Of Sportbikes and Cruisers

OTB · 08-09-2010, 02:35 PM

Went out Saturday on a Virago Sevenfiddy for a couple hundred miles:

Nice bike, shaft drive, on first impression decent ergos; nothing extreme.
Nice fit and finish. Lotsa low-end power, nice sound, smooth shifting (this one has about 10k on the clock).

Sportbikes usually have motors that love to be revved and with many you can be just cruising along and look down and be stunned to find yourself waaayyy over the speedlimit. Not so, Ms. Virago (Dictionary defines virago as a " A woman regarded as noisy, scolding, or domineering "...synonyms are fishwife, fury, harpy, shrew...hmmmmm). The harder you rev it, the less it likes it. This bike is the quintessential cruiser, happiest just burbling around town or short hops down the freeway.

I know many folks luuuvv their cruisers, but I am not one of the fan club. I've had Harleys old and new, a Yamaha (now Star) a Honda Shadow, and a older Suzuki "L" model. It may have something to do with my 6'2" height, but I found anything more than 45-60 minutes in the saddle to be arduous; the sculpted or stepped saddles lock me into ONE position and one position only, coupled with the slightly forward footpegs that are neither straight out in front nor directly underneath, they have my thigh muscles aching in short order. Because of the odd seating position, most of the rider's torso weight bears directly down on the seat and because the way the seat is sculpted pressure points soon develop, about which the rider can do nothing. The thought of having to ride these things across country makes my butt hurt just in contemplation.

The Yamaha is overall a nicely finished and thought out bike, but not my cuppa. Now I remember why I prefer sportbikes and standards...flexible ergos, widely usable motors, and the ability to fly down squiggly roads. I took this bike through some of the roads around Baltimore county and Carroll county horse country; it's been a while since I've washed out a bikes front end; after a couple of scarier moments I dialed it waaayyy back and just putted. And that's the problem with a cruiser; you can dial it way back on a sportbike; but you really can't dial it very far up on a cruiser.

JMHO

smileyman · 08-09-2010, 03:00 PM

When testing a cruiser you must keep in mind its intended purpose. The only way to judge its potential would have been in double file parade formation not to exceed 45 mph and would have to include a smoking break every 25 miles and the test run should have been bookended with high caloric red meat and fried sumthing meals.

OTB · 08-09-2010, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smileyman

The only way to judge its potential would have been in double file parade formation not to exceed 45 mph and would have to include a smoking break every 25 miles and the test run should have been bookended with high caloric red meat and fried sumthing meals.

wildchild · 08-09-2010, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smileyman

When testing a cruiser you must keep in mind its intended purpose. The only way to judge its potential would have been in double file parade formation not to exceed 45 mph and would have to include a smoking break every 25 miles and the test run should have been bookended with high caloric red meat and fried sumthing meals.

hey back to your sit-in you vegan!!

LOL I like red meat and fried something or other to.

derf · 08-09-2010, 06:11 PM

Riding this sunday by any chance? I'm looking to finally get out and see the area now that my bike is down here

OTB · 08-09-2010, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by derf

Riding this sunday by any chance? I'm looking to finally get out and see the area now that my bike is down here

Yes, pm me later

marko138 · 08-10-2010, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OTB

Yes, pm me later

Damn. Wish I was around.

OTB · 08-10-2010, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marko138

Damn. Wish I was around.

Where are you????

That's what we want to know...Marko WHERE ARE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!

marko138 · 08-10-2010, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OTB

Where are you????

That's what we want to know...Marko WHERE ARE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, to be specific, right now I'm at work. Inside the Pennsylvania State Capitol building at 3rd and State Streets, Harrisburg PA.

No Worries · 08-10-2010, 04:05 PM

When the Virago came out, Yamaha also made a sport/tourer with the 900 V-twin. It sold big in Europe, but not here. All I remember is that instead of shaft-drive, it had an enclosed chain. I still wonder how you would check the slack on an enclosed chain?

08-09-2010, 02:35 PM	#1
OTB The Man Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: CrabTown USA Moto: 00 Bimota DB4 Posts: 823	Of Sportbikes and Cruisers Went out Saturday on a Virago Sevenfiddy for a couple hundred miles: Nice bike, shaft drive, on first impression decent ergos; nothing extreme. Nice fit and finish. Lotsa low-end power, nice sound, smooth shifting (this one has about 10k on the clock). Sportbikes usually have motors that love to be revved and with many you can be just cruising along and look down and be stunned to find yourself waaayyy over the speedlimit. Not so, Ms. Virago (Dictionary defines virago as a " A woman regarded as noisy, scolding, or domineering "...synonyms are fishwife, fury, harpy, shrew...hmmmmm). The harder you rev it, the less it likes it. This bike is the quintessential cruiser, happiest just burbling around town or short hops down the freeway. I know many folks luuuvv their cruisers, but I am not one of the fan club. I've had Harleys old and new, a Yamaha (now Star) a Honda Shadow, and a older Suzuki "L" model. It may have something to do with my 6'2" height, but I found anything more than 45-60 minutes in the saddle to be arduous; the sculpted or stepped saddles lock me into ONE position and one position only, coupled with the slightly forward footpegs that are neither straight out in front nor directly underneath, they have my thigh muscles aching in short order. Because of the odd seating position, most of the rider's torso weight bears directly down on the seat and because the way the seat is sculpted pressure points soon develop, about which the rider can do nothing. The thought of having to ride these things across country makes my butt hurt just in contemplation. The Yamaha is overall a nicely finished and thought out bike, but not my cuppa. Now I remember why I prefer sportbikes and standards...flexible ergos, widely usable motors, and the ability to fly down squiggly roads. I took this bike through some of the roads around Baltimore county and Carroll county horse country; it's been a while since I've washed out a bikes front end; after a couple of scarier moments I dialed it waaayyy back and just putted. And that's the problem with a cruiser; you can dial it way back on a sportbike; but you really can't dial it very far up on a cruiser. JMHO __________________ http://www.decreasingradius.net/

08-09-2010, 03:00 PM	#2
smileyman White Trash Hero Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: NW Arkansas Moto: Buell 1125R Porco Rosso Edition Posts: 4,895	When testing a cruiser you must keep in mind its intended purpose. The only way to judge its potential would have been in double file parade formation not to exceed 45 mph and would have to include a smoking break every 25 miles and the test run should have been bookended with high caloric red meat and fried sumthing meals. __________________ Arkriders.com To be the best you must first be willing to risk the worst!

08-09-2010, 06:11 PM	#5
derf token jewboy Join Date: Nov 2008 Moto: CBR 900, KLR ugly ass duckling, Gas Man Posts: 10,799	Riding this sunday by any chance? I'm looking to finally get out and see the area now that my bike is down here __________________

08-10-2010, 04:05 PM	#10
No Worries Keyboard Racer Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mile High City Moto: Old Superbikes Posts: 1,016	When the Virago came out, Yamaha also made a sport/tourer with the 900 V-twin. It sold big in Europe, but not here. All I remember is that instead of shaft-drive, it had an enclosed chain. I still wonder how you would check the slack on an enclosed chain?