Honda F6B vs Harley Road Glide Special vs Victory Cross Country - MOTOR GERR

There’s no doubt the Honda is distinctive. Parked next to the two conventionally-styled baggers the brand new flat-six powered F6B (which stands, conveniently, for Flat 6 Bagger) looks almost out of area. Baggers are traditionally chopped down V-dual tourers with dual baggage with a smaller display, much less bodywork and less bells and whistles. This makes them cheaper and lighter, with Harley’s Road Glide main the market.

That said, the F6B does adhere to the subject matter, simply in its personal manner. The new F6B is truely a stripped-down Goldwing, with much less bodywork, a cut-down screen and chimes in five grand cheaper and 36kg lighter than its sibling.

I definitely like the ‘pleasant Panda’ expression from the front. Trouble is, the base Goldwing, relationship returned to 2001, now feels a little dated. The switchgear feels past due ’90s, there’s no cruise control, no built-in sat-nav, no heated grips and the display is bland. Don’t forget: the Honda is the most steeply-priced here, £4000 extra than the Victory.

On spec on my own the Harley truely has the Honda beat, and I in no way notion I’d say that. In recent years Harley have virtually pulled their socks up. One of the first consequences of that is the new Road Glide Special which comes with a built-in 6.5in, touchscreen sat-nav which additionally controls the audio machine. What’s extra, the modern display works in concord with the conventional clocks and styling.

There are upgrades somewhere else, too. For example, the pinnacle-loading panniers are easy to perform and really user friendly. The spec at the Victory is likewise wonderful, specifically whilst you recall the very affordable fee.

But although the F6B’s spec can’t suit that of the Harley, the styling is not to all of us’s taste and the controls greater Amstrad than iPad. Fire-up the flat-six and people niggles are quick forgotten. The Honda engine is something else: first-rate-smooth, superb- sounding and packing so much torque you experience it could pull down homes. 

Just as impressive are the Honda’s managing and brakes. Making a sportsbike take care of is easy, however getting 365kg to prevent and steer is one of the finest magic hints due to the fact David Copperfield made the Statue of Liberty disappear. I was jumping on the Honda’s related, ABS brakes later and later (even in the moist) and they had been shockingly accurate.

Such a massive motorbike shouldn’t take care of this well. Despite the Honda’s physical length all of its weight is low down so you nearly get a pendulum effect as you throw it among turns.

If this take a look at had taken area five years in the past, the Honda and Victory would have destroyed the Harley. But as mentioned previously, Harley have upped their sport. For instance, the brakes encourage confidence, at the same time as the ABS is touchy and reacts quick.

What’s more, the updated six-pace, 1690cc Milwaukee V-dual now has some move about it and could honestly rev with actual urgency. The stepped forward suspension maintains the entirety beneath manipulate, too. You no longer get pitched out of the seat on each bump and the forks don’t dive like a scared infant at Halloween. Ground clearance isn’t a complete nightmare, either, despite the fact that the footboards do quickly begin to pull.

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