Lucky 13

Lucky 13

In which we break out the black leather, kick things back a notch, fire up 12 Twins (and a lone Triple) and go off in search of the ultimate Ameri-cruiser

PROPER MOTORCYCLES, THAT S WHAT WE HAVE HERE. Engines on display, right out in the open. Chrome, and lots of it. Real steel, too-rap your knuckle across a fender and you’re rewarded with a satisfying metallic toll. Paint in primary colors; no wussie neons or nuclear zebra stripes here. These are motorcycles as God (or at least Marlon Brando’s Johnny) intended. The proof is in the purchasing. Last year, Americans bought 150,000 cruisers, outstripping sales of sportbikes three to one. No surprise, really. As a nation, we’ve always liked our bikes big and our cylinders paired, preferably in a Vee configuration. There’s just something eosmically correct about two fist-sized pistons pounding out mile after American mile.

Every major bike-maker, save Ducati, now has at least one mega-cruiser in its lineup. For this comparison, we rounded up 13 of the rascals. Rules of engagement were simple: Two cylinders? At least lOOOcc? C’mon down!

Had to have a Harley-D, of course, so The Motor Company chipped in with a Dvna Low' Rider, probably the best all-around mix in its catalog. Next, we sent in the clones. Almost weekly, it seems, we’re bombarded with news of yet another H-D-inspired startup. Peering resolutely through the fog, we’ve included the creme de la clones. biginch boomers from Big Dog and Titan.

Europe wanted to play. Those wacky braumeisters at BMW have concocted the R 1200C, their first-ever cruiser, raising eyebrows-and sensibiIities—al! y across Beemerland. Financially reborn Moto Guzzi laid some serious JÜ tweakage upon its entry, coming

up with the surprisingly capable VIE You say the Triumph Thunderbird is neither a Twin nor a full lOOOcc? Tough noogies; we’re suckers for metallic British Racing Green, plus the T-bird’s raspy three-cylinder mill makes us happy chappies, so it’s in.

Retro fever is raging unchecked among the Japanese cruisers. Suzuki’s first fat-fendered effort, the 1500 LC, joins the fray in a billig way. Art-deco meets Marysville in Honda's smoothly flowing Aero, the fourth iteration of the Shadow 1100 theme. And the strong-selling Kawasaki 1500 Classic is back, rearmed with a five-speed trannv and better throttle response.

We’ve invited old friends along for the ride, too. Honda’s base-model Shadow Spirit. Kawasaki’s monster-motored 1500 Vulcan, Suzuki’s tower-of-torque, otherwise known as the Intruder 1400, and Yamaha’s long-running, charismatic Virago 1100 all answer the bell, packing the most punch for the least moolah.

So, 13 Ameri-cruisers, divided into four categories, ready for your inspection. Good reading, and may the best bike win...