All Tests – New Harleys for all tastes –

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New Harleys for all tastes

All Tests - New Harleys for all tastes -

Presented last weekend in the south of France, the new 2007 Harley took advantage of the superb roads of the Tropezian hinterland to prove that tradition cannot be confused with archaism … No offense to purists ! Discovery.

Everyone knows it: "who wants to go far to preserve his mount". But whoever wants to go far on a motorcycle must above all preserve their license … A saying that Harley-Davidson could particularly make its own in 2007, in addition to its traditional "Look, Sound and Feel".

Because it is clear that the 2007 vintage of the American brand lends itself well to the current painful repression, in particular thanks to the developments of the Big Twin (read).
Grimaud, 09/07/2006 – Harley-Davidson in action. Video Site.

With "80% new parts ", Jean-Luc Mars, Managing Director of Harley-Davidson France, announces that the evolution between the old Twin Cam 88 model and the new Twin Cam 96 is"at least as important as the switch from Evo to Twin Cam".

But if the stars of Milwaukee make it possible to pass even better the test of the winding of departmental and reject the temptation to explode its meter – with its points and its motorcycle -, they had to review their copy in others areas…

Starting with the noise "nuisance": while retaining a characteristic Harleys trait – "we hear them before seeing them" -, the American engineers had to put the mute to satisfy the Europeans … Hence the installation the system of active valves on the intake and exhaust which restricts the vocalizations of the Twins at low speed – between 20 and 75 km / h approximately depending on the opening of the throttle, the gear engaged and the speed -, and leaves them free on the "highways".

The second issue Harley had to deal with was pollution. And there, it is essentially the electronic injection – which now equips the whole range, Sportsters included – which made it possible to pass the Euro3 standard, much more draconian than that imposed on the other side of the Atlantic..

"A little" of sport to start

Before riding the new Big Twin, a quick tour of the new Sportsters is essential in order to get your hands on and spot the steep tracks of La Mole, Garde-Freinet, Colobrières and other Couloubrier … Yum !

Compared to the Evolution 883 engine (read), the additional 317 cc of the 1200 version offer sharper pick-ups and especially lower in revs.

However, the injection having made it possible to install new camshafts on the 883, the "small" of the family tows better at low revs and the jerks during acceleration are limited. Purists will no doubt complain about it – but after all, most of them run on bigger engines – while beginners will be delighted with this softening..

Harley readily admits that Sportsters today have only their name "sports". In fact, only roadster models with double discs and a relatively upright driving position can claim truly energetic road capabilities..

On the 1200 Custom, for example, there’s no need to try to brake a colleague. Better to anticipate the turns well in advance, even if it means giving a gas boost – sorry, "potato – potATO – POTATO" – in the middle of the curve !

The 883 R lends itself better to arson, but experienced pilots will be hungry for pure performance … Fortunately, the ground clearance of roadsters is less crippling than on other models and the pleasure of prowling around. on the small roads is present.

The call of the road

It’s time to take control of the new Twin Cam 96B, installed in this case on the new Softail Custom, "reissue of the Hardtail Choppers"according to its designer. And it is true that when riding this precise model, the novice quickly took himself for Peter Fonda in Easy rider !

The buttocks comfortably installed in the back of the saddle, the arms and the feet directed towards the road like those of a kid towards his mother, the call of the road is felt … And this desire is accentuated by the roars the new Big Twin, rigidly mounted on this model.

The revving is done slowly but surely and the absence of tachometer requires special attention at the beginning to discern the right range of use. The vibrations that are an integral part of this type of machine are largely sustainable and the baptism goes smoothly..

The handling is excellent for a motorcycle of this weight (303 kg dry anyway), facilitated by the wide handlebars which allow you to conveniently chain changes of direction, even in traffic. When stationary, maneuvers are made easier by a limited saddle height: 672 mm.

After scraping on the angle (see the Sportster 1200 video), over-revving the “poor” Twin and swinging the long front fork, the pace on this machine naturally becomes quiet. While keeping an eye on the road and the bends that close, we enjoy the landscape and the lively backfires of the two large pancakes.

On the other hand, we do not benefit much from sixth gear, on which it is difficult to start again from 80/90 km / h. It is therefore indeed an overdrive to be used only on four-lanes or highways..

The Bestseller

The passage on the Street Bob is carried out smoothly. With an almost identical driving position, this model benefits from the characteristic rear shocks of the Dyna, more efficient than the Softail. Likewise, the flexible mounting of the Twin Cam dampens vibrations..

Its attractive price – from 13 600 € -, its profusion of chrome and its "lone wolf"assured by the absence of a passenger seat, logically make it the spearhead of the brand in France. The Low Rider version allows the rider to rest his arms – the handlebars are noticeably lower – and especially to take with them his beautiful.

Unless the latter wishes to take the controls herself! Because Harley does not hide it: the female clientele is directly targeted through these particularly accessible models: the seat of the Low Rider tops out at 655 mm.

