Comparative test cruiser from Harley-Davidson, Moto-Guzzi and Victory

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Harley Softail Deluxe, Guzzi California 1400 Custom and Victory Judge

Three cruisers in a comparison test

These three mighty V2 cruisers combine 4.8 liters of displacement in six cylinders. The giants weighing over six hundred pounds are characterized by solid metal. But Harley-Davidson, Moto Guzzi and Victory interpret comfortable gliding differently.

Comparative test cruiser part 1

D.he Moloch breathes fire. Red-hot streams of liquid metal make their way through channels in the sand. The heat is almost unbearable, the air shimmers wildly. At the edge of the lava flow from pig iron at a temperature of 1500 degrees, a worker in a thick silver protective suit stands like a being from another planet. Above it, a red-brown industrial dome rises into the blue sky: When the blast furnace is tapped, the iron ore releases the coveted raw material. That must have been the case at the Volklinger Hutte, which was closed in 1986. Reverence for the boneheads in this cathedral of labor is still appropriate today.

Harley Softail Deluxe, Guzzi California 1400 Custom and Victory Judge

Three cruisers in a comparison test

Moto Guzzi California 1400 Custom and even 334 kilos of the Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe. “Heavy machines” that perfectly embody the hunger for steel without any panels, windows or saddlebags. "Great Pieces of Iron"!

In the Volklinger Hutte, the blast furnaces were at the center of the action, with the three giants it is their engines. Ideally, technically and visually. These three engines are to be taken literally, far more than just plain propulsion. They give the three special motorcycles their technical soul, are their heart rooms. V2 to the power of three. Air-cooled and additionally oil-cooled, they embody the constructive core of their brand.

The Moto Guzzi California 1400 Custom maintains its tradition

Like the Italian challenger to the two US motorcycle manufacturers. As of 1992, all of California’s Moto Guzzi were 1064 cubic meters. But now Guzzi is going all out, with a full 1380 cubic centimeters!

The eight-valve engine with a 90 degree cylinder angle of the Moto Guzzi California 1400 Custom is based on the previous 1200s; he shares with Stelvio, Griso & Co 81.2 millimeter stroke. But nine millimeters more bore, now 104 millimeters, make it Europe’s largest V2. The central throttle valve under the driver’s seat, measuring 52 millimeters, is controlled by a servomotor via ride-by-wire. Sync problems? That was earlier. Long intake paths lead to the combustion chambers in a Y-shape. To reduce the flame paths, two spark plugs per cylinder ignite the mixture. Three different mappings change the throttle response from soft to direct. In addition, the Italo-V2 offers a three-stage adjustable traction control, cruise control and LED daytime running lights. Full broadside, Guzzi is serious.

The Victory Judge wants to be different

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Victory Judge, Winderhitzer: The judge appears tidy and “clean”. A cool, muscular men’s motorcycle. The seat hollow makes sense – for support when accelerating.

The valve train is performed by a sequence of a chain-driven camshaft per cylinder, short tappets and rocker arms. While the two US bikes are tearing at the timing belt, the Moto Guzzi California 1400 Custom drives its 200 rear tire via a newly designed, right-hand cardan. The long swing arm works without torque support. The now hydraulically operated single-plate dry clutch between the engine and the flanged gearbox is typical. For the first time in the history of Guzzi’s V-Twins, the engine is no longer bolted directly to the steel frame. An elastic suspension in rubber elements should dampen vibrations. A huge oil cooler with an electric fan takes care of the thermal balance. A techno cruiser.

The Victory Judge spreads their tower-high blast furnaces of cylinders by 50 degrees. She takes the freedom to be a little different. Mighty 101 pistons and 108 millimeters of stroke pump the "Freedom Engine" up to a full 1731 cubic centimeters. That would be enough even for a medium-sized car. The largest, really strongest V2 of the trio is cool in black cylinders with silver outer edges on the cooling fins.

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Steam locomotive on two wheels: Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe

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Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe.

Refined. The powerful engine looks clean and tidy, just like the Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe, you can hardly see any cables from the outside. In contrast to the Harley, the Victory Juge crowns its cylinder heads with an overhead, chain-driven camshaft and four valves. For more effective gas changes and better filling.

"World Heritage"? For Harley riders this is clearly the traditional 45-degree V2. They are disciples of this building principle, raise it to religion. Precisely because this icon is so wonderfully antiquated. A handsome engine with clear technology. Function is revealed here when looking at it. The Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe is a steam locomotive on two wheels: two lower camshafts driven by toothed chains actuate only one inlet and one outlet valve per cylinder via four push rods and rocker arms. It must be enough.

