Hello motorcycle lovers!
A motorcycle cruiser is the dream of many.
Indeed, its appearance, power, efficiency on the road, and the whole style leaves no one indifferent. It attracts a hundred glances if it stands in the yard. They watch him on the road as he drives. Other motorists look at him when he stands at a traffic light. Wherever beautiful and comfortable cruisers are, they attract attention everywhere. You want to be looked at with admiration on the road, right? If yes, then it’s time to think about buying this bike. Choose the appropriate option for yourself and rush along the track, getting true pleasure. We will tell you right now what kind of bikes these are, what is their feature and what models are on the market.
Put on your helmet and let's go.
Features of cruiser motorcycles: what you need to know before buying?
They are not designed for maneuverable driving around the city, high-speed travel on the highway or conquering off-road terrain. But they are the ones who attract the most attention from the public and remain the very symbol of freedom and the biker lifestyle. We are talking about cruiser motorcycles. They feel confident, covering thousands of kilometers, while providing maximum comfort to the driver. This type of bike combines a brutal appearance and a fairly sedate ride, compared to its sports and off-road counterparts.
And why, exactly...
Why cruisers? You can just drive and that’s it, no matter what. But maybe because I want something completely different, something different from everything that came before, but at the same time “for the soul.” So that the eye is pleased and you don’t want to stop and take a break from the intense driving, but just go and move. And this is exactly what, in my understanding, cruisers personify, with their classic, even “monumental” design, often (but fortunately not always) an abundance of chrome, relaxed landing and measuredly rattling V-twin.
About the technical and visual characteristics of cruiser motorcycles
The appearance of such a bike is difficult to confuse with other classes. A low, comfortable seat, an upright position, a fairly dimensional design, the rear wheel is slightly wider than the front, large protruding mirrors, and a short fork are mandatory attributes. On many models, the footrests are placed forward. The passenger seat is in most cases equipped with a backrest. But despite all the signs of comfort, the cruiser looks quite brutal - due to large wings and an abundance of chrome elements.
The exterior of such bikes is impressive, but the technical characteristics do not leave anyone indifferent:
- Engine volume from 750 to 2000 cm3. with a power of up to 160 horsepower, it confidently gains dynamics and moves an impressive mass of iron, which can reach 500 kg. Without using extra effort, the biker confidently and easily manages to outpace the flow of vehicles on the highway. The engine is designed to produce maximum torque even with low power.
- Most often, the design involves a liquid-cooled V-engine. However, there are Japanese models equipped with one-, two- and three-cylinder engines.
- The fuel tank capacity of 15-18 liters is enough to forget about refueling between settlements.
- The reinforced braking system is designed to safely stop heavy weights.
- The maximum speed can reach 190 km/h.
During their evolution, cruiser motorcycles have acquired such a direction as “power cruiser” - a bike created for those who want more speed and power.
Triumph Rocket III 0-100 km/h – 2.8 sec
The family of “missiles” with the Roman troika consists of five vehicles. The name Rocket III comes from a motorcycle manufactured by the British industrial group The Birmingham Small Arms Company Limited, which produces weapons among others, and is a reference to the Rocket 3 from 1968, also produced under the name Triumph Trident.
Triumph Rocket III. Photo: Triumph
The Triumph Rocket III motorcycle project began in 1998 under the leadership of Ross Clifford. The main designer of the motorcycle was John Mockett, who designed the Hesketh V1000, Triumph Tiger and Triumph Bonneville models. Mockett collaborated with David Strid, Gareth Davis and Rod Scivier in the development of the three-cylinder in-line engine.
Big as a mountain, the Rocket III has a three-cylinder engine with a displacement of more than two liters (2294 cm3). The powerful bike has a dry weight of 334 kg and a length of exactly 2.5 meters. In earlier versions, Rocket III even weighed about 370 kg.
To be able to move such a mass, the engine develops 148 hp. at 5750 rpm and a torque of 200 Nm at 2500 rpm, allowing you to reach 100 km/h in just 3 seconds! The drive is moved by a cardan shaft.
Triumph-Rocket-III
The best cruiser motorcycles
When reviewing the best cruisers, you should start with the classics of the genre - Harley-Davidson. Over its hundred-year history, the manufacturer has managed to amaze the public with motorcycles for the army, the foundation of customization, the first sports configurations, world speed records, and unobtrusive advertising in movies. The handsome Softail Fat Boy is still admired by fans of the second Terminator.
Cruiser Harley-Davidsons can be found in the following brand families:
- Softail – bikes with a “dry frame”, without rear suspension.
- Touring – heavy configurations, an excellent option for long trips and even around the world.
- The V-Rod is a non-trivial combination of cruising and sporty characteristics.
If Harley is your dream, and you are confused by the variety of offers, pay attention to the FXST Softail Series. The model offers a recognizable design with elements of the 60s of the last century. For all its courageous appearance, the FXST is not the heaviest bike, it is easy to control and is equipped with soft shock absorbers. You have 62 liters at your disposal. s., which “squeeze out” up to 170 km/h. on the road.
