Riding Positions
Andy Cherney
Press releases to the contrary, I don't find the ultraheavyweight class of cruisers to be aperformance-based bunch. Because all of these blinged-out behemoths taxed my patience on even mildly twisty stretches of pavement, I thought it best to judge 'em on the visceral thrills they generated in a straight line.
By that measure, it was hard for me to stifle big, fat guffaws when clinging to the oversized grips of Suzuki's M109R-the most unabashed power monger I've met since the Triumph Rocket III. But when it didn't buck me off the thin, dished saddle on sharper bumps, the M109R's jerky power delivery and meaty slab of rear rubber had me rocking like a deluded Elvis impersonator. Don't be cruel indeed. But, man, did it look cool, and it pulled big Gs off the line every time. This bike's meant for a very specific niche-the power-cruiser savant.
A notch behind Suzuki in the thrills department was the Vulcan-a big-boned battleship with a touch more refinement. I still don't dig its pronounced heaviness in turns and low-speed maneuvers, but the Kawasaki gave me a neutral, comfortable perch with its wide bars (too wide at full lock) and stepped saddle (which dug into my back on longer jaunts). I could mete out big power with more control than the M109 and the Vulcan never topped out-there always seemed to be plenty left in the hopper. And its exhaust note is, hands down, the most pleasing one to my perforated eardrums
The other two bikes did nothing exceptionally well, but they didn't have the glaring flaws of the first two, either. What this meant was that the Honda was perhaps the most accommodating bike to ride, with ample power, the most clearance and the most neutral riding position, but because it was so refined, the VTX1800F suffered from a lack of personality. And the Roadliner-with its Barcalounger saddle, wheelbarrow bars and stylized finish-was undeniably the most comfortable bike from an ergonomic standpoint, but those same elements conspired to quash any rush of adrenaline, too. Just think about how exciting Switzerland is, and you'll understand why I don't think "neutral" is a good adjective for a motorcycle.
None of these bikes is a logical choice-your decision has to be made on pure emotion only. Any sort of quantitative analysis misses the point.
Mark Zimmerman
It's not always about hardware, is it? Ironically, the most technically sophisticated bike of the bunch, the Suzuki M109R (why do I always want to call it the ME109? Maybe 'cause it reminds me of a hard-to-handle fighter plane?), finished dead last. In its own way, it's as narrowly focused as a hardcore sportbike, and as such I found it just too demanding to ride. In truth, it reminded me somewhat of a V-Max, without the Max's easygoing nature.
The VTX, which is also rather advanced, at least for a cruiser, just doesn't do it for me. Yes, it's a nice motorcycle, and yes, it does everything well, but I'd expect nothing less from Honda. The seamless ease with which the VTX covers all the bases makes it a little too appliance-like for my tastes. The VTX and 109 also lose points with their feet-forward, clamshell riding positions. Sorry, but given my druthers, I'd prefer to have my feet planted a little closer to my posterior.
The Kawasaki came close, but it just missed the mark. The styling is mundane, particularly the monochromatic paint job, and I'd like to see a little more giddyup from a 2-liter mill. I was really put off by the lack of attention to detail, particularly the crooked speedometer housing. There's just no excuse for something like that, especially on a bike that retails for something close to 13 large. It's a shame, because there's a lot to like about this bike: It's stable, comfortable and has a booming exhaust note. A little more attention to detail and a wee bit more juice and it might have taken the Roadliner's Best of Show ribbon away.
Ah, yes, the Roadliner-if Captain America and Madonna worked at Yamaha, this is exactly what they would have built. Granted the 'liner's styling is a little over the top, but that's part of its charm. The Yamaha's virtues-smooth power delivery, solid handling, decent brakes and especially its well-thought-out ergonomics-made this one the clear winner in my book, and the only bike in the bunch I'd seriously consider buying. On the downside, the instrument cluster was a bit difficult to read, but given the rest of the bike's virtues. I could learn to live with that.
