Shoot Out!
• Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Ultra Limited
• Kawasaki Vulcan Voyager
• Star Royal Star Venture
• Victory Vision Tour
It was that time of year: with hectares of blue skies beckoning over every horizon and 13 hours of sunlight per day, it's no wonder our noggins are filled with grandiose visions of two wheels thrumming across a vast blacktop. Normally we don't need an excuse to dream up road trips, but with the wealth of touring hardware coming online for 2010, it'd be criminal if we didn't get rolling, tout de suite. Staycation be darned-it was time to saddle up.
This being our annual go-for-broke touring shootout, nothing less than a quintessential road trip would do, and a suitably epic scheme was hatched: five riders on five bikes across five states to the holiest of biker Meccas-Sturgis.
Weeklong jaunts can be demanding, so we mulled over motorcycles built for distance and comfort, preferably with bells and whistles included. In our 'hood, that means luxury tourers. High style with maximum cush and are ready to roll right out of the box, thanks to vast fairings and amenities like audio systems, cruise control and hard luggage.
With full-dress luxury touring cruisers, it pretty much comes down to four choices: any Harley Electra Glide (we chose the new Ultra Limited), Kawasaki's new Vulcan 1700 Voyager, Star's long-running Royal Star Venture and Victory's swoopy sophomore, the Vision Tour.
Of course, we field squawks from Gold Wing fans all the time, arguing that the Honda belonged there too. We beg to differ; its unique engine, controls and riding position punt the 'Wing into its own category. But enough 'Wing Nuts threatened to assemble outside our editorial compound that we opted to bring along the smooth six-shooter. Unfortunately, it never finished the tour, meeting its demise on a Colorado back road.
The Mega-Ultra-Super-Limited Upgrade
Harley's biggest sellers are their touring bikes, so it's only natural Milwaukee would add a new ship to the fleet. The Ultra Limited is a welcome step up from the Ultra Classic Electra Glide, because underneath the familiar exterior lies a Twin Cam 103 power plant said to produce 10% more torque than the Twin Cam 96. Along with a six-speed Cruise Drive transmission, Harley's newest dresser also benefits from the redesigned Touring chassis introduced in 2009.
H-D Electra Glide Ultra L...
H-D Electra Glide Ultra Ltd.
The conveniences that made the Ultra Classic so popular are retained on the Ultra Limited, including electronic cruise control and vented lowers as well as hard saddlebags and the Tour Pak trunk. And let's not forget the fork-mounted Bat Wing fairing. But the Limited also ups the ante with an 80-watt Advanced Audio System by Harman/Kardon, a CB radio/intercom, Brembo triple-disc brakes with ABS (optional on the mere Ultra), heated grips, and the Harley-Davidson Smart Security System, all standard. The Premium Tour-Pak gets a luggage rack and liners, and stashes a 12-volt/15 amp power supply inside, solidifying the Limited's premium status.
For $24,699 the Limited offers all this factory-installed original equipment at a $3700 premium over the Ultra Classic Electra Glide.
The Full Dress Metric Twin
Kawasaki hasn't had a serious dresser in years, so it's little wonder the firm made a big deal of introducing the first metric V-Twin full dress touring machine, the Voyager. It's based on Kawasaki's new heavyweight cruiser platform, the Vulcan 1700.
All the new Vulcans are powered by a liquid-cooled, 52-degree V-twin engine that displaces 1,700cc through a bore and stroke of 102.0 x 104.0mm. The Voyager borrows engine characteristics from the Vulcan 2000, but uses an overhead camshaft rather than pushrods. Power is pushed through a six-speed transmission with belt final drive. Dual front discs with four-piston calipers and a single rear disc with a two-piston caliper provide the "whoa" power. Our bike had optional anti-lock brakes, linked in both directions.
Put the Voyager next to the E-Glide and it's clear from whence Kawasaki drew inspiration, though there's a modern flair to the Voyager. The flagship Vulcan wears a large frame-mounted fairing along with touring bits like adjustable lowers, hard saddlebags and a passenger seat backed by a trunk with backrest. Cruise control and a six-speed overdrive transmission reinforce its long distance intent.
The 2009 Kawasaki Vulcan Voyager 1700 can be had for $16,799; ABS boosts the price to $17,899.
Venture A Thought
Add the Royal Star Venture to the list of bikes rather Electra Glide-esque from the front. That's where the similarities end, though-this puppy is powered by a 1294cc V-four engine that shares DNA with the mighty first-gen V-Max mill, though its most closely-related to the 90's Royal Stars, including the current-model Tour Deluxe.
Today's Royal Star Venture is powered by that same V-four, with bore and stroke figures of 79.0 x 66.0mm, a hot-rodesque 10.0:1 compression ratio and four valves per cylinder. Four 32mm carburetors feed the beast, and a counterbalancer soothes the shakes. A five-speed transmission transfers power to a shaft final drive. The only changes in the last few years are a "pillowy" seat in 2001, and for '09 a 6 CD changer is standard (sucking up needed space in the left saddlebag), though it's the only one to still have a cassette deck.
Other long-haul amenities include a four-speaker stereo system as well as CB radio and intercom, electronic cruise control, and plenty of lockable storage. The six-gallon fuel tank provides reasonable range and there's air-assisted suspension front and rear. At $18,690, the Venture makes a solid case for V-four touring.
Double Vision
When the Vision first debuted a few years ago, it was clear Victory did its research; the cruiser demographic is getting older, and aging bikers tend to embrace convenience, especially when touring. Equipped with a 106 cubic-inch engine (1731cc) and six-speed transmission, the Vision Tour also sports amenities like a power windshield, electronic reverse and cleverly disguised bumpers that protect the bike.
The Vision's swept lines may look abstract, but one thing is for sure: this ain't a wannabe Harley. The exposed 106-inch motor has a long stroke for more torque, and is fired through the 45mm throttle bodies of a fuel injection system. It breathes through an air box built into an aluminum frame and the engine serves as a stressed chassis member. A hydraulic clutch makes shifts easier, while a belt provides final drive.
Our test unit was the Premium model, well-appointed with options like an electrical reverse gear, extra billet and chrome, heated grips and seats, highway pegs, lower air deflectors, a trunk rack, premium audio and a GPS. It rings in at $24,009.