Japanese Cruisers... In need of a revamp

[trikebubble]

Originally Posted by Occitiger

I thought the nomad was terrible... Then agian Im 2 -3 inches shorter and probably 200lbs heavier... I need beef.

Well, you picked the right bike then..didn't you......

So how arew those Apes treating you anyways? I've been toying with the idea of "upgrading" from my 14"s to some 16"'s.

[RichLockyer]

Get yer butt to Red Lodge and you can give mine a feel.

[trikebubble]

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

Get yer butt to Red Lodge and you can give mine a feel.

Not this year unfortunatly. I may try to coax Stefano out of his ride so I can "tame the Alps" this year though.....

Our new neighbours just moved in, and the guy has an older Harley with 18" Apes on it. They look huge to me, but he swears they are the most comfortable bars he's ever ridden with. Some Kongs may be in my future.....you just never know.

[A2rider]

Originally Posted by kawnine

When did that happen. I knew they had dropped the 1100 Shadow line cut the VLX has been around forever and it's a great starter and extremely reliable bike not to mention the price was right. I didn't think it was exceptionally attractive but mine serverd me well.

They axed the 600 and 1100 from the line up this year. Your choice is now 750, 1300 or 1800. And I'll agree that the 600 was a great beginners bike. I loved mine.

[RichLockyer]

Originally Posted by trikebubble

Not this year unfortunatly. I may try to coax Stefano out of his ride so I can "tame the Alps" this year though.....

Our new neighbours just moved in, and the guy has an older Harley with 18" Apes on it. They look huge to me, but he swears they are the most comfortable bars he's ever ridden with. Some Kongs may be in my future.....you just never know.

The seating and riser position on Harleys is very different from the Vulcan.

To me, a Harley with 21" apes is as comfortable as the 16" Kongs on my 1600.

[trikebubble]

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

The seating and riser position on Harleys is very different from the Vulcan.

To me, a Harley with 21" apes is as comfortable as the 16" Kongs on my 1600.

True. And the V2K is even longer. I sat on a Fatboy with 18" Apes and they felt great, but I think that 18" bars on my bike would be a ways away for my reach.........and i've got pretty long monkey-arms.

[cruiserV]

If everyone liked Chevy's, I guess Ford would be in a world of S##t. Some of us older cruiser riders like the retro style. If I wanted a chopper I'd buy one. I like to be able to carry all that "stuff" when I'm gone for days on a ride/rally.
Bags, trunks, yeah buddy.I do a lot of miles. Comfort is first....Not bashing any of the bikes. It's just one of those personal things that make us buy what we want, or better, NEED to get our FIX...IMHO

[Ibex]

Originally Posted by big worm

ok i know i have said this of a different thread before...... but gimme a zx-14 or even a zx-10 powerplant (tuned for lower rpm of course)in a vulcan 900 custom chassis and im sold!!!!!!!!cuz if they dont build one by the time this bike is payed for i am gonna build one myself....

Build two and I'll buy the second one.

[RichLockyer]

Originally Posted by cruiserV

If everyone liked Chevy's, I guess Ford would be in a world of S##t. Some of us older cruiser riders like the retro style. If I wanted a chopper I'd buy one. I like to be able to carry all that "stuff" when I'm gone for days on a ride/rally.
Bags, trunks, yeah buddy.I do a lot of miles. Comfort is first....Not bashing any of the bikes. It's just one of those personal things that make us buy what we want, or better, NEED to get our FIX...IMHO

+10,000

...and that's what Kawi needs to get through their thick skulls.
They put hardbags, a shield, and crashbars on a 1500/1600, call it the Nomad, and call it a touring bike.

If that's not good enough, then you are forced to the Connie, which many do not find comfortable or simply don't like the style... or they are forced to the competition.
Adding a trunk would ease the pain, but even in the manual, they say not to add a trunk or fairing.

Honda dumped the Valk because the Interstate was cutting into Goldwing sales. Suzuki has never made a true touring cruiser that I'm aware of.
That leaves the Yamaha Venture if you want a 1300 V4 that looks like a V-Twin, or an Electra Glide.

[Old Gray Beard]

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

Performance wise, I think you'll find the VN500 to be quicker than the VStar 650.
On the higher end, I don't see how you can put the C90 over the big Vulcans... even given equal performance, Suzuki has always had this nasty habit of using very small fuel tanks placed low to improve handling.

1600+ goes to Stratolounger? I'd disagree again. All out power? Triumph Rocket-III, or Jap-only, V2K beats it in power and though it's subjective, I've chatted with 4 people who found the Strat to be less comfortable than the V2K.


As far as worst... I honestly don't agree with your call on the VLX. It's an AWESOME little bike and very capable on the highway. It's one limitation is it's limited range due to the small tank.

Don't see how the V2K can be considered the "worst" of the big cruisers.
Touring rides? The selection is pretty limited but honestly, I'd pick a Venture over a Nomad if I were looking for a Metric full touring bike.
The Venture is VERY fast (beats the living snot out of my 1600 or any Harley), and though instrumentation is limited, it has as much bag space as a Harley touring bike (and more than the Goldwing).

