Adventure type bike to cruiser, what to expect?

[Throttled]

I have only ever ridden adventure type bikes, as in they are tall and had various off road and long distance touring capabilities. A KLE & three Versys from Kawasaki. I enjoy the high sitting position and being able to see over cars and go eye to eye with big SUV drivers. I hate the high centre of gravity. Obviously a cruiser with lower me & the centre of gravity down, but is there anything else to expect?

[husoi]

Much easier to hold the bike while stopped in traffic.

 

[Simon Davey]

Not so easy to manoeuvre at low speed(?)

You'll also lose that valuable visual plus point you mention, of being able to see ahead so much, and Wange Wover drivers will be even more inclined to look down on you.

Also, when you go through a McDonald's drive through, you'll have to reach up high to pay and to get your food.

[bonio]

Back ache.

I sat on a Harley for the first time in life at the Excel show this year. Put my feet on the pegs. I don't think I managed more than a minute - like being put in a stress position. But I am half-dwarf, half-man; a normal-sized person might find it ok.

[RideWithStyles]

I am roughly average height.

three of the worst bikes I have ever graced, husky spartvilin, Honda rebel and a Harley , I don’t remember which one as it but never again.There was one victory/indian bike was wasnt too bad if I had too.

like Bonio says a horrible stress position, everything was wrong, pegs and legs, the low seat and the stupidity of the arm reach that hurts the arms, shoulders, neck and back that is like a sitting on a really low level toilet, like legs out, while trying to play snooker on a raised table.

 

low speed wobbles.

grinding pegs, exhaust and boards around the most corners without trying.

short revs so ull probably bash into the rev limiter a lot. 

tyres should last ages.

brakes are not the best, suspension will be a mix bag, really soft on the front but non much travel and stiff rear.

ull probably start having positive thoughts about chaps and tassels.

[bonio]

Have you thought about an r1200gs? No-one has ever accused them of having a high centre of gravity. 

[Throttled]

10 hours ago, bonio said:

Have you thought about an r1200gs? No-one has ever accused them of having a high centre of gravity. 

 

No, for me the two biggest reasons to change are that I would describe my riding style as cruising and a need to stretch my legs out, rather than they are tucked under me.

[Steve_M]

On 22/03/2025 at 00:14, bonio said:

Back ache.

I sat on a Harley for the first time in life at the Excel show this year. Put my feet on the pegs. I don't think I managed more than a minute - like being put in a stress position. But I am half-dwarf, half-man; a normal-sized person might find it ok.

A friend had a Triumph America (?). I took it for a short spin and felt the same. My description was that, though I’d never experienced it, it felt like I was sitting in a birthing chair. 

[Throttled]

After an hour or so, I want to stretch my legs out. The Road King I had for 24 hours was a comfortable bike. I like bikes with footboards, rather than pegs, because I can move my feet about.

[manxie49]

Never owned a cruiser and never will ...... I did test ride a Triumph Rocket.  It was at one of those come and try days organised by dealers.  I thought it looked comfortable and fun, how wrong was I!  Firstly at 6'2" It just didn't feel right, I felt like I was having to re-learn how to ride a motorbike. I knew after the first 100 meters that this was going to play havoc with my long term back injury problems, and I wasn't wrong, definite down tick for comfort.  I didn't feel confident on roundabouts or tight turns, it just felt like it was going to ground out far too easily.  Slow speed was awkward, I found myself wobbling all over the place, and I certainly wouldn't have liked to have gone two up.  I would definitely recommend a good long test ride before parting with the coin, because you'll find it's going to be night and day different from what you're currently used to. 

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

I have a Triumph Bobber, it's totally impractical and bonkers. Stock brakes and suspension show their limitations but CoC Customs in Australia do a seat conversion that allows the seat to float rather than being bolted to the frame. This makes the ride very comfortable. Far better than the many suspension kits available which don't really make much difference to your average UK rider. (They are mainly aimed as American riders who are rather heavier.) 

 

There are brake conversion kits or simply bleed the system properly and fit sintered pads. The master cylinder still gives a rather dead feel but I can trigger the ABS with two fingers so there's no lack of stopping power, just not the lightness of other systems. The Bobber brakes are better than my CBF brakes. 

 

You can have the pegs forward or mid position with endless variations of handlebars. It's rare to see a Bobber with the stock setup. People buy them and immediately customise them so every bike is very different.  

 

It handles way better than it should. I am not a fast rider but on group rides those on sport bikes tell me they struggle to keep up in the twisties. I guess it's because the weight is low down. That and the torque which gives you loads of grunt low down so you're pulling away out of corners without having to wind the revs up. 

 

You don't get to see over cars but the exhaust noise means they generally move over and wave you past anyway. One reason I get sent to lead group rides. 

 

You get a 9 litre tank (bigger on later versions) so you need to know where petrol stations are. Range is about 130 miles if you dare. 

 

The early ones had a skinny 19" front wheel, single front disc and lighter forks. Later ones have 16" front wheel, twin discs and heavier forks. They don't stop any better and aren't as flowing in the bends. The original is the best handling. 

 

You will scrape bits off cornering if you lean it over but it's all very predictable so it's easy to hold it just above the ground to avoid making contact. 

