Breaking The Bank
Upgrade To These Bikes For Just A Little More
If you're feeling flusher these days than we are (or you just got your stimulus check), you've got some tasty options to consider just north of our imaginary $10,000 mark. These machines listed here cost just a little more than the bikes we tested, but many offer a considerable leap in quality and depth of their features. They tend to offer a little more oomph as well.
Harley Davidson FXD Dyna Super Glide
$11,999
Sure it's a cool 2K more than its svelte brother, but in my book, the 1584cc FXD Dyna Super Glide is a vastly superior machine in every way. The fuel injected TwinCam 96 delivers a broad spread of power via the six speed tranny, plus the steering geometry and ergos are far more rational. Harley calls it a "blank canvas for your custom vision", and we suppose that's true. After all, why pay for chrome when all you want to do is goose it down a twisty road anyway?
Star Road Star
$12,390
It made a big splash when it debuted back in 1999 (it was called 'Yamaha' back then), and the getting-long-in-the tooth Road Star is still on Star's 2009 roster, but you can bet it won't be long until the plug is pulled on the air-cooled torque monster. It's good bet that this surprisingly neutral-handling big bike is probably available at most dealerships for fire-sale prices then. 1670cc, 8 valves and fuel injection doesn't get much more reasonably priced than this.
Kawasaki Vulcan Classic 1500
$9699
Yes, this one would cost you less. Too bad Kawasaki dropped the 1500 Classic from its lineup last year-it probably would have been at the top of the scoring lists in this issue's $10K shootout. It certainly has the other contenders beat on price, but not only is it a great value, it's actually still a completely competent motorcycle in every way. You can probably still track down these 1470cc babies as carryover models in some dealerships, and that would be OK-they haven't changed appreciably in 8 years.
Suzuki Boulevard C90
$11,299
If you don't like the sporty ergos and styling of the M90, you can always spring for its more traditionally-styled stablemate, the C90. It'll run you less than $500 more than the M, and that's only because of the bigger spread of bodywork. You'll also get floorboards, a roomier seat and wider pullback bars, but realize that you're not really getting the same engine in both bikes-this one's an air/oil-cooled, 45 degree v-twin with three valves per cylinder and a lower compression ratio than the M90.
Kawasaki Vulcan Classic 1600
$10,699
it's actually 1552cc, but at this price, the 8-valve liquid-cooled, fuel injected, shaft-driven Classic seems like a smoking bargain anyway.with Kawasaki's new 1700s on the way, this bike's technically no longer in the firm's 2009 lineup, so savvy buyers will probably be able to wangle additional discounts on one of the most solid traditional cruisers out there. there's also a deep accessory catalog from which to pluck accoutrements.
Riding Positions
Andy Cherney
5'7'', 155 lbs., 30" inseam
What the hell happened to the V Star? In its last shootout, the 1300 cleaned up. This time, ergonomics did it in; none of the taller-than-average testers (the National Center for Health Statistics states average height for US males as 5'9"), could fit quite right on the bike. I thought the V Star was competent enough save for bulky low-speed handling, but competence just doesn't cut it anymore.
I also once harbored a soft spot for the VTX13-despite it being one of those ambiguous bikes with no real redeeming qualities. But if the bike fit you (as it did me), and you whacked the throttle hard enough, things could be fun. Unfortunately Honda leaned out the VTX for 2009, so our test bike was a not-so-well carbureted buzz kill in the engine department. As for the Sportster, I remain a fan of its powertrain, but I could never cotton to the 21-inch-wheel Custom rig. Never felt natural. I still prefer the ergonomics of the VTX and V Star, but the revvier Suzook is more fun to ride-it outclasses the others in handling and that vibrant motor actually responds to my right hand. I'd have given the M90 five stars if Suzuki kept its price at $9999, fixed the clutch engagement and put better brakes on the thing, but that's splitting hairs. For me, it's Suzuki first and Harley last, with Star and Honda tied for the middle.
Chad Garrett
6', 170 lbs., 34" inseam
I loved riding the Suzuki M90: the engine is just so much fun. From stoplight to stoplight or winding it up to pass. Only two things detract from the otherwise good fun. First, there's lots of go, but not very much whoa. The brakes will need some aftermarket attention. Second, those forward controls. I can flat-foot every bike I've ever thrown a leg over, but the controls on the M90 are still a reach. That reaching gets uncomfortable too soon on longer rides.
The V Star 1300, for as big as it is, was just too small for a guy like me. Between the low bars and the high floorboards I felt like I was riding a minibike.
The Harley and Honda score in the middle for me. The type of riding I was going to do would decide the bike I'd want to ride. For in town and short rides I'd prefer the Harley (spunky engine, OK ergos). If I was going to be spending a lot of time in the saddle I would want the Honda (better ergos, compliant suspension). I would also prefer the VTX in the twisties.
Billy Bartels
6', 193 lbs., 33" inseam
I'd done a few miles on the Suzuki M90 before this test (at the press launch as well as the Baby Baggers Blowout), and I knew I liked it, but I wasn't sure how it would stack up against the other bikes. With 1500ccs it's got power, but what about the other stuff?
After riding it against the competition, I'd take it even if it had a lot less power. It fits my average-sized body perfectly, with enough comfort and wiggle room. The gearing is good both around town and lugging down the highway. It handles like a dream, despite having the widest tire. Maybe it ain't the prettiest thing here, but it just plain works.
As far as I'm concerned, the other three bikes in this test are all duking it out for last place. Of the others, and despite crappy bottom-end carburetion, the Honda VTX is the most complete motorcycle. The V Star is a slightly better bike out of the box, but is less fixable than the Sportster. Its boards are too high, its bars too wide, and the seat - in conjunction with the boards-just does unnatural things to my tailbone. The H-D also had ergonomic issues, but a seat and forward controls would fix it right up...and put it into a whole new tax bracket.