We’d chosen the Lake District to test the three biggest and highest-spec touring bikes in creation: the Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic Electra Glide (more a small paragraph than a model name), the Honda Goldwing and Victory Vision. This trip was supposed to be ‘executive’ fun but predictably drenchingly wet weather dampened the enthusiasm somewhat. I did expect the Lakes to be all around us. But not literally.
All are, funnily enough, Made In America. The Harley, of course; the Goldwing is a model made by Honda America in Ohio since 1980. The Victory Vision is made by Polaris Industries, in Minnesota, who have been building bikes for 10 years, stemming from a portfolio of ATVs and snowmobiles.
Other things in common: DFS-style upholstery; banging stereo systems; ridiculous weight; enormous 1500+cc engines (two V-twins and a fl at six); gobsmacking road presence.
The destination was for fun and scenery, the journey there and back a real test of these bikes’ capabilities. James Whitham and his good wife Andrea were coming up from Chesterfield where they collected the Vision, Tony Middlehurst (ex-editor of SuperBike) and Krys and Olivia and I from London. The route is pretty straightforward, up the M6 and turn left at Junction 36. We were halfway there by the time Tony had figured out how to work the Wing’s optional built-in Garmin SatNav.
The Lakes themselves are a playground of twisty roads, steep hills on a constantly changing backdrop of full-on weather. I’d picked a couple of routes to follow. Starting at our stylish hotel, the Waterhead, at Ambleside overlooking Lake Windermere we’d have a go at the Hardknott Pass, then go up to Keswick on A591 and loop around south, west and back to Ambleside via Keswick taking in the Honister Pass - a stunning valley walled with screes and headed by a slate mine. The twisty narrow road follows a gushing narrow river, probably a stream in summer. Or most likely not.
They are the three biggest bikes in Christendom – in size, capacity and personality. They all carry their weight low and once off the mark, even at walking pace are very manageable, especially the Harley which seemed to have the best balance of the three.
They’re also built for two, although we had the Vision Street with us rather than the more comparable Touring which features a topbox and pillion backrest.
For a run down of each of the individual bikes click on the following Victory Vision, Honda Goldwing and Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic Electra Glide. Alternatively continue to the next page for the conclusion