 

As a proper British bike they come with the wiring to the rectifier running lower than the alternator so oil seeps through the wires and eventually dribbles out at the plug.  This ensures you get the traditional oil leak. You can delete this by sealing the wires with silicone at the plug if you want to. 

 

I wouldn't ride one for touring, though some do. If you need a pillion there's the Speedmaster version.  A bit too bling for me. 

 

 

[S-Westerly]

Your exhaust looks very spiffy although I'd give the bags a miss.

[Mawsley]

Had adventure bikes, had cruisers. Cruisers every day for me now.

 

The two Guzzis I owned had decent riding positions but bugger me they had awful seats. Harley Sportster was too cramped. But the Ultraglide and the Street Bob are fine for extended riding.

 

Turning circle is a bit sus on the Bob...but how often does anyone do a feet up U-turn? Low seat means for super confidence in slow traffic - unlike the Tiger 1200 and Africa Twin.

 

The Bob is an older Evo engine - so it comes with associated vibes (which I happen to like) - the M8s have that ironed out.

 

Insurance halved when I chopped in the AT.

 

You will scrape the pegs/boards if you are busy trying to make progress...but that's not what the machine is for. Just relax and ride the creamy torque. No idea what Styles was doing to hit a rev limiter?! 

 

Plus, you no longer have to suffer other bikes waving at you.

[Fiddlesticks]

2 hours ago, Mawsley said:

how often does anyone do a feet up U-turn?

Guilty M'Lud.

Every time I see a block of 4 parking spaces. They draw me in like a moth to a light bulb. Even Mrs, Fiddlesticks has stopped bothering complaining about it.

 

It's weird, the Tiger I'm fine on at slow speeds. Although the Thunderbird carries it's weight low, I don't find the forward pegs massively confidence inspiring.

 

[Throttled]

On 23/03/2025 at 11:44, manxie49 said:

Never owned a cruiser and never will ...... I did test ride a Triumph Rocket.  It was at one of those come and try days organised by dealers.  I thought it looked comfortable and fun, how wrong was I!  Firstly at 6'2" It just didn't feel right, I felt like I was having to re-learn how to ride a motorbike. I knew after the first 100 meters that this was going to play havoc with my long term back injury problems, and I wasn't wrong, definite down tick for comfort.  I didn't feel confident on roundabouts or tight turns, it just felt like it was going to ground out far too easily.  Slow speed was awkward, I found myself wobbling all over the place, and I certainly wouldn't have liked to have gone two up.  I would definitely recommend a good long test ride before parting with the coin, because you'll find it's going to be night and day different from what you're currently used to. 

 

We are the same height and I felt the Road King was a good fit. I have sat on lots of other cruisers and just like many bikes, if I have to lean forward, that plays havoc with my bike. I get to sit bolt upright with the Versys, so a cruiser has to be the same. The 650 Versys I used risers, the 1000 I did not. Parked next to other bikes and the Versys 1000 is one of the largest motorbikes you can buy. I will need a big cruiser.

 

As for slow speed U-turns, I carried an 18 stone pillion on the Road King and felt fine. I have never tried to do U-turns without putting my feet down, I don't care if it makes me look like I am inexperienced or lacking in confidence!

[Mickly]

 Not ridden many cruisers, just as courtesy bikes, one was a Triumph America with foot boards, the riding position was ok, but at 6’2” I found it a bit cramped, grinding out the foot boards was juvenile fun for a bit, then it got tedious, when I told the dealer they said something like “bloody Speedtriple riders, good job it’s got replaceable sliders on the foot boards”

Another was an early Rocket 3 with all the bells & tassels, foot boards, bags, high screen, auxiliary lights etc, the riding position was very comfortable & it had loads of grunt, it was hilarious passing traffic at warp 10 and seeing their faces as this Wurlitzer stormed by …… until I got to a roundabout … it ground out and did a bucking bronco impression, all I could think about was the £1000 insurance excess, luckily we came out the other side unscathed.

I also had a Triumph Bobber which was comfortable and easy to ride, bend swinging was a breeze, the only issue I had was when the air flow started to force my knees away from the tank, but 90+ mph are not what they are about … apparently 

[Mawsley]

18 hours ago, Fiddlesticks said:

Guilty M'Lud.

Every time I see a block of 4 parking spaces. They draw me in like a moth to a light bulb. Even Mrs, Fiddlesticks has stopped bothering complaining about it.

 

It's weird, the Tiger I'm fine on at slow speeds. Although the Thunderbird carries it's weight low, I don't find the forward pegs massively confidence inspiring.

 

 

Only had a Thunderbird for an afternoon, really enjoyed it although it felt a looooong bike. I was still going to buy it but the finance company had other ideas.

 

My Tiger 1200 bloody crushed me when I tried a U, only bike I've ever dropped. Never forgave it for that.

 

As I say, the Ultraglide was a breeze two ups and U-turns. I know some complain about it when they try one for the first time, but I found it flickable despite its weight. I'm tempted by a King, the ergo of the bars and floorboards are similar to the Ultra - but with the benefit of a lot of weight being lost. That said, I am probably stuck with the Bob for the next couple of years...by which time I'll remember I rarely travel long distance and go for a CRF300 instead