Boss Hoss-3 ZZ4 SS - Rode Test
Maverick - Sep 14, 2007

It’s big and it’s powerful!  Perhaps that is all that needs to be said about the BHC-3 ZZ4 SS! Broad at the shoulder and narrow at the hip comes to mind also.

 

When you first straddle the bike, your legs are in an unusual riding position. It is a little like what a lady must experience when preparing for a pelvic exam! Failure to adapt to the position could result in more heat to the inside of the operator’s lower legs, due to the heat coming from the engine and exhaust system, than is comfortable.  So, the Boss Hoss operator is motivated to be attentive from the outset, which may be a good thing because when you ride this Boss Hoss BHC-3 ZZ4 SS, powered by a 350 cubic inch V-8, it is wise to be attentive. 

 

Roll on the throttle and while movement is smooth, the bike is raring to go…quick and fast!! 

 

Balance is easy, but you are now riding a two wheeler that weighs in at 1100 lbs. It takes more power to get it going, keep it going, and to slow it down. This fact is reflected in the mpg…which typically ranges from 20 to 25 mpg, as reported by Boss Hoss Cycles.

 

The bike looks as powerful as it is. Its huskiness is impressive!  

 

From the front of the bike, the engine sits behind a sufficiently large radiator. From either side and from the rear, or essentially any other angle, your eyes are drawn to the engine. The 8.5 gallon capacity fuel tank, which also serves as host to 4 gauges and a speedometer, sits as wide as the engine. 

 

There is ample chrome to compliment the bike’s paint scheme. All accessories are nicely appointed, and as you might expect of a motorcycle with a V-8 engine, everything kind of revolves around the engine. The bike is packaged very attractively with side panels covering many of the systems that work behind the scenes: e.g., cables, linkages, a portion of the drive train and battery, etc.

 

While at first glance, the Boss Hoss 3 ZZ4 SS may appear a little clumsy due to its size, the ride is easy. The design and weight produce a low center of gravity, which when combined with power output and the two-speed semi-automatic transmission, the transition into traffic is smooth and comfortable. The bike is easy to balance and maneuver through curves, turns, starts, and stops. 

 

When accelerating, the engine takes command first with the unique sound of the V-8 engine and then thrust. It is 1100 lbs. (not including operator and passenger) moving forward with authority! 

 

The bike is responsive! I did not experience the bike at top speed, but at 75 mph, a speed attainable quite rapidly, it is clear there was much power and speed left untapped. The engine does not labor or work hard. You can break the rear tire loose from traction when leaving the starting gate and still have a sense of being in control.

 

Braking is also responsive…the dual four-piston calipers with 12.6” floating disc (front) and single four-piston calipers with 12.6” (rear) are poised to bring the bike to a stop in time to operate the bike into and out of heavy traffic.

 

This is a bike that, provided operator and motorcycle bond as anticipated, will provide adventure and motorcycling enjoyment for many miles. Outfitted with a 5.7 liter, 350 cubic inch, 355 horse V-8, this engine is designed to provide unlimited hours and miles of problem free service. The bike comes with a one year factory warranty.

 

Seat height on the BHC-3 ZZ4 SS is 25 inches, which is an advantage for managing and balancing the bike. This is not to say that balancing the bike is a problem. But you really feel like you are sitting down in the saddle, and thus, the feeling of being part of the bike. The operator’s position relative to the pedals and handle bars…is spread out due to the width. Is this a comfortable riding position for short or long distances? Probably a matter of personal preference. 

 

Acceleration is smooth, and the ride provides a feeling of luxury. Road surface imperfections are easily accommodated by frame and suspension (63mm inverted forks with 3.5 inches of travel in front and Dual 11.0 inch coil-over shocks in rear), dynamics.   

 

Final Comment 

Candidly, this bike is long, at a little over 8 and one-half feet or 103 inches, and wide. At 1100 lbs. dry weight, it is big. However, it is easy and comfortable to ride. The low center of gravity provides an agile riding experience in turns, corners, and traffic. It is a draft horse…not an Arabian!

 

I have one concern about this motorcycle that I think is worthy of mention. Traveling along the highway with 350 c.i. of power, the operator should be inclined to keep his or her eyes on the road ahead and searching out other vehicle operators tending to intrude into your world unexpectedly. The gauges on the Boss Hoss motorcycle are small and difficult to read. If the sun is reflecting off them, they are impossible to read. The time required to read the gauge and interpret the data, in some conditions, may result in getting into a difficult spot in the roadway environment.  

 

Would I own one of these bikes if the opportunity presented itself? Absolutely!

 

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