Cruiser vs. Sportbike
Cruisers and Sportbikes are two very distinct biking categories. You have superbikes meant for high speed and classic cruisers meant for laid bike riding. The best part about cruisers is you can customize them as you deem fit.
If you are new to the motorcycle world, it can be a challenge choosing the right bike. Firstly, you have all these categories like superbikes, cruisers, dirt bikes, scooters and to make matters worse the performance and reliability differs.
The motorcycle world is a complex one. You have superbikes capable of hitting monstrous speeds of over 200 mph to classic cruisers with massive engines and exhausts that announce the presence of a beast whenever you go to. This article, specifically explores the world of Cruisers and Sportbikes and we tell you which one to start with.
What are the differences between Cruisers and Sportbikes?
| Model | Cruisers | Sportbikes |
| Engine | Mostly V-twin | Liquid cooled engines |
| Seat height | Low seat | High seat |
| Customization | Allows multiple customization options | Factory made |
| Electronics | Old analogue dials | Modern electronics |
| Riding style | Laid back riding | Crouching position |
Cruiser vs. Sportbike – How do they compare?
Performance
The difference between cruisers and Sportbikes when it relates to performance is very obvious. Sportbikes are designed for one thing only – speed. Something like the Kawasaki H2R –happens to be the fastest production bike in the world – are capable of hitting speeds of up to 200 mph. Acceleration is superfast with some doing the 0 to 60 mph in less than 3 seconds. Superbikes are quite thrilling on the racing track as you can push the throttle to the maximum. The bikes offer more horsepower and this means they are very aggressive at higher rpm. Cruisers are laid back bikes. Most come with very heavy engines with the Harley CVO glide having around 1,700cc. Cruisers unlike the Sportbikes are not that good with acceleration but they do come with more torque.
Riding position
If you have been to a racing track then you have noticed the distinctive riding position for all superbikes – crouching. Since the bike is created for speed, you need to crouch to reduce drag and improve aerodynamics. This riding position needs skill and can be quite dangerous when you are doing extremely high speeds. The cruiser is a chilled bike, you get to lay back on a low seat and cruise at moderate speeds while you absorb the surrounding. You can have a passenger seat for the romantic rides.
Electronics and customization
Sportbikes come with some of the latest electronics so that they can reduce traction and keep the bike firmly on track. You will find ABS as standard or have some cool features like quick shifter control, riding modes, wheelie control and traction control. All these are meant to stabilize the bike at high speeds. Cruisers do not need some of these fancy electronics as they are riding in a laid back kind of way. However, you will get extra comfort additions like leather seats a noisy exhaust to announce the cruiser presence. Cruisers offer the user the ability to customize their bike as they deem fit. You can strip down the bike to its bare essentials and customize it all the way up.
Cruiser vs. Sportbike – A Comparison Overview
Cruiser – Overview
The cruiser is a low-slung bike with a massive engine and classic styling. The seat is low seat so that you can recline on it as you ride while the engine is mostly a V-twin with lots of torque. You will find cruisers been accompanied with saddlebags, peanut shaped fuel tanks, passenger seats, and chrome accentuated styling. The best part about cruisers is you can strip them down and then customize then depending on your tastes. You can repaint it, change the handlebars, seat type among other things.
If you are a beginner, then it would be wise to first begin with a medium or light cruiser with a low displacement. This allows you to gauge how it handles at low speeds and fuel consumption. If you are getting comfortable with it, you can then upgrade to something heavier. Cruisers though they come with large engines are not ideal for racing. The cruisers are classic biking machines with low revving engines, massive torque and low horsepower. Engine size will range from 250cc to some clocking 2,300cc. Brands like Harley-Davidson produce expensive cruisers that are sort over as collectors items.
The suspension on the cruiser is mostly limited, you have few electronics, big front wheels and low ground clearance. This makes riding them a matter of slow handling.
Pros
- Bikes offer most comfortable rides
- Massive engines with high torque
- Suitable for touring
- Multiple customization options
- Simple to maintain
- Ideal collector’s items
Cons
- Limited horsepower
- Heavy and with high mileage consumption per liter
Top Cruiser Bikes
Ducati Diavel 1260
It looks like a superbike and operates like a cruiser. For many biking fans the Ducati Diavel is something that stands out on the city streets. It looks aggressive and with a shorter massive 1,262cc V-twin engine it is capable of blasting its way against anything on the road. The confusion as to where it stands is it reclined like a cruiser and comes with a fat 240mm rear tire. This gives it’s low-slung nature common with cruisers.
Anything from Ducati is simply impressive. Firstly, you get an array of electronics not common with cruisers. The Diavel 1260 comes with Ohlins shocks, daytime running light (DRL), Ducati Quick Shifter (DQS), and an innovative Ducati Multimedia System (DMS). The Diavel has a sibling called the XDiavel that comes with stubbier exhaust pipes, mid-mount footpegs, and belt final drive.
Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide
This bike is meant to cause heads to turn and marvel at the beauty of motorcycle engineering. Here is the deal. You have a monstrous 1,923cc V-twin engine that is capable of delivering a high 105 of horsepower at a torque of 125 pound feet @rpm of 3,500. The bike looks aggressive and there is nothing on the road that looks like it. The engine on the CVO is in fact one of the most powerful ever produced V-twin engine.
