"cruiser" riders, including harley, honda, etc: Do you ever get the urge to cut loose and open her up?

Oh wow MacK hope I get to answer this before Magz, so easy to whale on that answer. *EVERYONE* nows Magz has got a blackbird (are they really that rare in the US? they're fairly common here in Australia) I hate to say it but "opening up" a Harley is like flooring it in a 'performance' car - any one who's ridden a proper sports bike knows that thats not so fast. A Vmax is an older Japanese bike that could go quick in a straight line for its time, you can forget about corners though, either way a CBR1100XX will clean up all round. As for "taking your jap crap to the track and try a few of the sportier class of drag bikes show us how fast you are" have you seen any motorcycle racing for the last decade? sure a mega dollar drag bike will beat a stock sports bike in a straight line (not enough to make up for the dollar difference) but what happens when you throw in a corner??? maybe they dont have corners where your from. Oh yeah anyone with a sportsbike will crash and die, you should get a cruiser 'cause they are are so much safer, or better get a car. No ones ever died in a car crash. Sorry Law but being a 'responsible rider' won't stop some Prius driving spastic from putting his 195/55 R16 tyre on your head

Edit:

I think we can all agree with Heckler99

2nd Edit:

I guess it all comes down to stressing out about a number on your speedo as that Prius rolls over your Noggin or riding as fast as you feel comfortable. WAIT!!!! I'm not saying doing triple digits is right but I can ride for 30 minutes from home and be on a road that is straight for 10kms (6mls) with no side streets only have to watch out for an errant 'Roo. Its not something I do often been out there twice (in 2 years) cranked it up to 265km/h (160ml/h ish?) just to see what it would do. Yes it's dangerous but so is driving a car, so is waking up in the morning, so is smoking, so is sleeping with that girl in the office who is really friendly - " what do you mean your boyfriend just got out of prison?"

Last week I finally got my old Norton on the road again, and couldn't resist testing it out on a freeway entrance ramp. I got on it pretty good, and merged onto the freeway at about 75, looked in my mirror and noticed that there was a cop about 1/4mi back. I just kept thinking that if I had been on a faster bike I probably would have been doing at least 90, and would have been picking the bike up from an impound lot the next day.

I've envied sport bike riders a few times when I see what they can do on some twisty roads, but I don't get the urge to ride that fast often enough to warrent buying one.

I am quite satisfied with my cruiser.

I used to like to go fast, but that was on a track. I used to race at Road America in Elkhart Lake Wisconsin. At the risk of dating myself, I rode a liquid cooled 2-stroke Yamaha, fully race prepped. It was very quick and very fast. They haven't raced 2-strokes on road courses since before you were born.

I doubt you have done any serious high speed riding on a track so I doubt you would understand. If you had, you would know that this is the best place for this. You can go as fast as you want with no trouble from the law. You are out there with 20 - 30 people with the same desire to go fast. A win is so much better if it is against some real competition. You actually get paid to do something you like. The down side, someone like you would most likely be in the back of the pack.

Follow the link below. Go to a place like this and really see what you are made of, if you have the guts.

But I outgrew this. I have no more desire to go so fast. I would rather enjoy the ride.

I used to own a sports bike (my #2 bike = Honda Interceptor) and also owned a cruiser (my #3 bike = Kawasaki Vulcan).

I grew out of the sports bike phase. I ride because I like the feel of the ride, not the speed. When you are cruising, you get to look around more and enjoy the scene (not just the view of what is in the front).

Good Luck.

P.S. Most of my friends who were in to sports bikes, eventually crashed them, maimed, or etc. (you guess).

Naw i'm not bummed that i don't have a bike that will do 180.My cruiser will do 110 easy and that's plenty fast for me.And i've surprised more than one person how fast i can run it through the twisties.It's not all about horsepower.I've seen guys on smaller bikes beat guys on superbikes just by really knowing how to ride.

Sure I do and did a week or two ago. it was a long road with a lot of switch back turns I loved it. If you ride for any amount of time you feel the need for that rush.

OK maybe I am a lone on this one. but their are some clubs "cruiser" out there who have 100+ rides

I have yet to cut an umbilical cord. But I am thinking about it. Maybe when my son turns 35 or 40. Am I in the poetry section? Oops, I was looking for parenting.

Honda VTX 1800 and bummed for want of power? I Guess there is some thought tucked in there somewhere. No, actually I have never wished for an extra gob of power. It would be like owning a 1000rr and riding an iron butt extreme ride and wishing for a real seat and a stand up pair of bars, foot rests, a radio and a cup holder. Oh and a windshield and GPS.

Dude you are miss informed on your bikes. These bikes can go very fast if we want them to. Check out NHRA drag raceing and you might find out that right now to keep the bikes close Harley Davidson is haveing to add 25 poundes to give all the crotch rocets a chance to win a race or two. So just because we like to cruse doesn't mean the bike won't go fast.

C'mon over and "open up" my 110 cubic Inch, 130 HP V twin Victory. You will not be bummed out 'cause you will be scared Sh*tless and hanging on for dear life.

Now I understand, this guys has a rice burner he paid 5 grand for (per his direct email to me) and is beside himself because he can not afford a decent V twin Cruiser. Takes most of his rage out on Harley owners. What junkyard did you drag the Eldorado out of ?

I live in Ohio and personnaly know the owner of Thompson Dragstrip in Thompson. Can't race for titles though cause I have no use for a 5 grand rice burner or a junkyard Eldorado.