While these bikes are undeniably interesting, they're certainly not for everyone. Also, we realize someone shopping for a V-Rod might not be at all smitten by the Rune. They are undeniably the power brokers, however, the celebrities of the cruiser set. Human nature makes us curious about their inner workings and personal habits. On the flip side, many of the bikes in this mix are real-world winners and not just fantasy fare. The Vulcan, for example, is as classically styled as a cruiser can get, and decently priced, too. It just happens to have the biggest production V-twin in history, which in our book also classifies it as exotic.
The Rocket and the V-Max are bikes we have long intended to compare. Both are brutish muscle bikes in both stature and engine performance. The V-Max, already a legend, has awaited a real contender for ages. Between the two, all but one tester found the V-Max is still king of the hot rod cruiser class. It's manageably sized, steers well and has great ground clearance and decent manners at everyday speeds. Plus that crazy V-boost still has us dithering 20 years later. It's also a hell of a deal at only $10,099. The Rocket, in contrast, is just a different kind of winner, and many will choose it for its "biggest" appeal and open-road capabilities. To date, Triumph has sold every Rocket it's made in the first run, even though it costs a pretty penny at more than $15K. The Rune, of course, is pretty exclusive and very expensive. But how could a buyer go wrong with this purchase? We're surprised at how many of these fantastic machines are still on dealers' floors. One factor, without a doubt, is that people need to actually ride the Rune to understand how incredibly valuable it is.
Our group of five fun-loving, style-savvy testers came up with a surprise "overall favorite," however. It's our practice to write notes directly after the group riding experience and hand them in, secret ballot-style. When the votes were counted, four out of five picked the V-Rod as best all-around power cruiser, the bike they'd jump on first. They cited good looks, nice package size, great engine, decent chassis setup and strong brakes as some reasons. However, almost all said they probably wouldn't buy the V-Rod if they were writing the check because of the almost $17,000 hit. Three of the four said they would choose a Yamaha V-Max for a more justifiable punch for the price ($11,099). One tester was a Rocketeer all the way, and would settle for no more, no less.
It doesn't really matter, we suppose, which of the bikes is bigger, baddest, best. What matters is that all these companies had the ingenuity and bravado to build such perfect beasts. Variety is the spice of life. And motorcycles are the main dish.
Thrill Per Dollar
1. Yamaha V-Max
2. Kawasaki Vulcan 2000
3. Triumph Rocket III
Power
1. Triumph Rocket III
2. Yamaha V-Max
3. Honda Rune
Showstopper
1. Honda Rune
2. Triumph Rocket III
3. Harley-Davidson V-Rod
Best Everyday
1. Harley-Davidson V-Rod
2. Kawasaki Vulcan 2000
3. Yamaha V-Max
Testers' Picks
1. Harley-Davidson V-Rod
2. Yamaha V-Max
3. Honda Rune
4. Triumph Rocket III
5. Kawasaki Vulcan 2000
Evans Brasfield: Even with power cruisers, I favor balance over outright kick-you-in-the-gut performance. After all, the world does come with corners. In this grouping, the V-Rod provided what I felt was the best package of straight-line acceleration, cornering confidence, strong braking and good looks. I could use this bike for every role I could imagine—except, possibly, touring. Second in line, the V-Max is so dated it irks me. Still, I can't help loving it. A hellacious engine and decent ground clearance can make up for a multitude of sins. (Namely the flexy, sloppy chassis, dated tire technology and wimpy brakes).
The remaining three bikes pose a problem. I can think of several situations where I would love to ride these power cruisers, but they each have a tragic flaw that keeps them from being all-around performers. The Vulcan 2000 rocks off the line with that intoxicating V-twin grunt. Unfortunately, the party ends too soon as it ultimately runs out of steam. The suspension doesn't help, either. The Rune has the exhaust note and sci-fi look that is impossible not to notice, but its ground clearance and shaft effect limit the fun factor. The Rocket III was the shocker. I've been begging to ride this bike, and in any straight-line situation, none of the other bikes could touch it. I loved the engine's mechanical feel gnashing between my knees. Unfortunately, the Rocket III requires you to wrestle with it through any corner. Arrive at an unexpectedly tight corner and the results can be harrowing. It's one thing to build a bike that's more at home on the straight-and-narrow, but it's something entirely different to make one that only wants to go straight—even in corners.
