When a cruiser rider switches to a sport bike, the dynamics of riding are profoundly different, according to Stern.
No they aren’t.
Two things I learned as a paid motorcycle messenger (for a couple years just before fax machines killed that business):
Auto drivers often do not mentally register motorcyclists in the same way way they would another car. So it’s best to keep in mind that “all cars are out to kill me” and to drive accordingly, e.g., drive offensively (not defensively).
In an emergency panic stop, you must be mentally prepared to entirely dump and abandon the bike. You can never know what’ll happen, but it’s usually better to dis-attach yourself from 500 to 1,000 pounds of cartwheeling metal than to hang on.
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
yes, the riding characteristics are different on a cafe racer than a cruiser. in a cruiser you sit like you do on a chair, on a cafe racer (Ninja type you lean very far forward, sticking your butt up like Richard Gere awaiting a gerbil...
their handling comes from an inherent instability that those unfamiliar have trouble adapting to.
I have to disagree.
The basics are the same, the dynamics are different.