This classic cruiser class always seems to compromise on cornering clearance too, but Harley usually seems to get the balance right, and the Fat Bob doesn't disappoint-it has more cornering clearance than the other bikes here. The Star touches down first, early and often, while Vulcan Classic and Kingpin both come up short on lean angle. The Kingpin drags solid pieces right away, while the Suzuki almost matches the Fat Bob for lean angle.
But for braking performance, the Star was the clear favorite-the binders were universally praised for their control, feel and stopping power.
Its dual 310mm discs and fourpiston- caliper front brake give the Suzuki decent control, too, and the Kawasaki's two-disc setup was also deemed adequate. The Victory's front brake requires a stiffer pull with all fingers and even then is a bit underwhelming. Oddly enough, the bike's rear brake offers slightly more feedback with good power and response.
Even with dual discs, four-piston calipers and stainless lines, all testers felt the Fat Bob's brakes were just OK-ranking only slightly better than every other bike but the Star.
Ready for your Closeup?
There's no question style is a crucial component for most folks in the market for a cruiser. We couldn't really get a consensus about which of the two American bikes was most swooned over. Our testers liked them because they stand out from this lookalike crowd, which had adopted very similar (and classic American) styling cues and designs. The Kawasaki is a perfect example-it showcases a beautiful, sweeping tank and paint, but despite a few nice touches like the oversized headlight, some pieces come across as awkward.
Riders who like performance themes were taken with the Fat Bob, but those who prefer a more traditional style dubbed it "kinda funky." Most testers dug the Fat Bob's dual headlights and internally routed wiring (for a clean look) but felt they weren't enough to justify the price or its ergonomics.
For most testers the Kingpin's leanness was as unexpected as the Fat Bob's un Harley-ness. Everyone seemed surprised at how clean, detailed and original the other American bike was. There were a few riders who didn't get the Kingpin's vibe, though, and their eyes usually stopped at the rear fender, which stands off from the rear tire. The tank, pilfered from the slimmer Vegas, could probably stand to be fattened up a bit to better suit the Kingpin's style, but there are plenty of visual points to admire. The bike sounds good, especially from the saddle. Plus it's all black-and everyone agreed that is cool.
Despite its attitude, though, the Kingpin falls behind the others in convenience features. It's the only bike here without self-canceling turn signals or a fuel gauge.
If the Star came across as bland even with that cool gray-flame paint job and chrome, the Suzuki was downright invisible. Though everyone raved about the slick Star's instrument setup, console and fronk fork detailing, there was really nothing to write home about aesthetically. And because it's aircooled the Road Star exhaust sounds mechanical and a bit wimpy. The Suzuki's color, poorly finished details (an obvious tank seam, generic primary covers and plastic tank console) and general styling malaise didn't win it many admirers, though all agreed it offered the best bang for the buck here if you're willing to deal with some quirks. Too bad the limited range of the 1500 shortchanges the bike-don't plan on much more than 120 miles between gas stations.