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Honda VTX1300C, Star V Star 1300, and Suzuki Boulevard S83 | Rise of the Middle Class
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2007 H-D 1200 Sportster Custom
MSRP: $9695
Wheelbase: 60.4in.
Seat height: 28 in.
Engine type: Air-cooled 1200cc
45-degree V-twin
Bore x stroke: 88.8 x 96.8mm
Compression: 9.7:1
Fuel system: EFI
Fuel Capacity: 4.5 gal.
Transmission/final drive:
5-speed/belt drive
Rake/Trail: 30 degrees/4.7 in.
Front tire: MH90-21
Rear tire: 150/80B-16
Front brake: 292mm disc, dual-piston caliper
Rear brake: 292mm disc, single-piston caliper
Front suspension: 39mm fork, 5.6-in. travel
Rear suspension: Dual dampers, 2.4-in. travel
Dry weight: 562 lbs.
Colors: Black, red, blue and yellow; more than a dozen other colors | | HONDA VTX1300C | STAR V STAR 1300 | SUZUKI BOULEVARD S83 | | MSRP | $9599 | $10,090 | $8499 | | Warranty | 12 months unlimited miles | 12 months, unlimited miles | 12 months, unlimited miles | | Colors | Black, red, white, blue, green | Black, blue, red | Black, blue | | ENGINE & DRIVETRAIN | | Type | 1312cc liquid-cooled, | 1304cc liquid-cooled, | 1360cc air/oil-cooled, | | | 52 degree V-twin | 60 degree V-twin | 45 degree V-twin | | Bore x Stroke | 89.5 x 104.3mm | 100 x 83mm | 94.0 x 98.0mm | | Valve train | SOHC, 3 valves per cylinder | SOHC, 4 valves per cylinder | SOHC, 3 valves per cylinder | | Compression | 9.2:1 | 9.5:1 | 9.3:1 | | Fuel System | One 38mm CV carburetor | EFI, two 40mm throttle bodies | Two 36mm Mikuni CV carburetors | | Transmission/final drive | 5 speed/shaft | 5 speed/belt | 5 speed/shaft | | CHASSIS | | Front Suspension | 41mm fork, 5.1-in. travel | 41mm fork, 5.3-in. travel | 41mm fork, 5.1-in. travel | | Rear suspension | Dual dampers, preload | Single damper, preload | Dual dampers, preload | | | adjustable, 3.6-in. travel | adjustable, 4.3-in. travel | adjustable, 3.9-in. travel | | Front wheel/tire | 19 in. cast/ | 16 in. cast/ | 19 in. wire-spoke/ | | | 110/90-19 tubeless | 130/90-16 tubeless | 110/90-19 tube-type | | Rear wheel/tire | 15 in. cast/ | 16 in. cast/ | 15 in. wire-spoke/ | | | 170/80-15 tubeless | 170/70-16 tubeless | 170/80-15 tube type | | Front brake | 336mm disc, | Dual 298mm discs, | 294mm disc, | | | twin-piston caliper | two four-piston calipers | double-action caliper | | Rear brake | 296mm disc, | 298mm disc, | 279mm disc, | | | single-piston caliper | single-piston caliper | double-action caliper | | Rake/Trail | 32 deg./5.9 in. | 23.5 deg./3.9 in. | 36 deg./6.54 in. | | Wheelbase | 65.45 in. | 66.5 in. | 63.5 in. | | GVWR | 1089 lb. | 1131 lb. | 1035 lb. | | Overall length: | 95.4 in. | 98.03 in. | 91.9 in. | | Wet weight | 689 lb. | 679 lb. | 587 lb. | | Fuel capacity | 4.8 gal. | 4.8 gal | 3.4 gal | | Handlebar width | 33.3 in. | 34.2 in. | 28.7 in. | | Seat height | 27.4 in. | 28.1 in. | 29.1 in. | | INSTRUMENTATION | | | Analog speedometer, | Analog speedometer, | Analog speedometer, | | | LCD odometer/tripmeter, | LCD odometer, dual tripmeters, | odometer, tripmeter; | | | lights for neutral, high beam, | clock; lights for neutral, high | lights for neutral, | | | turn signals, oil pressure, | beam, turn signals, low fuel, | high beam, turn signals, | | | coolant | engine diagnostics | oil pressure, low fuel | | PERFORMANCE | | Horsepower (claimed peak) | 75 @ 3000 rpm | 76.8 @ 5500 rpm | 71 @ 2800 rpm | | Torque (claimed peak) | N/A | 81 ft-lb @ 4000 rpm | N/A | | Fuel mileage | 31-45 mpg, 37.2-mpg avg | 30-43 mpg, 36.5-mpg avg | 34-48 mpg, 41-mpg avg | | Average range | 178 miles | 175 miles | 139.4 miles | | Quarter mile acceleration | 13.81 sec. @ 95.89 mph | 13.14 sec. @ 100.47 mph | 13.98 sec. @ 93.05 mph | | 60-80 mph roll-on | | | | | acceleration | 5.51 sec. | 5.49 sec. | 5.35 sec. |    Riding Position Andrew Cherney,...  Riding Position
Andrew Cherney, Editor
5' 7", 155 lbs.
30.5-inch inseam
It's a tight race here in this new class, right beneath the big boys. But I'm happy to see it. I feel like these bikes work better than those 900-pound tankers in terms of ergos, handling and even fun factor. The power-to-weight ratios on these things make a whole lot more sense too. For me, it came down to the wire between the VTX and the V Star-for very different reasons. I like the whole vibe of the Honda-it's a little bit hooligan, a little bit sloppy, but it's got spunk and the motor's great. I think psychologists call it "character." It's all the things its overweight, underdamped, lurching sibling, the 1800, ain't. Oh wait, the 1300 lurches too-but you get my point.For sheer comfort and convenience, the VTX or Suzuki can't hold a candle to the V Star's superior suspension and feature set, but then I feel the Star may be a tick overpriced, while the S83's decades-old design definitely is. I have a feeling Suzuki's up to something that'll put it right back in the thick of things, though.
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