Brake It Down
Riding the Rockies might be the ultimate test of a vehicle's braking prowess and the Ultra Limited's stoppers didn't disappoint. Even with the bike loaded, the ABS gives considerably better control. Three 4-piston calipers offer good bite, and the ABS system allows ham-fisted engagement of either brake without worrying about skidding. The rear brake's ABS comes in early, but unlike some of the others, Harley's ABS isn't linked, so the rider maintains independent control of both front and rear, which all of us liked.
Victory's integrated braking system hauls in the HMS Vision. The dual disc, three-piston front brake and rear single disc, two-piston unit are linked when the pedal is engaged, though max power is attained with front lever applied as well. Under heavy rear braking, a "degree" of front brake is activated for a more controlled stop, which helped one rider avoid a wayward cow on a back road. Victory has decided to also offer anti-lock brakes on the 2010 Vision.
Our Voyager came equipped with the Kawasaki Advanced Coactive Braking Technology (K-ACT) option. The linked system automatically detects the amount of force being applied and pumps in additional fluid. Dual 300mm front disc brakes with four piston calipers control the front, and a two-piston rear disc brake is utilized out back. Most of us agreed there was easy engagement with a natural feel, even in panic stops, though one rider felt the rear came on too quickly.
The Venture also got surprisingly high marks for its low-tech 2-piston caliper binders, with riders opining that the brakes offered a progressive bite and good control, though unlike the others there is neither linking nor ABS.
Pack It Up Pack It In
The Voyager's trunk is a dead ringer for the Limited's-it's about the same shape, and even the side-opening configuration is similar. At 33.2 gallons, though, Kawasaki's set of luggage is roomier. The top-opening saddlebags each have a 10-gallon capacity while the top case holds 13.2 gallons. All open without the key and are easily accessed. The design is user-friendly, though flimsy; latches required a good push to close and started to show wear less than a week into the tour.
With the smallest capacity (25.6 gallons), the Harley's luggage still garnered a thumbs-up from every rider, particularly the side-hinged Tour Pak. The nicely padded passenger backrest and wraparound armrests should coddle most pillion riders. Saddlebags are also a breeze to use, employing a soft-hinge, top-loading lid, though Harley claims a modest 6.4 gallons per bag, these are the easiest bags to stuff full of stuff. Harley's stout, foolproof latches remain the best of this bunch.
With all that bodywork, you'd expect the Vision to offer beaucoup storage. The curvaceous saddlebags alas, are woefully unimpressive-just 7.3 gallons per bag and it seems like it takes Enron style accounting to even get that number. The trunk is roomy and doubles as a passenger backrest, but it opens front to back-so a passenger has to move for access. If body design is world-class, construction is less so; our unit developed rattles after a few days.
The Royal Star Venture's trunk is huge, but it too opens into the passenger. It has a clunky opening mechanism that made us try to break the lid off on a couple of occasions. Its bags are pretty well-sized, but short and wide, although opting for a CD player (which is stored in the left bag) will lower overall volume. The side bags also are very sensitive to luggage getting the way of the latches.
Decisions, Decisions
Though it weighs almost 900 pounds, the Vision set a lively pace the others simply couldn't match. Attention to detail, a snorty V-Twin, good road manners and high zoot amenities made for a great travel companion. Three of four testers had this bike as their top pick.
The Harley Ultra Classic Electra Glide is an acknowledged leader, but if you want more, the Limited succeeds as a step-up mount. Fit and finish is superb, and easy controls and light steering are unexpected surprises, putting the Harley in second or third on everybody's list.
The Voyager is one of the better-equipped, affordable long-range bikes out there. Two of our testers felt it was the easiest to ride. It's built to a price point however, and future refinements to the chassis and engine will help Kawasaki make a stronger showing in this class next time.
Despite its classic appearance, the Venture marches to a different beat. Half our riders took the Star to task for a high center of gravity, lack of amenities, and price. But the Star is well-finished and the engine so understressed that it's hard to imagine any mechanical problems for at least 50,000 miles.
If you can deal with swoopy bodywork and aren't afraid of a little performance (or attention), the Vision is the one.
Next Year's Models
Half of the test bikes in this comparison are 2009 year bikes (the Harley is a 2010 model, and the Voyager was a spring-release 2010), so there have been a few changes for the new model year.
The biggest news for this bunch is that the 2010 Vision Tour is now available with ABS. Victory says the system uses a control module near the side storage compartment to hydraulically-actuate the three-piston front units under moderate-to-heavy application of the two-piston rear brakes. The new Vision also gets a universal cigarette-lighter-style power outlet and an airbox silencer to decrease intake sound levels (though we had no issue with the sonic quality on our bike).
The Venture, to no one's surprise, stays the same for 2010 (save for a new color option). The Honda Gold Wing is likely to continue its tour topping ways, with only color changes planned for the near future.