What Bike?

Here's the requirements:

Cruiser style
Inline 4 cylinder engine
500-750CC
under $3k

Nighthawk of whatever displacement floats your boat.

Can it be a V4 instead? In that case V45 Magna for the exhaust note alone.

In reply to bravenrace:

I wouldn't be so dead set on your displacement requirement considering you want an I4 bike.

In reply to yamaha:

Why is that? There's a ton of inline 4 bikes in that range.

+1 for Magna and immediately disregarding your requirements

Guys, my requirements for an I4 are firm. Don't bother recommending anything that doesn't fit the description, cuz it ain't gonna happen!

I don't know about "recommending" a bike to a guy without him sitting on it and riding it. But if you're simply asking for cruiser bikes that meet your requirements, there is the old Kawasaki Eliminator.

NONACK wrote: Nighthawk of whatever displacement floats your boat. Can it be a V4 instead? In that case V45 Magna for the exhaust note alone.

I also vote nighthawk. Or Yamaha radian.

I'm just curious, why is i4 a must have?

foxtrapper wrote: I don't know about "recommending" a bike to a guy without him sitting on it and riding it. But if you're simply asking for cruiser bikes that meet your requirements, there is the old Kawasaki Eliminator.

Ooo good call on the eliminator!! That's a mean looking machine and is more cruiser than standard.

I guess that depends on what you call a "cruiser." If you go far back enough, most Japanese standards were sold in a "sporty" and a "custom" version with the custom being similar to what we now consider a cruiser.

For instance, the CB750C was a custom:

But the CB750F was sporty:

But if you are looking for newer, most of the cruisers bikes made in the last 15-20 years have been V-twins, with the exception of the Eliminator already mentioned, and the Magna which was a V4.

How about a Kawasaki KZ1000P? Its a little bigger than you asked for, but definitely a cruiser-ish I4. Personally I consider Nighthawks "standards" instead of "cruisers" but it isn't a bad idea either.

This really is an easy one. 750cc? Check. Inline DOHC 4? Check. Cruiser? check. $3k and under? check.

Shoot, I'd sell mine for $2800 with under 14k original miles. These were made clear up into the early 2000's. (Edit: 1991-2003). You got a center stand with the 91-92, and black engines with aluminum fins in 95.

In reply to Bobzilla:

I didn't know what you'd take for it, but almost mentioned to buy yours.

In reply to Bravenrace:

The bikes in your range are going to be heavy, heavy requires torque, 500cc 4cyls won't have torque. I'm curious though, why does it have to be 500-750cc?

And honestly, buy Bob's bike so he'll go buy a street triple.

NAh... if I'm buying now it'll likely be a used FZ8 or a REALLY good deal on a FZ-09. English stuff scares me. I hear you have to own this stuff called Lucas Electrical Smoke because the wires will let the smoke out.

In reply to Bobzilla:

DO NOT BUY AN FZ-08, the FZ-09 is 3 times the bike the FZ-08 is.

yamaha wrote: In reply to Bobzilla: DO NOT BUY AN FZ-08, the FZ-09 is 3 times the bike the FZ-08 is.

+100 It is actually 80lbs less bike, but no comparison. The FZ8 wasn't a particularly exceptional bike by any standard. They are being closed out at DEEP discounts around here, and still I feel sorry for anyone who chooses one over the FZ-09.

Getting back to the original topic, when did a Nighthawk become a "cruiser?"

im loving my kz550

In reply to SEADave:

When sport bikes got fairings and a nose down setup........lol

And I saw that exact thing with an fz-08, guy bought it new for 40% off, as soon as he left, the sales guy was praising teh lord for getting rid of it. We all even agreed that the 3k difference at that point was worth it for the fz-09.

In reply to yamaha:

Any way we can keep this on topic?

If it can be close to vintage hows an 81 or 82 KZ750 LTD? LTD's has longer wheel base and lower seat. There was 1150 kits to bolt on for more POWER too. http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/kawasaki_z_750_ltd_1981.php rode mine for years and went from Ma to WY on it.

In reply to 44Dwarf:

It can definitely be vintage.

bravenrace wrote: In reply to yamaha: Any way we can keep this on topic?

We pretty well outlined the bikes that meet your requirements. There aren't a whole lot. Kawasaki Eliminator is my final answer for "cruiser." If you're willing to compromise and go slightly more standard you should buy Bob's bike. Those Nighthawks are super solid.

Oh! I have another question!! ME! Pick Me! What is your definition of a "cruiser"?

In reply to clutchsmoke:

I want a bike that is comfortable to ride and looks good doing it. I don't know if that is a cruiser or not. But I don't want a sport or performance bike. Just something nice to ride. I had a Honda CB750 back in the day, and would be happy with another one if they weren't getting so pricey.

Rode it in to work yesterday. I forgot just how fun a bike is, and just how much the NH gves up for comfort. Plenty of power for a cruisin' around town bike for sure. The SRT8 Churkey couldn't pull away from me on an stoplight and I killed him on the roundabouts. Still want a better handling bike.

In reply to bravenrace: Ah okay. I personally find standards the most comfortable (like your CB). Depending on the cruiser they encourage you to slouch and some put weird strain on my hip flexors.

Play around with this nifty site to see what the ergonomics would be like on bikes you're interested in. http://cycle-ergo.com

This is local to you. I loved these in high school, I don't consider it a cruiser, but I guess you do

http://cleveland.craigslist.org/mcy/4427251865.html

1986 Yamaha Radian - $1200 (strongsville)