If you are planning to buy a motorcycle in Moscow and think that Harley is an expensive pleasure, do not rush to conclusions, take a look at the website synergosmoto.com. Here are lots from American and Japanese auctions with detailed photos, technical reports and reasonable prices. And the best part is that all lots have no mileage on Russian roads.
Let's move from America to Europe and see which bikes are considered the best in the “Old World”:
- BMW R1200C is a stylish representative of the German automobile industry. The R1200C, although it left the assembly line for the last time in 2004, is still popular and in demand on the secondary market. Its streamlined monolithic exterior has not aged a bit. The 2-cylinder engine produces 61 hp. With. and 167 km/h. Weight 260 kg. allows you to confidently maneuver and take sharp turns.
- Ducati Diavel Carbon is an Italian beauty with a hot temperament. It would be more correct to classify it as a “sport cruiser” subcategory. The 2022 configuration weighs only 205 kg, which with an engine capacity of 1200 cc. makes you feel superior on the road. At its heart lies the performance of the L-twin engine. The Diavel pendant and fork are coated with a diamond-imitating coating. The highlight of the model is black forged wheels with a strict aluminum sheen.
Each representative of the class has its own unique feature, so before purchasing, we recommend that you weigh the pros and cons, study the design, appearance, and pay attention to the comfort of the passenger who will accompany you on the road trip.
American researchers who periodically study the motorcycle industry have come to the conclusion that Japanese motorcycles are the most reliable today. And for motorcyclists, represented by the brands Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, they manage to combine innovative technologies and the classic biker spirit.
Honda VT750 Shadow
Price: € 9.990
The “Eternal” Honda has a strong reputation as an indestructible and unpretentious motorcycle. From a utility standpoint, Honda is a great candidate. The ground clearance is not bad, but the price of the new motorcycle is not very competitive - for that kind of money you can get a touring version from competitors with bags and a windshield. Moreover, unlike “real cruisers”, Honda does not have platforms for the feet, but ordinary footrests, which helps ground clearance, but reduces the “cruising” element. In terms of instrument design, Honda is somewhere between the high-tech of Suzuki and the minimalism of Kawasaki. Having the smallest volume of its competitors, the Shadow is the weakest in an already not very powerful segment, so driving alone or with a passenger on the autobahn is a big question. In combination with a small tank, practicality drops even lower.
The Shadow is equipped with a cardan or a chain, depending on the “submodel” (750S – chain, 750C – cardan), in Holland only the model with a cardan is sold, so we write it down as a plus. But I didn’t like the spoked wheels even in the VN900 test. But the main drawback for drivers of average height and above is the “compactness” of the motorcycle. In other words, at 180 cm height, sitting is no longer comfortable. With my 185 cm, this is not an option at all.
Unfortunately, there are no other Honda cruiser or chopper models on the European market, so the Shadow is Honda's only cruiser that competes with models from other manufacturers.
Read the second part of the article about choosing mid-sized cruisers.
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Kawasaki Versys 650
What wheel radius is better to take for winter 13 or 14
“What a freak!”
- exclaimed the editorial staff (who, as you already know, have a sense of beauty) as I rode the Versys into the publishing house parking lot. You can try to correct the “face” of this motorcycle, which is really an amateur, by removing the stumpy windshield, but external absurdity does not prevent this motorcycle from delighting its owner in motion, even if he is just mastering the controls.
The Versys's fairly playful 650cc engine, which allows for efficient acceleration on the highway, is nonetheless quite comfortable for leisurely maneuvering both in traffic jams and on the training ground.
The suspension of this bike deserves special praise, as it carried me with equal comfort both through the city streets and along the rough country road that I took during the test drive: the shock absorbers absorb more bumps, which makes the Versys a virtually universal motorcycle.
Moto Guzzi
The 1921 Moto Guzzi V7 in a cool carbon version, in black with red local accents, will be offered to buyers in Europe. With the start of sales of a special model, the Italians want to remind everyone of the year the company was founded (marked in the name of the motorcycle version).
Three versions of motorcycles: Carbon, Milano and Rough - differ in attachments, and in particular tires. “Rougher” tires are for roads of not the best quality, road tires are for normal conditions, the carbon version of the motorcycle is made for fashionistas.
Creating a motorcycle anew, around a new engine, is a task that not all motorcycle manufacturers undertake. At least, you don’t see this often these days. The Italians took a chance and made an updated version of the off-road model.
Engineers from the Apennines built a motorcycle around their 850 cc 80 hp engine, reminiscent of the rally bikes of the 80s. The V85 model, according to the developers, should fit perfectly between the V7 and V9 versions.
Harley-Davidson
Bagger, Bobber, Cafe Racer, Enduro, Retro-Bike: Harley will delight its customers with a set of technologically advanced and very interesting new products for the 2018 model year. The new Harley-Davidson Sport Glide is coming out. The Softail line of motorcycles appears.
