No they aren’t.
Sorry, I have to disagree with you here... The key word is "dynamics." Sure, for the most part, things work the same. However, the power and torque curves, as well as braking power are completely different. "Dynamics." Even moving from one sport bike to another can be quite eye opening. For instance, the last time I did Kieth Code's California Superbike School, I decided to rent one of his Kaw 600s. But moving from my Ducati 900 to that Kaw was quite eye opening. Part of it, I'm sure were the tires, but the power curve was completely different, and the feel of the bike took a while to get comfortable with. Again, it came down to the dynamics. While the stopping wasn't that different, the acceleration was completely different.
By moving from a cruiser to a sport bike, every aspect of the bike's design will be different, and those design differences effect the handling of the bike. The weight, power to weight ratio, strength of the brakes, steering geometry, and probably even steering lock are all different, and these all add up to a different "personality" for the bike.
Mark
Folks we are ASSUMING the cruising bike was owned for a long time.
The fact is most NEW riders learn on a small cruising bike to get their DL endorsement and IMMEDIATLY go and buy their bike of choice.
This article is garbage because it does not consider how many of these riders are totally new OR EVEN HAVE AN ENDORSEMENT.
This is about progressive trying to NOT PAY CLAIMS BY COLORING POTENTIAL JURIES.
There are law journals that report 75-80% of accidents are NOT the fault of the motorcycle but the automobile. That is a huge pay out exposure. If progressive can taint the pool with junk science, then they can lower their pay out.
So now progressive will point to this flawed study to say, “see he switched bikes” or some other excuse to try and negotiate down the settlement pay out.
Somehow I've never considered bags, trailers, sterio / intercoms, and flags to represent "biking".
(They do seem to be quite popular over in the local retirement community)
On the other end, what spooks me the most are the high revving, race worthy, rice rockets, on what must be the most wonderful tires ever devised, being ridden down the freeway by a bunch of teen agers who don't know how close they are to their own limits. It hurts to learn those limits (but easier to deal with at 18 than at 55).
Note; the twins down the street got new Suzukis (?) last year; they were both wearing road rash all over that shiny paint within about 30 days...now I only see one of them riding in or out.
As to "new bikes", any time you ride ANY different bike or pick up your own bike after a winter lay off, you've got to feel your way (back) into it.