The 942 cc twin produces a deep, rumbling pulse thanks to a dual-expansion chamber muffler, and thrust is strong enough to satisfy most fast-paced cruisers. The engine runs surprisingly smoothly considering it's rigid-mounted and lacks counterbalancers. Though some vibrations seep into the floorboards, seat and handlebars at higher rpm, the engine is mellow where most riders will spend the majority of their time—in the low-to-medium rev range.
The V-Star 950's low center of gravity helped it negotiate the serpentine roads of the north Georgia hill country, though scraping was inevitable during more extreme lean angles. We noticed that some riders tended to bottom out more than others. Adjusting rear preload levels might help reduce the amount of contact made with the road. But if that doesn't solve the problem, at least it's the inexpensive, easily replaceable feelers that take the abuse, rather than the entire floorboard assembly.
The Tourer's ergonomics and windscreen do a descent job of muffling the traditional wind buffet. But we found the stock screen a bit too short for higher speeds; expect to spend in the neighborhood of $200 for a medium or tall windscreen, which should offer more complete coverage.