The cruiser of motorcyles....

e9999 · 10-29-08, 11:22 AM

... I'm now starting to believe, is the Suzuki DR650 that I have. Tough, simple, reliable, capable, good on both street and dirt, and with good Karma all around!
Very cruiserish...

any others?

Hilux · 10-29-08, 11:29 AM

well, my NX is light....so it's out

e9999 · 10-29-08, 11:38 AM

yes, indeed, I forgot heavy...

yooper · 10-29-08, 12:18 PM

You also forgot expensive.

BMW GS

Texx · 10-30-08, 03:25 AM

KLR650. Tough as nails, at least up until 2008. Ugly as sin, heavy, and reliable.

e9999 · 10-30-08, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texx

KLR650. Tough as nails, at least up until 2008. Ugly as sin, heavy, and reliable.

the KLR may be a bit better than the DR on the road, but is nowhere as good on the dirt. Way heavier in particular. A "cruiser" bike must be good on the dirt...

Jman · 10-30-08, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e9999

yes, indeed, I forgot heavy...

What about sluggish and underpowered?

FJBen · 10-30-08, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jman

What about sluggish and underpowered?

Thats where my Yamaha TW200 comes is. reliable as hell, underpowered, ugly to some, geared low

not real pricey or huge...but the just keep plodding along slow and steady.

dieseldog · 10-30-08, 05:14 PM

I'd have to say that a Honda XR400R could contend for the title "LandCruiser" of the motorcycle world. End-of-the-World reliable. Torquey. Simple.

Red Herring · 10-30-08, 08:25 PM

The one and only... KLR650.

This is the cruiser of the bike world.

The beemer might be the LX450.

e9999 · 10-30-08, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Herring

The one and only... KLR650.

This is the cruiser of the bike world.
snip

asphalt queen... or not?

dieseldog · 10-30-08, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dieseldog

I'd have to say that a Honda XR400R could contend for the title "LandCruiser" of the motorcycle world. End-of-the-World reliable. Torquey. Simple.

Here's my baby. But, honestly. If the apocalypse comes--I'll be on my Honda CT110 . . .

[BTW--the bottom pic shows the bike as I bought it. The top pic shows the BD dual sport kit and the Dirt Bagz installed.]

valentine · 10-30-08, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e9999

Tough, simple, reliable, capable, good on both street and dirt, and with good Karma all around!
Very cruiserish...

any others?

If slow, underpowered, and rough ride were added to your criteria.....

Capable on the street is the only place it's really lacking. I had mine to a 47 gps confirmed top speed.

It even has a sub transmission, a "two speed transfer case" if you will. Honda literature claims it will climb a 45 degree incline.

rabid · 10-31-08, 07:24 AM

THis has been covered before.

This is the landcruiser of motorcycles.

The ural. SLow, underpowered, 2 wheel drive, go anywhere.

The second pic is a guy at my kids daycare who dirves his most of the year. There awas more than a few inches of fresh powder the day he rode this in.

A cruiser can go through snow. My XL500 Dual cannot.

Also up for debate is the Rokon.

rabid · 10-31-08, 07:27 AM

In retrospect. I am going with the rokon.

Newps · 10-31-08, 12:25 PM

If you mean “The cruiser of motorcycles” is what motorcycle best exemplifies a Landcruiser. Then the motorcycle manufacture has to be a Honda. Not sure on the model type yet but it has to be a Honda. The only manufacture that can produce a quality and reliable motorcycle is Honda (IMOP). What are Landcruiser’s know for, quality and reliability. I’ve owned Kawasaki’s, Suzuki’s and Honda’s. The only one I have not owned is a Yamaha. Yamaha can produce nice bikes but just not on par with Honda.

The Honda XR 600 above makes a good case.

e9999 · 10-31-08, 01:04 PM

I imagine practical should be a criterion as well for a cruiserish bike...

not to mention can carry survival gear and spare parts...

Oh yes, the XR650L is a very nice bike. Better suited for dirt than my DR it seems. But much higher seat (3" or 4" apparently) which makes it impractical for a large segment of the population (gotta be over 6' it seems), 15% more expensive, and nowhere as good on the road, I'm told. But a great bike all the same.

So, of the big 3: DR650, KLR650, and XR650, I think the DR is the best road/dirt compromise. 80 Cruiserish, if you like

The KLR would be the 200 and the XR a 40.

Texx · 11-01-08, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Herring

The one and only... KLR650.

This is the cruiser of the bike world.

The beemer might be the LX450.

Somebody is wolfman's bitch!