The engine oil is stored in the chrome-plated, horseshoe-shaped "Horseshoe" oil tank on the right under the driver’s seat. For classic engine construction, the primary drive is via a duplex chain behind the huge, square-meter chrome-plated engine cover on the left. The longest stroke is rustic, a huge 111.1 millimeters. With a piston diameter of 98.4 millimeters, this results in 1690 cm³. All Softails have two balancer shafts rotating, so that the sparkling V2 of the Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe can be screwed rigidly into the frame: "Twin Cam 103 B" means two camshafts and balancers at 103 cubic inches. Modern: purely electronic actuation of the two 46 throttle valves. Both US bikes have maintenance-free hydraulic valve lifters.

ignition!

Ignition! Gasoline burns in our hearts. The steel pulse begins. Badoumm, badoumm, badoumm. The Moto Guzzi California 1400 Custom wobbles to the rhythm of the 1400 engine. Your rather flat custom handlebars dance to the beat. Forward, backward, forward, backward. The valves tickle happily. This V2 hangs fine and directly on the gas, responds spontaneously. Every twitch of the handle turns the Cali first to the right, then back to the starting position. Back torque as a greeting from the basement of the longitudinal crankshaft.

Bilski

Moto Guzzi California 1400 Custom.

The Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe has plenty of good vibrations. Heart-softening, it punches and pulses while idling. When the V2 is stationary, the entire front end shakes. He tattles gently from the two silencers on the right, potato-potato-potato. "Uneven firing order" becomes understandable here.

As on the Victory Judge. With a gentle resting heart rate, she bubbles away. She shakes the least. Yet. The digital tachometer with LCD digits in the speedometer reports a calming idle speed 850, 900, 850. The same goes for the Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe with its digital tour counter.

Comparative test cruiser part 2

Bilski

A colorful group. Baroque (Harley), elongated (Guzzi) or wiry-muscular (Victory) as you like.

Let’s saddle the iron horses. The tight clutch Victory Judge needs power. Your drag bar handlebar is far away, pulling your arms out when turning. It’s just a real men’s motorcycle, the Judge. Kadusch, the gears of the first gear find each other with a relentlessness. “1” is emblazoned in the digital gear display. This is how it must have felt when railway attendants set the points by hand. A healthy toughness. Fits perfectly with the macho concept.

On the Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe, your butt falls to the ground floor, 67.5 centimeters above the floor. When the engine was switched off, the clutch was extremely sticky and could hardly be pushed when the gear was engaged. But now that her soul masseur is running from a V2, the Deluxe is sociable. Blasphemeris refer to their smooth-running clutch lever as a "pussy clutch". The bony wooden gear requires a bit of empathy. Like that of the Moto Guzzi California 1400 Custom and Victory Judge, it has six gears, but makes an idle search a puzzle when stopping.

Every detail looks massive

The very strongly cranked handlebars of the Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe are close to the chest. The wider of the two US tanks at the rear spreads the legs more. The fact is that the Harley makes things easier for little people. Two-meter men, on the other hand, are more likely to suffer. You can steer with your knees.

Exactly the opposite is true of the elongated Moto Guzzi California 1400 Custom: tall guys are happy about the handlebars that are conveniently at hand. Just have to be careful not to bump the cylinders with your knees. Little people have to dare, the dimensions are so huge. The Cali pushes and turns the hardest. Long and heavy, a real ship. Every detail on this motorcycle looks massive. A wheelbase of almost 1.69 meters means five centimeters more between the axles than on the Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe. With the long, flat fork, it looks more like half a meter. Even lifting it into the vertical requires a whole man with the California. Your center of gravity and your seat (75.5 centimeters) are the highest.

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The Guzzi torque overtakes the Victory even at idle

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Key: loud booming “Jekill & Hyde “exhaust with flap, toothed belt.

The same applies to the speed level. Even with the most modern technology, the Guzzi cannot make up for its lack of displacement. She needs significantly more fuel than the two Americans. Wrong world. Annoying: the Mandello bike’s reserve light shining too early. The measured maximum torque of the Moto Guzzi California 1400 Custom, 110 Newton meters, surpasses the Victory Judge even at idle speed. Just as impatiently, the judge goes forward. If you turn the conventional throttle, the silhouettes of the Volklinger Hutte in the rear-view mirrors quickly shrink. The Victory sprints vehemently from a standing start. Simply amazing, how the American engine swings its powerful torque club: a potent 153 Newton meters.

