whats the difference between cruiser and sports bike?

[Jacob]

im looking to buy a 250cc begginer bike and idk what to pick im looking at those 2 types but whats the differences? can a cruiser go on freeways? or what???

and which do u think i should buy for a begginer? im not looking to go very fast maybe like 50-60mph max.

PS- i am a noob at motorcycles and this is my first bike so yea i want to buy one that will last me a while
yea im probably gunna go witht he rebel i was looking at it earlier plus sports bikes are not really my thing choppers ands harleys are.

 

[MreSmartypants]

Cruisers and sportbikes are opposite ends of a spectrum.

Cruisers are for . . . well, cruising. They are for a relaxed, laid-back riding style. They have a low seat and a low center of gravity, so they are easier to manage for their size. They are easy to ride, easy to handle (but not good-handling bikes). You sit up straight so you can see well, and this is also more comfortable on a long ride.

Sportbikes sacrifice everything for speed and handling (cornering). They are not made for comfort. They usually have an extreme riding position that puts stress on your wrists and lower back. They have small, hard seats, because you get some road feedback through your butt. They are designed for 'pushing the envelope', so they tend to have more accidents. They have very sensitive steering geometry so they can be tricky at low speeds. Cruisers are designed for stability, sportbikes are designed for quick maneuverability.

Cruisers are a connection with the past, since the style goes back to about WWI. Harley Davidson goes to a lot of trouble to make its new bikes look just like what it made in the 1930s. And cruiser people generally spend a lot on little chrome bits and accessories to dress up their ride.

But in the 250cc size, you're not really getting a real sportbike or a real cruiser. You're getting a 'standard' that is styled like a sportbike or a cruiser. A Kawasaki Ninja 250 is styled like a sportbike but it doesn't really have sportbike features, just the look. A Honda Rebel 250 is styled like a cruiser but it's not really a cruiser. They are both designed primarily as 'entry level' bikes, as trainers.

Both are very good bikes. Used Rebels in good condition go for a lot of money, just because they're so darned CUTE.

250s are not made for high speeds or long trips. It's all you need for around town and the occasional weekend ride on back roads. But in the US and Canada, you will eventually want to go on the highway, and a 250 really can't do that. They do top out at 70 or 80 but they're not designed to do long distances at those speeds. The engine is beating its little brains out, plus the suspension is not designed for that speed so it's not comfortable or safe. I think a 500 or 650 would be a better choice for a first bike these days. That's a little bigger & heavier but not that much.

If you like cruisers, you could go even bigger on a first bike. A Honda Shadow 750, for instance, or Yamaha Star, or Kawasaki Vulcan. In a cruiser, the bigger size is not necessarily faster, it just has more stability and stamina on the freeway, and it's more comfortable. The Rebel comes in two sizes, 250 and a larger 450. The 450 might be better.