How difficult to switch from sport tourer to cruiser?

[Vasco DG]

I've stayed out of this because I know now that I'll never be a 'Cruiser' guy.

Before I bought the Cali 14 Touring I'd never owned a 'Cruiser' and had only ever ridden them comparatively short distances. After our long trip around the U.S. I knew categorically that a 'Cruiser' wasn't for me.

Don't get me wrong, the Cali 14 is a phenomenal motorbike but it just didn't press the right buttons for me or Jude. Often when we were travelling we found ourselves saying to each other "I wish we were on the Mana".

Partly that was the riding position. Partly because it felt like a lumbering tank compared to the bike we usually tour on and for solo use I'm so enamoured of the Griso and its, for me, near perfect riding position that I found most things about the Cali just felt *Wrong*. I spent all my time with my feet at the very back of the floorboards. Sticking your legs forward on a motorbike is all wrong. Cow-Horny handlebars are all wrong! Heel/toe gear shifts are all wrong! This doesn't mean the bike is *Wrong* simply that it isn't my cup of tea but if you are really enjoying your 1200 Sport I'd think very carefully and make sure you have a decent test ride before committing to any 'Cruiser'.

Pete

[Kiwi Dave]

R59's comment jumped out at me ....... I do wish MG would put either 8v engine (1200 or 1400) in a conventional frame with classic bodywork  ..... I know, retro has been done to pieces, but I'd still like a Guzzi with conventional ergos, similar to the 'new' Triumph T100.  Maybe at the Euro bike shows this fall(??)

Sorry, but the Tonti frame, like the Norton Featherbed frame, might have been good in it's day, but doesn't compare to the "modern" loop, CARC, or Cali 1400 frames IMHO.  New modern motors require new modern frames.

[tpeever]

I've been into sport tourers since buying my K100RS in 1986.  I tried to switch to full faired bikes like K1100LTs and found the switch not a happy thing.

Now, after riding my MG 1200 Sport for 58,000 miles (all good,  I might add,) the good press on the new Guzzi 1400 format has me wondering '.....could I make the switch to floorboards and foot-forward riding?'  Or do I want to make the switch?

The Guzzi 'cross the frame', shaft drive v twin format is as good as it gets, but I'd love a more conventional bike surrounding this engine.  One close to the 1200 Sport, but with more 'retro' seating position, and more conventional or retro appearance.

However, if Guzzi isn't about to do a new 'standard' with a BB engine ..... is the Guzzi cruiser format something I should consider?

BTW - I'm so happy at the age of 72 that these are the type of questions I'm asking.

Bob

How far out in front are your feet on a Cali? That's the clincher for me. I don't like riding a motorcycle with my feet sticking out forward. Just feels weird to me. Cruiser position also puts more weight on your spine but plenty of people find it works just fine. All depends what position feels comfortable to you I guess. The riding position on the 1200 Sport is absolutely perfect for me once I raised the bars and put a decent seat on it.

[LowRyter]

I like the EV because is has a standard riding position.   

The cruiser riding position is my only gripe test riding the 1400.  Just too much feet forward. 

[NC Steve]

I'm the opposite.

Started on UJMs and Harleys that more or less had the same feet in front of you (mids) not under you riding position.

I wanted to like something more sport touringish with the feet more directly under me and could enjoy them for while, like my R1100RS,  Breva 1100, or Buell S3T, but those bikes usually stayed around for maybe half the miles that the others I bought did.

No it's not just the comfort per se. Those bikes are all pretty comfortable for a couple hundred miles at a stretch. Though by the second stretch of 200 miles in a day I'd generally find some knee cramping from being in one position. It was something else that kept bringing me back to something more feet slightly forward in design.

Bikes with feet in front of you (Jackal, Sportster, Road Kind, etc.) tend to sit lower to the ground and have a more relaxed feel to me. I don't know if it's just the ride height or seating position, but I feel like I can slow down and still enjoy the ride where on the others I mentioned I always felt like I had to push faster, pass this next guy, take that corner quicker and quicker.

