Just brought a cruiser bike(honda shadow ace 750cc). Question re steering?

Seems to be quite different to steer to other non-cruiser bikes I have owned (ktm, sports). Used to use alot of counter steering, with moderate body lean on past bikes, however the cruiser seems to be all about the body lean ie more deliberate changing your weight to steer the bike. Any tips re the difference in steering a cruiser? many thanks

IMHO Rupert has no idea what he is talking about. Cruisers of course won't handle like a sport bike. However weather sport, cruiser, or dual purpose you still counter steer. Cruisers DO NOT rely on body lean. Try this with any bike. Take your hands off the handlebars and try to turn with body lean. It can't be done other then very minor turns.

With the cruisers your still countersteering but since their handling dynamics are different then what your used to you just don't notice it as much. Cruisers can (especially Japanese ones) handle very well at fast and slow speeds. Again, not like a sport bike, but very well.

I can take my cruiser from a dead stop, turn the handle bars all the way to the left or right, and make a 180 degree turn, without my feet touching the ground. Try that on a sport bike.

Check out this video then tell me these cruisers don't handle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y4PYg8pX...

It WILL steer different to "proper" motorcycles.
A "cruiser" motorcycle is all about what the product looks like, not performance, not handling. In the quest for "looks" compromises are made to frame geometry, and tire selection (quality and size), along with limited suspension travel.
Approach steering the thing (normal and counter) with caution, controlling it becomes all about "body english" (moving around on the seat), and planning your moves (at least until you get used to it). Slow speed "handling" should be considered non-existent, though at speed with experience you will find it more stable than what you are used to, go easy for the first bit until you get sorted out.

I really am not a fan of a "Japanese cruiser", as most of the good of a Japanese motorcycle was ignored, and they lack the low center of gravity of an "American cruiser".

Tamarack is correct. You still do the counter steering, but the handling is just different. There is absolutely no reason you should have to "move around on the seat" as Rupert suggests. The mechanics of riding are the same, everything just feels different.

I have a Honda Shadow 600cc that I've been riding for 2 years, and I just recently got a little Ninja 250 as a fun little "toy". They are quite different to ride as far as how things feel and how much input you need to give in order for the bike to do what you want it to do. However, the experience you have riding other styles of bikes transfers right over to the cruiser.

its apparent you never took a motorcycle rudung course, because if you did, you would know that to tuen left... just put pressure on the left handle bar and look to the left, the bike will follow where your look, same thing for turning right , slight pressure on the right handlebar and look to the right, bike follows where you are looking... can't go wrong there on a curvy road, or even entering a driveway from the street. very simple, try it.

I'd have to disagree about there being absolutely no reason to move around on the seat...I learned a long time ago that shifting my butt to the high side of the saddle in low-speed, tight turns makes everything a lot more stable (just as high speed racers "hang off" the low side in high speed turns). And yes, the cruiser is going to handle differently. I just went from a Kawasaki Voyager to a Vulcan Nomad and the handling is completely different. Been two months and I'm just starting to feel pretty confident with it. Obviously the rake angle at the neck is different and the rest of the frame geometry, too. Takes some practice (good excuse to go riding, if you need one) and a little time is all.