The saddle does have a bit of a bucket shape to it, but not enough to annoy even a big boy like me. I could even move my feet forward and back on the floorboards to stimulate circulation and relieve stress on my back. In fact, I was ready for the Blue Ridge Parkway ride as soon as I settled in on the bike. Judging by the layout, I suspect a passenger would be equally pleased with on-board arrangements.

The seats are nice and wide, with the front still narrow enough to ease reaching down to the ground.

Luggage volume was more than enough for two-up travel, as well as easy to unlock and load.

Touring on a nice bike – A way of life!
Ah the pleasures of a big cruiser on a nice day. The 1700 delivers on smooth roads, with enough torque and power to have fun – impress even, and a smoothness and ease of operation that can only please. The clutch and brakes work almost effortlessly, while the software-controlled reduced engine braking smoothes out the ride at the relaxed and sometimes quicker pace I enjoyed that day.

With enough torque low down to run along in any gear, the engine comes alive between 3000 and 5000 rpm, enough to tempt one into pushing a little harder on twistier roads. The 1700 is clearly up to riding a little harder than standard touring pace, as long as you keep the low ride-height in mind, and know how to select the right trajectory in corners and stick with it. When riding harder, the bike will change lines mid-corner, but you will have to persuade it physically to do so – all normal behaviour on a machine of that configuration and weight if you want to ride it more quickly than it was intended to.

I did try to provoke the intelligent K-ACT braking system into action, and it must have worked, as I could charge into corners, brake only at one end, and feel the bike throwing out the anchor very effectively. The K-ACT and such systems are no less than life savers.

The pure mechanical sound of the engine is a delight, with no rattling from a loose timing or primary chain. On the road, the subdued pounding from the stock exhaust system did get to me after a while, as I like my bikes to be absolutely quiet, more so than the average Joe Custom(er) who will buy this model and enjoy the feedback.