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- Mini Road King
- If until then, it was necessary to type in the Touring range to afford a Harley capable of slashing kilometers in packs of 100, the Switchback turns things upside down by being the first Dyna to adopt a windshield and side cases. Are there enough assets to compete with the inevitable…
- Discovery
- In the saddle
- In the city
- Departmental
- Motorways and expressways
- Braking
- Consumption
- Practice and accessories
- Conclusion
Mini Road King
If until then, it was necessary to type in the Touring range to afford a Harley capable of slashing kilometers in packs of 100, the Switchback turns things upside down by being the first Dyna to adopt a windshield and side cases. Are there enough assets to compete with the inevitable Road King? Verdict below ….
If creating a new machine with parts already existing in its range is a well-known practice among motorcycle manufacturers, Harley-Davidson has made it an art in its own right. And if the Milwaukee firm had until then confined itself to offering countless variations of themes (low-rider, bobber, chopper….), The Switchback arises as a new light variant of the famous Road King cruiser thanks to a windshield and side cases. It is also the first Dyna machine to use the “FL” designation usually used in the Softail and Touring ranges. Better, these elements being removable in a snap, the Switchback can envy become a "simple" custom again. Some will argue, rightly, that these elements have been in the options catalog for several years. But the Switchback also embeds new suspensions (yes, yes, you read that correctly) in order to boost the GT potential of this 2012 novelty ….
Discovery
Those who are already familiar with HD models will know that models are grouped into families corresponding to the type of chassis used. On this common basis, Harley declines its variants by decking out each model with more or less specific elements: fork, wheels, tanks, exhausts, brakes, shock absorbers … This list is not exhaustive, far from it..
In our case, the Switchback is built around a Dyna chassis, arguably the most suitable for our European road network in terms of its handling qualities. Note that this 2012 novelty is the only Dyna to benefit from the new 1690 cc 103 engine, more torque at mid-range (126 Nm at 3500 rpm) than the Twin Cam 96 equipping the rest of the family..
In terms of specific equipment, in addition to the windshield and the removable cases mentioned above, the Switchback adopts the large fork fitted to the models of the Touring family, topped with a chrome headlight fairing. There are also hooded shocks, a brand new 2-in-1 exhaust and 5-spoke light alloy rims with chrome veil, a wraparound front fender, mini Ape Hanger handlebars and footrest platforms. But what Harley doesn’t say is that she tampered with the suspensions.
What do you want, the brand is probably convinced that its customers are allergic to modernism and by all means hides the slightest symbol of modernity. Their ABS sensors are invisible, hidden in the hubs, and the on-board computer is tucked away in a tiny window under the speedometer. The same goes for the original alarm, which operates via a transponder and is activated as soon as you move more than two meters away from the machine. Obviously, a Harley owner pushing the button on a remote control sounds messy…. But I digress, back to the suspensions. The latter having a more limited travel than on the Touring models (8.6 cm at the front and 5.4 cm at the rear), they incorporate high-tech elements to compensate for this handicap. Thus, the shocks are gas and the left fork sleeve conceals a separate cartridge and variable-pitch springs to provide better hydraulic control and greater progressivity than a standard element..
Let’s end this chapter with braking. The front is entrusted to a 4-piston caliper biting a single disc with a template close to the rear element, actuated by a double-piston caliper, the whole being coupled to an ABS.
In the saddle
Everyone knows that the brand is allergic to plastic. As a result, overuse of metal and chrome often causes the needle of the scales to rise. In the case of the Switchback, we arrive at 330 kg fully loaded. Sure, it’s heavy, but it’s still 38 kilos less than a Road King…. And fortunately, the majority of these three quintals are placed very low and only traveling with the engine off are really trying if, like me, you are more of a domino champion than a weightlifter. Once you’ve stepped over the beast, your posterior sits on a wide, thick and enveloping saddle located only 695 mm from the ground. The mini Ape Hanger positions the hands slightly below shoulder level and the platforms are not overly advanced for my 170cm. As on the other Dyna models, the Switchback dashboard is housed on a console enthroned on the tank. Ultra complete, it includes a speedometer, two trips, a tachometer, a gear indicator, a fuel gauge with indicator of change in reserve and remaining kilometers as well as various warning lights ….
In the city
A kick of the starter and the two-in-one exhaust lets out the characteristic sound of big Harley twins at idle oscillating between 900 and 1,100 rpm despite the presence of injection. Don’t look, it’s done on purpose. A story of sound heritage inherited from the era of carburetors ….
Let’s continue in the heritage with the good vibrations. Very present at idle – but never unpleasant – they disappear as soon as the engine takes its turns, perfectly filtered by the silent-blocks of the frame. Moreover, as a common basis, we find on the handlebars of the Switchback all the qualities of its Dyna sisters, starting with a surprising balance from the lowest speeds and ease of driving just as impressive considering the weight of this big custom. Angle setting occurs naturally and effortlessly, and the steering does not “fall off” even when taking sharp angles at very low speeds. A real treat. Admittedly, the imposing size prohibits gymkhana sessions between cars at peak hours, but the smoothness of the controls and the excellent leverage offered by the large handlebars will make city centers more bearable than some Italian hypersports. With a little practice, you can even turn around in a handkerchief without setting foot on the ground.
