When I look up "cruiser" I find a number of definitions, all which apply (including old ironside battleships!
) and none of which apply.
To you folks, "cruiser" means a motorcycle meant for long distance riding... right?
Wrong?
"Cruising" apparently meaning "wafting up and down the main town boulevard" as one would do on Saturday nights in a hot muscle car...
While it is true that a Harley Road King appears to be made for long distance cruising, it is just as true nobody in his right mind would ever consider riding any cruiser off a hard-surfaced road, and possibly a wide mountain road or a 4 / 6 laner at that.
On the other hand, which are the real world-class cruisers?
Look at the old school:
BMW R75/7
Moto Guzzi V7 and 750T
(incidentally, this bike was sold to the CHiP with a guaranteed cruising speed of 140Km/h = 88mph, which in those days only BMW could match)
Triumph Tiger
I am purposefully leaving out the Japanese bikes here, and to a good reason: I am only looking at bikes manufactured in the 1960s, when long range cruising meant riding 8-12 hours on a European 2-laner...
That was serious business, no time for sissy stuff like a radio or a can/cup holder or heated grips...
You will notice the handlebars are positioned low, more or less at navel height, not nipple as one suggested (which would be much too high for extended riding)
You will also notice how the footpegs are positioned more or less in a vertical line under the hipbone, or slightly forward to it, so that one may rise on his feet and "surf" over potholes and similar obstacles.
Regardless of his claims, this guy will ride only a few hours a day...
This guy, on the other hand, will go a long way.
Quite frankly, highway bars are not considered at all by European riders, they lace much too much weight on one's tailbone and even the slightest ripples will impact on it and hurt.
The same for high handlebars, they should allow the elbow to be at the same height, or possibly a little higher than the wrist.
We walk with our hand down, not up in the air...