Best Ride For You

Archive for the ‘Cruisers’ Category

The Harley Davidson Vrod is a motorcycle for those who want a performance cruiser. The Vrod specs are nothing short of impressive. No other cruiser matches it in performance and it’s combined with good looks and the Harley Davidson name. It doesn’t ride like any other Harley and it doesn’t share the same motor or heritage. It’s liqued-cooled 8 valve engine was designed by Porsche.

Image by Footprints via Flickr

The Vrod produces approximately 115 horsepower in it’s stock configuration and there aftermarket kits that can boost that much higher. This motor will keep a heavy pull of acceleration well into the triple digits and it will get their fast. It’s rated at 87 lbs. of torque. The Vrod’s mpg is rated at 37 mpg, but this decreases dramatically when spirited riding techniques are used. Premium gasoline is recommended. The motor has 11.5:1 compression with a 76.28 inch displacement.

The brakes are dual caliper front disk with single caliper rear disks. The bike can do a 32 degree lean on either side. The front has a 34 degree rake and the wheelbase is 67 inches. The front tire is a 120/70ZR-19 60W and the rear is a 240/40R-18 79V.

The Vrod is a great bike for those that love performance and do not need a long range comfortable bike. Of course, there are ways to add a comfortable seat and luggage, but the bike is still not made for long days of motorcycle touring. The cost of operating a Vrod will be high. The tires and insurance alone are expensive. Don’t let it’s $15,000 price tag fool you. Check the maintenance costs before you buy.

Another aspect of the Vrod specs that you may want to consider is the opinion of other Harley riders. Some don’t even consider the Vrod a “real” Harley. Very little about the Vrod follows the time honored traditions of Harley Davidson. The bike is meant to attract younger riders and they’ve strayed from the air-cooled v-twin in order to gain the performance edge. Don’t expect other riders to be awe-inspired by your choice of motorcycle. For many motorcycle buyers, it’s not about raw performance.

If you’re buying a used Vrod, the opinion that it’s not a “real” Harley Davidson can play in your favor. This opinion keeps the price of a Vrod low! Many buyers bought a Vrod new, but then found that the looks and performance that attracted them to it were just a little to much. It’s possible to find a used Vrod that’s in excellent condition with low miles. Buying a used Vrod is much like buying a Sportster. Don’t expect a huge savings over new, but do look for many add-ons.

Customized Sportster Image via Wikipedia

The classic Harley-Davidson Sportster is one of the most under-rated motorcycles. It’s an “entry-level” Harley-Davidson that has easily survived since 1952 due to it’s price, style, and versatility. Once Harley-Davidson reached a point where it was considered a status symbol, well, an entry-level status symbol isn’t going to cut it. Many started calling it “The Girl’s Bike” and claiming that it wasn’t a real Harley. Not a real Harley? It’s one of their best sellers and plays a major role in attracting many riders to the brand and it’s a great performing motorcycle. If it wasn’t a real Harley, I wouldn’t want a real Harley.

So is it the best ride for you? Here are some of the good things about the Sportster, some many other Harley riders prefer not to discuss.

• It’s inexpensive and it’s still a Harley-Davidson. You get the same rumble and roar with the added benefit of a great handling motorcycle that with a few modifications, can be a comfortable touring machine.
• It’s easy to modify. Like all Harley-Davidsons, there is a huge aftermarket for them. Different exhaust, seats, handlebars, luggage, etc. are all easy to find. Even high performance modifications for the engine are easy.
• They last like a Harley-Davidson. Sure, they break more often that foreign motorcycles, but they are easy to rebuild and repair. It’s not unheard of to find owners with 500,000 miles or more on one.
• They hold their value too. Just like the big bikes, it’s never difficult to find a buyer willing to pay close to new purchase price for a Sportster that is well cared for.
• The Harley Davidson rumble. It’s got it.
• The only Harley that will work for new riders. It’s still not a great starter bike, but if one must have a Harley, they are well-balanced and lighter weight.

The Sportster may not be a good bike for the following reasons:

• Double up riding for larger people is tough. The Sportster simply doesn’t have the weight capacity or the frame design for a touring couple that has any size to them.
• It’s not a smooth ride. Not horrible, but not as smooth as many of it’s lower priced competitors.
• Not the best for very tall people. Sit on one and try it out for size.
• Status. Sportsters only offer a little. I admire them, other sensible riders admire them, but people that paid double or triple for that Harley name, not so much.

There are literally thousands of combinations available from Harley-Davidson. There are 2 different engine sizes, the 883 and the 1200. They are the same engine block, but the bore and stroke is different. No other motorcycle allows for this level of customization and much of it can be done with only moderate mechanical skills. Simply adding custom Sportster saddlebags can turn it into a nice touring bike that’s also great for running errands.

The Sportster is one of those motorcycles that a potential rider knows they’ll like as soon as they sit on one. Harley Dealers love to show them off and free test rides are common.

The Honda Shadow has long been one of the best selling motorcycles. Some years, The Shadow is the best selling motorcycle. Their popularity is a simple formula of good looks, reliable motors, and affordable pricing. For 2011, all models have the 745cc engine with 4 different styles -

• Aero – classic styling with wide fenders
• Spirit – move or the American “chopper” styling
• Phantom – blacked out cruiser look
• RS – sporty look comparable to a Harley-Davidson Sportster.

