Harley thumbs through the accessory catalogue so you don’t have to get your hands dirty. I get it now.
Even Marmite divides opinion less thanHarley-Davidsons.
Some riders let the archetypal Americanmotorsickles become their world and wouldnever look at anything other than the finest V-twin Milwaukee metal, while others would rather be seen riding a carousel pony than be seen on an American ditch pump.
Until recently I was unashamedly on the fence. As a high-mileage rider the smaller bikes just didn’t fit my remit; to be fair at just over 6ft I didn’t really fit them either. And the tourers felt too cumbersome at slower speeds, which with someone who’s ridden for over 20 years they shouldn’t feel (though I’m told by many that, like anything you get used to it). But I’ve always admired the company’s ability to keep to its ethos, stay loyal to its core customers and, somehow, keep those rumbling V-twins passing ever-stringent emissions and noise regulations. I’ve also noticed over the years that I’m getting more drawn to that chopper look and the never-ending ways to customise, or personalise your bike.
The majority of bikes H-D sells don’t even leave the showroom as standard – the company’s accessory catalogue has now reached biblical proportions and draws you in like a class A drug. And while in the US of A it’s the touring bikes that take centre stage, here in the UK (and the rest of Europe) we prefer the smaller Sportster range and larger naked models. So to make the most of this they’ve taken their Sportster; a model in constant production since 1957 and brought out two new models: the Forty-Eight Special and the Iron 1200.
Denne historien er fra July 2018-utgaven av Motorcycle Sport & Leisure.
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Denne historien er fra July 2018-utgaven av Motorcycle Sport & Leisure.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Honda CRF1100L ES Africa Twin
Without panniers he was adventuring nowhere - so at least Bertie's got something sorted now
BMW R 12 nineT
Chad gets a track day surprise when BMW's R 12 nineT turns out to be surprisingly fun on track
Test fleet: VOGE 525 DSX
After testing the Voge's abilities on a long ride, it was time to take it to the Cotswolds and see how it would manage on the rougher stuff
Portuguese Perambulations
Nearly over before it had begun, a brief workshop stint allows Spain and Portugal to be explored
Highway to Heaven
Three friends take on the challenge of riding the length of Canada, from Vancouver in the southwest to Inuvik in the north. The road is long, the conditions merciless, and wildfires are tearing through the country. To top it all off, the final leg of the journey is the ultimate test of gravel riding skills, nerves, and courage - it's the legendary Dempster Highway...
Battlaxes at the ready!
We tend to take tyres for granted, never really looking at them in any detail, or at how they work, just hoping that they keep us shiny side up at all times. Even in the wet
Ducati Riding Experience
When I rode the Ducati DesertX to France last year, I did have a bit of an explore on some easy fire roads and gentle green lanes in the wilds of the Médoc area, but was left with the feeling that, had I the experience, the DesertX would have been capable of taking me along some more extreme trails to some even more exciting places. If only there was a way of finding out just how well the Italian adventure bike could cope with some more extreme terrain...
Four pot flyer
Many said that sports bikes, and particularly bikes in the traditional Supersports class that was populated by 600cc inline fours, were dead. Maybe they spoke too soon?...
Eastern adventurer
With an increasing interest in smaller capacity adventure bikes, the market expands with a new entry
First Time Lucky?
It's ironic that the first all-new MV Agusta model to hit the marketplace right after Italy's No.1 trophy brand was acquired by Austrian giant Pierer Mobility, owner of off-road titans KTM, should be the company's first dual-purpose model of the modern era, powered by MV's all-new 931cc three-cylinder engine that's destined to form the basis of a whole series of new models in coming months and years.
