$6k to buy a used mid-sized Cruiser - your choice?

[The PacRat]

This is a follow up to my V-Star / Shadow thread. Since then I have added Vulcan and Suzuki C50 to the list, thanks to some good advice.

I am now convinced that EFI is worth considering, as is Belt drive. Not interested in chain drive though. Not really sure if I should avoid spoked wheels either. Are tubes a hassle?

I am 6'3" / 210#. I am leaning toward the Vulcan 900 LT, the C50, and the V-Stars. Gotta have big windshield and big saddlebags.

So let's say you have $6000 to buy a used Cruiser, say 800cc to 1600cc. What would you buy and why?

[FR700]

Originally Posted by The PacRat

I am now convinced that EFI is worth considering, as is Belt drive. Not interested in chain drive though. Not really sure if I should avoid spoked wheels either. Are tubes a hassle?

I am 6'3" / 210#. ... Gotta have big windshield and big saddlebags.

EFI is cool if you will see major altitude changes , I like my single carb'. Less crap to go wrong such as fuel pump ... gravity always works ... especially when I'm drunk
Belt , personal choice. I went from belt to chain on my bike when the time came. Again personal choice , I ride a lot of dirt.

Spokes , pain in the ass to keep really clean if you swing that way. Tubes , how good are you at fixing flats at the roadside ? ... more to the point , do you want the hassle ?. I like the ease of tubeless ... find the hole , plug it, smoke a cigarette , inflate the tire ... all without taking the wheel off the bike.

As for the last bit , pick something with good torque numbers and that you can live with the looks of.




.

[The PacRat]

The consideration of EFI was due to a conversation I had with the dealer, who said the crappy gas we get these days makes it a bit harder on a Carb setup.

I recently saw a '99 Road Star (1600) that was really nice, and under $5k, but had those damned spoke wheels. No I DO NOT want to screw with an inner tube on the side of a road...

[rs42sport]

Honda vtx 1300 or 1800

[CajunRider]

Originally Posted by The PacRat

The consideration of EFI was due to a conversation I had with the dealer, who said the crappy gas we get these days makes it a bit harder on a Carb setup.

It's not so much the crappy gas... a carb can be set for the gas you use...

The problem is that gas changes from summer to winter. Once the bike is set perfectly, the season changes which means the gas changes and it's no longer set perfectly. However, if you get it close, it's good enough.

Elevation is the second biggest problem with carbs... you WILL lose power as the elevation changes.

EFI doesn't make these issues disappear... but it does drastically reduce them. However, bikes are VERY lean from the factory. So if you like to modify things an EFI tune can get expensive where carb jets are about $10 a set.

6 of one... 1/2 dozen of the other. That's the way I see it.

My $0.02

[mtwillyman]

For the money you are budgeting, I suggest a lightly used California model Guzzi. I ride a 2003 Stone. It's my favorite bike out of the 45 bikes I've owned. Good luck. Check out wildguzzi.com for more info.

[bobobob]

05-07 Vulcan Nomad 1600.

[argentcorvid]

For $6k I'd buy 2 used Sportsters... (or maybe a Dyna)

I put some bags on mine, and it came with the detachable windshield.

the only other 'touring' modification I made was to put some Road King air shocks on the back.

[jules083]

Originally Posted by argentcorvid

For $6k I'd buy 2 used Sportsters... (or maybe a Dyna)

I think the OP is a bit too big for a sportster to be comfortable all day. I'm 5'9, fits me perfect. I keep hearing how good Dyna's are, it's the only Harley model I haven't ridden.

I put some bags on mine, and it came with the detachable windshield.

the only other 'touring' modification I made was to put some Road King air shocks on the back.

My friend has a V-Star 1100 classic that I think would be a good option. Good power, stupidly reliable. He has hard bags, windshield, and some highway pegs on it, rides it all over the place. Probably 40,000 or 50,000 miles by now.

I think any of the metric cruisers are going to be a good choice, I haven't really heard too much bad things about any of them. I agree with your choice to avoid chain drive, belt or shaft is much easier to live with.

Tube aren't a big deal in my opinion. Changing a tube is harder than plugging a tire for sure. However, depending on where and how big the hole is plugs don't always work. I currently have about 6 or 8 plugs in the same hole on my ATV trying to keep the air in.

EFI vs. Carb is a consideration for sure. Where I live the biggest elevation change I see is from roughly 500 ft to about 2500 or 3000 ft, so I never have had to mess with jetting. Maybe guys blow this out of proportion, I don't know.

[The PacRat]

Damn, that Nomad looks SWEET.

[farmerstu]

v-star 1300. my wife 08 has 44,000 trouble free miles . efi, belt drive,one piece wheels. very good power. seriously undervalued. only downside(imo is not too prettty to look at. esp the stock exhaust.

[mrbreeze]

Originally Posted by bobobob

05-07 vulcan nomad 1600.

+1

[mrbreeze]

I have a Nomad 1600, and I love it!

having said that, I think the Vulcan 900 LT is drop dead gorgeous. If the Vulcan's were Kardashians, the 900 LT would be Kim, and the Nomad would be the, um, bigger one. and of course, probably a much better ride...

[The PacRat]

Originally Posted by mrbreeze

...If the Vulcan's were Kardashians, the 900 LT would be Kim, and the Nomad would be the, um, bigger one. and of course, probably a much better ride...

You might have to double or triple the width of those saddlebags if you want to compare that to KK...

[kingofZroad]

I would buy this 1700cc beauty from me for $5500, leaving $500 for gas!!!