Ive read through tons of reviews here and other places but thought id see what suggestions you guys have for a "new" bike.
Alright im 30, 5'9 175 and my girlfriend is a little 5'4 116 lb pixie.  I’m used to riding a ninja 500 (3.5 years) and want a cruiser.  I know i want the power to ride 2 up and i want it to accelerate at least as quickly as the ninja (or very close).  I also know that i dont have a ton of money for the mega huge gas guzzlers(like a vtx 1800).  Im looking for a newer model used bike.  2005+... As far as looks go i love peanut tanks(or oversized peanuts) I like the look of bobbers, or at least bobbed rear fenders (even more so the flat short “chopperesque” rear fenders).  What else… I really like the look of the sportster nightster but like any leaner cruiser styles.
any help and all help appreciated.
Dan  

Dan - take a look at a Victory Vegas.  

Thanks, i havent really looked at victory's (like the bigger harleys cost is a bit of an issue.  However it seemes like there upkeep-durability is good so a used one might be pretty reasonable.  
Thanks, Dan  

Acceleration and great handling equals the only bike for you. Yamaha Stratoliner. 1854cc (113 ci) engine with dual engine balancers. Fuel injection and the EXUP valve. Removable windshield and back rest (less then 5 minutes. Handling, well, nothing in the cruiser line can compare. Acceleration, I've never been beat by any cruiser. This baby smokes them. Yep, this is the bike for you.  

You and your pixie are relativly small and lightweight and if cost is an issue the Vstar 1100 Custom,(you said you liked the bobbed finders)with little customizing, those guys on the Vstar web sight are out running VTX 1800s.
campyman  

Yamaha has a new V-Max rolling out.
You're sportbike bred, so, a standard cruiser is going to be a letdown.
Also, check out the Intruder 800/1400 (don't remember current model no).
Also, not exactly cruiser, check out bikes like the Concours 1400. It adds comfort and luggage to a sport engine. Same vein, Honda has the ST1300.  Yamaha also has one, don't remember model number.
I looked closely at both.  

Thanks all for the suggestions.  I think im not considering anything more than 1300 ccs due to gas costs.  The v max prototype looks sweet but i need foward controls and more comfotability for a passanger.  Maybe the star 1300 or some 1100 honda or star.... thanks again, im gonna try to get to a dealer near me who allows test rides.
Thanks, Dan  

If any of the rallies are near you, it's a great test bed. Before I got my latest bike (ok 2nd), I took out Yamaha Royal Stars, Venture and Tour Deluxe, HD Road Kings, Kawi Nomads, Honda GWs, and I did the bulk of them in less than a week. At least at Americade, registration is first come, first served for that day.
Just means geeting up real early to reserve a ride for later in the day.

On the bargain front, try out an old Councours. I'm not sure about serious 2 up... hundreds of miles in a day, but, they are quick, nimble, and cheap.  

If you are looking for get up and go, stay away from the V Twins.  I currently own 05 Kawasaki Nomad and 06 Yamaha Tour Deluxe.  The Nomad is OK, however it is slow and has too much vibration at 65 MPH plus.  The Yamaha beats the Kawasaki in gas mileage (it uses reg. vs premium in Kawasaki).  Tour Deluxe standard accessories; cruise control, overdrive 5th gear and it leaves the Nomad in the dust.  

although i ride a vic vegas, which is great by the way. take as many test rides as you can and get what hits you as right, don't forget to take you girlfriend along... . you can find great deals this time of year on used cruisers. by the way, my 04 vegas gets 45-50 mpg......  

dkopcso said...
I’m used to riding a ninja 500 (3.5 years) and want a cruiser.  I know i want the power to ride 2 up and i want it to accelerate at least as quickly as the ninja (or very close)

You're going to be disappointed, then. The single crank pin, large displacement V-twin, is about the slowest accelerating 2 cylinder engine ever invented. It's not a very good design for horsepower, either. What those massive crankshaft counterweights do *for* you is provide much more torque at low rpm, than most other designs. The slow throttle response is one of the things that makes the V-twin so user friendly for new riders. You'll likely never see a new rider get dumped at the stoplight, setting there on the pavement watching his V-twin bike charging across the intersection without him :-)

If you want acceleration, you should be looking at the V-twin look alikes that are really 4 cylinder engines in disguise.

regards,
Joe  

hey now  i am also looking for a new  cruiser, but is has to be comfortable as i am six two, and not slow! i am considering the kawi mean streak or a star. any suggestions?  

rocko, ride them both, see which one you like best. tho i do like the looks of the mean streak.....  

I am a new ride - two days of riding.. haha. Last weekend I finished the BRC and got me a C50T  Suzuki..  It's an 800cc and I love it.. does everything I want it to do and it's comfortable..

I sat on every bike around and read all the reviews..

Good luck with your search.

 

No more than 1300cc. Accelerate like a 500cc sportbike, corner like a sportbike.

When I studied engineering, there was this magic material, called unobtanium. It weighed nothing, was stronger than steel.
Royal Star Tour Deluxe is 1300 (but 4 cyl), quick, nimble, but not 500cc quick.
Harley Road King. V-twin, 92ci, over your cc limit. In a recent head to head in Cruiser against the TD, it won even in the performance categories.
Honda Gold Wing (6 cyl). It will accelerate as fast as a 500 cc sportbike, corners very well. It is 1800cc, but, it's comfortable for 2, even on long trips. I get 40+ mpg on regular gas, so, I can gas up almost anywhere. Some of the performance cruisers want 91 octane.