Touring Bikes Vs. Cruisers

If you're new to the world of motorcycles, there's a lot of terminology that gets thrown around that you might not immediately understand. Touring bikes and cruisers are two of the most common bikes on the road, but what's the difference? Here at Sun Harley-Davidson®, we want to make sure finding the perfect bike is as simple as possible. We've outlined some of the differences between touring bikes and cruisers below. If you want to take a look at some of the top models from Harley-Davidson®-one of the leading producers in the world of both touring bikes and cruisers-stop by our Denver, Colorado dealership. We proudly serve the areas of Denver, Boulder, and Fort Collins.

Cruisers

Cruisers are meant to tear up the pavement, whether on city streets or rural highways. These are the types of bike that make neighbors jealous thanks to their spectacular design, fearsome attitude, and amazing power.

Style

Cruisers are always big in the style department. Some of the most popular bike designs are based on cruisers. Big chrome forks, wire spoke wheels, and the teardrop gas tanks are all part of classic cruiser design. Cruisers are designed to be a little bit flashy or at least eye-catching. It's generally acceptable to sacrifice some measure of performance in the pursuit of a better-customized look. For example, old school ape hanger handlebars aren't necessarily the most comfortable during long rides, but they look great and give the bike a unique style.

Customization

A major part of owning a cruiser is customizing your bike to fit your personal style or performance needs. Customization can happen before the bike leaves the factory or after you've already had it for a while. Harley-Davidson offers one of the best customization programs you'll find anywhere. Virtually everything on bikes like the Sportster or Fat Boy is customizable. Whether you want a look that's more classic or more modern, the options are endless.

Power

If you're looking for raw power and speed, a cruiser is a great choice. These bikes are built for hard riding. Old school cruisers usually featured large bore, air-cooled engines that developed serious horsepower. Engine technology has certainly made some serious strides, and while not every engine is air-cooled or has a large cylinder bore, they produce more power than ever.

Touring Bikes

Touring bikes are designed for life on the road. More than style, speed, or any other quality, they need to be a comfortable ride for long distances and have enough cargo capacity to carry everything you need for the trip. But just because these bikes are practical doesn't mean they're not stylish. When it comes to Harley-Davidson, their touring bikes look as good as anything else in their lineup.

Cargo Capacity

Cargo is extremely important on long trips because you are basically carrying your entire life with you. For trips that take days or weeks, you'll probably need clothes, toiletries, entertainment, communications equipment, and maybe even camping supplies or cookware. Touring bikes generally come with saddlebags or sometimes a cargo rack for this purpose. They also tend to feature more hefty frames and suspensions to help carry this extra load.

Comfort

If you're going to be spending hours at a time, day after day, on your bike, you'll want it to be comfortable. Touring bikes often feature specially designed parts that make riding more comfortable. These parts can include specially designed suspension, low-vibration engines, ergonomic seats and easy-to-steer handlebars. Windshields are another element that helps to make touring bikes more comfortable.

Passenger Seating

Many touring bikes also feature two-up seating arrangements so you can bring a family member, spouse, or friend. Because the bike is already meant to handle more weight, riding with a partner is easy. This gives you more companionship for those long rides that can otherwise get lonesome. It also gives you a navigator so you don't have to worry about handling the map yourself.

If you're looking for a new touring bike or cruiser, stop by Sun Harley-Davidson® in Denver, Colorado. We're near Boulder and Fort Collins and we offer parts and service for Harley-Davidson® bikes.