2006 Big Dog Motorcycle's Mastiff - Road Test

Hopping on the Mastiff for a cruise is a treat. The long, low look of the bike gives the impression of speed even when the bike is sitting still. The layout of the seat, bars, and controls does a good job of accommodating riders of varied sizes. Shorter riders may find it's a bit of a reach to the bars, but they will still find the position a comfortable one as they settle into the firm saddle. Starting the bike is accomplished by first turning the custom Big Dog key, then depressing the engine run switch prior to thumbing the start button. All of this is designed to keep from inadvertently energizing the starter with the engine running. As you go through this procedure, you'll notice a different feel from the switches. A slight click can be felt through the soft feel of the switches. At first it can be tough to notice, but it becomes evident after a short time on the bike. Once started, the 117-inch motor breathes through a set of very quiet two-into-one exhaust pipes that resemble a pair of two-into-two pipes. The EPA-approved exhaust is far too quiet for our tastes, however.

Clutch pull is light and smooth. Kick the shifter down from Neutral into First, and you'll quickly notice how short the shifter throw is, which takes a bit of getting used to. Once you do get acclimated, though, you'll wonder why no one else sets up their bikes like this. Let out the clutch, and the bike moves away smoothly, yet feels different from most bikes. This is due to the primary drive, which is designed without a traditional compensator sprocket.

The Mastiff's frame and just-over-stock-length frontend make for a very stout combination. This setup allows for a very stable and predictable ride, with no surprises coming from the rear tire. While the bike is set up with what is still considered a fat rear tire, you'll quickly notice the bike is very easy to pitch from side to side. The combination of the 250 and the 120 tires makes for good handling characteristics, and the frontend resists some of the easy skidding that can be found on bikes with skinnier front tires. The stout chassis has a tendency to transmit more of both engine vibration and road feel to the rider through the rubber-molded handgrips and footpegs. This molding technique makes for a very tough, good-looking, comfortable surface from which to control the bike. Although the bike ships with adjustable shocks, we didn't play around with them too much. We did, however, discover that the guys in the 220-lb range found the ride a bit smoother than some of the lighter guys did.

The S&S 117-inch powerplant delivered more than enough power in a variety of riding conditions. The motor comes on strong from around 2,400 rpm and doesn't let up 'til you reach the redline. Although the motor ran smooth most of the time, we did notice a bit of a stumble at times when getting on the gas. Rejetting the Super G carb and/or an accelerator-pump adjustment would most likely alleviate this problem.

Balance on the bike is very good-you can take your hands off the bars at most speeds, and the bike will track perfectly straight with very little body English needed to keep it in the center of the lane. At slow speeds the bike exhibits good manners and shows no signs of frontend flop, making parking-lot navigation a breeze. The rear-mounted kickstand makes for good clearance on the left side of the bike, although the right side is a different story altogether. Due to the right-side-drive transmission, Big Dog has placed the exhaust rather far outboard of the frame. This causes it to touch down far too soon when making even modestly aggressive right-hand turns. The exhaust-system placement also forces the rider to move his or her right leg outward farther than one would expect.

If you're looking for a custom bike straight from the factory, one you don't need to do much to in order to make it look as if it was built specifically for you, then you need to take a serious look at Big Dog's Mastiff. Other than the couple of correctable issues we mentioned, this bike is definitely a bargain at the asking price.

Spec Sheet