Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128319
COMPARISON 2004 __IIIIIIL-----, Harley-Davidson Softa;1Deuce vs, 2004 Victory Arlen Ness Signature Series CLUTCH/TRANSMISSION Both bikes can boast smooth clutch action to feed power thr ough their five-speed transmissio ns, but the Deu ce narrowly edges the Ness in overall shifting performance. The De uce 's shift throw is longer than the Ness ', and we would argue that it is a touch less po sitive. but the Ness com es up short by virtue of a gearbox that feel s notchy to the to uch when compared to the Deuce. The Harley takes this round . HANDLI NG We spent tw o days in the twisties aboard these bikes. and when all was said and don e , we couldn't really come to a clear dec ision as to which one handled better becau se how well one or the other handled was largely dictated by the rider's speed. The Deuce definitely feels comfortable when t he pace is kept to moderate levels. O n t he Harley you feel like you are sitting more in the bike than on it. and the fro nt end responds well and offers terrific feedback at low speeds. Flicking back and fo rt h through the co mers is a smooth. solid pro po sition in cruise mode, and the Deuce really fee ls planted, particularly in the rear. _ _~ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Try to hustle it. though, and the Deuce 's r" - - - - - - - - - -21 nch front wheel starts to feel a bit . vague, almost like the fro nt end is signaling an impe nding wash out . It never comes, but the sensation is enough to ro b your co nfi- SPECIFICATIONS The Harley Deuce sports a 17· inch rea r wheel with a l6Omm·wide tire. The exhaust note from the dual mufflers is too subdued for our tastes. Tractorlike Iow-encI power is the hallmoric of the Twin Cam 888. The engine~ dual counterba~ ancers do a superb job of 1011i09 the 45-degree Vee~ vibration, Wrapped around Victory 's fuel-injected 50.degree Freedom V-twin. the Nes s bristles with custo m appointments. including a host of Arlen Ness signature pieces, such as billet hand gr ips. covers, wh ee ls, chro med upper and lower triple clamps, a chrome sw ingarm, and a custo m-stitched leather seat. With only a few hundred models being built this year, the Ness is definitely a Iimiteded ition machine squaring off against Harley's regular prod uction Deuce. Even so, we felt that it was a close enough match to warrant this campara because the Ness retails for $19 .999 (a sta ndard Vegas re tails fo r $15,349). closer to the Deuce than Harley's limited-edition evo Scream in' EagleDeuce, which has a base retail of $26,995. LETS GET READY TO RUMBLE Ifyou didn't catch that both machines spo rt EFI, well, there . w e said it. That means that both fire up with a minimum of hassle and take no time to carburet cleanly. O nce the 42 Chrame tank pod accents the Harley's stretched fuel tank, enhancing the Deuce's subtle beauty. bikes were sufficiently warmed up, it was inte resting to note the differences in the ir exhau st note. Right off the bat, we were impressed w ith the rum ble of the Ness, wh ich sou nds far more aggressive and far less choked t han the Deuce. The Harley has a great rumble too, but the Ness so unds like an aggressive beast just wa it ing to be unleashed. POWER They say that t here's no replacement for displacement, but the Victory ekes out t he victory in th is rou nd by virtue of more than just the numbers. The Ne ss' 92-cube. aircoo led. 50.degree , 50HC fo ur valveheaded monster packs a serious wallop w hen the t hrott le is dialed on . It doe sn't e xact ly match t he Deuce 's trac torl ike grunt of the bottom, but the transition into the healthy midrange is clean enough. and the Ness pulls like gangbusters on top. It's actua lly the type of powe r de livery that you wou ld expect from an overhead cam APRIL 14, 2004 • CYCL E N EWS The Deuce's 292mm frant disc does a great job of slowing the bike, but lever eHort is higher than the Victory's . engine. Its performance could best be desc ribed as "cam my." Aggress ive riders and jockeys with Top Fuel throttle hands w ill be more than satisfied. The Deuce's 66 cubic-inch, air-cooled . 45.d egree . two valve-headed Twin Cam 66B produces t he same solid Harleyesque power tha t has made the brand famo us. Right off idle the Harley belts out a serious dose of low -e nd torque to shove you back in you r seat, and then the power slowly flatt ens out as the revs increase. Unlike the Ness, the Deuce is more fun when shortshifted, making it the better cruiser abou t town. but it simply can't match the Ness at higher revs. O n the other side of the coin. the twin coun te rbalancers in the TC66B do an incredibly awesome job of quelling unwan ted vibes. It is definitely smoother t han t he Ness ' Freedom V·twin . It's a close ro und, but t he Ness' stronger uppercut overcomes the Harley's low-end jab. 40th Anniversary Harley-Davidson FXSTDII Softail Deuce LIST PRICE DISPLACEMENT ENGINE TYPE $ 16.795- 17.980 1450cc Air-cooled, pushrod V-twin BORE x STROK E ....95.18 x 101.52mm COMPRESSION RATIO 8.9: I CARBURETION Carburetor/EFI IGNITION Electronic TRANSMISSION Five-speed STARTING SYSTEM Electric FUEL CAPACITY 4.9 gal. WHEELBASE 66.6 in. RAKEITRAIL 33'/ 127mm SEAT HEIGHT 27.4 in. FRONT TIRE MH90-21 REAR TIRE 160/70817 FRONT·WHEEL TRAVEL 5.6 in. REAR·WHEELTRAVEL ..4.3 in. FRONT BRAKE Disc REAR BRAKE Disc FINAL DRIVE Belt CLAIMED DRY WEIGHT 645 Ibs.