Australian Motorcyclist — December 2017

I

FIND A COUPLE OF concepts
impossible to comprehend. There’s
the Big Bang event (no, not the TV
program). The whole universe, with all
of its billions of galaxies and wonders,
expanded from a single atom. And
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universes hidden in other dimensions.
Only one step away from that, and
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and two engines expand to 12 models
plus a few ‘anniversary specials’. That
taxes my cognitive processing nearly as
much. And we had a mere two days out
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those outwardly very different models
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looks but by feel. Two days of riding
in the mountains behind Los Angles,
trying to grapple with the intricacy of
the staggering job that Milwaukee’s
engineers have done.
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is concerned, the new frame and this
dozen models represents their biggest
and most ambitious single project ever.
The tubes and castings on which all
this new, gorgeous hardware hangs are
vital. By designing a completely new
chassis from the ground up, the factory
reckons it’s met just about every
requirement their old and potentially
new customers asked for
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wanted more perfo
handling, less heat,
weight, improved
comfort and
increased
clearance. But
naturally they
still wanted that
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feel and sound.
Luckily they
didn’t ask for
lower prices! No
win on that front,
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value is better by a
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is rarely a term atta
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LED lighting, ‘rac
style cartridge’ fro
forks and adjustab

LAUNCH

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modernise the bikes and make them

even more attractive.

The Holy Grail is to reach new

customers – lots of new customers

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Davidson fanbase. I have to admit the

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brigade a little miffed. You can’t please

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close with this new range.

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the lighter and stiffer frame or ‘bones’.

This was often repeated during our

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neater and gives the range a slightly

more compact look and feel. They feel

20% lighter and more manoeuvrable

compared to the touring ‘Glide’ ‘Road’

and ‘Ultra’ range although in real terms

they are only a few percent lighter than

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The electrical wiring is tidier, the line

from the steering head to the axle is

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include better handling. Harley claims

better acceleration due to more torque

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114 engines. I think the weight saving

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will increase the bikes’ appeal both for

riders new to the brand and to those

of us who don’t like their cruisers to

feel too massive and hard to manage.

The noticeable variation in fork angles

between a stretched out 34 thru a

relaxed 30 to a kicked in 28 degrees

helps to differentiate the models.

For 2018 the engines have received

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the vibes; the new frame is sans the

rubber mounts. The gearbox casings

have been slimmed down in the chase

for more ground clearance.

Let’s start with the 145Nm 107’s. The

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spread across the eight base models but

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and narrow wheels compared to the

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complicate the choice apart from the

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by the wheel size and by ergonomics.

ked for.

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ormance,better

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