Cruisers Vs Sport Tourers

[Saddletramp]

During my 1,800+ miles ride last weekend I been thinking about a conversation I had with a gentleman one night in Ogden, UT. I was unpacking my FJR at my lucky-to-find motel room when I was pestered by a guy about my FJR. I say pestered because when you've been on the road all day in the heat & finally find a room at 10:30 pm you pretty much have but one thing on your mind....sleep.

This guy comes up & starts by saying " why would a guy your age buy a bike like this?" I retort with "because I like it" this does not pacify him. He saw my Washington state plates & said "wouldn't you be more comfortable on a cruiser?" I say "no, I have a Honda Valkyrie back in my garage, if I wanted to ride a cruiser this far, that's what I would have brought." He says " Guys that ride these BMW style bikes are not very friendly, why is that?. I explain that my perceived lack of friendliness is just my need for rest. I then give him a 20 minute dissertation on why I like the FJR so much & how great it is to ride. Twenty minutes later I'm dead asleep. I doubt my inquirer will ever buy an FJR. He seemed like one who would dream about it but never take the step. FJR ownership requires one to step outside the norm.

Since owning the FJR I am surprised by how little FJR owners post on boards such as this one & on how uninterested others owners are in group rides. On the V-Star & Valkyrie boards that I used to frequent there was constant chatter. Hundreds of posts per day. They were always organizing get together rides. Actually, they bs'ed more than they rode! Then it hit me.

In general, people that buy FJR's are interesting in riding, not talking about it! Sport touring owners are a free thinking, independent lot who want to see & experience the world. Definitely not sheep mentality.

So, if your guys aren't posting I'll assume like me, you're out slicing through the bugs & air molecules on your magical two wheeled personal transporter!

See ya out there! B)

 

[teerex51]

FJR ownership requires one to step outside the norm

Man, you got that one right!

As for the number of posts here, it's increasing exponentially.

After all, this Forum is just a month old :bigeyes: .Hang around awhile and watch it grow.

But I'll agree with you on the fact that most people here seem to prefer actual riding to BS. On that final note, I'm off to the garage...

Happy trails

Stef

 

[Warchild]

But I'll agree with you on the fact that most people here seem to prefer actual riding to BS.

+1

 

[tsteve]

As far as stepping outside the norm goes, I've gone the other way.

No more riding thousands of miles on holidays on a cruiser that struggles around sharp bends, no more wishing I could push on a bit faster on motorways, no more hoping I've strapped the bags down to the bike securely, no more soaking wet legs in the slightest shower, the list goes on and on.

An FJR is much more a normal bike for the type of riding I do.

As far as riding with friends goes, we go out each week with just one other couple now, the cruiser riders we used to go with either find we are a bit quick, or we find them too slow. Either way, I don't miss having to do 50mph when I could comfortably and safely be doing 80mph., and anyway I always found it a little scary at the lack of proficiency of some of the people we were riding with.

 

[throttlejockeyTJ]

I would say you did make a 'hit'. Cruisers is an image kind of bike. The FJR Riders don't seem to have an set image. More 'Lone Wolf' I am going to do it 'My Way' & move faster or get TF out of the way. TJ

 

[GalaxyBlue]

In my area, The Cruiser type out numbers the sportbike/Sport touring class. I feel like i am the ONLY FJR here...And i like that! I like when someone approaches me and says "what is that?" Then i give them the whole speech about how this is the most comfortable bike i have ever ridden. Alot of my sportbike friends make fun out of the comfort level of the FJR saying it is a "Couch" and i come right back saying they ride a 2x4. It's all good though. They respect me now since i had to prove that a comfy bike can keep up with a RR sportbike.

I have found that i don't hang around the cruiser guys anymore because,To be honest,They are to SLOW! My old bike was an 02 VTX 1800 retro. Still miss it from time to time.

Adam

 

[Ignacio]

Maybe we're like Porsche guys before they became status symbols. Great performance and scalpel like in their precision, but diluted when they were discovered by the Yuppie crowd in the 80's. I met a few that owned them in the 70's and early 80's that bought them because they loved the car and got irritated when posers started scooping them up and jacking the prices.

If it does happen and Super Sport Touring catches on big--we can grouse as old-timers then and villify the Yuppy Maggots that take all the rallyings spots and don't get the meaning to of North America being our backyard playground.

Welome back to WA Travis and I hope Utah was enjoyable.

 

[Bounce]

During my 1,800+ miles ride last weekend I been thinking about a conversation I had with a gentleman one night in Ogden, UT.  I was unpacking my FJR at my lucky-to-find motel room when I was pestered by a guy about my FJR.

Was that the Best Western hotel to the east of the highway, 2 or 3 story cube shaped building with an eatery and a gas station to the east of the hotel?

If so, I've stayed there at least once. About a year later I was watching an History Channel story about Jeffrey Dahlmer. Seems that was the same hotel he stayed in the night before they finally caught him.

 

[crewof1]

I have a couple of old friends that got Harleys around the time I got my FJR. We went on a ride together, which went OK, I was showing them the ride and making sure I kept them in site behind me. It was slow, but I was patient.

I pulled off at an overlook, maybe 2 or 3 miles from our destination, to warn them about an upcoming hairpin curve to watch out for. They stopped and I told them of the hazard. They then took off their gear, fired up the smokes and laid down under a tree, while I sat on my still-running bike! Ten minutes later, we did the last couple of miles, then I had to sit and listen for a half hour about how uncomfortable I made them, how I was leading too fast, etc. :erm:

Well, they do not call me to ride anymore. Seems they are more about "the destination" and I am more about "the ride". Their idea of a destination is anywhere there are more cruisers to look at and beer to drink. Then when they have had enough, usually several hours, they ride home the same way they came.