The display is something close to a ski-fi movie as you get some of the latest gadgets at your disposal. You have a Box GTS infortainment system that ensures that there is no dull moment when you are riding the CVO. The painting on the bike is out of this world with bold red and silver colors. To add to this boldness you get a 21-inch exhaust finish that is accompanied with new fang front spoiler. To support all this load, the CVO road glide comes with front dual bending valve suspension and rear suspension that you can adjust by hand. For those long rides, you get a hands free Bluetooth connection handset that allows for voice commands and stereo listening.
Sportbikes – Overview
Sportbikes are built for one thing – Speed. When riding the biker is in a crouch position and they can move from 0 to 60 mph in less than 3 seconds. Sportbikes are known to hit speeds of up to 200mph. What really stands out for the superbike is smooth curves. This are designed to boost aerodynamics and reduce drag. Once you hit the throttle on the superbike, you will be amazed by all the horsepower available at your disposal.
Superbikes like all other bikes are categorized. At the bottom of the pyramid you have entry level bikes like the Yamaha R3 that come with 300cc engine. Then you have the middleweight category dominated by high performance 1000cc engines. This is where you separate the boys from the men. If you are a newbie make you decision carefully, as a high powered superbike may just through off course and cause you some serious injuries. A 600cc superbike is by no standard a beginner bike. You have extremely strong biking systems coupled with high horsepower.
Pros
- Stylish and aggressive looks
- Fast acceleration and lots of horsepower
- High top speeds
- Superior braking systems
- Loaded with modern electronics like traction control, quick shifter controls or ABS
Cons
- Requires lots of skill to ride a superbike
- Does not offer the most comfortable riding position
Top Sportbikes
Yamaha YZF-R1
When it comes to the world of superbikes there is nothing as formidable as the R1. It is Yamaha flagship brand. For one it comes with a DOHC liquid cooled 998cc engine with inline-four titanium intake valves. This beast of a machine is fast. It is capable of raising a whooping 200 worth of horsepower @rpm of 13,500 and a torque of 82.9 foot of pounds @rpm of 11,500. The R1 is capable of hitting speeds of over 160 mph.
The R1 comes with a aluminum deltabox frame and front fully adjustable inverted 43mm KYB shocks. At the rear you get mono-shock four-way adjustable. You also get a host electronics like slide control, traction control, launch control, ABS/unified braking system, quick shifter, and wheelie lift control. If the R1 is a bit fast for you, check out its younger sibling the R6. This comes with a liquid cooled, DOHC (sixteen titanium valve) 599cc engine that is capable of raising 116.7 HP @rpm 14,500. It also generates a torque of 45.5 foot pounds. This helps the R6 push its maximum speed to 160mph. It looks similar to the R1 and is a great bike for those desiring an upgrade from entry-level bikes.
Kawasaki Ninja H2R
You cannot mention superbikes without mentioning the supercool and beastly H2R. The bike is in a class of its own when it comes to speed. In fact, it is rated as the most powerful production bike in the market. The H2R is the track variant while the H2 is the street legal version. When it we talk of power the H2R comes with 300HP inline four supercharged engine. The 998cc engine is capable of reaching speeds of up to 249 mph. With the supercharger, very few bikes even come close to what the H2R offers.
Honda CBR1000RR
Honda is one of the largest motorcycle producer in the world. They have bikes in almost all categories. The CBR1000RR comes with a liquid cooled 998cc inline four engine. The bike has received some updates to catch up with competition. It now boosts of full LED lighting, throttle-by-wire, Ohlins smart electronic control suspension and a sexy titanium muffler.
Suzuki Hayabusa
The superbike gets in name from the Japanese bird the peregrine falcon. It is said that the bird is one of the fastest in the world and the Hayabusa does match up to the bird. It is capable of hitting speeds of up to 194 mph. All this power is courtesy of a four stroke 1,340cc DOHC 4 cylinder engine. Transmission is through a six speed gearbox. The Hayabusa can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.5 seconds and generates a maximum power of 197 HP @rpm of 9,500. It also offers a maximum torque of 155 Nm @rpm of 7,200.
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R
The Kawasaki is another great bike from Kawasaki. It is the second fastest production bike after the H2R. Power is through four valve 1,441cc liquid cooled engine that is capable of hitting speeds of up to 208.1 mph. This monstrous biking beast can clock 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.7 seconds. The ZX-14R produces a maximum power of 197.3 HP @rpm of 10,000, maximum torque is 158.2 Nm @rpm of 7,500. All the power to the ZX-14R is through a six speed transmission.
Now let’s compare two cruiser and Sportbikes models
| Model | Yamaha YZF-R1 | Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster |
| Displacement | 998cc | 1,200cc |
| Maximum Power | 194.3 HP @rpm 13,500 | 76 HP @rpm 6,100 |
| Maximum Torque | 112.4 Nm @rpm 11,500 | 106 Nm @rpm 4,000 |
| Bore (mm) | 79 | 98 |
| Stroke (mm) | 51 | 80 |
| Front Brake size (mm) | 320 | 310 |
| Rear Brake size (mm) | 220 | 255 |
| Kerb weight (kg) | 200 | 246 |
| Overall height (mm) | 1,150 | 1,040 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 1,405 | 1,510 |
Conclusion
Choosing the ideal bike is not that simple – especially if you are a beginner. You have superfast bikes like the Kawasaki H2R that are capable of high speeds of over 200mph and you have laid back Harley cruisers that are classical in nature and with high displacement engines. What you desire in terms of speed will determine the kind of bike you go for.
