|  | Topic : Cruiser? |  |
| | | Druid | | Jupiter |  |  | | Reg. Date | : | 14/10/2009 | | Posts | : | 1,359 | | Location | : | United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 02 Mar 2011 - 11:39 Post title : Cruiser? | | | Is the TBird really a cruiser? What is a cruiser anyway? Does it meen foot fwd position or sit up and beg seat position? Im confused , not hard.
I am 6 foot 5 and the controls are more under my legs . My seat position is anything from upright to layed back to lean fwd depending on how fast I am going or wether I have my feet back on the rear pegs. It feels no real different to the cb 500 I ride when teaching noobies tbh.
So whats a cruiser? The only thing I can see that the TBird has over any other kind of road bike (not sporty) is ground clearance. It looks 100% better and is more comfortable .
The name seems wrong to me. I dont "Cruise" on the Bird , I ride it . Sometimes hard, sometimes just to chill out . Dosnt everyone ?
Cruiseing to me meens doing 50mph watching the world go past you , both cars bikes and of course the scenary. You can do that on any bike . Its not a V Twin where the name seems to come from . Would that make a Ducati a cruiser though? Of course not.
I feel the same about the TBird . Its been named a cruiser to grab a section of the market .
So the only thing I can come up with is "cruiser " = large engine heavey motorbike . That cant be right . The Rocket is not a cruiser under any definition of the term as far as I am concerned and I guess Rocket riders would agree. Maybe Im wrong? The VMax , is that a cruiser? Some claim it to be but it isnt is it? What about the Goldwing. You cruise on that so is the Goldwing a cruiser? No its a "tourer" .
I dont like the term cruiser its too generic and I hate putting things in boxes. Sorry was bored went into a rant there .
| Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery - W.Churchill
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| | | molinoman | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 26/09/2010 | | Posts | : | 189 | | Location | : | Molino, Florida, United States |
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| | Posted : 02 Mar 2011 - 12:51 Post title : Re: Cruiser? (Re: Druid) | | | Ha...I see the snow must not have melted over there yet.
Dennis
119 dtg Dubai
120 dtg Home for good!
| Last bike owned:
2007 Triumph Rocket III (sold in April, 2010)
Have finally ridden my 2010 Phantom Red Haze Thunderbird, picked it up in Feb 09, 2011, enjoyed the ride...now I am back in the sand box.
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| | | narsisco_lopez | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 09/09/2010 | | Posts | : | 2,765 | | Location | : | Golden (Showers!), Colorado, United States |
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| | Posted : 02 Mar 2011 - 13:09 Post title : Re: Cruiser? (Re: molinoman) | | | LOL... someone started a conversation over on the RAT forum VERY much like this! My feelings about the word are mixed, too, but...
1. Here in the US, a lot of people refer to police cars as "Police Cruisers", so... CRUISER = FAST
2. Cruisers generally have a riding position designed for long-distance riding, so... CRUISER = SERIOUS RIDING
3. Triumph now makes a cruiser, so... CRUISER = COOL
| 2012 Storm (SOLD!)
Other Bikes:
2003 Suzuki DRZ400E (plated - my dual sport/mountain trail/camping bike)
Past Bikes:
2012 K13S
2009 KTM 990 Adventure
2010 Triumph Thunderbird 1600 (the Alien Queen)
2009 Triumph Sprint ST (another great bike!)
2007 Kawasaki ZX10R
2000 Kawasaki ZRX1100
1975 Honda SB550T "Clubman"
1981 Kawasaki KZ1000J
1985 Suzuki GS550E
1978 Yamaha 650 Special
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| | | DizzE | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 12/07/2010 | | Posts | : | 3,141 | | Location | : | Sunnyvale, CA, United States |
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| | Posted : 02 Mar 2011 - 14:33 Post title : Re: Cruiser? (Re: narsisco_lopez) | | |
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."
