Lonerider59
Wizard
I've been out and about trying to put down some miles on the new FZ1 and I'm amazed at the ratio of cruiser to sport bike that I see here in Lower Alabama. I see at least 20 cruisers for every sport bike. I know that over the last twenty years many new riders, and some existing riders, like myself, have moved back and forth from sport to cruiser or vice versa, but I've crossed the line several times and if a person looks at the advancement in motorcycles, he will also see that the cruiser (Harley style) has stayed very close in overall stature. The first "sport bike" I had was actually a standard by todays definition, a Kawasaki 500 triple. It went like hell but didn't handle worth a hoot. Then as the years accumulated, the bikes got sharper and sharper. For many riders, being leaned over in a full race crouch, doesn't cut the mustard for every day riding. I know the alure of speed and a psudo-racebike look for young beginers but for the more tenured riders a good handling bike with a moderate posture makes for a more tollerable every-day ride. I try to ride every day and on most days 200 miles are just an average day. The FZ1 is just about as sharp a bike as my body can deal with. I'm not in a situation where I can have two bikes. Seat height in the 32-34 inch levels automatically eliminate a lot of riders. Seats that are little better than a pine board also keep many riders away from sport bikes. If the manufactures could give a little in seat height/construction and handlebar position, I think we might just start to see more riders on sport bikes vs. the Buffalo wagons with straight pipes.