A real muscle bike, this Victory Judge, a full 100 hp. From around 2500 rpm, metal-hard vibrations underline its strong propulsion. This motorcycle lives, pulls itself and you calmly through the orbit. In sixth gear, the electronics lock up shortly after the 4000 mark, with real 180 items. The full-bodied, full bass sound contributes to the high level of experience. Allow? "Dr. Jekill and Mister Hyde" is the name of the extremely expensive (1960 euros) accessory exhaust system with EC approval. Carpet of sound or booming music? Two exhaust flaps (the Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe has one) allow it to comply with the regulations in the measuring range, but in real driving it is quite loud. Something for the bad guys.

Harley is meek personified

In contrast, the V2 of the Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe makes personified gentleness. A real rubber band motor. Just stretched rather slack. The Softail doesn’t have it with speed. Why also? Glide calmly and enjoy, see and be seen: This applies to her in urban-industrial surroundings as well as on lonely country roads. In long sixth gear, the overdrive, it is inelastic, its power evaporates. Every 600 four-cylinder pulls through better. Shifting back helps. Or just let yourself go, find inner peace. Stress and hectic suddenly roll off you. The gentle bubbling sound contributes to this. Easy going!

The Moto Guzzi California 1400 Custom is much faster, in sixth gear even faster than the Victory Judge. Thanks to a shorter translation. For a really harmonious run, there should be at least 3000 turns in the upper gears. The Guzzi transmission can be operated particularly gently. Only in terms of “sound and feeling” does the Italo-V2 fall a little behind the American bikes. It vibrates less, sounds higher, “lives” less. You can feel that in the second row too. Neither of the three machines invites a passenger on long tours; The back seats are just too small for that, they fall unhappily backwards. The Cali still offers a passenger the least bad place.

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Italian way of sanding

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With a whopping 1380 cubic centimeters, Moto Guzzi goes all out.

While Victory Judge and Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe pulsate noticeably in the pillion seat cushion, stimulating or annoying depending on your taste, nothing vibrates at the rear of the Moto Guzzi California 1400 Custom. The Italo chassis is well done. It implements steering commands one-to-one, just the right amount. Despite the fat tail slap, the Guzzi remains nice and neutral in an inclined position. And it’s the handiest. Apparently, the crankshaft, which is located lengthways to the direction of travel, has a positive effect. True to track and line, the 1400 pulls its course, perfectly balanced. A real curve cruiser. The spring elements are easy to swallow and comfortable without being spongy. Fine tuned.

However, rather soft stereo struts and slight cardan reactions add up to minimal rocking of the rear. Own: Small plastic blocks under the running boards initially gently touch down in curves. Italian way of sanding. Incidentally, the lively protective “sheets” of the Moto Guzzi California 1400 Custom are made of plastic. The only double disc anchors at the front. And the standard ABS has a high level of control quality.

The Harley comes with a built-in warning for moderation

The Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe cannot keep up. Their extremely cleverly hidden ABS regulates clumsily, the brakes lack the last bite. Hurry with a while also applies to the chassis. The chassis of all Softail models looks chopped with triangular rear swing arms made of round steel profiles, without rear suspension. The Americans call such rigid frames "hardtail". In fact, the Softails have two hidden struts that are parallel to the engine and transmission. The name is a play on words, freely translated means “soft end”. In our case the luxury version.

Fat fenders surround the tubeless whitewall tires on thick chrome wire wheels. Sealed rim tapes make it possible. Due to the special deflection, the suspension struts are put under tension and become longer when the rear wheel is compressed. They are soft and underdamped. They rock themselves up with passengers or on bumps in the slope. Care. Then the whole load hits hard: with the side stand or the outriggers of the running boards. A built-in warning of moderation. After all, the Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe is a cruiser, not a speedboat.

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Anabolic steroids on wheels

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With a consumption of 4.5 liters per 100 kilometers, the Victory Judge consumes the least.

The judge – in German: judge – has a sharper, sportier claim. Their 16-inch five-star rims with polished edges and tires with white, raised lettering and high cross-section are reminiscent of hot rods from the 1970s. A Camaro on two wheels. Class! Instead of sweeping running boards far ahead, the Victory Judge holds out centrally placed footrests. Requires an active sitting position with a lot of body tension. Glowing matt orange paint contrasts with black anodized and painted metal on the swing arm, engine and exhausts. No chrome, nowhere. Only the speedometer housing sparkles and shines.

Mock start number fields under the seat stand for constant sprint readiness and traffic light duels. Anabolic steroids on wheels. The chassis is no slouch. More precisely than the comfort-oriented Harley, cheekier, more daring, the Victory Judge stabs the Winkelwerk whenever the mood takes it. The driven line is cleaner. The macho bike Judge rolls on a wide 130 cm at the front and a narrow 140 cm at the back. It feels stiff in a good way. It folds down slightly, but understeers a little at the entrance to the curve.