As you can see, the Honda engineers easily change the look of the motorcycle easily. The base frame and motor are easily suited to different configurations. There are many custom configurations done after the sale too.

Honda Aero Customized With A Solo Seat Configuration

This simple fender mounted bolt on luggage rack completely changes the look of the Aero. Few motorcycles can have their appearance so easily modified for so little money. It’s something to think about if preferences lean towards $50,000 or more choppers, but your budget is far less. A budget can really stretch far with Shadows and their performance is on par with many larger motorcycles.

Victory Vision Touring Motorcycle Image by nwkids via Flickr

The facts on the Victory Motorcycle company have been elusive to me. As an American company, I love the idea of a competitor for Harley Davidson. The truth of the matter is that no company will compete in Harley Davidson’s market without some seriously difficult clout and knowledge about the motorcycle industry. Victory is not going to win customers simply by being an American company. There is much more to Harley Davidson’s loyalty than the fact that they are based in the U.S.A.

It appears that Victory’s plan is to not indulge in over-speculation or over-production. They realize that they’re not going to gain market share without a very slow entry into the market. They’ve already made mistakes years ago when the chrome quickly eroded off of the bikes and they’ve taken steps to improve all areas of quality. These quality improvements have added to their high price to slow entry into the market even further. Through all of this, my number one concern of a company failure has been avoided though. Who wants to find parts for a motorcycle brand that has gone out of business? Considering they’ve recently made the bold move to buy Indian Motorcycle, I think they have plans to continue and that they are profitable enough.

For some, Victory is already considered the best motorcycle and most of them are owners of the Victory Vision. The Vision is a strong competitor for the touring market and it’s one-of-a-kind styling and quality makes it a serious contender. For cruisers, we’re still waiting for someone to make the “best motorcycle” claim.

Victory Jackpot Motorcycle

Victory Cross Roads Motorcycle

Related articles

• Polaris Snaps Up Indian Motorcycles (ridelust.com)
• Victory Motorcycle Forums
• Polaris Buys Indian Motorcycles

Harley Davidson Cruiser. Image via Wikipedia

Cruiser motorcycles come in a large variety of sizes and models. On top of the large variety, there is a huge market for aftermarket upgrades and customization. If you want a one-of-a-kind motorcycle, the cruiser is the only way to go. If you want comfort and style he cruiser is great, if you’re only considering shorter rides. The cruiser is capable of long rides, but they lack the ability of the touring motorcycle.

I don’t suggest cruisers for starter motorcycles because the lack the stability of a standard motorcycle. However, they do hold an advantage for short riders because of the low seating position. If being able to touch the ground with your flat foot is important to you, a small cruiser may be your best option for learning to ride.

The make of cruiser you buy should depends on what you’re looking for. Do you want -

• Price
• Quality
• Comfort
• Looks
• Technology
• Old-School Technology
• New Technology that looks like old school.
• High Performance
• Lifestyle
• High Weight Capacity
• the list of choices could go on and on

Here’s the thing about your cruiser choice. You can have a combination of qualities, but it’s rare to find a combination of all choices in one bike. There is a give and take that happens when producing a motorcycles. This balance is weighted towards one type of rider or another and the companies put their investment in bikes that will appeal to the largest groups. Let’s take a brief look at some of the groups.

Harley-Davidson Cruisers

For some people, Harley-Davidson embodies all that they dream about. They buy “the lifestyle”. If that’s you’re thing and you have money for it, go ahead, but don’t forget to load up your checking account before buying. These people could care less about specs. It’s about the looks. Harley specs pretty much stay the same and if you don’t like them, you can pay a fortune to change the bikes performance and capabilities. There are some tech advances used by Harley, but they’re rarely a draw towards the motorcycle. Often, in the case of the watercooled V-Rod, the Harley-Davidson crowd will discount these advances as junk because they deviate from the basic Harley design. If Harley covers all of your wants in a motorcycle, no other brand will give you what you need.

Close Harley-Davidson Knock-Offs

Harley-Davidson alternative bikes are plentiful. Victory Motorcycles are much more technologically advanced and they are made in America. They’re expensive too, but you get the advantage of a motorcycle that outperforms Harley on nearly every level, except “lifestyle”. Large CC Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha V-Twins are cheaper Harley knock-offs that perform well, but lack in looks and overall quality. The drive trains exceed Harley, but the ornamental pieces are commonly plastic and cheap.

Cruisers That Only Borrow The Harley Seating Position.

There are many cruisers that resemble the Harley setting position, but that’s where it ends. Triumph’s triples, Honda’s V-4′s, and other configurations are great performers. Generally speaking, the less the motor looks and sounds like a Harley-Davidson V-Twin, the more value you get for the money. V-Twin’s are antique and the Harley sound is created when the antique technology is used. Motorcycles that do not require this retro look and sound can excel at smooth operation, power, and increased engine life. They are even less expensive to manufacture, so the price is more reasonable.

In Conclusion

Consider these options when buying a cruiser. There is one out there that is the perfect bike for you if you consider what qualities you most need in a motorcycle. I would say that you are crazy if you forego motorcycling altogether just because you cannot afford a Harley-Davidson. Don’t let anyone tell you different. Ride within your means and you’ll enjoy it more than a monthly payment bike.