Are you a bike newbie so fascinated by these unique two-wheeled machines that you can’t wait to get yours?
Or you have already decided you want a bike but can’t seem to narrow your choice down to a single bike out of multiple products available in the market.
So let’s get to it; cruisers or sportbikes, which is better? Well, we’re here to help shed more light on the subject, narrowing it down to two major street bikes (sportbikes & cruisers).
And at the end, help you weigh out your options properly before heading out to the bike dealership to pick up your new whip.
Both bikes have distinct properties, such as build, performance, and even in terms of use. To effectively answer this question, we have to examine the characteristics of each bike thoroughly.
Cruisers and sports bikes belong to two different segments of motorcycling concerning performance, design, and purpose.
Contents
What’s Easier to Ride? A Sports Bike or Cruiser?
Each is unique in its way. And at the end, it all comes down to the rider’s preference. But still, what’s the major difference between both of them? – Your position when riding.
When riding cruisers, you have to sit straight, gripping the handles with your hands up, and your legs low and below you.
While sport bikes will have you leaning forward, but in this position, you will be able to make turns easier, but at the expense of comfort.
The Riding Experience
It’s been observed that older riders would instead go for a cruiser.
Why? Because it offers a comfortable riding experience, which is not as smooth when going too fast. But a sportbike, on the other hand, makes you feel every detail on the road.
One disadvantage with cruisers is that they are closer to the ground and often contact it.
Well, as the name “Cruiser” implies, they are meant for subtle rides. This means if you approach curves and turns too hard, you wouldn’t be impressed at all.
Also, the placement of the steering is not ideal for speedy maneuvers. But if you plan on going for a long straight ride, a cruiser would be a nice companion.
Are Sport Bikes more Dangerous than Cruisers?
Everyone believes that sports bikes are more dangerous than others. Well, that turns out to be right.
The most recent study conducted in 2010 revealed that sports bike riders are four times more likely to have a fatal crash than cruiser bike riders.
Owning a bike has been a longtime dream of lots of people, both men, and women.
So irrespective of your age, make sure to weigh your options properly before making that dream of yours a reality.
You should know your capabilities as a rider and the risks of particular motorcycles before making a pick.
Of course, bigger and faster may seem like a really good option, this isn’t always the case, and before you make the fatal error of purchasing a motorbike you can’t handle, learn why this may be too much to handle for a beginner.
But What Exactly Makes Sportbikes so Dangerous?
Although sport spike makes less than 10% of bike on the road, a report suggests that they account for over 25% of fatality that occurs.
Again a report released by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), says that port bike riders have death rates four times that of riders of all other bike put together
Sportbikes were built for the racetrack and have way more potential than being used as everyday bikes. These bikes are high-speed.
While many riders ride them safely on the highway, others can’t help but push the bike to its speed limits.
Riding at speeds of over 100 mph on public roads is never sensible, but users of these bikes ride at this speed anyways.The riders control ability.
Handling a motorbike requires a ton of practice and expertise. These bikes are tremendously fast and require a great deal of throttle control to function correctly.
You may easily perform a wheelie and topple the bike if you push it too far.
Drivers who choose these motorcycles frequently do so to meet up with the swag that comes with it. They adore the appearance and power of a sportbike and want to show it off. Well, who wouldn’t?
The downside to this is that most of these riders are often inexperienced with such bikes and cannot handle them properly. The combo of a young, novice rider and a strong bike has never been a good idea.
The bottom line is, choose what’s right for you. You can easily start with a smaller or lower engine and then work up to the bigger stuff.
Why are Sport Bikes Cheaper than Cruisers?
Cruiser bikes have always been costly due to cost in research and development and at some point their popularity and increase in demand. Prices have risen due to growing demand; however, recent developments have begun to reduce the cost of cruiser bikes.
Another major reason why cruisers cost a little way more than sportbikes is – tons of people, especially mature and experienced riders tend to opt for cruisers.
The high rate of people going for this product makes others interested in it. Thereby leading to high demand.
Now, some people would love to own one for themselves but can’t afford it. Then they resort to using credit.
But what many folks do not know is that once a big number of people purchase on credit, it affects the bike’s price, leading to its increase.
As previously said, most people will not have saved up enough money to purchase the bike. Most modern “bikers” want the instant gratification of riding today; therefore, they use credit to purchase.
When only one or a few people do this, the rising effect on prices is minimal. When we employ this purchasing method, many individuals bid on motorcycles, driving up the price
Sportbike vs. Cruiser
Cruisers – if you’ve seen the picture of a cruiser, you’d realize this bike requires the rider to sit upright, with their feet close to the ground.
While riding a regular cruiser, the rider has to lean back gently to navigate the roads properly. These bikes aren’t built for speed, so they usually do not come with high horsepower.
Cruisers are divided into two fundamental styles: the traditional vintage appearance, which harkens back to nuclear-age America, and the muscle cruiser look, which the Japanese popularized in the 1980s.
There is a wide range of cruiser sizes available; you can get anything small or something large.
The smaller ones are often low-cost entry-level equipment, whereas the larger ones are hefty and costly.
Many manufacturers construct touring bikes on cruiser underpinnings, and these are most likely the big dogs.
Many cruisers produce a lot of torque, and most of them have low-revving engines with old-school technology and very little horsepower for their displacement.
Some muscle cruisers have very new engines, but these are the exception. They have limited suspension travel, large front wheels, and, as established earlier, are not built for speed. Making them slow to handle.
The cruiser’s sole aim is to provide its rider with a smooth and comfortable ride, as it also comes with additional space for housing whatever luggage you have.
Sports Bike – with inclined handles and higher-placed petals for your foot, anyone who opts for a sports bike would have to be in a bent position in other to control this machine.
This motorcycle keeps the body of its rider close, as the feet placement upwards, towards the rear end, and a big tank at the front, which riders have to bend over, in order to properly grip the handles.
Built for speed! Sportbikes come packed with heavy horsepower. With this build, they can zoom off in seconds and are usually faster than cruisers.
They offer a faster driving response, sleek design, and sharper controls but wouldn’t get an A rating regarding utilizing fuel and comfort.
Should I get a Cruiser or Sportbike?
That decision is totally up to you. Depending on the purpose you’d like your bike to serve.
So, after properly going through the qualities of each bike, take your pick, and get some wind behind you on your new bike.
Conclusion
You should consider all of the above before picking up a new bike. Besides, it wouldn’t hurt to visit the bike dealership a couple of times, sit on a cruiser or sportbike, and see which fits you best.
cruiser-vs-sport-bike-vs-whatever-motorcycles-for-dummies/
motorcycle-death-rates-doubled-supersport-bikes-the-most-dangerous