HAVE A SEAT
As would be expected from their appearance, the Vulcan and Star are fairly similar ergonomically. Both feature wide pull-back bars, while the Thunderbird has a flatter, narrower tiller. The Star's soft solo-style seat gets a little support from the front of the pillion section. Some testers liked the cushiness of it, while others longed for more support, but all appreciated the multitude of positions possible on it. The Kawi has a deeper bucket and is more supportive, but still retains a good deal of squishiness. However, the Vulcan's boards were the most panned, with a flat angle that made them feel "droopy." The Triumph offers the most support, but also the least options for moving around with the smallest footboards of the bunch, and a seat that locks you into place. Thankfully, that one position was one that suited all of our testers. The Triumph and Star employed board-hugging contoured heel shifters which only minimally intruded on floorboard space, while Kawasaki's hung off of the back of the board with an easy-to-find square pad.
It was toss-up as to which...
It was toss-up as to which seat was better-the Star's or the Kawasaki's.
The T-Bird's saddle (bottom)...
The T-Bird's saddle (bottom) seemed to fit most butts best.
Windshields are almost always open for debate, depending on the rider, and these were no exception. The tall folk loved the Triumph's shorter shield, which they could see right over and which directed turbulence to their shoulders, while it was right at the edge of the sightline for shorter riders, causing no end to bouncing helmet syndrome. The Star was opposite, with tall riders heads getting bounced and with a shield edge in view, while shorties just looked through the glass in relative calm. Kawasaki had perhaps the best solution, with an adjustable screen to fit all comers. The Thunderbird had the distinct advantage of having locking and removable hardware for both shield and backrest. We also credit the T-Bird's lower deflectors for allowing the least amount of wind to blow up from below.
Passenger accommodations were decent on all three. The Thunderbird SE improves on the tiny perch that we panned in our original review of the standard model, and adds floorboards for good support. The Star features fairly high footboards for taller passengers, but was otherwise comfy, while the Vulcan sports the only passenger pegs-which were less supportive, but better-placed.
Kawasaki adds a little splash...
Kawasaki adds a little splash to its roomy bags with the addition of studs.
The Silverado's hard bags...
The Silverado's hard bags aren't as big as they look, but they are lockable.
Triumph's brand new saddlebags...
Triumph's brand new saddlebags aim for a clean & simple appearance but a luggage rack is also included.
There were no surprises in the saddlebags. The two leather-bagged bikes were predictably easy to stuff, but weren't lockable. Both offer the combination of a traditional buckle and a quick-release, for ultimate adjustability. The Silverado's hard bags didn't result in the advantage you might imagine, with a cheap-feeling latching system, small size, and an inability to stay open. Still, their solid appearance and locks would deter most thieves like a leather bag never will.
The newer bikes again had an advantage in the instrumentation, with a distance-to-empty feature that the Silverado lacked. The Kawasaki has all of the functionality of the higher-touring spec Voyager, with an average mileage feature and unique display. The Thunderbird alone sported a tachometer, though ironically, with its powerful engine, needed it the least. The Star wasn't far behind, with an analog fuel gauge to the other bike's digital displays.
One feature missing from the Thunderbird was an integrated ignition/fork lock the others were equipped with. The Vulc had the nice touch of a key that could either be taken out or left in the large ignition housing.