cruiser v sport tourer

I am beginning to read the magazines on motorcycles.  I also bump into people on the road.  It seems that there are two "camps" of motorcycle tourers.  Some believe in cruiser type of bikes and others believe in tourer types of bikes.  The aspencade might be another camp altogether...  One guy I met said that his sportstourer was the best bike he owned but that it was uncomfortable after a 2-3 day trip.  Do any of you have experience on both types of bikes and can you chime in on which type of bike you prefer and why?

Thanks,

Paul  

I ride a Cruiser and I've looked at Sport Cruisers as well ( meany times ). I like the feel of the Sport but I sometimes take the wife with me and the seating is not really made for extented riding that way. The height of the Sport is also marginal when it comes to being flat footed when stopped for me. A Cruiser does not present that problem.
                   Herb  

I've ridden both on trips--sharing my cruiser and riding another guy's sport.  I enjoyed the trade off--just for the change of feel but ultimately I know my old 48 year old body would not enjoy the sport ride for very long.  The cruiser is excellent for me.  I've also ridden the Goldwing's alongside the Roadstar cruiser I own and that is really an EXCELLENT swap on a multi-day trip.  I see the attraction to the couch-on-wheels, but I just like the cruiser.  

I have a VTX1800, I can cruise on this comfotabley and it feels a sportier riding position than the Roadking for instance. I live in the UK, what do you class as a traditional cruiser and what do you class as a sport tourer?because over here we class a VFR800 as a sport tourer. Can you advise me please?

Thanks

Dean  

I guess I would consider a kawasaki vulcan, or suzuki boulevard as traditional cruiser and I would consider a honda ST 1300 or a Kawasaki Concours a sport tourer.  The harleys would be traditional cruisers.  

i like my 97 honda valkyrie for cruising.its a great one up bike.the rear seat isnt very comfortable for riding with a partner though.i had a 94 harley ultra classic i used when my gal and i rode together.i sold that last spring and bought a 2000 BMW K1200LT.ive only put 2K on it so far but ill be using it when i tour with my gal.and my 97 honda VALKYRIE when i run alone.  

Hi there paul, I have just recently sold my old faithful friend a 1999 Kawasaki Nomad, trading it for a 2007 watercooled Suzuki Bandit. If I had the money to ride both I would have kept the Nomad, even though after 145000 kilometres major work was on the horizon. It was a very comfortable motorcycle and was fantastic on long  trips. (I live in Australia). For its weight it handled pretty well.
Since switching to a sports tourer I realised just how inadequate the handling of a cruiser is. The bandit is far more forgiving of mistakes and just plain goes round the twisty stuff with ease by comparison. The accelleration of the Suzi is obscenely fast too, good for jetting you into gaps in the traffic when needed.
As far as comfort is concerned though the Nomad wins hands down.They are different styles of motorcycling, and in my book, equal. If it's go 2 wheels, I love it.  

HI I have C50T boulevard.I'm 57 now. I like the cruiser best now. 25 years ago I was on what they now call sport tourer.The C50 fits the way I ride . It has plenty of power. I can drag the floor boards when I want. You need to decide what style of riding that you want to do. My bike has a nice seat (stock). I can ride about 4 hr. before I get tired. I am 5'10" and 190. I do the speed limit most of the time. I have had the bike to 105mph that is what the speedo said. It was stable even when I passed  tractor trailers. I have never been left while riding with any of the other guys I ride with. Some can just fly down the road but 120+ just is not fun any more..TOOO OOLLDD   I guess.
Get the bike that you feel comfortable on. One that you can balance with both feet flat on the ground.NO tippy toes. Have fun looking and riding...scruffy..  

After reading some of the input, I figured why not?   I ride a Harley Ultra and average 16K miles a year.  It is considered a Tour bike as the Goldwing/Aspencade would be.  I have done the Iron Butt rides of 1K miles in eighteen hours, 2.3K in three days and though it is as much punishment as enjoyment, I have no regrets.  I put 40K mi. on a Road King (considered a bagger) in two years and loved it most of all.
 Sport Touring is my next venture and looking at the new Concours.  There is also Adventure Tourning with the V- Strom, R1200GS, Caponorde crowd.  Cruisers are a different group but nice for long trips.  Closest thing to a Cruiser I have had is a Heritage Soft Tail and a V-Rod.
 My friend and I are considering a trip to Alaska this summer (from Fl.) and I may go for the Adventure Tourer since many of the roads in Alaska are gravel and the up-right position will enhance handling.  So, it is purely determined by the type of riding you enjoy.  If you enjoy speed and handling..sport tourer. Comfort and distance..."Bagger" style. Down on the Blvd?  Anything that stirs your interest.  Just be sure that the bike fits your desires, body, and smile factor.  Enjoy the ride and remember "Adventure can last forever".  

When you get back from the Alaska trip, Dohadon, I hope you post some of the goods and bads. I'm going out to the Vegas area sometime this year, camping as I go, taking my time, and I'm doing it on my 750 Honda. Since I always go the back roads it's plenty of bike for me (5'8", 180lbs). I go slow. My friend rides a Goldwing. He thinks nothing of going from Maine to Washington state every other year or so. He's a freeway rider. Like you say, it's all in the smile factor.