But the Rocket III ain't all that pretty unless you're in the saddle

[RichLockyer]

Originally Posted by Old Gray Beard

But the Rocket III ain't all that pretty unless you're in the saddle

Honestly, John Deere engine aside, the only thing that I really dislike about the Rocket is it looks like they used the radiator from a school bus.

[Old Gray Beard]

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

Honestly, John Deere engine aside, the only thing that I really dislike about the Rocket is it looks like they used the radiator from a school bus.

Rode one a couple of hundred miles last year and from the saddle it is a BEAUTIFUL thing!

[RichLockyer]

Originally Posted by Old Gray Beard

Rode one a couple of hundred miles last year and from the saddle it is a BEAUTIFUL thing!

Ya... a buddy of mine got an overnight test drive.

55mph, 3rd gear. Pin it.
It doesn't lift the front tire... it smokes the rear!

[Old Gray Beard]

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

Ya... a buddy of mine got an overnight test drive.

55mph, 3rd gear. Pin it.
It doesn't lift the front tire... it smokes the rear!

Not to mention the Handling!

[sisooktom]

Originally Posted by big worm

ok i know i have said this of a different thread before...... but gimme a zx-14 or even a zx-10 powerplant (tuned for lower rpm of course)in a vulcan 900 custom chassis and im sold!!!!!!!!cuz if they dont build one by the time this bike is payed for i am gonna build one myself....

I wouldn't go quite that far, but I am curious to see which major Japanese manufacturer will break out of the V-Twin box first. Don't get me wrong, the twin is a fine setup, but with people ever hungry for more power, I think it's about time someone explored something other than adding a few hundred CCs to the biggest twin anyone is making now There are designs out there that will make much more power with much less weight, even with style being a consideration. Something tells me the V-4 might be the way to go.

[Old Gray Beard]

Originally Posted by sisooktom

I wouldn't go quite that far, but I am curious to see which major Japanese manufacturer will break out of the V-Twin box first. Don't get me wrong, the twin is a fine setup, but with people ever hungry for more power, I think it's about time someone explored something other than adding a few hundred CCs to the biggest twin anyone is making now There are designs out there that will make much more power with much less weight, even with style being a consideration. Something tells me the V-4 might be the way to go.

Its been done before Honda v45 and v65 Magnum for 2

[RichLockyer]

The Venture and Vmax are indeed smoking machines.

But a lot of us, especially those that do their own work, prefer the simplicity of a V-Twin, and honestly, I don't need more power than I'm getting out of my 1600.

Now if and when my pistons are shot, it WILL get the big bore kit, but it'll be down for work anyways. It's not worth the $1000 to me to install the kit on a perfectly fine engine.

[sisooktom]

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

The Venture and Vmax are indeed smoking machines.

But a lot of us, especially those that do their own work, prefer the simplicity of a V-Twin, and honestly, I don't need more power than I'm getting out of my 1600.

Now if and when my pistons are shot, it WILL get the big bore kit, but it'll be down for work anyways. It's not worth the $1000 to me to install the kit on a perfectly fine engine.

Speaking as someone who is looking to do his own work (only done a few oil changes so far), what makes working on a 4 cyl more complicated? Regardless, I can see how that might be an issue for some folks, but just from comments I see here and elsewhere, a lot of people just seem to have some sort of irrational attachment to the V-Twin. Just my .02

[RichLockyer]

Routine maintenance isn't a big deal. Oil changes are oil changes on a 125cc dirtbike or a 7 litre Diesel.
Plug changes? Some V-Twins have 4 plugs, but plug access on a V4 might be more difficult. When it comes to internals... 4 pistons instead of 2... as many as 16 valves, etc...

And it just doesn't sound or feel like a V-Twin. A big part of the V-Twin experience is the sound and feel of a single-pin twin bumping along.
Now, a lot of V-Twins are not single pin, and a lot of people don't notice or care.


They've gone EFI on the Venture now, but on the carb'd versions, there's the same issues with tuning as with an inline 4, except parts access is more crowded.

[sisooktom]

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

Routine maintenance isn't a big deal. Oil changes are oil changes on a 125cc dirtbike or a 7 litre Diesel.
Plug changes? Some V-Twins have 4 plugs, but plug access on a V4 might be more difficult. When it comes to internals... 4 pistons instead of 2... as many as 16 valves, etc...

And it just doesn't sound or feel like a V-Twin. A big part of the V-Twin experience is the sound and feel of a single-pin twin bumping along.
Now, a lot of V-Twins are not single pin, and a lot of people don't notice or care.


They've gone EFI on the Venture now, but on the carb'd versions, there's the same issues with tuning as with an inline 4, except parts access is more crowded.

Yeah, EFI is obviously gonna be ubiquitous going forward, which is a definite plus for maintenance. It just seems like other than having more of things like pistons, valves, etc, it *shouldn't* be that much harder to maintain. Your point about access makes sense though. I know that a lot of folks just love that V-Twin "feel" but I just don't unde