Jamie Elvidge
We all had a blast tearing up the Northern California coast on these beastly cruisers, but I couldn't help thinking-over and over-as we were careening around twisting, bumpy corners, showering enough sparks to start a forest fire, that we weren't testing these MegaTwins in their typical environment. Therefore, mentally, I had to switch my thinking from how they were performing in the world of long-distance touring (the long hump to the playground) and maniacal cornering (playing at the playground) to how it would translate to performance in the world these bikes were intended for: a trip to Laughlin or Daytona, rides to local bike nights, a cruise into the country on Sunday.
That's how the Suzuki ended up becoming my favorite. It was like a fish out of water in most of the environments we were blasting through, but, man, that bike is super-cool. The best looking by far-truly in its own class aesthetically. And that look says what the bike's about: Power. The others look too classic, and that vintage look doesn't fit with huge horsepower, in my thinking. And, boy howdy, the Suzuki's engine sure does rock-my favorite powerplant, to be sure. I personally think people are going to buy these super-big bikes for the prowess factor, and that the Suzuki has from head to 18-inch toe.
Those who know my taste know that I'm preferential to practicality, however, so my choice of which bike I think is best and which one I'd buy are not the same. I'd only buy a bike I can put pretty big miles on and, yeah, ride like a fool through the twisties. For me, that bike is the Honda VTX-in any designation except the Retro. It's well built, well balanced, has tons of power and will take me cross-country and back in comfort (and has, more than once).
Those were the two bikes that stood out for me. The Yamaha works well, sure, but it's bland to my tastes, and Kawasaki, well, it's what it's always been for me-a Vulcan gone obese
Art Friedman
Even though the latest crop of 2-liter twins brings some improvements, I still kind of feel they're all too big.
If I was going to buy one of these bikes, it would be the Roadliner or the VTX1800-the N version, not this uncomfortable drag-racy one. I prefer the more modern Honda engine, but the Yamaha is definitely the comfort king and that would probably get my bucks. My wife would want a better seat and a backrest to match, though, so I'd probably be considering the Stratoliner not long after I walked into the dealer.
Fortunately, I have the luxury of waiting for the right one. You know, the one with the comfort of the Yamaha, the power of the Suzuki, the finish and quality of the Honda...
Evans Brasfield
My routes to choosing my two favorite bikes of this quartet could not have been more different from each other. From the moment I threw a leg over the Roadliner, I simply loved it. The layout of the controls, the styling and the handling all combined to create a winner, in my book. My initial thought was that none of the other bikes would ever be able to challenge it. Then I rode 300 miles up California's Central Valley into a headwind. The sit-on-top-of-the-bike riding position and the widely spread bar made for tough going. Still, it ranked above the rest.
The first time I rode the Kawasaki, my impressions were less than pleasant. The new bend in the handlebar caused my knee to get caught between the grip and the brake lever. Almost crashing in the first 10 feet of a ride is not a good first impression. So, in a grumpy mood, I began to catalog all the things I didn't like about the big Vulcan-none of which I can remember other than its slight cold-bloodedness. Then, as my anger subsided, I progressively became more and more fond of the Kawi. A close second.
The Honda is a bike I've really liked over the years, and I was surprised that I didn't rank it higher, but time doesn't stand still for machinery. Perhaps it's my current love affair with belt-driven bikes that hurt the VTX's standing. The Honda did, however, have my favorite exhaust note of the bunch.
The Suzuki suffered from being designed for a different riding environment than the one we chose. Perfect for hooligan antics in the big city, the big, fat rear tire was out of its element in the wilds of Northern California. The M109R suffered from one unforgivable flaw (as did the VTX): The pillion's leading edge cut into my lower back in an extremely painful manner. The Suzuki's styling and attitude leaves the other bikes in the dust, and it has a tachometer you don't have to take your eyes off the road to consult.