I enjoy RIDING my bike. I could care less what destination I have as long as I have fun on the way there and back. I find it boring to discuss ad nauseum which Harley models have which options, or who has the most chrome, etc. I mean cruisers can be cool, but they are not everything.:bordum:

OK, rant off. Thanks for listening.

crewof1 :goatee:

 

[Canes]

I hear the “crotch rocket” comments about the FJR all the time when I happen to meet up with a couple of cruiser riders. It usually goes like this –

“What kind of bike is that? I’ve never seen one of those before.”

“It’s an FJR1300.”

“I never heard of it. How do you ride one of those crotch rockets? My back couldn’t take it.”

Turn and walk away.

 

[FJRocha]

From time to time, I go out riding with a couple of friends; he has an SV1000 and she rides a Ninja (250? not sure). Those could be considered crutch rockets, but I get the feeling I am riding with cruisers... :huh: . They learned to ride about a year ago, but only ride less that 20 miles maybe once a month if any. They do not feel too secure on their skills, so they only ride on straight roads and at, or below, the speed limit. If the road makes a slight turn, they tend to freeze and slow down to a crawl. I have to follow them, otherwise I loose them. At least I get to see the vegetation grow and the scenery change <_< ; needless to say that I try to avoid those rides.

Anyhow, I do prefer to ride alone and have the freedom to keep my own pace... not too fast ... not too slow ... but just right.

BTW: The FJR is NOT a "Crutch Rocket" it is a Crutch ICBM.

 

[Feejer/Weejer man]

I am insulted. I own a Honda VTX1300 V-twin cruiser. I love it. It ain't my FJR but when I ride it I enjoy the living **** out of it. It ain't what you ride it's that you ride!!!!

 

[Windjammer]

It ain't what you ride it's that you ride!!!!

Amen bro, I'm with ya on that.
Got no problem with the cruiser crowd. Whatever turns yer crank. But I find it challenging to ride in ANY large group (defined as more than 5 bikes total, for me). Mostly because it's hard to find that many people who all want to ride at the same speed, stop for gas and rest at the same intervals, stop for the same attractions, etc. I went on a big charity run once, mostly Harleys and I had a Kawi LTD750. That one actually went OK 'cuz we were such a huge group (100's of bikes) that a police escort was required, and the group stayed together. But I've been on those rides where some poor guy gets left a little behind, pushes his limits to keep up, then CRASHES. I usually ride mid pack or maybe a little further up, so I never see these, but I hate being a part of something that leads to this kind of crap.

So I prefer to ride alone or in small, easy to manage groups of like minded riders. Easier, safer and more fun.

Public response to my new '05 has been very positive so far. Had lots of "nice bike" comments at gas stations by bikers and cagers alike, people really seem to like the blue color, haven't had a single negative comment yet. Kinda nice... :cownoy:

 

[XJRGUY]

I don't know about the cruisers (and my bike before my FJR was a Drifter 800) but in the paperwork at the dealer, there was an addendum specifying:

Article 1 - XII-

Said purchaser of vehicle is entitled to hot *** on a platter post purchase. This is not guaranteed, but highly likely. Any option is null and void regarding this article if said vehicle is dropped at a stoplight in front of possible prospect(s)

:bleh:

 

[rockertom]

I don't ride with any cruisers. Just for the reason stated above. They can't or don't keep up. So I don't bother. When I ride with the sport bikes. Their only complaint with me is the bags. They keep thinking that the bags are going to scrape in the corners and come off. Then bounce up and hit them in the head.

 

[BlueWing]

This guy comes up & starts by saying " why would a guy your age buy a bike like this?"

I've had the FJR for a little over two weeks and I get this comment often. Usually from guys I have ridden with for many moons. I explain to them that no, I'm not in my 2nd childhood I just enjoy the way this bike accelerates, stops and hauls down the roads. Occasionally I will find the individual that talks about his wish to own one but the wife/family says no. I have just about convinced myself that instead of taking the Wing on the SCMA 3 Flags Run this Labor Day I will leave it in the garage and load up the FJR. ('Course that idea isn't setting too well with my Wing riding partner but....)

 

[snowmonkey]

It ain't what you ride it's that you ride!!!!

I'll second that.., I always believed that it didn't matter what you rode as long as you were 'In the Wind'. And those above posts that criticize the cruiser pilots, it sounds like they have a serious better-than-thou-attitude.

 

[Saddletramp]

For you cruiser guys that got feathers ruffled up relax!

My original post was not intended to criticize anyone but I was just making some observations. Like I said in my post, I have a Honda Valkyrie that I absolutely love & have ridden it over 40,000 miles. I have spend hundreds of hours doing preventive maintenance and adorning it with farkles & bling! I don't ever intend on selling it because I still love the sound of that flat 6 engine as I rip up the canyons near my home. It is also as comfortable as a Lazy boy chair!

I just find it a bit interesting that the public perception seems to be that a cruiser is THE bike to ride on long journeys. The FJR looks "crotch-rocket" so everyone assumes it would be uncomfortable. I haven't found that to be the case.

True, what you ride is not important, that fact that you are blessed with the opportunity is!

Enough, talk, I think I'll go roll the Valkyie out of the garage & go cruisin!

See ya out there!

 

[scooter cruzer]

Not to get toooooooooo pissy, but a Valk isn't a cruiser........

I knew the way this post was going to head from the opening subject line....... riders who haven't experienced the other types of riding often have some pretty funny misconceptions about other types of riding. Goes both ways. :beee:

I show up with my Vulcan to rides with the sportbike crowd, and they will act like I just called their girlfriend fat....... the next week on the FJR I'm their buddy all over again.

I had just as much fun on my cruiser as the guy on the Ducati who went with me to the SCRC rally this weekend....... and that's the important thing.

Scooter