Billy Bartels
6', 193 lbs., 33" inseam
My least favorite is a favorite nonetheless: Suzuki's M109R. It takes generously from Suzuki's rich sportbike heritage and applies it to a cruiser. The M109's got a fabulous motor and is a solid machine, but aesthetically it lags behind the others, and the shaft drive makes the power a little less manageable.
Harley-Davidson's Street Bob brings a far different flavor-it literally drips with old-school vibes while feeling almost like a modern bike. Unsophisticated suspension is its Achilles heel, but some would say that's part of the charm. Carrying less weight than the others and equipped with bars that make it easy to throw around, it manages to sit lower than the rest yet sport comparable ground clearance.
The sleek lines and blacked-out badness of the Kingpin 8-Ball almost won my heart. Despite not getting Victory's top of the line powertrain, it still has a smooth, strong powerplant and handles well enough. But Star's Warrior bested it in everything except looks. The Warrior is the oldest bike in this test, and it's frequently a forgotten member of the Star lineup. But with a stout motor, slick shifting, and spot-on ergonomics, it's easily the best for me. The Warrior doesn't have the Cadillac-cruiser vibe of the Kingpin, nor the coolness of the 'Bob, but it brings a mesh of sport and muscle that the M109 could only dream of. It's also really neat to look out over the front end and see nothing but the gauge.
Brad Olshen
5'10", 180 lbs., 32" inseam
Because I ride aggressively I preferred the Warrior. It had ample power throughout the powerband and handled the twisties incredibly. The combo of satin black with shiny black was perfect for a Bad Boy look. I didn't especially like the riding position, though.
My next favorite was the Victory Kingpin; it just looks so cool. The inverted forks and stretched tank should fit both tall and short guys or women. The power was good on the highway and in the corners.
The Harley-Davidson Street Bob was my third fave. Sure the bike needs better suspension, and I wasn't impressed by its braking or performance, but it handled quite well in the twisties. All of its problems can be solved with a little money, though. And this bike had a style that turned all heads.
Last but not least was the Suzuki M109R. For starters, the bike was white-not my favorite color. But this one had the power and braking that I wish some of the others did. A heavy rear end made it tough for the small testers to push this bike around in turns but because of my riding style, it wasn't such a problem for me. The suspension needs a little work and I am not a fan of shaft drives, but it's a great bike for the highway and for riders over 200 lbs.
Andy Cherney
5'7'', 155 lbs., 31" inseam
I love the idea of lumping these seemingly random bikes together, but I was also surprised to find that most of them brought decent doses of performance to their in-your-face attitude.
Not that that's always a good thing. For instance, the M109R's rev-happy, monster motor usually overpowered its limp suspension and magnified the jacking effect of the driveshaft. When I tested the M109R2 alone a while back, I drooled over its brutish character, but against these lighter bikes, it just can't hang. Phenomenal brakes, though.
The 8-Ball plays it closer to the vest. Sleek, blacked-out and simple-with the Freedom engine chuffing out gobs of grunt-it served up fun jaunts when I asked it to, almost making the single front brake disc forgivable. Refinement with a sneer.
As for the Harley, I'm not normally a fan of apehangers, but, like the other testers, I dropped my grudge against the Street Bob by Day Two. The 'Bob tracked more lightly than expected, plus its willing engine and mid-mount controls made things fairly breezy on canyon hops. That single brake disc won't win any slow races, but the 'Bob made no bones about what it was-a basic street sled that's just a fun ride.
For the best all-around riding and ergonomics, make mine the Warrior. Quick steering, four-pot radial brakes and a seamless, spirited power delivery made it unquestionably the most fun to ride. It also managed to bring a sort of dark menace with its Midnight trim, and for the price, I can't imagine a better way to say, " I'm not just another V-Twin..."
Rick Talbot
5'7", 170 lbs., 31" inseam
As a new street rider, I felt each bike here had something different to offer, and I wasn't sure which one I liked best.
The M109R felt the most stable to ride. It wasn't the easiest to turn, but it felt solid in the corners and it fit me well. I could reach the controls and the seat was narrow enough to reach the ground when stopped. On the freeway, it felt comfortable at higher speeds. It had plenty of power and stopped well, though it didn't handle bumps as well as the others. The shaft drive was sensitive and would cause the bike to "jump" on transitions.
Star's Warrior handled the best. It had plenty of power and was easy to ride in the canyons, but I also had the hardest time reaching the controls. The seat was too wide, so it made me feel too short. It's too bad because it stopped, slowed, and cornered well.
At first I was intimidated by the Street Bob. It just didn't feel as smooth as the others. Once I got used to the mini-apes, it was easier and I have to admit it fit me well. The seat was narrow enough for me to reach the ground and the controls were easy to reach. It felt more "old school" than the other bikes.
Victory Kingpin 8-Ball was fun, solid and comfortable. Aesthetically, this one was the coolest too. I could reach the ground and controls easily and it had lots of power. It rode the canyons well, but it wasn't as fun as other bikes around corners because of the floorboards.