I had the opportunity to ride a friend’s Road Star Warrior a few years ago. The experience was similar to that of the Sportster 1200, but different enough to warrant its own review. Like the 1200, the Warrior has tons of torque available almost from idle, but the Warrior manages to refine it and make it easier to use. Whereas the Sportster felt like it wanted to squirt out from under the rider, the Warrior did a much better job of bringing the rider with it. The overall fit of the Warrior was better for me, as the rider triangle felt more open. The Warrior is a mix of the Sportster and the Switchback. It has the immense power on tap, but is refined and more comfortable. I was able to ride on on city streets and on the highway, so the experience was fairly complete.
In the
streets, the Warrior feels like a sportbike dressed as a cruiser. It corners
well, leaning far before pegs start scraping. The pegs pivot, so there is still
room to lean even with scraping pegs. Starting from a stop can be exciting, as
the front wheel left the asphalt on several occasions. It handled more sedate
riding as well, keeping up with traffic and stopping very well. It stopped so
well, in fact, that I was almost rear-ended several times. The air cooling made
for some warm stoplights, which is another commonality it has with the Harleys
I have tested.
When I
got the bike to the highway, getting it up to speed was easy. Top gear was
smooth, with cruising at 70 mph kept the tachometer under 3000 rpm. I was able
to get the bike a bit faster than 70 and it tracked straight with no wobble. The
seat was a bit uncomfortable, but it was aftermarket and is easily replaceable.
The minimal windshield did not stop much of the wind, so the high-speed run was
spent crouched as much as possible to avoid a parachute effect. Any significant
time on the highway could lead to some rider fatigue.
My
overall opinion of the Warrior is that it is a great bike for people who like
to have a sporty experience without the look and costs of a sport bike. As a
commuter, though, it is a bit lacking. If a better windshield, bags, and a
better seat was added, it could be a passable commuter. If the ride to work is
not long, or if you like weekend joy rides, the Warrior is a great machine. As
a daily rider, though, it is not as desireable.
Until next time, keep the rubber side down and your knees in
the wind.
Citizen Motorcyclist