Romeo and Juliet (II, ii, 1-2)
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| | | narsisco_lopez | | Thor | | | | Reg. Date | : | 09/09/2010 | | Posts | : | 2,765 | | Location | : | Golden (Showers!), Colorado, United States |
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| | Posted : 02 Mar 2011 - 14:38 Post title : Re: Cruiser? (Re: DizzE) | | |
DizzE wrote:
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."
Romeo and Juliet (II, ii, 1-2) |
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"Unless it's called a Stink Blossom"
~ Bart Simpson
| 2012 Storm (SOLD!)
Other Bikes:
2003 Suzuki DRZ400E (plated - my dual sport/mountain trail/camping bike)
Past Bikes:
2012 K13S
2009 KTM 990 Adventure
2010 Triumph Thunderbird 1600 (the Alien Queen)
2009 Triumph Sprint ST (another great bike!)
2007 Kawasaki ZX10R
2000 Kawasaki ZRX1100
1975 Honda SB550T "Clubman"
1981 Kawasaki KZ1000J
1985 Suzuki GS550E
1978 Yamaha 650 Special
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| | | HoopsIRL | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 09/05/2010 | | Posts | : | 161 | | Location | : | Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, Ireland |
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| | Posted : 02 Mar 2011 - 17:44 Post title : Re: Cruiser? (Re: Druid) | | | Druid wrote:
Is the TBird really a cruiser? What is a cruiser anyway? Does it meen foot fwd position or sit up and beg seat position? Im confused , not hard.
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I wonder if the following link could shed some light on the historical 'cruiser' reference & its evolution to our present day 'bicycles'?
Link
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| | | EnGage | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 14/07/2009 | | Posts | : | 3,155 | | Location | : | Grand Rapids, MI, United States |
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| | Posted : 02 Mar 2011 - 22:07 Post title : Re: Cruiser? (Re: HoopsIRL) | | | It's a criuser and so is the rocket III, but the are both damn nice cruisers...
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| | | Linkdog | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 10/02/2011 | | Posts | : | 3,002 | | Location | : | Groveland, FL., United States |
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| | Posted : 02 Mar 2011 - 22:56 Post title : Re: Cruiser? (Re: EnGage) | | | I think in the first cycle world article they called it a power cruiser if that means anything.
| Never drink from a cow with one udder! 2010 1600 Blue&White ( of course ) Long TORS and HP filter.
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| | | Thatch | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 24/06/2009 | | Posts | : | 3,655 | | Location | : | Savannah, GA, United States |
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| | Posted : 03 Mar 2011 - 05:36 Post title : Re: Cruiser? (Re: Linkdog) | | | I just call it 'mine' and don't worry about what others call it.
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| | | horse27 | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 12/01/2011 | | Posts | : | 70 | | Location | : | Bishops Waltham, Hampshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 03 Mar 2011 - 09:01 Post title : Re: Cruiser? (Re: Druid) | | | I think it is odd that the term 'cruiser' still has such bad connotations in the UK.
We are very stuck in our ways ... which in the past was always sports bikes and getting from A to B in the fastest and most socially unacceptable manner possible. Right from the BSA Goldstar and Triton cafe racers onwards.
The French and Germans caught on to the Adventure Bike (as it is now termed) way before us and were more accepting of something that worked all-round in a better way for most riders even if it was not the norm and 'looked a bit funny' ... they went further and took it to it's logical conclusion for road use in the supermoto. The basis for the big road based adventure bikes we are now seeing - massive trail bike with road biased wheels, etc. Now that we have caught on the GS is now the UKs biggest seller (7 & 8 in 2010 ... but if you add the GS and Adv sales together it is outselling the CBF125!)
As the road quality deteriorates and draconian safety measures are focused upon (speed rather than poor driving/riding) I think we will see this shift moving further afield, maybe even the 'cruiser' market will grow. But, I think you will see the term 'cruiser' change at that point to something more acceptable to the UK market. Already we are seeing 'power cruiser' making an appearance. Do we have to categorise and pigeonhole quite so much?
