When the powers that be at RoadRUNNER suggested the assignment of taking on the Triumph Speedmaster and Victory Vegas in a twin cylinder comparison, I thought the differences between these bikes were so extreme that they seemed as comparable as Arnold Schwarzenegger is to Danny DeVito! However, when we got them on location, rolling over our proving grounds, the two bikes certainly challenged one another.

Both are beautiful. The Vegas with its swooping custom styling, redolent of today's popular West Coast and Orange County Choppers, is sure to please the urban boulevard cruising crowd. And the Triumph's definitively retro style presents a cross between utilitarian and chopped performance that ought to bring any 60's Brit-bike enthusiast to his knees.

The foremost feature in both cases is style, with the designers going for that intangible quality known as the "ah" factor.

The Vegas catches your eye instantly with its unbroken lines sweeping back from the fuel tank to tail section. As with most cruisers, the Vegas is swathed in chrome but instead of appearing as bolt-on items, every piece appears carefully thought out and integrated into a single theme. The fuel tank splits toward the rear to accommodate the stylish seat, and the diamond-shaped LED taillight is set flush into the rear fender. Subtle details like these make the Vegas a real showstopper. And who would expect anything less from a design heavily influenced by custom motorcycle great Arlen Ness?

The Speedmaster casts an altogether different shadow. Triumph's offering has a look of serious business about it. With less chrome and featuring black enamel for engine and casings, this bike presents a more brutish look and the lower, leaner lines make it appear to be crouching, as if it's all set to pounce on unsuspecting pavement. The large perforations in the chrome air-cleaner cover add to the ambience of its "days gone by" pub-racing image. Our test unit also featured an optional, custom checkered-flag motif on the gas tank that is absolutely gorgeous.