And for comfort the feet slightly forward bikes allowed me to move my feet around more on long rides. Highway pegs and/or passenger pegs made a bigger difference than just moving my feet from under me to further back on the passenger pegs for the other more sport touringish bikes. If my knees were already cramping, then moving my them to a tighter bend really didn't help.

I think airheads and the V7 fall somewhere in between, maybe closer in riding position to the sport touringish stuff, but still "relaxed" enough in nature to fit me better.

I dunno, but after 20+ years of trying to like the "other" I think I'm finally ready to face the facts that I prefer mid mount and more cruiserish or at least standard bikes. And if I ever need to remind myself or scratch that itch, I just have to take Jenn's Duc out for a fun, but relatively uncomfortable 50-100 miles.

Not sure how that helps. I think it means "know thyself" but then again, you might feel different and like both. And I guess the only way to really know yourself is to at least try the other.

Man a rental for a week would sure help.

But then again, I liked the others on demos and rentals to buy them and live with them usually for years and tens of thousands of miles.

<shrugs>

Word 

[Kev m]

Sorry, but the Tonti frame, like the Norton Featherbed frame, might have been good in it's day, but doesn't compare to the "modern" loop, CARC, or Cali 1400 frames IMHO.  New modern motors require new modern frames.

I don't think he meant "conventional" that way.

I THINK he meant give him something that looks like the V7, but that is based on the 1200 8V or 1400 motor.

But I could be wrong....

[Kev m]

I like the EV because is has a standard riding position.   

The cruiser riding position is my only gripe test riding the 1400.  Just too much feet forward.

They're more the same than different to me, but I guess when your feet are on the controls they ARE a little bit more forward on the 1400.

I guess the V7 is the same thing in reverse... to ME it's more like a Jackal or Sportster than a Breva 1100 or something where the feet are under you. But they ARE slightly more back toward the rider on the V7 than on my old Jackal or Sporty.

I guess we all have our straw (the breaks the camel's back) or bridge (too far).

It's funny though, but on my short, maybe 2 hour ride yesterday the V7 reminded me that it isn't as comfortable as a Jackal or Sporty as my left knee was cramping up already.

Meh, I love it anyway.

[ohiorider]

I don't think he meant "conventional" that way.

I THINK he meant give him something that looks like the V7, but that is based on the 1200 8V or 1400 motor.

But I could be wrong....

Exactly!  Whatever that would require.

[Kev m]

Exactly!  Whatever that would require.

Even a Broken Kev is right once or twice a day.   

[Lcarlson]

For those of you not already familiar with it, there is a website named cycle-ergo.com that provides graphical representations of the riding positions of many motorcycles. It even takes your height into account. Check it out -- it's very useful.

[rocker59]

How far out in front are your feet on a Cali? 

[PeteS]

I like the EV because is has a standard riding position.   

The cruiser riding position is my only gripe test riding the 1400.  Just too much feet forward.

I have always preferred a leaned forward position. My Norton left the showroom with BMW S bars. MY EV and BMW airhead got lower bars. The floorboards on the EV took some getting used to but on long trips I grew to like them. The brake pedal and heal/toe shifter I never cared for though.
When I sat on the New Eldo the floorboards felt much further forward than on the EV. As much as I like the looks of the 1400s I don't think it would work for me.

Pete

[HDGoose]

When switching seating positions you'll use muscle groups differently. You'll feel the wind differently. Other than an adjustment period to get your body used to the different position, it will be fine.

[tiger_one]

I've had mostly standards & sport tourers over the years (with the exception of a Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Nomad Fi bought new in 2000 & kept for a few years).  A recent week-long tour in Utah on a rented Road King reminded me of the unique laid-back pleasure of riding a cruiser (of which there are indeed different favors).  Although I liked the RK, I didn't want to buy a Harley.  On returning, I discovered that we had a new Guzzi dealer about 5 miles away. A test ride on a Cali 1400 Custom, and it was good bye to my (slant) K1200 GT and Ducati Diavel. The Cali 1400 Custom is a remarkable ride, which does just what I want these days. I recommend you test one, and see if it does that for you too.