An exclusive, awesome stool

In keeping with the concept, the Victory Judge wants to be handled hard. She lies full, tightly muffled. Despite the minimalist spring travel of the central spring strut, only 75 millimeters, it is sufficiently comfortable. The fork is responsive, but dips far down when you take a firm grip on the powerful front four-piston stopper. When braking in curves, the judge stands up mightily. Be careful: only the Victory has no ABS on board. The rear stopper transmits a lot of braking force, but blocks quite early.

This puts a good 3500 euro saving on the Moto Guzzi California 1400 Custom and almost 6000 on the Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe into perspective. Nevertheless, the Victory is a cool car, a real asset. In terms of driving pleasure, it is actually the winner. An exclusive, awesome stool. Still, the Harley finds more admirers. Emotion in motion. She put on thick make-up, pulled out all the stops to shine. Eye-catching, overload-based green metallic paint, for example. "Hard Candy Lucky Green Flake" is what it is called in Harley jargon. Its particularly large metallic particles should stand for a special "depth effect". Ride with Pride, ride with pride. Goal achieved. Nowhere can you stop unnoticed.

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So the nervous alarm system makes sense. The Moto Guzzi California 1400 Custom alone can be understated. Technically, the California Custom is ahead. Her sister California Touring looks even more coherent, as she quotes the Guzzi story. And it is the better, albeit 23 kilo heavier, companion on tour. Either way, the paths of the three irons are amazingly independent, despite all the parallels. These US and Italo cruisers are a charming heavy metal with distinctive characters.

MOTORCYCLE conclusion

Bilski

Sound, show and feeling. What a setting! And what for self, sorry: leading actor. This trio turns on.

Victory Judge
It is the sensual, strong interpretation of a power cruiser. Better to gas than to slide discreetly. Reduced to the essentials? No, focused on the maximum! Because when it comes to driving fun and a clean look, the cool Victory Judge is ahead. Bad: no ABS on board yet. Good: cheapest basic price.

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Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe
Mild and wild: the lowest seat height and well-mannered manners facilitate the relationship with the Deluxe. This sparkling Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe looks almost feminine. A good girl’s motorcycle? No, in keeping with the concept, Terminator’s sister is only more gentle, inspired by familiar shapes and timeless aura.

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Moto Guzzi California 1400 Custom
Tea Guzzi is clearly the most American of all European motorcycles. Or the most Italian of all American? Functionally, the Cali 1400 is convincing across the board: the best brakes, the best chassis, the most modern design. Moto Guzzi California 1400 Custom only overshoots the mark when it comes to dimensions and weight.

MOTORCYCLE Market: Used Moto Guzzi California 1400 Custom

Performance measurement

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Power on the crankshaft. Measurements on the Dynojet roller test stand 250, corrected according to 95/1 / EG, maximum possible deviation ± 5%.

The performance curves of the US bikes from Harley and Victory are parallel. Whereby the newcomer clearly outstrips the trendsetter. The Victory Judge lifts a whopping 153 Newton meters and a powerful 100 hp. The maximum 131 Newton meters of the Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe almost pale: a rather meager yield for 1690 cubic meters – that pushes the judge at 1800 instead of 3200 tours. After all, the Harley reaches its factory specifications. The Victory is even well above the prospectus values. Quite Italian, the Moto Guzzi California 1400 Custom lags far behind the factory specifications. In addition, it cannot hide its clear displacement shortfall – "only" 1380 cm³. In comparison, the only short-stroke motor in the trio is considerably more revving. Or need more speed? And in contrast to the US bolides, the torque curve of the Guzzi has the shape of a deer rather than a buffalo back. Between 3000 and 5500 tours, the torque drops from 110 Newton meters to 105 at the 4000 mark.

World cultural heritage Volklinger Hutte

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The exhibition rooms are characterized by wonderful contrasts. Industrial architecture as a worthy setting for great art.

It is on a par with the pyramids of Giza and the Great Wall of China: In 1994, the Saarland Volklinger Hutte was the first industrial monument in the world to receive the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Not only the Ruhr area offers grandiose industrial culture, the Saarland – Lorraine – Luxembourg region was once a stronghold of the iron and steel industry. When the hut was heyday in the 1960s, 17,000 people worked here. In 1986 pig iron production was shut down and the world’s only completely preserved ironworks was placed under monument protection. Since then, self-promotion has been “One of the most exciting places in the world”.

