Riding Position
Art Friedman
5'10", 220 lb, 32" inseam
What distinguishes a traveling machine for me is comfort-long rides are no fun if my neck hurts or my butt aches. Seats in particular make or break a tourer for me. In this case size mattered, and roominess, full saddles, good wind protection and lack of annoyances quickly put the Suzuki and Star ahead of the rest. The drawbacks of the two-the too-tall windshield and overwrought design nuances of the Star and the heavy handling and quaint styling of the Boulevard-never rose to the point where they detracted from either bike (although if it were mine, I'd take a hacksaw to the Stratoliner's windshield as soon as I got it home). All was right with the world when I was aboard either one, though I wasn't unhappy on the Honda. A fuller seat would have likely changed my outlook on the Victory considerably.
It came down to the final ride. I was enjoying myself on the Suzuki, but I found bliss on the Star. The motorcycle could have been tailored to fit me, and I like the way it makes and delivers power. Belt final drive makes for a much smoother driveline. I like the Stratoliner's bags, its looks, its handling, its brakes and its sound, too. It is the only one here that seems like a true luxury tourer to me.
Harley 2.5 stars
Honda 2.5 stars
Star 4 stars
Suzuki 3.5 stars
Victory 3 stars
Mike Barker
6'0", 175 lb, 34" inseam
I was apprehensive when Art dropped off the Honda before the ride; it seemed so big I wondered what I had gotten myself into. But after getting used to these bikes I have to say they are all pretty much a blast to ride.
The Japanese bikes were all fairly close as far as riding position-not bad for me, but the Victory just seemed to fit my physical dimensions best with the right seat/bars/footrests relationship. It seemed to be the closest choice here to a true touring bike, with a topcase and a comfortable riding position.
I felt the Yamaha had the best motor of the bunch; I just loved getting on the throttle and thundering it up. Overall it was a good fit, too, though its bars and seat felt lower than the Victory's.
The Japanese bikes seemed to have a low seat, and reaching the bars on the longer stretches of the ride gave me a backache. The Suzuki had very smooth power delivery, not quite as strong as the Yamaha, but I just didn't care for its somewhat "squirrelly" handling. The Honda wasn't bad on most fronts, but it didn't stand out, either. And the Harley looked cool, but it was certainly the most uncomfortable for me. The short, low seat didn't fit, the higher bars were awkward, and my feet kept blowing off the footrests. In short, I wasn't a fan.
Harley 1 star
Honda 2 stars
Star 4 stars
Suzuki 3 starsVictory 5 stars
Andrew Cherney
5' 7", 155 lb, 30.5" inseam
I used a simple formula when rating these bikes: They either fit me or they didn't. For big-mile jaunts ergonomics are crucial, so it was pretty easy to delete the duds after about 1000 klicks.
Unfortunately the Strat-everyone else's top pick-didn't make my cut. I'm not saying it's not a solid performer, but the Star's riding position was absolutely torturous for this 5-foot-7-ich ankle-biter. That's a shame, because its motor, handling and luggage are top-notch. Sorry, no can do. The Suzuki's motor packed a pleasant wallop, too-in a straight line, anyway. The wide bar and finicky clutch, though, made it unwieldy in parking lots. It was too bulky for me. And if I haven't mentioned the Honda yet, that's because it felt nearly invisible. Everything on the VTXT is OK-seat, shield, brakes-but nothing is truly excellent except for the power and the price. The Harley too was outclassed in almost every category, and although the engine sounds good, it runs out of steam up top. I did cotton to the Softail's seating position and superior finish, though.
So it's the Kingpin Tour-by default. The 'Pin's easy to shepherd 'round turns, and its power is more usable than any of the others. Most importantly, the riding position fits me. It gets a thumbs-down for the cheapie luggage and the absurd price tag, but the Kingpin is the one I'd take on a long ride over all the others.
Harley 3 stars
Honda 3 stars
Star 2 stars
Suzuki 3 stars
Victory 4 stars
Evan Kay
5'4", 159 lb, 29" inseam
I'm disappointed. Whatever happened to "The bigger they are, the better they are?" These are supposed to be five primo touring bikes, but I think they all need some re-engineering. The Harley needs different bars-I've evolved from being an ape and I don't want to look like one while riding, plus they leave me disconnected from the road. Honda has developed a quick-release upper windshield mount for a non-quick-release shield, and the on-off-on throttle manners are a pain in the neck. Star, oh, Star! With your awkward 1927 riding position-arms low and wide, hands far from the body-my back said, "Sayonara!" after 10 minutes. And Suzuki-what's the deal? Love your sportbikes, but the new C109RT drops the ball with herky-jerky throttle response and shaft effect, plus wallet-sized saddlebags, so I'm just saying no. The Victory isn't, the lower gears in the six-speed tranny killing the great acceleration of the Kingpin Tour and the windscreen producing head-pounding buffeting on the highway.
It may sound harsh, but I wouldn't buy any of them. If you put a gun to my head and forced me to choose, well, I'd just let you fire.
Harley 3 stars
Honda 2.5 stars
Star 2 stars
Suzuki 2 stars
Victory 3 stars