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cdneh
Registered Member

Date Joined Jan 2006
Total Posts : 141

Posted 11/6/2009 8:55 PM (GMT -8)

After talking to a number of cruiser riders, I often hear what they love about their bikes but few comments on what they dislike. So I am wondering what you like and dislike about your current cruiser. There could be many things you really like that greatly over come the one thing you dislike and even the thing you dislike might indeed be minor, but keep it to a one to one comment. Perhaps we will get some really honest opinions about the various rides out there. Let me start:

2009 Kawasaki Nomad: like the great handling a low speeds or on highway curves, dislike the seat as it has little wiggle room

EdbearNZ
Registered Member

Date Joined Jul 2006
Total Posts : 1046

Posted 11/6/2009 11:59 PM (GMT -8)

Hmmmm... My '07 C50T Boulevard...

I love it of course and love riding it, looking at it...

What's not so good? At walking pace I find it a bit unwieldy, could be me but once over walking pace it is sweet to handle and I can ride very slowly with my feet up.

I would prefer slightly higher gearing as I often check for top gear only to find I'm already there, but for most of NZ the gearing is perfect.

I would prefer a smoother engine as I'm not a fan of vibration however I am used to it and ignore it.

I would prefer better suspension and cannot afford to visit our expert on Ohlins who guarantees a good ride, however for the most part it is fine and I find I can ride all day without too much pain. The stock rider's seat is fine but my wife would prefer a more comfortable pillion perch.

I love the screen and saddle-bags which are good quality and the bags seem to be bigger than most.

The exhaust note is great and has improved over the miles with the stock pipes.

Only addition has been a set of the highly recommended VA lowers which has all but eliminated helmet buffetting and I have found the ideal screen height and angle for my build.

I would add or change nothing save the suspension but feel the cost is more than I can justify at this time.

Overall, the best bike I have ever owned or ridden. Despite others having the edge in various areas, no other bike gives me the allround competence and "liveability" of the C50T.

Want to potter along enjoying the scenery? Check! Want to have a blast with a 1200 Bandit and a GSX1400? Check! (The 1400 owner asked if it was in fact a thou and when I said, "No. only 805cc." he asked if I had hotted it up!

My job is so secret if I ever find out what I'm doing I have to kill myself...

Meanie_Intruder
Registered Member

Date Joined Mar 2003
Total Posts : 1598

Posted 11/7/2009 6:23 AM (GMT -8)

The thing you may have to consider is those who have little to say about the dislike of their bike may have already resolved that issue, therefore, nothing more to dislike.

In my case, I disliked the seat, the headlight, the pegs and the handlebar set up. Therefore, I replaced them all and now love my bike more so than ever, along with other added comfort and aesthetics. If I had to pick one thing I didn't like it would be the placement of the nacelle and gauges. Most cruisers have the speedo, tach, fuel gauage, etc on the tank and my Mean Streak doesn't. Since it's not a "major" issue, it's not a major dislike. Other than that, I love my bike.

Friends help you move. Real friends help you move bodies.

CaddmannQ
Random Moto-geek

Date Joined Jul 2003
Total Posts : 17141

Posted 11/7/2009 7:43 AM (GMT -8)

My issues with the Nomad:

A burr on the u-joint yoke caused it to be too tight at assembly. Nobody noticed this & put it together anyway. Evidently they built a lot of them that way, as I've heard numerous stories of Kawasaki replaceing driveshafts. Mine never failed before I discovered it. I just dressed off the burr & replaced the u-joint.

Minor coolant seepage which Alum-A-Seal seems to have controlled.
Minor oil seepage of the rubber cam plugs.
Minor oil leakage of the water pump oil seal.

Lateral slop in the swingarm pivot is controlled by rubber-faced thrust surfaces on the grease seals, which wear out regularly. These should be replaced every time you change the rear tire, and they are a little sloppy even when brand new. Crummy design there.

I shimmed mine tighter with some high-density poly shims, but this isn't a permanent solution either.

All this is documented from day one in my "Nomad Blogging" thread.

"When in doubt, ride."
Cadd................................Clovis CA
2004 Nomad 1500............"Baggins"
caddmannq at yahoo dot com

http://hooligancruisers.proboards102.com

TravelerKLK
2005 Boulevard C90

Date Joined Aug 2005
Total Posts : 553

Posted 11/7/2009 8:37 AM (GMT -8)

My Boulevard C90 is a nice bike, but there are a few things about it I don't care for.

