Riding Positions
Billy Bartels
6ft., 190 lbs., 33 in. inseam
In past tests I've made no secret of my heartfelt love for the V Star 950. Either as a touring mount or just as you see it here for a general-purpose bike, we just click. As a big(ish) guy, I appreciate that there's a sub-1000cc sub-$10k bike that fits me. I ride fast, and while some may feel limited by the slight lean angles the bike has, I just see it as a reminder that I'm on a cruiser and that's as fast as I need to go. The gearing, the power and the suspension all work in perfect harmony, and the bike is a joy to ride. So there was no real angst over which one is my pick.
On one hand you have the Kawasaki, which is a more complete motorcycle than the Sportster, and fits me better. But at $1000+ msrp over the 883 Low... I just can't justify the difference. If the Kawi were about $500 cheaper it would be my second place pick, but with its short final gear ratio (sorry, but in my state 65 mph means 85), tippy low-speed handling, and overall finish and styling, it may outperform the Low, but not by much. All the stuff I dislike about the Sportster is fixable, but most of my issues with the Vulcan are near impossible to remedy...and it's the most expensive bike here. In fairness, I found an aftermarket front sprocket kit that fixes the gear ratios for about $200.
I rode a used Sportster recently that a friend was thinking about buying, and I enthusiastically recommended she pick it up. She's 5'6" and it fits her fine, but exactly how small an audience is HD looking at with the Low? Being part Asian, I really appreciate the Factory taking my peeps into account when they design a bike, but to not have a "normal" sized version at all at the entry level is just stupid.
Betsy Nash Gabele
5ft. 5in., 126 lbs., 32 in. inseam
At first I was intimidated by the size of the Star and the Kawasaki. But due to the low seat height and the way their weight is distributed, they were both very easy to handle. The Harley was much smaller in overall size and easy to maneuver as well.
My favorite amongst the three would have to be the Star. It's a Cadillac of comfort and has a beautiful, sleek but tough look. It feels like a very well designed bike, with a nice even flow of power. The only thing I would change would be the seat positioning so my legs would not hit against the airbox, engine covers, and a wind screen for long distance trips. There was lots of wind force above 70-75mph-I really had to hold on to the grips. Also, I would prefer a bit more ground clearance.
Second choice for me would be the Kawasaki; it fit me beautifully but I felt it had performance issues. The gearing seemed off, especially between 4th and 5th. This is not a bad-looking bike, but it's not nearly as eye-catching as the 950, and being the highest-priced of the three is also a deterrent.
The Harley certainly does not lack power, it just seems a bit small for me frame-wise. Although I felt more comfortable splitting lanes with this bike versus the other two, changing the bars would help immensely with handling and comfort and it definitely needs different springs if I am to keep my tailbone out of my throat! The suspension reminds me of riding on an old hardtail. Also, it sits very low to the ground so watch out if you plan on running the canyons.
Ricky Talbot
5 ft. 7in., 160 lbs., 31 in. inseam
The Kawi and Star seem pretty similar. The H-D, however, is a lighter, "sportier" looking and feeling bike. The Sportster's suspension didn't have a lot of travel and constantly bottomed out. And it being low means it drags pieces quite easily too. However, it's light, fun, and I really like the American V-twin sound and feel.
The Star looks and feels bigger, but actually fit me really well. It's a bit of a reach to the handlebars, but only 'cause they're a little wide. I really like low cruisers, but this one was the "drag master", scraping more stuff on the twisties than even the HD did! But it felt like a well-engineered motorcycle, with a solid and smooth transmission, easy engagement and release of the clutch, and one-finger front brake operation. It stopped relatively quickly and manageably. For the price I feel it's a great buy.
The Kawi and I seem to just work well together. To me this bike was the easiest to ride in all conditions. It wasn't the prettiest or coolest-sounding, but was so fun. It did feel a bit tippy and sensitive to the wind but I thought that was a fine tradeoff for fun, quick handling in the corners! I can ride it effortlessly, pop quickly through the gears on the street, and scoot around in traffic. At speed, it didn't feel the least bit wobbly. The skinny front tire can be slippery in wet corners though. The seat is narrow enough for me to feel comfy when stopped, as are the controls.
In sum, I like them all for different reasons. The H-D, because it's a little bad-ass out of the box. The Star for its overall design, and the Kawi as the most fun and comfortable overall for this test.