Ummmmm kinda confused here. If you have been riding for as long as you say, as many types of bikes as you say, hanging out with other bikers as you say......... How did you not know this YEARS ago? I own crotch rockets, always have, but that does not mean I never got to ride the other types of bike or talk to those types of riders. Of course they talk about their pipes... They drag them everywhere and the look is the point after just getting out, which is the primary point of cruising by definition. I will also say that not all 'Cruisers' are poor, ignoranrt riders. The guy I go riding with the most rides a Grey 1988 GoldWing. Most would consider that a step below a cruiser on the performance ladder. Well, I am here to tell ya, using that bike he qualified as a 'Faster' instructor. Faster is a highly regarded track riding school. He has also rode with a precision formation group. Think doing a chicane at 110 MPH is tough... try not hitting others or falling over at only 5-15 MPH. He is also a state instructor over the summers. If you have been riding for as long as you state you have.....then you have to have heard "It's the Rider" and that still holds true. Don't be hating on riders because they have a different riding style than what you like, find a different group. Don't be hating on the bike because it is setup for those that like that style of riding. Sell the bike or tuck the pipes up and learn to get more performance out of her. Did you never do a test ride or factory day tour? I give your rant a 0/10. This is like bitching about buying a pistol and standing out on the 1000yd range complaining about the poor performance or the time wasted coming up with a match 1000yd handload after being into guns for years. How did you not already know?