Hilux · 11-01-08, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hilux

well, my NX is light....so it's out

now the, (84-88) "4Runner" of motorcycles.....

Almost, or the same build quality, you just better pack a light lunch.

Matador98 · 11-01-08, 09:42 AM

I'd say my '82 1100 Gold Wing for it's awesome reliability and smooth cruising in all on-road conditions. But that is why it doesn't qualify for the landcruiser of motorcycles, it can't go offroad.

So, I declare the Gold Wing the Lexus LX 450/470 motorcycle equivalent.

e9999 · 11-01-08, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matador98

I'd say my '82 1100 Gold Wing for it's awesome reliability and smooth cruising in all on-road conditions. But that is why it doesn't qualify for the landcruiser of motorcycles, it can't go offroad.

So, I declare the Gold Wing the Lexus LX 450/470 motorcycle equivalent.

oooh, I can see some pink panties getting in a bunch over this....

Newps · 11-01-08, 06:44 PM

What about the Honda Translap?

yooper · 11-02-08, 06:01 AM

the Honda Africa Twin is the 70 series equivalent. It fits every criteria proposed here and is not available in the US.

Hilux · 11-02-08, 12:49 PM

ror

^

RHINO · 11-16-08, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e9999

the KLR may be a bit better than the DR on the road, but is nowhere as good on the dirt. Way heavier in particular. A "cruiser" bike must be good on the dirt...

i guess that depends who's riding the KLR, i never had issues riding with my buddies who for the most part rode lighter faster bikes.

i would put the KLR above the DR for the cruiser of bikes if only for the aftermarket support. but then the XR is right there also, i really think its a wash with with the 3 japanese bikes, i say 3 cause XT has been out for a long time.

i think if i was really gonna try to pair them up i would put the DR with the nissan patrol,, i mean, its a great reliable beast but even in other countries not as much aftermarket compared to a cruiser or rover which would get the KLR and XR pair up in my mind.

transalp is a good bike but not offraodable enough to pair with a cruiser.

PappaSmurf · 08-28-09, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rabid

In retrospect. I am going with the rokon.

Exactly what I was thinking!

PappaSmurf · 08-28-09, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RHINO

i guess that depends who's riding the KLR, i never had issues riding with my buddies who for the most part rode lighter faster bikes.

i would put the KLR above the DR for the cruiser of bikes if only for the aftermarket support. but then the XR is right there also, i really think its a wash with with the 3 japanese bikes, i say 3 cause XT has been out for a long time.

i think if i was really gonna try to pair them up i would put the DR with the nissan patrol,, i mean, its a great reliable beast but even in other countries not as much aftermarket compared to a cruiser or rover which would get the KLR and XR pair up in my mind.

transalp is a good bike but not offraodable enough to pair with a cruiser.

I found my 1993 KLR too heavy for it's own suspension and geared too high for feet-on-the-pegs crawling.

baxter650 · 09-06-09, 12:12 PM

XR650L a little on the heavy side but takes a beating and shrugs it off.
Simple, good suspension, good power, and above all very reliable.
Not a bad price either.

legion · 09-09-09, 06:20 PM

I've had 3 TransAlps and have ridden 'em all over the US and Canada. Can't vote for 'em though. Too much of a street bias and not enough fuel. I rode a KLR650 from Santiago, Chile to Ushuaia, Tiera del Fuego, Argentina, hung out for a week and then rode it to Cartegena, Columbia. It's the ticket. Not great for anything but it'll get there... and it's super reliable. Almost "can't kill it" reliable. I've ridden a couple of 1200 GS's all through Europe and they're great but hefty and not made for much beyond a gravel road. I've ridden an HP2/Enduro all over the US and up the Alcan and it's fabulous... but not in the same "stone hammer" sort of way of the FJ. It's a KLR. Not that new jobbie. The one from a couple years back that seemed unchanged for 20 years. (edit: the ural should come right out of the box with somebody to push)

britklr · 10-01-09, 07:24 PM

I love this post!! I've always stated that my 2003 KLR was the "Toyota Truck of DualSports"...It's light, simple, carberated, large gas tank, simple design, great gearing, can carry a load, great support and can be fixed on a mountain trail, walmart parking lot or a city park and people will always stop to talk with you, help you or want to ride with you...

A couple of years ago I did a Kansas City to Colorado over 12 mountain passes, camping and back to KC trip...2300 miles...I carried everything on the bike, parts, tools, fluids, clothes, camping gear, food and more stuff then I really needed and it never had a problem. I've got over 13k on the bike now and it's still going strong!