I can relate to this, as I put a lot of miles on the 07 K1200GT, made several BMW Un-Rallys from West Virginia to John Day, Oregon.  I really like my KTM, especially in the twisties, but I will not keep it forever.

[Kev m]

For those of you not already familiar with it, there is a website named cycle-ergo.com that provides graphical representations of the riding positions of many motorcycles. It even takes your height into account. Check it out -- it's very useful.

I've seen it be pretty off sometimes... I dunno. Personally I think it's just easier to sit on one. 

[bad Chad]

The feet placement on the 1400 Cali Custom was a little weird for me, coming off a Breva BB.  But on my test ride it worked well, not so much as to cause balance issues, but just enough to take getting used to.  Surely a much better position for those with bad knees, than my beloved Red Arrow.

I would like to take a spin on the Audace, with pegs, that appears more standard to me.

[Kiwi Dave]

I don't think he meant "conventional" that way.

I THINK he meant give him something that looks like the V7, but that is based on the 1200 8V or 1400 motor.

But I could be wrong....

Exactly!  Whatever that would require.

That would require buying a 1200 8V or Cali 1400 and painting "V7" on the tank.  The engineers and designers at the factory aren't idiots, they build a motorcycle to sell, and based on previous sales they know that know that the previous formulas haven't worked (except to a small minority -us!).

And they also have to design a bike with more power and lightest weight possible, constrained by history and styling.  I like what they're doing.  My only gripe is that when I stand on my floorboards, I'm standing above my tank, not the seat.  It feels real awkward.

[tpeever]

Nope, all wrong for me. Gotta have my feet under me or slightly rearward!! Like to test drive one though!!

[mjptexas]

....... I do wish MG would put either 8v engine (1200 or 1400) in a conventional frame with classic bodywork  ..... I know, retro has been done to pieces, but I'd still like a Guzzi with conventional ergos, similar to the 'new' Triumph T100.  Maybe at the Euro bike shows this fall(??)

I had a 2011 T100 Triumph for several years.  I said many times that if I could only have one bike it would be the one - great bike.  After owning the Cali Custom for a year the Triumph is gone....

[jas67]

.....This doesn't mean the bike is *Wrong* simply that it isn't my cup of tea but if you are really enjoying your 1200 Sport I'd think very carefully and make sure you have a decent test ride before committing to any 'Cruiser'.

Keep your 1200 Sport, buy a left over 1400 at a steep discount, and try it out.    If it isn't your cup of tea, you still have the 1200 Sport, and can sell the 1400 at less of a loss than if you paid full price.

[ohiorider]

Keep your 1200 Sport, buy a left over 1400 at a steep discount, and try it out.    If it isn't your cup of tea, you still have the 1200 Sport, and can sell the 1400 at less of a loss than if you paid full price.

The 1200 Sport is going nowhere.  The engine has been 'lapped' with fine 10w60 4T for over 58,000 miles ..... and the bike shifts and runs better than new (IMHO.)  I'm on hold to see if Guzzi announces anything new in their big block lineup this fall.  If not, your suggestion to buy a used 1400 makes a lot of sense.

[nighthawk]

Didn't really think I'd ever reply on this thread, but last Wednesday I brought home a 2000 Sportster Sport. My other main rider is an '89
Cali III, and I've had some others Buell, FZ1, Vmax etc. I didn't realize how acclimated to the Cali I'd become until I hopped on that Sportster for test ride. Didn't help that the tires were shot, but it felt absolutely dinky and I love it. I wanted something that I felt like getting out of the garage for errands, etc. and the Cali is just too bulky. New skins on the HD last Saturday (no center stand a PIA) and I'm liking everything except that I'm now broke and can't afford to run errands-rats! 

[rocker59]

That 1200S Sportster is one of my all-time favorite motorcycles!   

[bad Chad]

Nope, all wrong for me. Gotta have my feet under me or slightly rearward!! Like to test drive one though!!

As the saying goes, "don't judge a book by its cover".  Try it out, you may find your prejudice mis-placed.