Handling is shockingly buttoned-down and relatively agile compared to its competition. Offering a tight package in a retro-inspired tourer is no easy task, but the Vaquero is eager to lean as deep into the turns as you’re willing to go, even with a 170-mm rear tire.

This feat was accomplished in a number of ways, such as minimizing the number of forged parts in the frame of the short wheelbase frame, keeping it lightweight and slim. Mass centralization, a fancy way of saying keep the weight low, and a sublime damping setup also help immensely.

Braking duties were handled by more than capable dual Tokico 2-piston, 300-mm discs up front and a single 2-piston, 300-mm disc out back. (Photo: Dustin A. Woods/Moto123.com)

Blacked-out 45-mm telescopic forks sit up front and twin air-assisted shocks connect to a steel swingarm in the rear that feature spring pre-load and four-way adjustable rebound damping. ABS isn’t available, but braking duties were handled by more than capable dual Tokico 2-piston, 300-mm discs up front and a single 2-piston, 300-mm disc out back.

Stretching low and wide, the Vaquero (which is a Spanish name for horse-mounted herdsman for those who are curious) looks good at every angle, from the frame-mounted louvered fairing to the custom saddlebags good for 38 litres of storage. Lockable glove boxes and dual underseat helmet holders prove that those who engineered the Vaquero must be riders themselves, or at the very least did their homework.

There are a couple small areas that don’t follow the same keen attention to detail, such as the fitment of the black tank cover that felt like a cheap afterthought and the large screws holding the shorty windscreen and speakers in place. If you surmised that I am reaching for things to gripe about, you’d be correct in your assumption. There aren’t many things this bike doesn’t get right.

The instrument layout combines musclecar-inspired dials and an LCD display that clearly displays a gear indicator, clock, odometer, dual trip meters, remaining range and average fuel consumption to the rider. Gear indicator and fuel range displays are always particularly welcome additions. The twin-speaker AM/FM audio system is Sirius/XM or iPod-ready, and the six-speed tranny features a positive neutral finder, meaning that slipping the Vaquero out of gear at a stoplight is easier than getting a dress off on prom night.

The instrument layout combines musclecar-inspired dials and an LCD display that clearly displays a gear indicator. (Photo: Dustin A. Woods/Moto123.com)