[jay313]

I rode it with pride until I bought my SV in '01. Then I realized what a real bike is--smooth, nimble, turnable, and stopable. I don't miss either of those bikes in the least now. I wish, instead of the 800, I had bought an FZR400 or something similar.

Definitely, although I do sometimes miss the M50 (successor to Marauder 800). When I got the SV, it was like a different world. Everything was easier: turning, stopping, accelerating, parking, etc. I could never go back to a cruiser. I've wanted to let a few of my riding buddies try my bike on a group ride, but I so can't stand the thought of having to ride one of their cruisers that I always find the offer getting stuck in my throat.

 

[Zokambaa]

Definitely, although I do sometimes miss the M50 (successor to Marauder 800). When I got the SV, it was like a different world. Everything was easier: turning, stopping, accelerating, parking, etc. I could never go back to a cruiser. I've wanted to let a few of my riding buddies try my bike on a group ride, but I so can't stand the thought of having to ride one of their cruisers that I always find the offer getting stuck in my throat.

Oh hell yeah the SV handles waaay better in every way than even my dad's (my old) Maxim 650... and that was more of an upright standard bike... the seat on that one was a pain in the ass too... I'd hate to go back to that one now as my main bike... but I loved it at the time and my dad likes it a lot now... I actually found the leg position to be not too bad on the intruder I drove... but I could see having to stop often without a backrest... it's just how cruisers are... imagine driving one of those OC Chopper bikes for more than an hour.... just looking at those guys ride the bike makes my back sore...

But you don't buy a cruiser for the handling or to go fast ;D

 

[purdysvs]

I think I'm nuts because I want an old cafe racer but IDC I want it and it will make me happy so Ima get one

 

[jay313]

Oh hell yeah the SV handles waaay better in every way than even my dad's (my old) Maxim 650... and that was more of an upright standard bike... the seat on that one was a pain in the ass too... I'd hate to go back to that one now as my main bike... but I loved it at the time and my dad likes it a lot now... I actually found the leg position to be not too bad on the intruder I drove... but I could see having to stop often without a backrest... it's just how cruisers are... imagine driving one of those OC Chopper bikes for more than an hour.... just looking at those guys ride the bike makes my back sore...

But you don't buy a cruiser for the handling or to go fast ;D

True enough. Every time I see one of those choppers with the long rake and ape hangers, I can't even imagine trying to turn it. I asked a guy with one how he turned it, and all he said was, "Very carefully."

 

[Coop]

The seat sucks ass and balls.

And that says a lot considering how bad I think the stock SV seat is. I have ridden a few intruders over the years. I felt cramped and I can just never get used to the low seat, forward peg, funky handle bars on a cruiser. Maybe if the ones I rode had drag bars it would be better?

 

[Zokambaa]

Thinking of my dad's old Triumph Tiger 110 he said it ran fine but then needed a magneto which was basicaly why he never got it back on the road as parts were harder to come by until recent years with the internet and stuff...

I'd imagine a 50+ year old bike would need a full teardown and rebuild with every seal and gasket swapped out and all the grease replaced as well... I wonder what a 50;s Tiger would sell for these days... not that it would be something I'd ever sell if I had it restored... it'd be interesting to see how that bike feels compared to more modern bikes...

That's a tempting one too... Maybe I should start on my own Jay Lenno-ish type collection of bikes...

 

[jbswear]

And that says a lot considering how bad I think the stock SV seat is. I have ridden a few intruders over the years. I felt cramped and I can just never get used to the low seat, forward peg, funky handle bars on a cruiser. Maybe if the ones I rode had drag bars it would be better?

Well, the seat alone is bad enough--softly padded and thin. In conjunction with the horrible ergos, it's a killer.

The stock SV seat is shyte, too.

I put a drag bar on my 1400 and it made the ride a bit more comfortable. It leaned me forward a bit, so I wasn't constantly fighting the wind, and it turned my wrists a more natural direction--the buckhorn bars splay your wrists out and down.