1. Rather low on power, even with a fuel processor tune and open K&N air filter;

2. VERY touchy throttle response at low throttle openings in low gears; throttle is tough to modulate in low speed situations;

3. Stock saddle was awful, but a Mustang fixed that right up;

4. Not a lot of available after market stuff;

5. Very tough to get to the valve stems to inflate/check the tires, due to the large dual brake discs on the front;

6. No oil dipstick - sight glass only and tough to check, since there's no center stand to level the bike and you have to be off the bike to check it

Nevertheless, I've enjoyed my time with the bike, though I'm currently in the process of selling it to purchase a new bike.

--Trav

"Man's mind, stretched by a new idea, never goes back to its original dimensions."

O.W.H., JR.

Smitty
Registered Member

Date Joined Mar 2003
Total Posts : 18446

Posted 11/7/2009 12:33 PM (GMT -8)

You have the same with good bikes in the hands of experienced riders. I spent some yrs up into part of '74 testing bikes from street to comp bikes & at the last I had a PROS to CONS part, being the things I liked to those I did not like. I found out after a while some riders would tell others that I had written a test report on a bike, they would buy the magazine, go after the photos then ESPECIALLY the PROS & CONS bit on the bike for that told them a lot about the bike.

Remember all the others on the road are crazy & out to kill you.

06victory
Registered Member

Date Joined Oct 2009
Total Posts : 4

Posted 11/7/2009 9:41 PM (GMT -8)

I have a Victory Kingpin Overall This is a great bike But the few dislikes I have are.

1. Small saddle bags

2. Hard to adjust rear shock

3. Stock seat for rider or passenger not butt friendly

CaddmannQ
Random Moto-geek

Date Joined Jul 2003
Total Posts : 17141

Posted 11/8/2009 7:08 AM (GMT -8)

You left off squeaky belt drive.

"When in doubt, ride."
Cadd................................Clovis CA
2004 Nomad 1500............"Baggins"
caddmannq at yahoo dot com

http://hooligancruisers.proboards102.com

Richard47
Registered Member

Date Joined Sep 2004
Total Posts : 3953

Posted 11/8/2009 12:29 PM (GMT -8)

Meanie_Intruder said...
The thing you may have to consider is those who have little to say about the dislike of their bike may have already resolved that issue, therefore, nothing more to dislike.

In my case, I disliked the seat, the headlight, the pegs and the handlebar set up. Therefore, I replaced them all and now love my bike more so than ever, along with other added comfort and aesthetics. If I had to pick one thing I didn't like it would be the placement of the nacelle and gauges. Most cruisers have the speedo, tach, fuel gauage, etc on the tank and my Mean Streak doesn't. Since it's not a "major" issue, it's not a major dislike. Other than that, I love my bike.

I'm wondering why you and other cruiser riders think that the tank is a great place to put the instuments? I've never owned a cruiser but I did have a VMax for some time and this had the tacho in the tank. I thought at the time it was a damn fool place to put it and still do. Accellerating hard and just when you have most need of it is the time when you can least afford to take your eyes from the road. If you're looking down and gawping at the instruments you aren't looking where you're going.

Toilet Brush Dog Owner

EdbearNZ
Registered Member

Date Joined Jul 2006
Total Posts : 1046

Posted 11/8/2009 1:27 PM (GMT -8)

Richard47 said...

I agree, on a sports bike where one uses the Tach it needs to be up in the line of sight, but on a cruiser where one is fairly pointless it is not an issue - for me, anyway. I find the speedo easy to glance at but of course I've had the C50T for a couple of years and am well used to it.

My job is so secret if I ever find out what I'm doing I have to kill myself...

kamo
1100 Honda saber

Date Joined Aug 2005
Total Posts : 1846

Posted 11/8/2009 2:38 PM (GMT -8)

I like my bike overall. It takes me on short hops and long trips with comfort after a few mods,risers,drivers backrest etc. The thing i do not like is it's cruiser handlin in curves over bumps etc. I want it to handle like a sport bike, but I know it is a cruiser. Alas it is a good bike for my needs. what I need is two bikes ,mine and a sport to play with. K

Kamo 07 1100 Honda Saber Candy Black Cherry. East Alabama If you need a smile, just turn the key and ride!

PowerG
Registered Member

Date Joined Mar 2006
Total Posts : 727

Posted 11/8/2009 4:38 PM (GMT -8)

I like mine too, 07 V-Star 1300-the suspension could use some upgrading, and fueling it is frustrating, but overall it does most of what I need it to. Good balance between too little and too heavy. I'm thinking seriously about buying a used sport bike just to play around on, there are many good roads in my area.