I like the old Telegraph review (link below) that states it is 'a genuinely useful motorcycle'. I'll go with that, not a cruiser. Good comfort, big tank, better fuel economy than my Bandit 1250, belt drive, good tyre life, long service intervals. Heck, it's a practical, all-rounder with shiny bits!
This has turned into me warbling on - have a good one, Lee.
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Sales figures up to November 2010 (I think!) for the UK:
1 - Honda CBF125 - 2,022
2 - Yamaha YBR125 - 1,869
3 - Yamaha YZF-R125 - 1,706
4 - Honda CBR1000RR - 1,219
5 - Yamaha XC125 Vity - 1,177
6 - BMW S1000RR - 1,174
7 - BMW R1200GS - 1,164
8 - BMW R1200GS Adventure - 1,083
9 - Honda VFR1200 - 886
10 - BMW R1200RT - 845
Telegraph review from May 2009 but still very relevant to us in the UK:
Link
| Ex-demo T'Bird 1600 ABS in fetching Blue & White : Bags, boards, fogs, chrome bar ends and locking fuel cap! Got a t-shirt thrown in too  Optimate cable wired in, gel pad fitted by Marty at Link , MRA vario touring screen, retro tech Garmin Quest GPS ... roll on summer 
| | Post edited by horse27 on 03 Mar 2011 - 09:04 |
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| | | ThunderRat | | Jupiter | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 08/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 1,056 | | Location | : | Castle Hill, NSW, Australia |
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| | Posted : 03 Mar 2011 - 09:42 Post title : Re: Cruiser? (Re: Druid) | | | I think a lot of people get mixed up in names. A name is a label which tries to define a certain style of bike. I think "cruiser'is a USA centric term. I think the T-Bird is more of an all-rounder. It is not super powerful but is adequate, even with the 1700cc kit. It handles well for a big heavy bike but not in a sports bike category. It allows a person to customise it a large degree to make it their own bike.
I like my bike and have done a lot of things to it and ride it often but I think there are a lot of better bikes out thers and also worse bikes. I bought mine because I go back to the late 60's with Triumphs. I like the nostalgia trip but find that Triumph seems to be quality item, like Harley and is something you can have as a hobby not just a means of transport.
You can call them what you want but we all know we have a good all rounder or maybe call them an Excuse.
Yeah...my bike is an excuse. An excuse to get out of the house, hit the road and get involved in the euphoria that riding a big lazy bike brings.
| "I started life with nothing and still have most of it left"
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| | | thanks4thefish42 | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 11/11/2010 | | Posts | : | 269 | | Location | : | High Springs, FL, United States |
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| | Posted : 03 Mar 2011 - 12:29 Post title : Re: Cruiser? (Re: ThunderRat) | | | I see that were dealing with the English language spread about the world with each area US, AUS, UK, elsewhere all have differing meaning for the same word. Also age would have something to do with it as well.
For me in the US a Cruiser is a foot forward riding position motorcycle with an exposed motor, usually a V twin, with spoke wheels and usually big fenders to look like the motorbikes of the 30's and 40's made in the USA. Examples would be Harley Softtail etc, Honda Shadow Aero, Suzuki, Yamaha V Star, Moto Guzzi California, Triumph Bonneville America. Cruisers can be customized by the owner with bags, bars, lights, chrome chrome and more chrome. Owners of Cruisers are oft afflicted with an affliction called OCD, Obsessive Chrome Disorder.
The cruiser can be customized into the Chopper which is a stripped down extremely raked bike useful for looking at while stopped. Many chopper owners are killed by being impaled on spiked handle bar grips and air cleaners while attempting to mount the bike on their weekend bar hopping expeditions.
The Muscle Cruiser-is a style of Cruiser with shorter smaller fenders and a more upright riding position with a perky angle to the bike over the more horizontal cruiser. Has a shorter wheelbase and less rake than the Cruiser which makes it more nimble. I would rate the stripped down Thunderbird a Muscle Cruiser. Others would be the V-Max and V Rod.