The Volklinger Hutte invites its visitors on a variety of journeys of discovery in a gigantic industrial complex. A total of five kilometers of paths lead deep into dark corridors as well as high up to the lofty heights, to the viewing platform at the blast furnace. From there there is a wonderful panorama over the huge organism made of steel, iron and concrete. This plant produced pig iron 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year in and year out. A huge inclined elevator fed the furnace with iron ore and coke. The coke used as fuel was supplied by its own coking plant on the factory premises. Three cowpers, steel colossi of cylinders, illuminated red at night, heated the wind that fanned the fire in the blast furnaces to 1,100 degrees Celsius.

The multimedia adventure world in the “Science Center” explains the history of iron production. But the Volklinger Hutte offers much more: As the “European Center for Art and Industrial Culture”, it is the scene and stage for fascinating exhibitions and concerts. As a motorcyclist, a visit as part of a weekend tour through the beautiful Palatinate Forest or the Eifel is recommended. Or would you prefer a family outing? Twelve euros entrance fee (families 25 euros) are well invested in unforgettable experiences. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., from November 2nd until 6 p.m. Information: Telephone 0 68 98/9 1001 00 and www.voelklinger-huette.org

Technical specifications

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Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe, Moto Guzzi California 1400 Custom and Victory Judge and Cruiser Comparison Test.

Harley-davidson Moto Guzzi Victory
Softail Deluxe California 1400 Custom Judge
engine 
Design / installation position Two-cylinder four-stroke-
45 degree V engine / transverse		 Two-cylinder four-stroke-
90 degree V engine / lengthways		 Two-cylinder four-stroke-
50 degree V engine / transverse
injection Ø 46 mm Ø 52 mm Ø 45 mm
coupling Multi-panes-
Oil bath clutch		 Single slices-
Dry clutch 		 Multi-panes-
Oil bath clutch
Boron x stroke 98.4 x 111.1 mm 104.0 x 81.2 mm 101.0 x 108.0 mm
Displacement 1690 cm3 1380 cm3 1731 cm3
compression 9.6: 1 10.5: 1 9.4: 1
power 58.0 kW (79 PS)
at 5250 rpm		 71.0 kW (97 hp)
at 6500 rpm		 66.0 kW (90 PS)
at 5300 rpm
Torque 132 Nm at 3250 rpm 120 Nm at 2750 rpm 141 Nm at 2800 rpm
landing gear
frame Double loop frame
from steel		 Double loop frame
from steel		 Double loop frame
from steel
fork Telescopic fork, Ø 41 mm Telescopic fork, Ø 46 mm Telescopic fork, Ø 43 mm
Brakes front / rear Ø 292/292 mm Ø 320/282 mm Ø 300/300 mm
Systems assistance SECTION ABS, traction control –
bikes 3.00 x 16; 3.00 x 16 3.50 x 18; 6.00 x 16 3.5 x 16; 3.5 x 16
tires MT 90 B 16; MU 85 B 16 130/70 R 18; 200/60 R 16 130/90 B 16; 140/90 B 16
Tires Dunlop D 402 / F Dunlop D251 Dunlop D 491
Dimensions + weights
wheelbase 1635 mm  1685 mm  1647 mm 
Steering head angle 58.0 degrees 58.0 degrees 58.3 degrees
trailing 147 mm 155 mm 170 mm
Suspension travel v / h 130/91 mm 120/110 mm 130/75 mm
Seat height ** 675 mm 755 mm 705 mm
Weight with full tank ** 334 kg 322 kg 313 kg
Payload ** 192 kg 225 kg 209 kg
Tank capacity / reserve 18.9 / 3.8 liters 20.5 / 5.0 liters 17.0 / – liters
Service intervals 8000 km 10,000 km 8000 km
Price incl. Utilities 20,445 euros 17,950 euros 14,590 euros
Price test motorcycle including additional costs 21,315 euros *** 17,950 euros 16,500 euros ****
MOTORCYCLE readings
Top speed * 195 km / h 195 km / h 180 km / h¹
acceleration
0-100 km / h 5.2 sec 4.4 sec 4.2 sec
0-140 km / h 10.0 sec 8.5 sec 8.5 sec
Draft
60-100 km / h 7.1 sec 4.7 sec 5.7 sec
100-140 km / h 8.1 sec 6.7 sec 6.3 sec
140-180 km / h –  11.7 sec 11.7 sec
Consumption highway 5.0 liters / super 5.8 liters / super 4.5 liters / super
Reach country road 378 km 353 km 378 km
* Manufacturer information; ** MOTORCYCLE measurements; *** Price includes “Hard Candy Lucky Green Flake” paintwork; **** incl. Accessory exhaust "Dr. Jekill & Mr. Hyde "(1960 Euro without installation)

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