Meanie_Intruder
Registered Member

Date Joined Mar 2003
Total Posts : 1598

Posted 11/8/2009 4:59 PM (GMT -8)

Richard47 said...

I'm wondering why you and other cruiser riders think that the tank is a great place to put the instuments? I've never owned a cruiser but I did have a VMax for some time and this had the tacho in the tank. I thought at the time it was a damn fool place to put it and still do. Accellerating hard and just when you have most need of it is the time when you can least afford to take your eyes from the road. If you're looking down and gawping at the instruments you aren't looking where you're going.

Then why do we have instruments / gauges? When accelerating hard, perhaps you may need it closer to the vision of the road. But the real question is, if you're accelerating hard, why? If it's to get out of a tough situation, the least of your worries is viewing the gauges as your safety comes first.

Riding a sportbike puts you closer to the tank and head closer to the shield. Therefore, I can understand you thinking the gauges would be problematic on the tank, but it's not. The distance between the front part of the tank and the triple tree is short. Keeping the eyes on the road is no more a problem on the tank than if near the tree. If one can't shift the eyes without losing peripheral sight, then one shouldn't be riding. Also, if one can't shift the eyes to view the gauges due to speed, then perhaps you're going much too fast, other than being on a track, and in that case, it's needed in that position. Thus, this is why we all know, sportbikes are made for one thing only....speed.

Now, the main reason for gauges on the tank is because our heads are farther away compared to a sportbike and we can view it easier. The other reason is a cleaner front end or aesthetics.

Friends help you move. Real friends help you move bodies.

Richard47
Registered Member

Date Joined Sep 2004
Total Posts : 3953

Posted 11/9/2009 9:47 AM (GMT -8)

I wouldn't call a VMax a sportsbike, far from it. It is sort of a cross between a standard and a cruiser and the whole point of owning one is that it accellerates really hard and that makes it fun to ride. And fun is why I ride a bike. Fun comes in different sizes, I have fun on my piddly little 90cc Suzuki, even so, having to hold on tight while the scenery goes all blurry takes some beating. Since hard accelleration is pretty much the only reason to buy a Max (as it's the only thing it does well) having the tacho where you can't see it when needed is another triumph of form over function, all too common with motorcycles of all sorts IMO.

Toilet Brush Dog Owner

Smitty
Registered Member

Date Joined Mar 2003
Total Posts : 18446

Posted 11/9/2009 12:47 PM (GMT -8)

Definately a V-max is not a sportbike, but it had a lot of accelleration as we all know Richard. Mind you I am pretty sure the idea of the instruments being part of the petrol tank came from so many yrs of Indian to HD being the same. They just did not realize the major clocks were best sitting on the top yoke like the British iron. Mind you HD as a bit slow like still keen on hand shifting to foot clutch & same when it came to the front forks being springser to also ridged rear ends for so many yrs feeling it was the best.

Well do I remember when a HD owner came in asking us to possibly install the Vincent HRD Black Shadow LARGE & angle positioned 250mph speedo. We ONLY sold those replacements to Vincent HRD rider/owner & never to the normal single or twin or even four pot British bikes SINCE they were NOT Vincent HRD owner/fiders.

Remember all the others on the road are crazy & out to kill you.

Post Edited (Smitty) : 11/9/2009 8:53:24 PM GMT

Desmolicious
Registered Member

Date Joined Aug 2004
Total Posts : 4618

Posted 11/9/2009 1:24 PM (GMT -8)

Dislikes with my Dyna 96 cube:

1/ Ran too hot stock if I was in stop-n-go traffic. Didn't overheat, just overheated me! Fixed with a Vance And Hines plug in FuelPak, air filter kit, slip ons.
2/ Rear suspension too short (for that low look). Fixed with Progressive 440 13.5 inchers (stock was 12).
3/ The nuts holding on the turn signals in the front corroded almost immediately. Looks like they came from Home Depot. Weird cuz the rest of the bike looks like new.
(In comparison, my 6 year old Ducati that has waaaaay more miles and lives in the same garage, is treated the same way has zero corrosion anywhere).

Everything else is a like.

Børk! Børk! Børk!

slopoke
Registered Member

Date Joined Jun 2009
Total Posts : 36

Posted 11/9/2009 5:41 PM (GMT -8)

06victory said...

I have a Victory Kingpin Overall This is a great bike But the few dislikes I have are.

1. Small saddle bags

2. Hard to adjust rear shock

3. Stock seat for rider or passenger not butt friendly

I pretty much have come to the same choices you have. I did help the comfort thing with a mustang seat and I have the tours trunk which helps with the small saddle bags but the shock is a still a pain.