Marc Cook: This was like dropping a whole box of Mentos down the gullet—refreshing in an odd, slightly minty, marginally overpowering sort of way. After a steady diet of big-inch V-twins, it was a real treat to ride these "oddballs." You know: a triple here, a four there, and a big lump of six right after that. The sheer goodness of all these configurations—now considered outsiders by those who claim to know the cruiser market—makes me wonder how much of the current fetish for big V-twins is the result of their superior performance and feel, or because they look, sound and feel more like Harleys.
On to the box score, then. Kawasaki needs to try again with an altogether lighter and more agile chassis, and Triumph did the best it could, considering the massive engine spanning the considerable daylight between the axles. Neither of these bikes makes me want to open my checkbook, though. I love the Rune's looks—and would give high marks to its performance had it more air between the footpegs and the tarmac—all the while willing to accept that for many it may be just too over the top. Fine. Styling is, and should be, a personal deal, just between you and your psyche.
Now we're down to the brothers V, as in Rod and Max. Yes, the Yamaha is a sentimental favorite, reminding me of being 22 again, when rock-hard bias-ply tires and a squirrelly chassis were the norm and the Max wasn't so far out of line as to be suicidal. Motorcycling has changed a lot in 20 years, but the Max hasn't. And I love it even more for it. Which leaves me good reason to consider the V-Rod the best of the bunch.
Andrew Cherney: "Remember. It's not a 'comparison,'" I kept telling myself as we played musical chairs with the most muscular bikes in cruiserdom for our latest road test. Truly, all the machines assembled possessed distinct personalities. It all came down to what flavor appeals to you.
The V-Rod acquits itself as a versatile performer, thanks to a high-revving motor and a manageable chassis. Alas, it's pricey and a bit weird looking. And the Rune is the definition of refinement. Still, it's basically a straight-line cruiser, and frankly, that gets old fast. Kawasaki's Vulcan 2000 is a powerful contender, with brakes that are easily the best in the bunch. But the riding position is a dud, and the styling leaves me cold. Meanwhile, howls of praise from my colleagues notwithstanding, I'm not gaga for the V-Max. Yeah, the engine has heaps of power. But the chassis is a nightmare, and "dated styling" is an understatement. Can we please move on already?
My vote is for the chest-pounding power and visceral thrill of the Rocket III. The torque is palpable, and for a bike this size, the handling is sure-footed. It may be too much for some, but as far as I'm concerned, it's a nice change from all the other cookie cutters out there.
Jamie Elvidge: What a ton o' fun. These one-of-a-kind super cruisers rock the house with their sprawling accommodations, mind-altering power and pulse-quickening looks. What's not to love, right?
Surprisingly, we all ended up choosing a bike we didn't expect to: Harley's V-Rod. (Well, except for Cherney, who's on the Triumph Rocket like a Rotweiller on rabbit.) That's not to say the Harley is my favorite, though, or the one I'd buy. I'm just saying it's the one that made the most sense for all-around usage, which is the only way to test motorcycles in a reliable and intelligent fashion. Truth is, I'd like to own one of each ...and then a few more. To look at the Rune might be enough. Just to be in its presence every day. But truthfully, I love to ride this bike, too. I find the Jetson-era smoothness and sound enormously enjoyable. In fact, I'm in line to buy a big, black Rune. But would I recommend it? Only if I knew you better and thought it was what you needed. The Rocket is another bike I adore. But again—while I'd own and love one—I don't know if it's for everybody. I met a gentleman in the Denver airport recently who asked if I thought it was for him. He was a big, strong man who had a long history of riding and touring. I said, "Absolutely."
Same with the Vulcan. It's the right bike for the right person. Someone who can handle the size and power and wants that heritage look. That's the long-winded way to say how I chose the Harley as ber cruiser. It's a good, safe choice. A bike anyone can appreciate riding and owning.
Art Friedman: Yup, size does matter, and too much is too much. The Triumph, Kawasaki and Honda are all too massive to be fun for the all-around regime I require from a motorcycle. If I just planned to tour open highways, the Rocket might get the call, and if boulevard trolling were my sole interest, the Rune would be my ride of choice. But unless I had a fleet of bikes, I'd want something with a wider repertoire.
My favorite super cruiser is the V-Rod, which with a change to Harley's comfortable seat is a great all-around motorcycle. It is the most manageable bike here and by far the most fun to ride when the road isn't boring along dead straight. The pegs on this one also improve the ergos, though the handlebar doesn't. But at $17,000 and up, the V-Rod requires a high-performance wallet. Realistically, the V-Max is the super cruiser I'd buy. It's still the hardest-hitting cruiser on the planet, and with some of the thousands of dollars I would save from not buying any of the others, I'd make some upgrades, starting with the suspension and seat. Too bad Yamaha hasn't done it for me.