A big V-twin, gigantic rear tire, drive belt, inverted fork and low-rider tail – those are the ingredients of a genuine muscle cruiser. The 2011 Victory Hammer S is a member of this species, a hardcore cruiser for seasoned riders that delivers exhilarating performance.

A sport bike?
In a world where the word ''performance'' is overused for marketing purposes, it's hard to separate contenders from pretenders. Several large-displacement cruisers that produce impressive power are immediately labelled as performance motorcycles. It must be said that performance is not just about straight-line accelerations; it also involves solid handling, superior roll control, good manoeuvrability, and especially short and safe braking distances.

The 2011 Victory Hammer S is a hardcore cruiser for seasoned riders that delivers exhilarating performance. (Photo: Philippe Champoux/Moto123.com)

While many cruisers prove to be excessively heavy, some of them display surprising overall sportiness, including the Yamaha Road Star Warrior, Suzuki Boulevard M109R, Harley-Davidson V-Rod and of course the Hammer S, a machine that truly shines under acceleration yet provides above-average stability, control and braking power.

Genuine performance
The 106 cubic inch engine convincingly propels this Victory and strikes back from just 1,500 rpm without moaning. It firmly shoots to 5,000 rpm, near the electronic cut-off point, but gives the best results from 2,000 to 4,000 rpm, all backed by a throaty exhaust note.

Similar to its siblings, the Hammer S uses a nicely-sized rear disc brake that proves strong yet easy to modulate. Up front are two 300-millimetre discs clamped by 4-piston callipers. This is a high-performance braking setup that requires a certain finesse to avoid being caught off-guard. Two-finger lever actuation will stop the bike over a shorter distance than the average competitor.

The 106 cubic inch engine convincingly propels this Victory and strikes back from just 1,500 rpm without moaning. (Photo: Philippe Champoux/Moto123.com)