07 victory Kingpin

01 honda spirit 750

slopoke
Registered Member

Date Joined Jun 2009
Total Posts : 36

Posted 11/9/2009 5:44 PM (GMT -8)

CaddmannQ said...
You left off squeaky belt drive.

No squeaky belt drive.

07 victory Kingpin

01 honda spirit 750

CaddmannQ
Random Moto-geek

Date Joined Jul 2003
Total Posts : 17141

Posted 11/9/2009 9:29 PM (GMT -8)

06Victory has complained to me that it's hard to get the wheel adjustment set where the belt won't squeek.

"When in doubt, ride."
Cadd................................Clovis CA
2004 Nomad 1500............"Baggins"
caddmannq at yahoo dot com

http://hooligancruisers.proboards102.com

Jay Mack
Registered Member

Date Joined Sep 2003
Total Posts : 491

Posted 11/10/2009 7:34 AM (GMT -8)

I like the riding position of a cruiser. I don't like the 'retro' aspect. I don't like excessive noise or aftermarket exhaust pipes. Big twins don't do it for me, neither does extra weight. I'd prefer a modern cruiser V-4 with about 160 hp like the new Honda VFR, only a cruiser. Triumph is on the right track, but the RIII is too big and heavy and the T-bird, well, it isn't 160 hp.

ghunt81
Finally cruisin'

Date Joined Jun 2007
Total Posts : 353

Posted 11/10/2009 7:54 AM (GMT -8)

My bike is pretty new, my only big dislikes so far are:

-Stalls way too readily when you crack the throttle, even when it's fully warmed up. I've been told this is mostly an issue with the '07-09 1100's because they did some weird crap to the carbs for emissions. Hoping to fix that this winter.

-There's no peg or anything on the kickstand to help you catch it with your foot. Makes it a little difficult to swing it down away from the frame sometimes, especially if you happen to have a wet boot.

-For whatever reason the rear fender picks up dirt like a MAGNET. I can clean the whole bike, ride it 30-40 miles and the rear fender will be absolutely filthy again. I don't get it.

-Can't forget this one- have to remove the front pipe to change the oil filter.

For the record I have my speedo on the tank and I'm not a fan of it. I'd rather have tach and speedo on the handlebars like my old KZ750 was.

'08 V-star 1100 Midnight Custom
'87 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe
'94 Ford F250 4x4 diesel
'78 Kawasaki KZ750 Twin-sold
Morgantown, WV- Home of the Mountaineers!

Budoka
Registered Member

Date Joined Feb 2009
Total Posts : 263

Posted 11/10/2009 1:23 PM (GMT -8)

Absolutely love just about all aspects of my Wing. The seat actually works for me (unlike nearly every other bike I've ever owned save for maybe my old Interceptor), the ride, the handling (fantastic for what it is), and the performance is awesome for the immense weight it packs (that includes my larda$$ too). My only real complaint is the lack of an electric windshield adustment. Now that's a real boo hoo if there is one ain't it? lol

Richard, the speedo on the tank is a result of the Harley Clone era. They started it, everybody else had to do it. Immitation as they say is the sincerest form of flattery. And yes, like others have mentioned they aren't but a brief glance down to check, just like you have to drop your eyes on a sport bike to view the guages. My Vulcan had a tach on the fork crown where I could see it if I was in a playful mood with the throttle. Didn't really need it, the rev limiter would keep the pistons from trying to change holes anyway, but was nice to have just the same. Something about that shiney chrome guage down between the ape-hangers just looked sweet.

Same road, same wind in your face!

slopoke
Registered Member

Date Joined Jun 2009
Total Posts : 36

Posted 11/10/2009 2:30 PM (GMT -8)

CaddmannQ said...
06Victory has complained to me that it's hard to get the wheel adjustment set where the belt won't squeek.

The only squeek I have had was while riding 2 up going over bumps or dips the suspension compresses and the top of the belt on the countershaft pully would strike the pully cover making a brief squeek or squeal. The part of the cover it hits is where the screw that holds the cover to the engine goes thru, its part of the casting that makes up the cover. I adjusted the spring on the shock (pain like 06victory said) for the added waight of 2 people and I have not heard it since.

I know some have ground away part of the casting to gain extra clearance.

I have heard of belt squeek from not just vics but other belt drive bikes that might be related to alignment issues. I have also heard of some people using a bar of soap, rubbing it against the side of the belt to get the squeek to go away.

07 victory Kingpin

01 honda spirit 750

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