I was very, very close to purchasing a 2000 Road Star last Friday, but couldn't do it. I then went and rode a Kawasaki Vulcan 900 and realized how much a brute the R* was. I almost purchased the Vulcan, but couldn't get over the fact that when it was parked next to an 06 R*, it looked the same. The Vulcan was a superior bike in every way except displacement, but it was doing its best impression of a bike that was copying an HD. Something was missing.
I feel that the TBA and SM are adaptations to the cruiser market, and take just enough of the cruiser styling of the past 7-8 years, while combining it with the unmistakeable British influence. My first bike, an 81 XS650 Yamaha, was emulating a Triumph (as far as I can tell), and I loved it.
Now Triumph has a genuine cruiser that a fella of my size can feel comfortable on, not only size-wise, but intellectually.
