Cruisers ahoy

She's not much into pillioning. Don't blame her. Also, I HATE having
a pillion on the back. My attitude is "Wanna ride? Get your own
bike!" VERY anti-social. :-(

=================

Onya bike

Gerry

 

beginning of my cruiser-research.

I missed that but it isn't that difficult. I suggested the concept as I
thought you could manage it and even enjoy it.

I think I should have wrote, maybe two bikes, something like a PS250 or
XG250 and a cruiser.
One used and cheaper.

ASSUME THE POSITION!

How is a cruiser easier on the body than a little scooter. I know you
ride longer distances..... but how?


I think deep deep down ;-) you WANT a cruiser!


I have yet to ride a cruiser but I don't see how or why a cruiser is
easier on the body than a lot of other options out there.

You are looking at a Shadow?
Just because it is called that doesnt mean that is what you have to do.
What if it was mentioned that a stunt/off road/enduro(?) style bike is
lighter, has less of a tank to lean, has a more upright riding position
that a sports and possibly than a lot of cruisers, and they bounce/drop
with less damage. Don't forget peg position and bark busters to give the
levers a chance. ;-)

I dont understand how something with a scooter style seat (doesnt have
to be a scooter) could not be better but I don't have the injury.

Look at the frame on it!
Notice the flip seat?

Heal well.

 

Nah, I got a postie bike and thought it would be great for building
confidence, being so light and all - but it wasn't.

I haven't asked my GP for details, but from our brief conversations (and
much googling!), this is what I've gleaned.

I think the whole issue is that on a cruiser you have feet forward, which
angles the pelvis upwards and takes the inferior pubic bone up and out of
ONE of the danger zones. If I were to sit upright, my pubic bone(s), both of
which were apparently fractured, would be sitting (a) directly behind the
tank (bad for superior pubic ramus), and (b) on the seat, (bad for inferior
pubic ramus) i.e., vulnerable from two points. A cruiser riding position
would reduce that considerably, by lifting inferior ramus from the seat, and
angling the superior ramus away from the tank. (sounds good to me, and god
bless my biker GP for recognising that and not just going for the "NEVER
RIDE AGAIN!" angle!)

Here's the thing. At the moment I am driving my little manual car. I am
sitting on my arse with my feet forward, in the same sort of position I
would be in on a cruiser - and I'm doing it fine.

Well, right now, after 3 months of bikelessness, let me say I will be
delighted to ride a cruiser - because if I wait to be OK for a sportsbike, I
could be bikeless until next year sometime!!!

Not necessarily easier on ALL bodies, Peter - but definitely takes into
account my particular weaknesses and vulnerabilities. Given my
short-leggedness, scooters - even fairly small ones - would probably still
have me perching on my pubic bone - and add to that some of the other
scooter probs, like the fact that I am used to gears, and clutches where (on
scooters) there are brakes.... and my general unco-ness. I think a scooter
could be a disaster.

I'm going to have a look at a Shadow tomorrow - but at the moment I'm
leaning towards a Suzuki Boulevarde (M50). After a chat with my mechanic,
I've given up on the Yamaha XVS650, despite what a good fit it seemed to be.

Don't forget peg position and bark busters to give the

Grrrr

google 'fracture pubic rami', and 'fracture inferior pubic ramus'. The pics
will give you an indication of where the bones are, and where they would sit
in terms of a motorcycle seat...

I'll stick with my GP's recommendation - after all, he's a biker as well as
a doctor AS WELL as a friend - and I'll go for a cruiser for the time
being... :-\

betty

 

I'd be interested in what the concerns are. (Because I still like
the look of that thing.)


=================

Onya bike

Gerry

 

He said I might as well get a 250... of more concern than that, though,
he's worked on a few, and said there are issues with the shaft drive.

betty

 

Did he mean the 650 was gutless?

I googled that and found lots of people with shaft drive spline
failure problems. Damn...

Why couldn't they have made it with a belt drive, the bathplugs!


=================

Onya bike

Gerry

 

Betty,
have you considered the W650/W800?
http://www.mcnews.com.au/Testing/Kawasaki/2011_W800/Kawasaki_W800_Review.htm
Seat height is 790mm; I guess that's pretty high but it weighs 20-30kg less
than an XVS.

 

Also, did you try a Bonneville "America"?
http://www.triumph.co.uk/australia/2010_America_Overview_2010America.aspx
(720mm seat height. 250kg with a full 19.5L tank)

 

Oooh, ta - I'd forgotten about Triumphs (coz the dealership here's not very
good). Will have to take a trip to Wollongoing or Sydney, when I get out of
marking hell.

I liked the look of the Kawasaki W800, too, but not too sure about the
seating position. I won't rush my bike-buying, as impatient as I am. Will
sit on everything I can possibly get my bum on...

betty

 

.... and the weight feels down low. Along with wide bars, i reckon it
would be easy to move around.

JohnO

plus it looks the goods!

 

It does indeed - worth a look, I think - and a sit... The review of the 800
said some stuff about stopping power and female riders and brake LEVERS
that worried me a bit though...

betty

 

Except the road I hope!

 

Have you tried the Honda Shadow VT750. Comes in two guises, I think -
the C2 is the version that Carol has, and she is very height challenged
due to really really short legs.

Quite a nice tidy cruiser, with not a shortage of torque.

 

I sat on both... The shaft drive one with the feet-forward pegs was nice and
low, and the chain drive one with the more central pegs seemed very tall.
(Oh, and by the way, Bamfy, I tried a CB400 - you told me it'd be a lovely
low ride for a shortarse *sigh*. Never trust anyone over 5'10" with such a
judgement....couldn't get my feet flat.)

At this stage <gulp> the Harley Sportster 883 Superlow with the central pegs
is still way out in front, in terms of ride position/peg position/bulk. As I
haven't test-ridden either the Harley or the Honda, it's hard to comment
beyond that "instant appeal" thing. Watch this space!

Had another Xray yesterday, and will talk to the doc this week...the news I
want to hear "Go forth and buy thyself another SV" will most likely NOT be
forthcoming... but I think I'm getting closer to being told "you're sort of
mended. Go and get thyself a cruiser." No matter what the doc says, though,
I will definitely be sitting on a Bonnie before I make any decisions of any
kind.

This is all rather exciting, in an annoyingly scary and frustrating way. I
_heart_SV650S, dammit!

betty

 

My first big bike that I rode was a friends SV650. We headed from
Meridan to Kalgoorlie at a frantic clip right on sunset. Happy times.
Luckily we didn't have any skippy encounters. I'll always look on the
the SVs with a fond heart.

Fraser