MotorBikes/road-testing the Hyosung Aquila GV 650: The publicity material would have you believe that this was a ground-breaking, from the bottom up total rethink of the cruiser-style motorcycle.
It is nothing of the sort. It is being polite to say that it is "inspired" by the Harley V-Rod. It would be nearer the mark to call it as close to total plagiarism as one can get.
The likeness even extends to belt instead of chain drive, very much in the Harley-Davidson tradition, and a huge, chrome 2:1 silencer the size of a small missile.
None of which is to decry the machine. A good deal of the essence of the American-style cruiser is that it must be cool-looking, laid back, glistening to the point of being dazzling and it should sound meaty.
All of these attributes are present in abundance as much in the Hyosung Aquila as in its V-Rod inspiration.
There are, of course, important differences. An obvious one is price. Harley's V-Rod, depending on how much of the optional "must have" bling you specify, is going to cost from €22,500. Hyosung's GV 650 Aquila costs rather less - €7,999.
It is powered by a smooth, DOHC, liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, 11.6:1 compression, 647cc V-twin engine which produces 52.4kW (72.1hp) at 9,000rom and a worthy 61Nm torque at 7,500rpm. This gives a top speed of 195 km/h (121mph).
In terms of ultimate top speed it may not be the fastest on the market, but it's a good deal faster than most cruiser bike riders ever want to go. Indeed, at around 140km/h, the Hyosung Aquila is much more relaxed and unstressed than many of its bigger brethren.
It has a decent-sized 17 litre fuel tank which gives it a respectable range of over 200 miles.
What really surprised and impressed us is that we found the Hyosung to be way ahead of the nearly three times more expensive Harley both in terms of comfort and all-round road behaviour: roadholding, braking and steering.
For those who want a good looking cruiser to ride and enjoy, as distinct from those whose ego insist their mount must be the most expensive, the Hyosung Aquila is, in our view, better than any of the over 500cc cruisers we have experienced.
It would be easy, and mistaken, to dismiss Hyosung as being some sort of Far Eastern cheapo interloper. This South Korean company has, for years, been a major supplier to Suzuki which is not going to buy in inferior components - it has too much at stake.
Hyosung is achieving a level of quality and finish to Japanese standards and are way, way ahead of Chinese. They are regarded as "the Hyundai of motorcycles."
All this adds up to the fact that with the Hyosung Aquila your budget gets you a whole lot of bling. Everywhere we took this machine it turned heads, and some rubberneckers were heard to say "Oh look, a Harley."
There are downsides. In this cruel world your Hyosung will depreciate faster than, say, a Harley or BMW. The name still lacks street cred amongst those for whom such things are their very being.
The gear-change mechanism on our test machine could have been better adjusted and positioned; an all-too-common fault. Hyosung mechanics seem to assume all Westerners have size 8 boots. It's easy to rectify. The ignition switch is - this is a cruiser-style article of faith - ridiculously sited, but you get used to it.
Pillion comfort is scant. The rear rails, which might look as if they could be intended as grab-rails are pretty useless for that task. This makes for a distinctly precarious ride. There is an optional backrest - it should be a definite must.
One of the smaller cruiser-style windscreens would make a significant difference to one's comfort if much motorway work is anticipated. Like any motorcycle once around the 140 km/h mark, one would appreciate less wind blast.
These gripes apart, and they are not serious ones, the really surprising thing about this machine is just how well it is put together, how pleasing it is to ride and how free of any serious vice or shortcomings.
It is, by any standard, one really nice cruiser. Take into account the price, which most have to, and it becomes a real bargain.