The Glide Sport is based on a chassis with 43mm inverted forks and a monoshock. Removable headlight covers, saddlebags with the possibility of dismantling and lighting equipment with LED technology are also present. The Glide sports bike is powered by a Milwaukee-Eight-107 engine with 84 horsepower.
The cost in Russia starts from 1,444,000 rubles .
The Dyna model is retiring, replaced by the firstborn of the Softail series, the Street Bob
Fat Bob
Fat Boy
Low Rider
Choose from 1,745 or 1,868 cc Milwaukee Eight engines with different sounds and power output.
In addition, Harley-Davidson has changed its big tourer. The 2022 version of the motorcycle replaces the chrome with black parts. The motorcycle is powered by a huge 1923 cc Screamin-Eagle V2 engine.
The updated line, dedicated to the 115th anniversary of the motorcycle manufacturer, is completed by the Harley-Davidson Softail Breakout and Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Classic models. The old brand did not skimp on celebrating its anniversary on a grand scale!
Suzuki Bandit 650 SA
Despite the provocative name, driving the “bandit” is not at all difficult: the motorcycle is quite friendly and predictable, but it will not tolerate familiarity like the Yamaha YBR 125. There's no point in fiddling with the throttle - if you unscrew it a little more than necessary, the 650 cc bike, of course, won't rear up, but it will take off more than convincingly. Shooting dashingly from traffic lights is a skill that comes with experience.
The peppy and dynamic engine is sufficient for moving around in a metropolis, the gearbox shifts gears in a sporty manner, the brakes are perfectly balanced and will not throw you over the steering wheel if you accidentally hit the front brake lever. All this, as well as the modest dimensions of the motorcycle, make the Bandit the best spin in city traffic jams for a beginner.
Separately, I would like to note the magnificent sound of the muffler - at low speeds it produces a booming, rumbling bass, gradually turning into a primitive roar: if you actively unscrew the throttle, other road users will definitely hear you, and for your safety this is only a plus. It will also benefit from the presence of ABS already in the basic configuration, which will reduce your chances of falling - during the experiment, I managed to get the wheel to lock only during sharp braking on dry asphalt. And the large mirror flaps provide excellent visibility.
“Bandit” has some minor, but still shortcomings. It is heavy - with a full tank the weight of the motorcycle reaches 250 kg. I had to feel this fully when I forgot to put the bike on the stand in the parking lot. Caught him, almost tearing his back off. Another minus is the lack of a gear engaged indicator. On a motorcycle worth 400 thousand rubles, Suzuki engineers could have provided such convenient little things.
Choose...
When choosing your first motorcycle in the showroom, be guided by four criteria.
1. Height.
Sit on a motorcycle and see if it's too big for you: the height of your first bike should allow you to stand firmly on the ground with both feet. If you can only touch the ground with your toes, it’s better to choose something lower, even if you really like this device.
2. Weight.
While sitting on the motorcycle, take it off the stand and try to ride it forward and backward a few meters, and then get off it and do the same while standing on the side. If rolling is very difficult, it means the bike is too heavy for you.
3. Landing.
Sit on the motorcycle, standing on the steps, and take a working position: feet on the steps, hands on the handlebars. Sit like this for a few minutes and you can even fart with your tongue, imitating the roar of a motor. If you are simply uncomfortable - your arms are tense, your back is too bent and stiff, the gearshift foot is located too close to the footrest and clings to your boot - consider another option.
4. Cubic capacity.
Regardless of what class of motorcycles you like, at first you should never chase a large engine capacity and horsepower, so as not to doom your relatives to crazy expenses for your funeral or, which is much more expensive and more painful, treatment. In the case of classics, a volume of 650 cm3 is your ceiling.
... AND DEFEND YOURSELF!
The motorcycle itself is not a cheap pleasure. And if you have the required amount to purchase it, congratulations and we hasten to surprise you - add about 50 thousand rubles to it for protective equipment, without which you cannot drive! A helmet, motorcycle boots, a jacket with protective inserts, motorcycle pants and gloves - all this must be on you when leaving the garage. And if you think it’s too hot outside to ride in full protective gear, then it’s simply too hot to ride a motorcycle today.
KTM
KTM sees the new 790 Duke as an uncompromising ground weapon for victory. The pendulum and rear part of the frame are made of light alloy; launch control will allow you to take off smoother and safer. The compact LC8c engine delivers 105 horsepower at 9,000 rpm. The naked model weighs only 169 kilograms. Cool!
Essentially the same model, only for off-road use, the KTM 790 Adventure. Is enduro popular again? KTM wants to believe it!
KTM motocross motorcycles should get fuel injection starting in 2022. The technology will be used in the 250 EXC TPI and 300 EXC TPI models. The carburetor is becoming a thing of the past with off-road and sport models.
