Choosing the Right Bike – 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
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. Cruiser/tourers are a cross-breed that serve a little
wider set of driving goals.
Cruiser
'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 Bike – Part III