Choosing the Right Motorcycle - Part II
Motorcycles come in a great variety to address different styles of riding. Is your goal comfortable, two-passenger cruising around town? Or, do you want to set out on the open road for days at a time and tour the back roads across wide swaths of country?
Touring Motorcycles
Several clubs organize tours that can involve travelling
1,000 miles per day. Even on smooth asphalt, that kind of
trip demands an ultra-comfortable ride. The touring
motorcycle is designed with just those requirements in mind.
Generally larger than standard motorcycles, touring bikes
weigh more and have longer wheelbases. 500 lbs is average
and bikes hover just shy of five feet long. Seats are
designed with those long periods in the saddle in view, for
both driver and passenger.
Comfort in seating is key, but the position of the
handlebars, pegs and the overall ergonomic configuration is
made as a complete package. Fairing is common, as is a
larger gas tank. 'Fairing' is the flared composite that
surrounds the front of the bike. It reduces drag by a modest
amount, but at lower speeds it does little other than make
the bike look stylish.
Windscreens are essential, even though a helmet is standard
head gear. Better to have bugs on the windscreen than on
your faceplate.
BMW is famous for their touring models, but Honda has made
heavier bikes since the 1980s that are often used for this
purpose. And those two have lots of competition.
Sub-categories include the sport touring bike, which is
usually smaller and has a smaller engine. Cruisers and
tourers are a cross-breed that serve a little wider set of
driving goals.
Cruiser Motorcycles
'Cruiser' is a broad category of motorcycle that includes
just about everything that came to be associated with the
breed from the 1930s until about 1970. After that, bikes
became increasingly individualized, customized and
mass-marketed.
Ironically - considering the rebel aura associated with
bikes - the emphasis in cruiser design is on tradition.
Choppers, retro, standard... no matter the sub-category,
these bikes are big, heavy and solid. 600 lbs is common and
the seat is generally lower, with engines that are larger
than other types. The wheelbase is longer than average and
the forks are raked at a greater angle.
Cruisers are definitely not for off-road, though many have
seen a lot of dirt. They're built for stability, but often
have high top speeds. They usually have lots of room for
extras, like saddlebags and even a sidecar. 1400cc engines
are common and the pipes are made to rumble.
Harley Davidson is the king of the category, but they have
lots of competition. Indian has made a lot of models over
the decades, but they have been going in and out of business
for a hundred years. Suzuki and Kawasaki make 1500cc bikes
that display all the features of a traditional cruiser.
As with most motorcycles today, there are a dozen common
sub-categories with a variety of customization options.
Power cruisers, choppers and more are available.
A cruiser can, and has been, used for touring but for those
long road trips the touring bike will be more comfortable.
Here, style is everything.
Choosing the Right
Motorcycle – Part III