Motorcycle Forums

Not sure where the 55 crack comes from, but average freeway speed- non rush hour - is 75 in LA whatever the posted limit is. I wouldn't push it in Oklahoma though. I am curious, what is it on motorways?

Image over Substance

I won’t speak for the UK, but in the US cruiser sales dominate. Many are sold for the “pretend 1% MC club member” bad-boy image to middle class professionals. Typically they are used for toys, only being ridden on weekends during the warmer months, as many are too uncomfortable to ride more than an hour or so. (Commuting on a motorcycle in the US is extremely rare, and doing so in cold weather makes you a freak.) These loutish owners also generally enjoy disturbing the peace with excessive exhaust noise and the ridiculous belief that “loud pipes save lives”.

In the case of Harley-Davidson, there is an almost religious following, with the belief that other bikes are inferior in design, reliability, etc. And never try to convince the H-D devotees with discussion, as their minds are generally closed to facts regarding motorcycles. Indeed, they often will not even listen to reasoned arguments such as there is no way a 1.7L H-D V-2 with a 111-mm stroke can rev as fast as a 600-cc I-4 with a 42-mm stroke – they stop listening and respond with nonsense such as “Harleys are some of the fastest bikes around”. These louts also offer unsolicited advice – I have been told many times I should have bought a H-D instead of my CBR600F4i or Deauville (an exotic bike in the US, often mistaken for a Beemer), despite H-D not making a comparable bike.

After a decade on sportsbikes, buying a new one every 3 years, just to find out it feels just the same as the one before it ( my SP2 was the exception ) , ive grown bored with them, 195bhp and all the electronics in the world just doesnt float my boat, id be more inclined to buy an older R1 or Gixxer thou now, they appeal more, but on the flip side i did some of Route 66 a couple of years back with a few friends, we had HD Heritage Softails, and you know what, i really enjoyed myself, sure it felt underpowered, brakes where shit and it handled like a bus...but who cares!! i was immersed in the experience..

Could i have a Harley at home, i dont think so, but them Victory Hammer S look mighty fine, 114ft/lbs of torque at about 3500rpm...compared to my 08R1 i had, 75 ft/lbs at 8000 rpm ish..., ok the R1 would waste it once you wound it up, but you're on a hiding to nothing these days riding like that, my mate got banned up scotland with us a couple of years back on his zx10, he pulled the throttle back for about 2 secs, up to 120 in the blink of an eye......zapped...banned.. i know its miserable to think that way, but ive grown to enjoy biking again for what it is, just being out there and riding, without doing 3rd gear mingers and knee down...got the t-shirt as they say..

I'm after a bike with character , that makes you smile under your lid even when youre doing 40 mph ...quite what that bike is yet im not sure, but i can tell you this much...it wont be an S1000rr / ZX10...of 2011 vintage..

Best Commuter?

@ charlesq_70 – Well, I have a CBR600F4i, and do not commute on it either, since the riding position and power-band are best on the open road, and it has no storage. Since I do not need to go on motorway roads, I ride a Honda NHX110 Elite (aka Lead) most days, since the riding position is ideal for traffic, and it is hard to beat the low center of gravity, light weight, and “twist-and-go” operation in traffic; and between the top case, under-seat storage, and bag hooks, I can carry a week’s worth of grocery. If I have to go somewhere farther away, I take my NT700V “Dullville” which is also very comfortable and practical, but considerably more work in stop and go riding. If I had a mixed commute of stop-and-go and motorways, I would likely get a Suzuki Burgman 400 or Yamaha TMAX.

I actually am thinking about getting a cruiser – the Triumph America is one that I actually like the looks of, and it has an I-2 instead of a V-2 engine.