Honda VTX1300

For all those complaining the big-bore VTX1800 cruiser has too much power, Japanese giant Honda now brings you the middleweight VTX1300 sibling. With 31 percent fewer horses and seven percent less weight for 22 percent less dosh than the 1800, the 1300 could just be the ticket to get and out and traverse some of this huge, brown land.

From the radically rake-out front forks and chrome-hooded headlight to the staggered dual exhausts - chrome of course - the shaft-driven $17,890 VTX1300 is all cruiser. Big, and damn near blinding in direct sunlight, this baby screams for attention.

The seat is just 686mm off the deck, and all foot and hand controls are exactly where you expect them. The 1312cc V-twin's deep baritone rumble resonates into your ears and body. Drag in the relatively light, cable-operated clutch, stomp the gear selector and move off. Too easy.

With a VTX1800 also on location during the launch north of Melbourne, it's fair to say that big brother is not lacking for power - but by the same token the 1300 is no wimp. There's power, but what it does lack is any kind of engine character. With no tacho, and no discernible power or aural peak, it's quite a challenge to shift gears by ear.

Fully-fuelled, the 1300 is 24kg lighter than the 1800, and feels noticeably more nimble for it - helped no doubt by the slightly shorter wheelbase.

The short rear suspension travel - 94mm - means that sharper blacktop irregularities are passed straight through to your Khyber - though both the front and rear suspension maintain directional stability when under attack.

Thrown into a corner, the VTX1300 handles with the predictability of well... a Honda. So no sneaky surprises, no nasty shocks; perhaps the only eye opener is how early the spring-mounted foot boards hit the deck.

The VTX1300 has disc brakes front and rear; 336mm dual-piston and 296mm single-piston units respectively. The discs look rather feeble, however they have no problems reining-in the big cruiser.

All in all, I walked away rather underwhelmed by the VTX1300. Don't get me wrong, it never put a foot wrong - and I'm not against cruisers as a genre. I'll applaud anything that delivers an involving, enjoyable ride.

In a market where cruisers are bought for enjoyment and not as pure transport, the VTX1300 left me a little flat. Adequate in all areas, excelling in none, the VTX1300 doesn't push the boundaries like a Honda usually does.