Introduced in 1993 and unchanged...
Introduced in 1993 and unchanged 10 years later, the Magna really only shows it age with unimpressive tires and brakes that aren't as strong as they should be.
Friedman: The Magna grew in stature for me during this test. It's odd, but I had never taken that much notice of Honda's V-4 before this. It was nice enough to ride, worked nearly flawlessly, and except for the fact that it has a chain, had no noticeable shortcomings.
Maybe I was distracted by other newer bikes (which is almost anything) on the other occasions we tested it. Certainly the V-Max was a bigger attention-getter when it and the Magna showed up for our musclebikes issue. I expected the Magna to place respectably in this group, but I wasn't prepared to like it so much at the end of a day of romping around the same little triangle of demanding roads. However, somewhere on the second leg of its lap, having experienced most of the other bikes on the same loop, it became very clear that I was having a lot of fun and feeling pretty damn confident too. Some of the appeal is the engine which--for my money--is the best sport-cruising powerplant around, delivering plenty of acceleration, crisp shifting, a wide (3000 to 9700 rpm) powerband and light flywheels. (Will somebody explain to me what's the fascination with lots of flywheel mass?) The chassis isn't flawless, but I can work with the brakes and replace the tires. It is also a great ride when you are traveling, commuting or simply trolling. So it gets my vote.
The others? Well, I knew I wasn't going to fall in love with the Thunderbird or the Jackal when I first saw them. I did fall in love with the BMW as soon as I sat on it, and then, fickle bastard that I am, jilted it as soon as I rode it. The Valkyrie was pretty damn impressive...for a 750-pound machine. But when the turns get tight enough, the fat lady eventually stops singing. A fabulous motorcycle, but we have finally asked it to do a stretch too far in this comparison.
The Harley works pretty well too, but I just can't make an emotional connection with the FXDX. If it looked like the Deuce, of course... The Victory, on the other hand has plenty of visceral appeal for me. The sound, the look and that nice array of purposeful hardware are very seductive, but some of the charm gets scraped off every time I try to lean it deep into a corner.
There are lots of appealing motorcycles here, but the Magna fulfills my image of a sport-cruiser as well as any one of them, and it does it with a price even a motojournalist can afford.
Cherney: Of the two heavyweights, the Victory brings the most attitude. The V92SC is a hugely improved bike over the original V92. Loved the brakes, the sportily firm suspension, and the fat and grippy tires. Though bulky, the V92Sc handles pretty well for its obesity. Once you get this badboy wrestled into the turn, you're solid. Here's the thing, though -- the tranny sucks like a truck. Were it not for that one annoying detail, I might be crying tears of joy. Soooo close... Call it Best Hot Rod here.
The Jackal: What the hell? They blew their entire styling budget on a billet shifter and not much else. I looked at it, and I yawned. But then I rode it, and... I didn't yawn as much. It's a standard motorcycle with a competent motor, nice handling and great brakes. But nothing here will blow you away. It's fun to ride in canyons, but I wouldn't take it anywhere else. Best Yugo in the test.
This Beemer is haute couture, with sleek styling cues and swish graphic elements, including the 'ice blue' paint. This riding position is one of my favorites. Things heated up nicely in the twisties, until mid corner bumps set this thing a-rockin'. That jerky power delivery makes it more rocking horse than horsepower. Best Status Symbol here.
Though it's the tubbiest of our heavyweights, you wouldn't know it by the way the Valkyrie prances around twisty roads. It doesn't push its weight around so much as it implies it. You can't help but feel confident on the Valkyrie, it does so much so well. Though more cruisery than sport, (all that weight tends to catch up to the suspension) the Valkyrie is definitely a player. Fattest, Fastest Mother here.
I never thought the Harley could keep pace with the others in the canyons, or be comfortable doing so, but it did. And this engine and styling combination feels close to the heart of what we're trying to define here. The damn brake lever was still a bit out of my stubby digits, but when squeezed, it did the job. The seating position was spot-on for aggressive riding, but won't work as well for longer hauls. Best Name for a Sport-Cruiser Here.
Sure, it's sporty as hell, but the T-Bird Sport is not a cruiser! We rode it down twisty mountain roads all day, laughing all the way. It's light; it flicks; it has real oomph when you twist the wrist; it's stable and even comfortable. Suspension was a wee harsh for our large cruisery asses but that's easily remedied. (The suspension, not the asses.) I can't think of much I don't like about this bike except for the styling. Best Sportbike Here.
I always end up asking myself where the brakes are on the Magna. I never find out. Yes, yes, yes, the motor is excellent, the handling is nimble, the acceleration is smooth, the brakes are absent. Call it lack of good breeding, but I always feel uncomfortable perched atop this cruiser. It handled fine in the twisties, though the tires could be upgraded, but I never come away grinning like I do on the Valkyrie. Say what you will, my mind is made up. Now leave me alone.
Elvidge: This new "sport-cruiser" thing is confusing to me -- even the name seems a paradox. While most of the bikes in this grouping can be ridden in a more athletic manner than common cruisers, none of them approaches the heart-wrenching abilities offered in today's sport machines. Instead, it's the standard class that feels borrowed from. (Remember those good ol' bikes that didn't cost a wad or beg for customizing? The ones that could tour, corner and cruise all on the same road?) The Triumph, to me, is a sporty standard and not a cruiser at all -- and that's why it's the performance master of this class. Now, if what you're looking for is a cruiser that spits off a stop and corners without contact, the Magna is able to give you a little taste of two different worlds. It's the only orange in this fruit bowl that drips a little apple juice.
Trevitt: As a Sport Rider guy, my interest in this batch of sport cruisers is decidedly the "sport" part, although I will admit to enjoying a cruise down Sunset Boulevard the odd time or two just for the sake of cruising. The Triumph was the most sporting, but it's not my idea of a cruiser; unfortunately. It's more like a tarted-up standard. The Victory, with it's radial-wrapped 17-inch wheels and decent suspension, looks to have the most potential, but is let down by its lack of ground clearance and a motor that's just too much work to use effectively.
In the end, none of them quite hits the mark of my sport-cruiser vision. That would include something like the Magna's low, swept-back styling, good chassis and brake components (definitely 17-inch buns, big fork tubes, and dual discs), more ground clearance (what good is all that stuff if you can't use it?) and a motor with some jam (V-Max? Now you're talking). And while I know I won't hang with my sportbike buddies on a Sunday ride in the twisties, I'll have a blast and look good trying.
Andrew Trevitt
is Sport Rider's associate editor.
Brasfield: Although we tested seven sport cruisers, in the end, the comparison came down to three bikes: the FXDX, the Magna, and the SC. Looking at these choices reminds me of the childhood game of "which of these doesn't belong." Both the Harley and the Victory were designed to be sport-cruisers, but what's the Honda doing in here? It's been around virtually unchanged for eight years. Well, read on.
My top three choices for the sport-cruisers are: Second runner-up, the FXDX has a great engine and brakes. What hurt the bike was the terrible seat and the somewhat squirmy feeling front end in faster corners. First runner-up, the Magna, came within a whisker of being first on my list. The bike does nothing the best but everything well. Only in the braking department would I rank the Honda at the back of the pack. Finally, the Victory SC gets my choice as the best sport-cruiser. Although it's hampered by ground clearance limitations, the bike handles superbly (within those limitations), brakes well, accelerates briskly, and has the best sounding engine of the bunch. The fact that the SC has a unique look is another plus.
Although taking any of these sport-cruisers out for a ride is a blast, I always check for the availability of the SC first.
Evans Brasfield
Blast Motorcycle Cruiser's former associate editor through his website www.EvansBrafield.com.