What cruiser...

[instigator]

Not really new to biking but thought best place to put it.

Basically, I'm after a cruiser. The hornets great for riding quickly and generally like a loony. However, I don't always feel like doing that.

I'm looking to spend a maximum of a grand on another bike (could go a little bit more but not too keen). I've always had a soft spot for xv535's and they are the right price. Are there any other similar bikes in that kind of price range?

I'm after good mpg, some chrome (you know how it is ) and jsut generally a laid back riding styl.e Has to be a cruiser though. Nothing trying to be a cruiser but failing miserably.

Doing work on it is not a problem, however, I do expect this bike to be able to do reasonably high mileages.

Thanks in advance

[G]

[yambabe]

I feel like I may be boring some of you by now, but once again my stock answer would be to look at a Kawasaki Eliminator.

EL250 if you're still on 33bhp. If you're not, the ZLs come in 400, 600, 750, 900 & 1000cc versions, take your pick!
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Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate.

[instigator]

I forgot what bike you recommended babyyam, this was partly to find out again and also to find out others opinions.

The reason I like the xv535 is it's got a reasonably good following, usually have lower than avergae miles (if not used as a commuter), lighter than most...basically, it sits in the middle. Not too heavy, not too slow.

I don't really know any others in my price range that are similar really

[Ork12]

Dad has a 535 virago thing. Looks nice, be prepared for thousands of jokes about it being "viagra". Sounds nice aswell when it revs etc. Doubt its best handler etc though. Finally please pleas please don't get a stupid helmet to match, dad uses some open faced chrome bling thing and it looks stupid .
Alex

[instigator]

I'm a perfectly normal biker, and dress to suit. No matching leathers or no silly tassle stuff. Don't need it to handle amazingly either, just want something for sensible, stress free riding, and I don't think I could get that in anything else than a cruiser.

Don't suppose you could ask him how far he gets on a tank of fuel could you (and how much a tank of fuel costs )?

[mchaggis]

[yambabe]

Here you go, this is the 400:

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=9807&item=4560849937&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
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Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate.

[bish777]

Kawasaki VN750-pokey engine, not too heavy.

Much more fun than the newer, far more gutless and anaemic VN800.

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=9807&item=4560537711&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
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GSXR1100J

[instigator]

I was actually looking at that 400 babyyam, and would go to view it if it was closer. It does seem mint and it's engine size is....well, the lowest I'd go basically.

Seen that VN750 also, looks pretty good too. I'll need to arrange a bigger overdraft today or a loan until the end of the month. And then I can start going to see some.

[TheShaggyDA]

Suzuki Savage LS650. Nice big single with belt drive, if you like that sort of thing. Which I do.

https://www.koups.com/sales/suzuki/images/1999_models/ls650.jpg
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Current: CB500 Previous: CB100N, CB250RS, XJ900F, GT550, GPZ750R/1000RX, AJS M16, R100RT, Enfield Bullet

[i:6e3bfc7581]But still I fear and still I dare not laugh at the madman...[/i:6e3bfc7581]

[colin1]

for a proper cruiser i reckon back brake and gear select pedals should be out in front not directly under the seat like a normal bike

so thts a yes for shaggie's and bish's selection and a no for baby yam's

i think feet forward is gonna be a more comfortable riding postion
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[yambabe]

You're wrong. With feet-forward, your legs are under tension & can get quite stiff & sore after a few hundred miles. This applies particularly if your legs are not very long!

With feet down, it's like sitting in a chair and you have the freedom to move your feet & legs a lot more easily if they do start to stiffen up.

What you need on a cruiser to get the most out of it is a riding position where there is no tension on you anywhere, not legs/feet. not wrists, not shoulders, not back. This is why I'm not so keen on the ones with big ape-hanger-type bars, or really wide drag bars, cos you have to try a bit harder!
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Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate.

[colin1]

i dont think legs would be under tenion unless the bikes is too big for you in which case you wd just choose a smaller one

feet forward is just like having them on a footstool when u are sitting in a chair

i know its not a proper cruiser but i have thought about getting a cmx25 rebel.

they are small so length from seat to forward controls wd not be a stretch

i have a push bike which is feet up and forward and its more comfy than a pedals under seat type

if you are gonna have a lazy bike, why not put your feet up ?
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[instigator]

Well, the kymco zing 125 I had was very comfy indeed, it just needed a backrest to finish the whole thing off. Feet forward was comfy enough and I'm sure babyyam's sugestion would be the same.

We are talkig about long distance here so I'm never going to escape the "numb bum" syndrome.

September time is my trip. Going to apply for a passport soon. Going to dartmoor for a wedding, so I think I'll leave a week earlier and go to france. And perhaps beyond, who knows.

[colin1]

touring scooters arent cool but i bet they are comfy as they have a feet forward riding position too

250,400, 600

i think the 250 is good for 80mph

600's are just as good in straight lines as a sports 600 but have stability problems at high speed

check out some bike and scooter reviews at

https://www.insidebikes.com/
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[yambabe]

Doh! Where is my brain this week!!! What about one of these?

Looking for around £1500 for it...
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Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate.

[THCi]

Well, I have a 125 cruiser, which i use every day for 23 miles there, 23 miles back to travel to work. The comfort depends entirely on how you sit, you sit upright it hurts your back a lot, you get a numb bumb within 10 mins, and end up miserable. If you sit with your crotch sitting against the tank and lean back a bit, its pure riding bliss!


Offtopic mode:

Are those TriStar wheels? Must be an old 'un
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Past: GZ 125 K4 Marauder, VL 125 LC Intruder, FZS 600 Fazer. Present: GSF 600 N K3 Bandit, GSX-R 600 X(soon)
"We're not gonna die. We can't die, Bendis. You know why? Because we are so...very...pretty. We are just too pretty for God to let us die."

[instigator]

Whats the spec on said bike?

Is that yours that you're selling or just a general price for the bike.

[lilredmachine]

Aquila 650 (I know it's expensive but I like it)
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Bikes: too many, too much for one man to maintain anyway.

[yambabe]

Nope, that's mine (well it's my other half's actually) and it is for sale. It's a VFR700 Magna, C-reg (1994 on the V5, I think it was originally from the US hence the discepancy) got about 18500 miles on it.

We've had it 2 years, and it has been his "summer" bike so we've only put about 1500 miles on it in that time. It's not the fastest-accelerating bike on the planet, but it has comfortably done over 100 2-up with full camping gear. Starts first time & has been totally reliable since we've had it.

It's currently MOT'd til August, but as it will need a new front tyre for the MOT we would do that and any other work required (although I don't think there is any) and it would come with full 12 months ticket on it.

Viewing no prob if you're near enough, drop me a PM with your phone number if you're interested. No sweat if you're not.
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Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate.