Bobber Roadster Scout Octane

[scura283]

Shootout  of several bike recently discussed here.
http://www.motorcycle.com/shoot-outs/urban-sport-cruiser-shootout

[jcctx]

Won't let me read without "liking" the Facebook intrusion; sooo, what does it say????????

[Adan]

Also was posted in the V9 review thread.  The V9 seems a little out of its league, but then that's sort of the point of its design, to be more accessible, more all purpose, while still having some of that attitude.

The Harley just looks uncomfortable, but I suppose that's part of the point of it as well, to make you feel ornery?

[lucydad]

I think it was a fairly illuminating review.  V9 fit to this group is questionable.  Would love to see a really good comparison with the new Triumphs and some of the smaller CC cruisers out there. 

[ITSec]

Three bikes between 1133cc and 1200cc - and one that's barely 850cc. Seems like they put this group together according to when they could get the demos from the manufacturers, and then came up with a premise to hang the article on.

[Tom]

 :1:

[rocker59]

Griso would've been better for the shootout.

But, two feet-forward cruisers against two standards?

I don't get it...

[Kev m]

My biggest take away - Three VERY different bikes that aren't really in the same segments of the market.

Nice to see that the V9 really is making that 50 hp at the rear wheel.

Nice to see the Sporty is putting down an honest about 70 hp.

Nice to see the Octane and Scout are, AS THEY SHOULD BEING THE WATER-COOLED of the bunch, putting down even more.

Other than that - useless.

[Adan]

Three bikes between 1133cc and 1200cc - and one that's barely 850cc. Seems like they put this group together according to when they could get the demos from the manufacturers, and then came up with a premise to hang the article on.

I doubt that there's any other way to do it given the budget of an online mag.  I'm grateful for Motorcycle.com and similar outfits despite their shortcomings.  It's entertaining even if not always deeply informative. 

[jas67]

Nice to see that the V9 really is making that 50 hp at the rear wheel.

Guzzi needs to put the V9 motor in the V7-II.   

[jas67]

My favorite quote in the article:

"If this were merely a horsepower contest, the Guzzi would get killed in this test," says Clown Beauty Troy Siahaan. "However, as a sum of its parts,
it would probably be the bike I'd park in my garage. It suits my quirky tastes and is enjoyable to ride."

This guy gets it.

[oldbike54]

 One wonders if Indian will build a "High" Octane and a "Low" Octane 

 Dusty

[Aaron D.]

Truly a silly "comparison", and with the objective criteria overriding the preferences of the testers (I mean, why not just compare spec sheets) not something to use at face value.

But the feet (sorta) forward bikes having the most cornering clearance and the single disc/non ABS bikes having the best brakes, there is some value in it.

Damn that Octane is ugly.

[Kev m]

But the feet (sorta) forward bikes having the most cornering clearance

OK, so I finally had a moment to come back to this article and dig at the measured specs a little.

I was VERY surprised when I noticed comments about the Scout/Octane having more cornering clearance than the Roadster, so I dug some more.

Indian claims the lean angles on the Scout are 31 degrees.

Harley claims the lean angles on the Roadster are 31.1 degrees left / 30.8 degrees right.

Now specs, especially claimed specs, aren't perfect bla bla bla, but Harley has NO PROBLEM reporting MUCH lower lean angles on a number of bikes, so I don't see the motivation to exaggerate these.

And though I haven't ridden the new Roadster yet, I have ridden the Scout and I regularly ride other models in the Sportster line.

So absent actual measurements by Motorcycle.com I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest this is another case of "seat of the pants" bias in evaluation. As we probably all know you can make a couple of degrees difference in the lean angle for any given turn just by your body English (exaggerate lean hanging off bike vs. lean with bike vs. lean bike under you while you remain upright). Not to mention you can add or take away possible lean angle on many bikes based on preload settings (is it sagging excessively under your butt).

If those specs put forth by Indian and Harley are even remotely valid there's no way any tester measured the difference with their butts.

No matter, probably all just much ado.

I am happy to see the few additional measured specs on both the Roadster and Bobber anyway!

[Adk.IBO]

For ME...this new Roadster is the BEST handling Harley I've ever been on. A little slow to turn in, which may not be a bad thing, read very stable. I like it. Top 3 contender for next bike between the V7II Stone, R1200R and the Roadster... Stone or Roadster as second bike, R1200R as a Norge replacement...

[Kev m]

For ME...this new Roadster is the BEST handling Harley I've ever been on. A little slow to turn in, which may not be a bad thing, read very stable. I like it. Top 3 contender for next bike between the V7II Stone, R1200R and the Roadster... Stone or Roadster as second bike, R1200R as a Norge replacement...

I completely get all those bikes.

For me I think I'd like to find a way to buy the Roadster in the next year or so and keep it as my sunny day Harley, while the Stone and my current Sporty get the touring duties (and my current Sporty gets the foul weather and/or 2-up duty as well).

If I had more frequent/longer touring duty (or 2-up) then I think I would consider replacing the current Sporty with something like a Cali or RK. But that's years off for my family.

[Mark West]

When a Guzzi gets dinged for cornering clearance in comparison to this lot....well, its apparent the company has lost it's way.

[Aaron D.]

I don't think they have lost their way at all. Street Guzzis were generally more like the Bobber in purpose and style, until the V7 Sport- even something like a Falcone Sport was not a serious sport bike compared to the British competition.

[Kev m]

When a Guzzi gets dinged for cornering clearance in comparison to this lot....well, its apparent the company has lost it's way.

No, it's the article.

First, I don't believe them. I mean, looking at specs between the Harley and Indian there's a 0.2 degree disadvantage in lean angle in one direction. Seriously, who on earth can tell 0.2 degree of lean difference between 2 bikes.

Not to mention there's a difference in the other direction of 0.1 IN FAVOR of the Harley.

So if they made that up out of their "feelings" who knows if the Bobber actually has less lean angle or not than any of these.

And frankly, most people aren't going to run out of it on any of them anyway.

[Adan]

The V9 is a very comfortable riding position.  Makes perfect sense to me to compromise in that direction.  I don't think peg clearance will be an issue for most riders.

[mjptexas]

Well,
1,700 miles into Roadster ownership I have to say that the smile factor grows with each mile.  Can it run with a Griso? Hell No! Is it a better bike than the V7/V9? Hell yes. 

I'm really not a Harley guy, but I am becoming a hardcore Sportster guy.  You either get Sportsters or you don't, but it's one of those bikes everyone needs to own once in their life.

[drlapo]

I owned a sportster.
An 883R
I added decent fork springs and Racetech emulators plus Hagon shocks.
Of course the mandatory stage one intake mods and a slip on muffler.
I guess I enjoyed it but the first guy who offered to buy it now owns it.
I've bought 6 of the new triumphs and still own 4
One was crashed. One was traded in on a different triumph
My son has owned a couple of harleys.
They're gone.
The mystique does not last

[Kev m]

The mystique does not last

That's completely subjective.

For me, the attraction remains 20+ years later...

[kingoffleece]

More great insight from motorcycle.com.
Brilliant and insightful comments like "the TC was annoying on the Guzzi so I turned it off."  Geez.  The guys at BIKE go into detail and suggest a rider disable it at times if that is their preference.  It's dozens of silly review comments like that where it seams the "experts" need to say something about something!

Those A@@clowns aren't qualified to bring lunch to Alan Cathcart or Steve Rose.

[kingoffleece]

Just to be clear: I'm not one way or another on this review or any other.  It just seems pointless to publish such sophomoric reviews on ANY motorcycle.

[Toecutter]

I find that modern reviews are setting up some truly odd comparisons, like the one that put the Duc Scrambler up against the V7 Stone, in off-road situations.

Or the review that slams the V7 Stone when compared to the Thruxton throughout the entire review, but finishes with "if it were my money, I'd go with the Guzzi".

Frankly, it seems that the V7 just sort of puzzles reviewers entirely.It just sort of does it's own thing, it seems.

[mjptexas]

..I've bought 6 of the new triumphs and still own 4
One was crashed. One was traded in on a different triumph
My son has owned a couple of harleys.
They're gone.
The mystique does not last

Had a T100, put 10,000 miles on it, competent bike.  Boring and gone.

To each his own.