Another good point of the Dyna Low Rider: the presence of the tachometer which allows some to get used more easily to the rhythm of the big Twin. We can see that below 2000 rpm, the Twin Cam 96 is reluctant to turn perfectly and asks to downgrade.

Fortunately, the new gearbox is nice, even if each downshift comes with an inevitable "klonk". The reduction in clutch effort promised is there, so much so that one wonders if it is really a Harley that one is driving. !

Because Harleys are becoming more civilized, and this characteristic amplifies the debate already well fed by electronic injections, thwarted exhausts, the inability to start with a engaged report and other coded "smart" starting system which activates and deactivates the alarm automatically !

I’m not fat, just a little wrapped up…

Once all these models have been mastered, we can taste the most opulent but not necessarily synonymous with overweight. So the Fat Boy, which is part of the Softail family, is almost like a Touring but weighs only 10 kg more than the Custom previously tested..

The footrests have given way to platforms that effectively filter the shaking of the bike and the Showa front fork is unlike the one fitted to the Custom. Suddenly, the Fat Boy gains in comfort, presence and handling, especially at high speed.

Its lighthouse also deserves to be observed more closely … especially while driving! Because the landscapes and the sky parade on the chrome, leaving under the spell the detractors of this mark considered too "disco ball with facets" for their taste…

Access to the monster is facilitated by one of the lowest saddles of American production but also on the market: 645 mm! If the Fat Boy does have the appearance of a good fat baby, it can be carried easily even at low speed – for its 313 kg dry – and takes care of its passengers.

Born to cruise

For those who want to cut more road, the Road King Classic offers the same "retro" cachet but is clearly different from the Fat Boy. First of all, the Road King is part of the Touring: its engine is therefore mounted "flexible", unlike that of the Fat Boy mounted directly on the frame..

The higher and slightly wider handlebars allow you to sit more upright on a more comfortable saddle. We just regret that the height of the removable windshield bothers tall drivers who will have to choose between seeing through by arching slightly or overhanging it by stretching their backs. Without realizing it, we quickly acquire standards in terms of comfort worthy of those of the Queen Mother !

The total "GTT"

It is therefore difficult not to succumb to the charms of the Street Glide which offers the must in terms of "livability". The gigantic fork crown fully protects the rider, so that the high screen of the Electra version seems superfluous.

No need, however, to try to increase the pace: the incessant friction of the footrests and the overall measured acceleration of the Twin Cam are there to remind you that this type of machine is made to "cruise" peacefully. Jean-Luc Mars, the young CEO of Harley France underlines it, Harleys are targeting the "GTT: Great Quiet Tourism".

Another experience that this type of mount allows: teleportation! The necessary utensil to land directly in California is the Harman / Ardon audio system, in which we will insert a best of Bee Gees or ZZ Top … And even if the idea of ​​listening to music while driving repels you , the experience is worth trying at least once !

But if there is one test that the editorial staff recommends, it is the Night Rod Special, which could not be better named. !

The lethal Weapon

First, the term "Night" takes on its full meaning in the available colors: "black or black", Jean-Luc Mars is not kidding! The latter specifies that the customer will be able to choose between a motorcycle dominated by Black Denim and Vivid Black stripes … or vice versa! Only the orange rims and the Harley-Davidson inscription on the the tank add a touch of color.

Second, this "o.r.n.i." which symbolizes – like the Buell brand – the progressive expansion of the Wisconsin brand, stands out strongly from other Milwaukee productions. Like the Night Rod from which it is directly declined, the "Special" also offers an atypical driving position.

Admittedly, the legs projected forward are not an originality at Harley, but the small handlebars which force the pilot to approach the – false – tank will destabilize the neophytes of the Radical Custom. Better not to have eaten too much – the day before and especially during the last years! – to feel comfortable !

Unlike the majority of current novelties, the Night Rod is not easy to handle and the first maneuvers may even definitively disgust those whom the "bad look" of the new model repelled….

At a standstill, the steering would exhaust the most seasoned truckers, even those of the good old days without power steering! Suddenly, the Night Rod intimidates and the first turns of the wheels are careful.

Yet to take advantage of it, the 1130 cc liquid-cooled Revolution engine – created in collaboration with Porsche – needs to be jostled. If the times under 4,500rpm seem straightforward compared to that of the Twin Cam, they have nothing to do with the kicks in the ass distributed beyond 6,000 !

The noise of the turbine intoxicates the pilot by encouraging him to wring out the handle more and the game of "car jumpers" on the beautiful nationals makes it possible to discover an effective tool both in recovery and in handling. Maneuverability, on the other hand, is not sufficient to arsouiller correctly – the rear flange is 240 mm – and the ground clearance, even if you take care to raise your heels, is too modest..

This year, you will have understood it, Harley-Davidson offers something for all tastes: men or women, beginners or experienced, thrill seekers or heavy riders … And now, practically no one is immune !

Matthieu BRETILLE – Manufacturer photos

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