Tried 'n' True Twins

Tried'n'True Twins

GROWING OLD GRACEFULLY

Lucky 13

IF THERE’S ONE WORD THAT DESCRIBES ALL THE MOTORCYcles in this group, it would probably be, well, old. Or perhaps venerable is a more tactful term. Either way, each of these four bikes was introduced back in the midEighties, which makes them all at least 10 years old. Despite their maturity and the fact that these cruisers remain largely unchanged, they are far from being feeble or dilapidated. On the contrary, each and every one is still a force to be reckoned with out on the boulevard.

Case in point: Suzuki’s Intruder 1400. Introduced in 1987, the Intruder is definitely the hot-rod in this quartet. Powered by an air/oil-cooled, six-valve V-Twin, it rumbles more than the gangs from West Side Story. “You can actually feel the pistons going up and down,” exclaimed one tester.

In the looks department, the $8549 Intruder is decked out in proper cruising togs. In other words, the fork is raked to hell, the wheels wear fancy wire spokes and the saddle is stepped. Most appealing, though, is the fuel tank, a teardropped, twotone affair as good-looking as anything in this comparison.

Once on board this 1360cc throbber, the semi-stretched riding position is comfy, but a tad close-coupled. Altogether good, though, for a day of chuff-chuff-chuffing around the countryside. With the reverberations of that growling engine and just the right amount of vibration, it’s perfect for lazy day trips.

Around town and in traffic, however, the Intruder is anything but lazy. In fact, it’s all ’tude. The torquiest of the four bikes with 77 foot-pounds of the stuff at 2500 rpm, it’s a hoot leaving stoplights.

Honda Spirit 11

$8899

Yet there is a downside. The Intruder suffers from a nasty case of shaft-drive jacking, leaving testers nonplused. Judging by past CW evaluations of the bike, this is nothing new. Also a recurring problem is the Intruder’s suspension difficulties. Ride over anything more significant than a crack in the pavement, and the rear shocks transmit everything to the rider’s bum. Unpleasant. Still, not unacceptable considering that sculpted gas tank, and the acceleration... But that was 12 years ago. And times have changed. Which brings us to the best of this bunch: Honda’s Spirit 1100. > Introduced as the Shadow 1100 in 1985, the Spirit is basically the same machine, with a few styling tweaks here and there (read more chrome).

Next up is Kawasaki’s Vulcan 1500L. One of two bikes in this foursome assembled in the U.S., the 11-year-old Vulcan is the beefiest of the lot. Indeed, its 1470cc eight-valve V-Twin is big and booming, and second only to the Intruder in torque (76 foot-pounds at 2500 rpm). When faced with CW top-speed testing, the Vulcan at 112 mph bested both the Honda Spirit 1100 and the Intruder. Motor is not what the Vulcan is lacking.

For that matter, comfort is not what the Vulcan is lacking, either. Note its wide handlebar, sumptuous seat and wellplaced footpegs. Combine these with plush suspension, and you have an all-day rider.

Handling, though, could be better. A February, 1994, CW comparison suggested that the L’s backroad ride “mimics that of an ocean liner, or maybe a mid-’60s Buick,” and that holds true today. The hulking Vulcan loves wide-open highways and sweeping turns, but is less partial to the tighter stuff. But twisties aren’t what cruisers are for.

Looking cool is what cruisers are for. And here, unfortunately, the Vulcan comes up short. Drawing criticism from testers on its homely appearance is nothing new. Read the ’94 test: “It’s as ugly as a letter from the 1RS.” The most offensive elements seem to have been-and still are-the oddly placed bits of chrome and the faux, Harley-like engine sidecovers that cover nothing. Its not-so-comely appearance aside, the powerful Vulcan is still a good, fun motorcycle. And at $8699, it’s an affordable one.

Even more affordable than the Vulcan is Yamaha’s Virago 1100. Priced at $7599, it is the least costly of these four motorcycles. Unveiled in 1981 as the XV920, the Yamaha received a displacement increase in 1986 and was christened the Virago 1100. It also carded Best Cruiser honors in CWs Ten Best Bikes that year.

Like the other three bikes, the Yamaha is the epitome of

Kawasaki Vulcan 1500

$8699

traditional American styling.

So it’s no surprise that its engine is equally patriotic-an air-cooled, four-valve V-Twin.

And it’s the performance of that 1063cc powerplant that sets the Yamaha apart from the rest.

Get this: Not only was it the quickest of these four through the quarter-mile with a 13.34-second pass, it garnered the fastest top speed at 113 mph. Furthermore, the 1100 boasts the most power with 58 ponies making their way to the rear wheel. In short, it’s a runner.

All of this is reflected once the Virago is underway. At highway speeds, the Yamaha proffers a smooth and almost vibration-free ride-as long as you keep it beneath 3500 rpm. After that, the vibes start creeping though.

At slower speeds, the Virago is a respectable performer with precise steering. The only in-town criticism was the ever-present shaft drive effect and rear shocks that bottomed too easily.

General demerits were meted out for the too-tight seating position, which is just on the wrong side of cramped; and the front brakes, which are afflicted with excessive lever travel. On the whole, though, the Yamaha remains the same all-’rounder it was when it took Best Cruiser honors in ’86.

Suzuki Intruder 1400

$8549

Yamaha Virago 1100

$7599

Its engine is the original Shadow’s 1099cc V-Twin, complete with liquid cooling and three valves per cylinder. Although the 54-horsepower motor isn’t as powerful as those of the other bikes in this group, it is by far the smoothest.

And the bike is also the most comfortable. The Spirit’s relaxing riding position is so stretched out that falling asleep at the bar might be a valid fear, especially with the quietly thrumming motor and light vibration.

Acceleration is crisp, and shifting is effortless. On the open road, the bike’s mellow countenance remains. In fact, the Spirit’s vibration remains mild up to speeds of 75 mph. So trips that require long freeway stints are as pleasant as a quick jaunt down to the local watering hole.

Gripes? Not many. The reach to the clutch lever is a little long, and more power would be nice. And then there’s that disturbingly familiar-looking black-and-orange paint scheme...

So, let’s cut to the chase. Manufactured in Marysville, Ohio, the $8899 Spirit is the most expensive of these four bikes. And yes, it’s also the slowest and least powerful. But it also draws the most positive styling comments. In its own way, the Spirit is the very essence-the spirit, if you will-of cruiser. It is meant to parade unhurriedly down the boulevard. It is meant to draw lustful glances from passersby. It is meant to look cool. The Spirit 1100 does all that, and does it very well. —Wendy F. Black