Why are cruisers so darn cheap?

Forum Sponsor
xrljoel said:
"Current generation would sooner can only afford to look at them on a phone."

The smart, driven, dedicated, hard-working, entrepreneurial and fortunate ones are too busy paying down their half-million dollar mortgages to buy an expensive toy. The others can't afford it either.
Click to expand...
And when the mortgage is paid off, they are old and don't have the garage space for huge toy cars.
 
Glenn/RZ500 said:
Somewhere there`s a sweet `82 Dodge Aries coupe, in beige naturally, calling your name. Go on....you know you want it. :p
Click to expand...
Nope. 81 Dodge Omni in blue exterior and interior. Well, interior started out being blue but after a couple of years turned into a very special shade of puke yellow.
 
GreyGhost said:
@omnivore used to be around here a lot. He had omnis with IIRC v8 swaps. He hasn't been on in a decade though.
Click to expand...
Now that's a blast from the past:)

When I first started riding I wanted to be a cruiser guy. Half helmet, cig in the mouth, but forgot to add the tassels.

Rode a Virago 1100 around for a couple years and then tried out a VFR750 which was so much better and never looked back.

1986%20Virago%20XV1100s%20front%20right%20glowingGTAcopy.jpg
 
shanekingsley said:
Now that's a blast from the past:)

When I first started riding I wanted to be a cruiser guy. Half helmet, cig in the mouth, but forgot to add the tassels.

Rode a Virago 1100 around for a couple years and then tried out a VFR750 which was so much better and never looked back.

1986%20Virago%20XV1100s%20front%20right%20glowingGTAcopy.jpg
Click to expand...
Wat! no way..
 
shanekingsley said:
Now that's a blast from the past:)

When I first started riding I wanted to be a cruiser guy. Half helmet, cig in the mouth, but forgot to add the tassels.

Rode a Virago 1100 around for a couple years and then tried out a VFR750 which was so much better and never looked back.

1986%20Virago%20XV1100s%20front%20right%20glowingGTAcopy.jpg
Click to expand...
always had a soft spot for that style of cruiser, looks sharp
 
GreyGhost said:
It's hard when it's not a car you lusted after in your youth. I think the Mann collection will be somewhat of an exception as they are just classically beautiful, can never be reproduced (crash standards, etc make cars ugly) and their buyer pool has infinite money. While an old muscle car is cool, almost every modern EV kicks it's ass in every performance metric and there are many ice cars available that sound just as good and kick their ass in performance. On the interesting flipside, if they stop being so expensive, we are more likely to see people using them as daily drivers in the summer. It's hard when it is hundreds of thousands of dollars but if it drops to 50K, why not?
Click to expand...

There are enthusiasts, then collectors, then museum owners, going up the money ladder.

Serious collectors and museum owners can play tax games to offset their purchase prices. They don't go after the low end stuff because they have the money and facilities to look after the collection. They go after the six figure Corvettes with matching numbers and rare factory options, preferably with serious provenance.

For a simple enthusiast the low end stuff could make good daily drivers as they are cheap to buy and low tech, easy to maintain. If you only pay $5,000 and get a couple of years out of the car it could work for you if you don't mind the low tech safety standards. Or enjoy your parking lot Show and Shine meets and ice cream runs.

Domestic vehicles are better as replacement parts are common. A small block Chevy from just about anything will fit. Lincolns used Ford parts. A suspension part for an Alfa Romeo isn't as easy to find.

I suspect the low end Mecum stuff consists of cars dealer don't want and only offer scrap value on trades. At some point the cost of insurance and storage makes a mid 1970s Camaro a high financial liability, particularly if it was a entry level car to start with.

Some homes can live with a car and a half if wife and hubby can share the main vehicle and minimally use the vintage one bought at $5K instead of a second conventional one at $50K.

And how's the 7 liter V-8 on gas, getting 10 MPG?
 
I'd still wager both of you would be more comfortable on the right cruiser. I hope to one day ride one but a Goldwing is pretty well the gold standard.
 
LBV said:
I'd still wager both of you would be more comfortable on the right cruiser. I hope to one day ride one but a Goldwing is pretty well the gold standard.
Click to expand...
A popular helmet sticker for Goldwingers is "If you can read this, my wife fell off"

I've never polled pillion riders but wonder if just sitting and looking at the back of a helmet for hours on end is a fun thing.

I've only ridden pillion once but the rider in command was a buddy's really cute slightly older sister. It still brings me a smile.
 
nobbie48 said:
I've never polled pillion riders but wonder if just sitting and looking at the back of a helmet for hours on end is a fun thing.
Click to expand...

Don't worry, they can turn their necks too just like we can.

Let me know if you have any more questions about women, happy to help lol
 
LBV said:
a Goldwing is pretty well the gold standard.
Click to expand...
I just completed an 8500km trip and saw a lot of other riders on a lot of different rides.
My one recurring thought when I'd see a couple on a goldwing towing a trailer was always... "Just get a car ffs".

That said ..I love my Fjr, but maybe its time to get something bigger.. lol
 
Gaoler said:
My one recurring thought when I'd see a couple on a goldwing towing a trailer was always... "Just get a car ffs".
Click to expand...
Maybe but a) the goldwing with a trailer has more storage space than a miata and b)if the plan includes dumping the trailer and much of your crap at a base location and exploring out from their for days that sounds like a good time.

Instead of a car, most people would be well served by bringing much much less crap. When I went on canoe trips with my wife, I'd tell her to pack the minimum she thought she needed. Then I had her cut it in half. Then I had her cut it in half again. That got us to a decent amount of stuff and it was still more than she needed. Vacuum bagging clothes at the beginning of the trip keeps everything dry and helps you pack for the next time as a bunch of clothes still vacuumed upon your return shows what you can probably leave home the next time.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom