So ya wanna Chopper but 38K for an Orange County Chopper is way out of your economically reassessed budget. Well Step right up boys’n’ girls and be amazed because for around 13K this baby can be yours. Bang for the buck the 2012 Fury from Honda is awesome. Honda was smart not to badge up this baby because to the uninitiated, it’s another bad ass custom chopper flying by on the 405.
Let’s get all the bitching and moaning out of the way first. Yes, the fenders and most of the chrome engine parts are plastic. Hey, it makes it lighter, less expensive and wont dent. Yeah it’s another wannabe lookalike. Hello? Every Japanese cruiser motorcycle made since 1983 has been a wannabe lookalike, and by the way, there are no more American production chopper manufacturers anymore. (Actually Big Bear Choppers has reopened in San Bernardino but that a whole other story.) But the biggest bitch of all, no self-cancelling turn signals!
That felt good, now let’s get to the good stuff. So what’s the upside? Look at it! The 71.24-inch wheelbase is the longest of any Honda ever produced. 45mm forks jut out at a healthy 38 degrees and houses a 21-inch tall, 90mm front wheel. A 200mm rear tire marries to a single rear shock with adjustable rebound-damping and five-position spring-preload adjustability. All wrapped around a bulletproof 1312cc liquid-cooled 52-degree V-Twin linked to a five-speed gearbox. Once you pull the Fury and Honda sticker off the custom looking rear fender it’s all about attitude. And the Fury fully delivers attitude around town.
True to its Chopper roots, the small 3.4 gallon tank will only get you slightly past the 140 mile mark. Beats Harleys new 72 with their 2.1 gallon tank, (you wont even make 100 miles with that baby). The seat was actually acceptable in the comfort dept, suspension felt bit stiff but it is adjustable and I didn’t fool with it. I’m a cruiser guy and would get a small WindVest windscreen to get the air off my chest at speed.
Straddling the Fury riders are meet by surprisingly hospitable ergonomics. A comfortable reach to the handlebars and the secure footing provided by the low 26.7-inch seat height. There’s torque aplenty, so the bike launches easily and its 5 speed tranny shifts smoothly. This is the result of an 89.5 x 104.3mm bore and stroke making for a 1312cc V-Twin engine, which sits at 52 degrees with a compression ratio of 9.2:1. Redesigned single overhead cams operate three valves per cylinder. Inside sits a single-pin crankshaft design to give that lump and character that pulls nicely and sounds surprisingly beefy. The fuel-injection calibration is fine-tuned with quick throttle response. Although the bike weighs 663 pounds (or 681 when equipped with ABS), it steers and handles as if much lighter. The radiator almost disappears on this bike and shaft drive is virtually maintained free and very responsive.
Finally, what did everybody else think? My girlfriend who knows Jack about motorcycles thought this was one of the coolest looking bikes I’ve had. I must admit she’s used massive touring motorcycles and Trikes. My 16 year old Daughter said it was the coolest bike she had ever seen in the garage and when she learned it was a Honda, she said that made it even cooler. “Hondas are really well made” she said with authority. From the mouth of babes. In truth, everyone thought it was a good looking bike.
Honda has created an entire line of motorcycles based on a similar platform, Sabre, Stateline and interstate. They have less rake and other esthetic differences but as you see a similar looking platform. The Saber is even less starting at only $12,250.
The bottom line is Honda does make great products and Kudos to a company that offers a $4,190 dollar starter bike because ya gotta start somewhere. Yeah, you’ll eventually end up on a 24 thousand dollar Electra Glide or a 24K Goldwing but either way, you had to get there somehow.
Bore and Stroke: 89.5mm x 104.3mm
Induction: PGM-FI with automatic enrichment circuit, one 38mm throttle body
Ignition: Digital with 3-D mapping, two spark plugs per cylinder
Compression Ratio: 9.2:1
Valve Train SOHC: three valves per cylinder
Transmission: Five-speed
Final Drive: Shaft
DRIVE TRAIN CHASSIS / SUSPENSION / BRAKES
Front Suspension: 45mm fork; 4.0 inches travel
Rear Suspension: Single shock with adjustable rebound-damping and five-position spring-preload adjustability 3.7inches travel
Front Brake: Single 336 mm disc with twin-piston caliper
Rear Brake: Single 296 mm disc with single-piston caliper
Front Tire: 90/90-21
Rear Tire: 200/50-18
Rake: (Caster Angle) 32.0°
Trail: 92mm (3.6 inches)
Wheelbase: 71.2 inches
Seat Height: 26.9 inches
Curb Weight: 663 pounds (Includes all standard equipment, required fluids and full tank of fuel—ready to ride.)
Fuel Capacity: 3.4 gallons
Estimated Fuel Economy: 45 mpg
Available Colors: Ultra Blue Metallic, Matte Black/Red, Black
