There was a time not long ago when an invitation to ride a mid-sized cruiser would have landed me aboard Honda's Shadow 750, Yamaha's Virago 750, or maybe Harley-Davidson's 883 Sportster®. My, how times have changed. The displacement détente that seemed to pacify the cruiser world throughout the 1980s and early '90s has given way to an all-out, custom-fueled jug war that has seen 750cc go from an engine's size to a cylinder's volume. Yep, bigger is better, and the "super-size me" attitude now has middle-of-the-road V-twins hovering in the 1300 to 1500cc range. But before my quibbles about change begin sounding like the incessant ramblings of a crotchety old coot pining for the "glory days" of outhouses, ringer washers, and 600cc cruisers, allow me to profess my belief in the good ol' American axiom that "there's no replacement for displacement." That said, it should also be noted that there's no substitute for excellent engineering. And you can rest assured that Star Motorcycles has embraced both ideas in creating the "mid-size" V Star 1300, a ride that carries all the big-bike amenities without the big-bike foibles.

Size, Wise
Despite the fact that the cruiser market's demands have pushed cylinder capacities beyond the 2000cc realm, it still must be noted that a 1300cc V-twin and the resultant chassis needed to carry it is no small machine by any stretch of the imagination. Yet somehow the folks at Star Motorcycles have managed to create an easy-to-ride package that defies and, arguably, redefines exactly what a "mid-size" cruiser should be.

First off, it's important to know that the V Star 1300 is not a rehashed V Star 1100 - it's an entirely new motorcycle. Designers focused on developing the "sensual character" and feel of a big cruiser without compromising the easy handling and light weight of the smaller V Star 1100. Before I even left the parking lot, it was obvious that this ride hides its girth well. With the V Star 1300 tipping the scales at nearly 700 pounds wet, I fully expected a low-speed sumo match. Instead, I was surprised by an almost gymnastic agility that was compromised only by the wide bars hitting my knees during full-lock turnarounds, a gripe easily worked around. Combine an inseam friendly, 28-inch seat height and a low center of gravity with the fact that 48 percent of the bike's weight is on the front wheel and you end up with a nimble ride despite its robust proportions. Out on the open road, the impressive handling continues to shine. Whether on the smooth, easy turns of the Blue Ridge Parkway or on some of the area's bumpier mountain lanes, the V Star handled it all with confidence-inspiring stability. Thanks to the rigid mounted engine acting as a stressed member of the all-new, double-cradle steel frame, even vigorous cornering is rewarded with steadiness, precision, and quite often with the grin-inspiring sound of the replaceable floorboard feelers slinging sparks across the asphalt.