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Riding Tips for Your Harley-Davidson® Cruiser

Jul. 27 2022 How To By Willamette Valley Harley-Davidson®

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Cruiser motorcycles are incredibly popular, as reflected by the fact that they represent about 40% of all motorcycles sold in the USA. At Willamette Valley Harley-Davidson, we’re all about the cruiser style, with chrome-crusted bikes offering a relaxed, laid-back riding position. If this style is new to you, check out our riding tips. Have fun, stay safe, and remember to visit us in Eugene, Oregon, for all your motorcycle needs! We serve our neighbors in Albany and Corvallis too. 

Riding Posture

A huge part of the joy of riding is the way your body becomes part of the bike as you shift and lean. However, if you’ve come from a racing bike or motocross bike, you’re used to doing much more weight-shifting than you’ll do on a cruiser. The relaxed, reclined position on a cruiser restricts how much you can shift forward or backward. Instead, you’ll notice the low, stable center of gravity for which cruisers are famous. The best advice is taking it slow while you get the feel of it, and logging miles on the road as you learn how much weight shifting you can do on a cruiser. 

The Art of Braking

Braking finesse goes a long way towards maintaining control of a bike when things get tight. Learn which brake you should be using, when to apply it, and with how much pressure. In a cruiser bike, the rear brakes are a redundant system that partners with the front brake to slow and stop the motorcycle, but the front brake actually does most of the work. This may not be intuitive to new riders. 

Mastering the Downshift

While it’s sometimes true that the safest exit from a dicey situation is accelerating, there are times you need to slow down with maximum control. Master the art of braking with your gears, which puts you in control of both your speed and traction. Cruisers aren’t quite as agile and nimble as some other types of bikes, so take your time getting a feel for how to control your bike at different speeds. 

Any questions about the wonder and the glory of Harley-Davidson cruiser motorcycles? Talk to our team! You are always welcome to stop by at Willamette Valley Harley-Davidson. We’re in Eugene, Oregon, near Albany and Corvallis.