torque can make em feel fast. Maybe that's enough
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A shadow definitely isn't fast, but at just under 500 lbs, a nearly square bore:stroke and lb-ft:hp they feel reasonably peppy up to about 80 km/h. It's only really at highway speeds and above that I could see what you mean about ~50hp/lb-ft not being fast enough. But again the power delivery is super linear and reasonably stout right off idle that it feels torqueier than it should be given that it doesn't fall flat on its face like most HDs do after 5000 rpm. Especially compared to the higher strung cbr650r. But ya if you were considering the vulcan couldn't hurt to consider the shadow.

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What are you going to use it for? Just around town? Long rides and mostly two-up? I dont believe you will find a cruiser that works for both those scenarios. Buying used is going to be difficult for you as you will need a good test ride to know if it works for you and that probably isnt going to happen.
 
What about this...hubby traded in his FZ1 for one in 2018 and he's enjoying it...only made the one year, so not alot of them out there...gets lots of attention when we stop for a break...

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I had an M50 for a while, in the mid weights it’s the best I could find. Upside down forks, relatively sporty ride for a cruiser. And inexpensive.

An M50 will dust a Shadow, vStar and Vulcan in the same class. The new parallel twin Vulcan 650 is faster and sportier, but doesn’t look like a real cruiser to me.
 
I have a 2011 Vulcan 900. I nearly bought an M50, but the classic cruiser looks sold me on the Vulcan. And that it only cost me $3500 You can't go wrong with either of them, and would check most of your boxes- but I would not label either of them quickish.

If you want a quick cruiser- it would likely cost more than 8k. For instance a Scout sixty. Good luck on your search and looking forward to see what you have decided to buy!
 
No mention of the magna? newer ones look decently quick, fairly-light with a liquid cooled V4 engine. A bit too much chrome for my taste but priced pretty cheap.
 
hdsomeday said:
What are you going to use it for? Just around town? Long rides and mostly two-up? I dont believe you will find a cruiser that works for both those scenarios. Buying used is going to be difficult for you as you will need a good test ride to know if it works for you and that probably isnt going to happen.
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Mostly out of town, commute about 45minutes, maybe 10% in town rest highway then 80+kmh backroads.
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