Our tester takes it all to the next level with modifications skewed to the solo tourer, but we did have a few complaints. The bags are decently wide, but not too deep, and the latch tends to catch on stuff in a fully loaded bag. Our tester had rails on the saddlebag lids but they were strictly ornamental, not set up to carry any extra load. In the end, the solo-configuration is purely a style thing as a luggage rack could have been fitted even with a back seat. Cruise control is fairly rudimentary, with a sensor to disengage if you roll off the throttle, but besides that works like a charm. Speaking of rudimentary, after years of fuel injection, a choke is interesting to get used to again. Instead of fuel injectors, the Tour Deluxe sports a quartet of 32mm carbs that delivered an average of 37 mpg during our (admittedly, high-speed) testing. The mushy Bridgestone tires were not the best I've tried, and were very sensitive to irregularities in the road surface.
Unlike many Star models, the Royal Star Tour Deluxe does not have an issue with ground clearance. Sure, you can get the boards to touch down, and easier than, say, a Road King, but it doesn't interfere with cornering for a majority of riders. There's a low-fuel warning odometer that pops up on the display when you get low to let you know how far you've gone since hitting reserve. And we noticed that if it was a false warning, the gauge will actually automatically reset itself so you don't worry prematurely.
Despite being a bit tall for shorter riders, the riding position of the Tour Deluxe is pretty neutral, with a reasonable reach to the bars and boards. The heel shifter is positioned off the end of the board to give more foot space, and the aftermarket boards were some of the most comfortable we've tried, a good mix of style and solid footing. The replacement seat is firm like I like, but oddly shaped. After even moderate trips (150ish miles), it got pretty unyielding causing various body parts best not discussed here to fall asleep.
So if you're getting that this bike is a mixed bag, you'd be spot-on. When introduced, it was a huge savings over the comparable Road King, but the gap is closing at just about $1,500, down from $3k when introduced. But the water-cooled mill still sports a five-year unlimited mileage warranty, which is still the best in the motorcycle industry, so if you're into piling on the miles, it might be a good choice.