It is also in urban areas that the new engine shows a real gain over the old Twin Cam. On the latter, the comfort zone started at 3,000 rpm. Below, he was a little reluctant to the task, lacking a little flexibility and torque. None of that here. The big twin is able to pick up again from idle and already pushes copiously from 2,000 rpm if you take the trouble to "open wide" the right handle.
Departmental
Let’s tackle the annoying subjects right away. As soon as the profile of the road tightens, two fuses will come to restrict your pace: the ground clearance and the brakes. On the first point, the Switchback is in the standard of the customs of the house. For example, it’s less than a Dyna Fat Bob but much better than a Softail Slim. And for the brakes, the combined use of front and rear is mandatory to achieve deceleration worthy of the name. After two three scrapes and four five cold sweats, we adjust our pace accordingly without going at a snail pace.
In the end, these details will only bother those who are not used to customs, because going slower in the bends does not necessarily mean that the pleasure is less on the handlebars, far from it. As the kilometers go, you get used to this particular style of driving. We then take full advantage of the fat torque at mid-speed to get out of bends in a mixture of smoothness and strength typical of high-displacement unit engines. The twin’s “plot plot”, its inertia and its long transmission never stick your eyes to the back of your head but rather give the impression that you could attack the ascent of Mont Blanc in a straight line without the thrust weakening. never. And what comfort! The gain provided by the new suspension is clearly noticeable as long as you don’t come to flirt with the travel limits. Despite its flying carpet side, the Switchback will give you a good shake in the foundation when passing a (big) pothole. Fortunately the saddle plays the role of second shock absorber, avoiding to make the shock go up in the spine..
Motorways and expressways
The Switchback feels most comfortable on the rolling portions. Here, we take full advantage of the comfort of the suspensions and the windshield is very efficient as long as we restrict ourselves to driving at legal speeds, believing that the shape of the latter has been optimized to ride in accordance with the philosophy of the machine. Perfect up to 130 km / h, its qualities then deteriorate rapidly, even causing severe turbulence knocking your head from left to right as soon as you exceed 160 km / h. Astonishing, isn’t it? We find this incentive to cruising even in the engine. Stalled in sixth, the maximum torque of the engine at 3,500 rpm makes it possible to navigate between 110 and 130 km / h on a trickle of gas. For more muscular overtaking, on the other hand, you have to downshift one or two gears, but the power evaporates quickly as soon as you exceed 5,000 rpm. This relative lack of performance can be explained by very stringent anti-pollution standards on a large displacement air-cooled engine. Adopting a Stage 1 kit will, as often with Harley, improve things a lot. And if you look on the bright side, the 103 in its original configuration was remarkably fuel-efficient, consuming on average just under 5 l / 100km..
Braking
The front, entrusted to a 4-piston caliper biting a single disc with a template close to the rear element, is actuated by a double-piston caliper, the whole being coupled to an ABS.
Consumption
It is virtually impossible to consume more than 7 liters at any pace, believe me I have tried. As a result, the range of the Switchback, with a 17.8-liter tank, amounts to nearly 350 km.
Practice and accessories
Any Harley owner will tell you, the choice of parts and accessories is so vast that it is possible, for a fee, to transform a Switchback into an Electra Glide, or an ultra-stripped Bobber. Let’s focus instead on the original accessories, namely the windshield and side cases. These elements can be dismantled without tools and once removed, transform this GT light into a classic custom without altering its line thanks to virtually invisible fixing points. At the start, the assembly-disassembly phases are a bit tedious, but after a few manipulations, it is possible to switch from one configuration to the other in less than two minutes, with the clock in hand. But all is not perfect either. The shape of the side cases, narrow and diamond-shaped, prohibits the carrying of "hard" everyday objects (a 13-inch laptop for example …) and requires flat storage. If a stunned (me) has the misfortune to put them on their base, they will fall irreparably, removing a few mm3 of paint in the process ….
Conclusion
Comparing Harley-Davidsons with each other is always a difficult exercise. Besides aesthetics, which often play a major role in choice, each genre has its advantages and disadvantages. In terms of aesthetics, we can perhaps blame this Switchback for the choice of spoked rims with an ultra modern look, out of step with the rest of the machine. Otherwise, its versatility and dynamic qualities – especially comfort – surely make it the best machine of the Dyna and Softail families. Faced with a Road King, on the other hand, if it opposes a lower weight and saddle height, it still suffers from a few shortcomings including lower protection, more limited ground clearance and back braking. Except that the Switchback is sold at € 17,190 when a Road King is close to € 22,800. A strong argument that should appeal to all those looking for a Harley capable of "carving the road" without (too much) breaking the bank. Among other manufacturers, its closest competitor is undoubtedly the Kawasaki VN 1700 Light Tourer (€ 14,899) or the Triumph 1600 Thunderbird, which once equipped with equivalent accessories, runs at prices close to those of the Switchback ….
Strong points
- Comfort
- Versatility
- Obvious grip
- The roundness of the engine 103
Weak points
- Ground clearance
- Braking
available in matt black, glossy black and red
The Dyna Switchback technical sheet
Competitors: Harley-Davidson Road King,
Kawasaki VN 1700 Light Tourer,
Triumph 1600 Thunderbird
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