Compared to sports bikes, there are far less cruiser bike accidents that occur in the United States.
However, this does not mean that one is safer than the other.
Cruisers and sports bikes have their own advantages and disadvantages that affect the level of risk associated with the said motorcycles.
Here is a comparison of the two popular bikes in the US:
Cruiser Motorcycles
The cruiser motorcycles design mimics the style of the American machines from 1930s to the early 60s.
One of the most famous types of cruisers is the chopper-style motorcycles that are manufactured by the likes of Harley-Davidson, Excelsior, Henderson and Indian.
Most cruiser bikes are expensive that is why they are not a common sight to see on the road such as sports bikes.
This may be a factor why there are less cruiser bike accidents as they are just a small part of the motorcycling world.
The defining feature of the cruiser bike though is comfort.
The riding position in a cruiser places both feet forward and the hands up, with the backbone and spine erect or leaning back slightly.
This makes long distance riding much more comfortable than sports bikes.
The bike is made for cruising so riders rarely push the bike to extreme speeds. This decreases the chances of accidents as well.
However, there are disadvantages to cruiser bikes as well.
For one, cruiser motorcycles are much heavier than the average bike. It also has a wider frame that makes it difficult to squeeze into tight spaces.
And lastly, its steering bar is different from regular motorcycles. In fact, it has a limited turning ability because of its low-slung design.
Riders who like cornering at high speeds will have difficulty navigating cruisers on sharp turns.
Sports Bike
While cruiser bikes sacrifice speed for comfort, the sports bike goes in the complete opposite direction.
Sports bikes are optimized motorcycles designed for speed and agility at expense of comfort and passenger load capacity.
The emphasis of sports bikes are in its speed, acceleration, braking and maneuverability. It also has a lightweight design and can easily squeeze through tight spots in traffic.
As a result, it is much easier to control sports bikes in case of incoming collisions.
It could stop faster and maneuver its way out of danger better than that of a cruiser motorcycle.
However, since the sports bike is designed for speed, it is much more at risk of being involved in an accident as riders tend to push the motorcycle to high speeds.
In addition, since there are sports bikes that are relatively affordable in the market, a lot of new motorcycle riders prefer to buy this type as their first bike.
Now pair a young, inexperienced rider with a bike that is designed for speed and you may have an accident brewing.
Conclusion
It is up to you to choose which motorcycle suits your driving style best; it could be the comfort and steadiness of the cruiser or the speed and maneuverability of the sports bike.
You just have to remember that each design also comes with its own weakness.
If you are injured as a result of a motorcycle accident, especially if it is another partys fault, you should consult with an expert motorcycle accident attorney for legal advice.