My excuse is that I'm on anchor watch killing time. Being at sea is like being in jail with the possibility of sinking.
Ride safe, ride often, wear your helmet,
Capt T Bird
| Other rides
Kawasaki Vulcan 900 LT
Suzuki Boulevard S50
BMW R90/6-Luftmeister fairing
Calling upon my years of experience, I froze at the controls. ~Stirling Moss
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| | | Druid | | Jupiter | | | | Reg. Date | : | 14/10/2009 | | Posts | : | 1,359 | | Location | : | United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 03 Mar 2011 - 12:49 Post title : Re: Cruiser? (Re: thanks4thefish42) | | |
thanks4thefish42 wrote:
My excuse is that I'm on anchor watch killing time. Being at sea is like being in jail with the possibility of sinking.
Capt T Bird
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Dont say that my daughter is waiting her date to get in the RN . If I tell her that she might decide not to go to sea and ill be stuck with her for another 19 years. Jeez man have a heart.
| Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery - W.Churchill
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| | | LegionRider | | Set | | | Reg. Date | : | 18/05/2010 | | Posts | : | 63 | | Location | : | United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 03 Mar 2011 - 13:42 Post title : Re: Cruiser? (Re: Druid) | |
| | | DizzE | | Thor | | | | Reg. Date | : | 12/07/2010 | | Posts | : | 3,141 | | Location | : | Sunnyvale, CA, United States |
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| | Posted : 03 Mar 2011 - 14:19 Post title : Re: Cruiser? (Re: LegionRider) | | | At least Susuki calls it what it is and that's all what it is....a Boulevard Cruiser.
What it is....selll advert spots in the magazines. Oooohhh a Muscle Cruiser. Doesn't mean much.
Now, when my Dad would say, "You are cruising for a bruising." THAT was meaningful.
| | Post edited by DizzE on 03 Mar 2011 - 14:21 |
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| | | narsisco_lopez | | Thor | | | | Reg. Date | : | 09/09/2010 | | Posts | : | 2,765 | | Location | : | Golden (Showers!), Colorado, United States |
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| | Posted : 03 Mar 2011 - 17:19 Post title : Re: Cruiser? (Re: DizzE) | | | All I know is I'm hoping to "cruise" over 10,000 miles in three weeks on the 'Bird in June. Say, I wonder if we should just call it a Cruise Missile?
| 2012 Storm (SOLD!)
Other Bikes:
2003 Suzuki DRZ400E (plated - my dual sport/mountain trail/camping bike)
Past Bikes:
2012 K13S
2009 KTM 990 Adventure
2010 Triumph Thunderbird 1600 (the Alien Queen)
2009 Triumph Sprint ST (another great bike!)
2007 Kawasaki ZX10R
2000 Kawasaki ZRX1100
1975 Honda SB550T "Clubman"
1981 Kawasaki KZ1000J
1985 Suzuki GS550E
1978 Yamaha 650 Special
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| | | mat1600 | | Thunderbird | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 06/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,596 | | Location | : | Bridlington, Democratic Independant State of Yorkshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 04 Mar 2011 - 00:04 Post title : Re: Cruiser? (Re: narsisco_lopez) | | | I think of it as a 'Motorbike' all be it a good looking 'motorbike' but just a motorbike. Just happens to be the best 'motorbike' I have ever riden. I don't give a shit what they call it, - its mine and I love it.
| My first natural instinct is to breathe. My second is to evade tax's.
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| | | zolti | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 23/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 3,127 | | Location | : | newcastle , United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 04 Mar 2011 - 21:35 Post title : Re: Cruiser? (Re: mat1600) | | | you must live nearer london than me mat,
I think of it as a 'bike' all be it a good looking 'bike' mayby a little more than just a bike. but a bike nevertheless. Just happens to be the best 'bike' I have ever riden. I don't give a shit what they call it, - its mine and I love it.
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