Harley-Davidson '96: Evolution, No Surprises
HARLEY-DAVIDSON '96: EVOLUTION, NO SURPRISES
ROUNDUP
NO ONE COMIES TO A Harley-Davidson annual dealer show expecting radical change, and—once again—Harley delivered on that expectation. That doesn’t mean change was absent; it just took the usually subtle Milwaukee form.
The flashiest items were the two new big Sportsters introduced for ’96. The XL1200S Sport Sportster is described in the Quick Ride on page 29, but expected to far outsell that machine is the new XL 1200C Custom. The Custom shares its curved-bottom, 3.3-gallon fuel tank with the Sport Sportster; a 21-inch front wheel and liberal chrome application (including chromed engine sidecovers) justify the Custom’s name. So do a “Narrow-Glide” fork and a singular speedometer mounted high on the handlebar riser, same as uscd on some previous Big Twin Customs. Short-travel suspension components hold the Custom’s seat height to a claimed 27 inches.
Less visible improvements were universal across the Harley line. All models receive quiet, smooth-operating, highcontact-ratio gearboxes, designs formerly reserved for FL
touring bikes and Buell Thunderbolts. Redesigned are front-brake master cylinders and handlebar switches, rounder and more curvaceous, with resized and repositioned buttons. In addition, the front-brake master cylinders on single-front-disc models use smaller pistons, reducing brake-lever effort by roughly 15 percent. The new sw itch assemblies plug in with the sealed, water-tight, automotive-style connectors Harley is phasing into all its waring harnesses, which should improve reliability.
In the rubber-mounted Dyna Glide lineup, a change in the rear section of the frame-with some underseat tubes giving way to a shcetmetal fabrication-answers customer demands for lower scat heights. The lower rear subframe allows seat height on FXD models to drop by 7/8 of an inch. Some Dyna models also receive new 13spoke cast wheels, a design they share with Sportsters.
More substantial changes came to the FL-series touring models. The Weber-Marelli fuel-injection system that brought instant starts, increased torque and smooth idling to last year’s limitededition Electra Glide Ultra Classic is now offered as an $800 option on all FL models except the cost-leading FLHT Electra Glide Standard. And all Electra Glides receive a re-
vised inner fairing carrying separate, round tachometer and speedometer. The new cockpit styling is far more curvaceous than before, and repositions accessory switches more conveniently. It also aids serviceability, reducing mounting bracket hardware for the FLU fairing from 42 to 14 pieces, and allowing easier access to electrics, handlebar clamps and radio hardware.
Almost as important as revised motorcycle models was Ilarley-Davidsons strong new commitment to be fully competitive in the accessories business. The most visible demonstration of this was the “Détachables" line of quick-release windshields, sissybars, rear seats, luggage racks and tail bags. These utilize almost invisible mounting hardware that permanently attaches to a motorcycle; the individual accessories can then be snapped in place or removed in just seconds.
Ironically, the hit of the show wasn't exactly a Harley product. Instead, it was the expanded line of the Flarley-affibated Buell Motorcycle Company. The Buell Thunderbolt returns with minimal changes; joining it are the sport-touring S2T-a specially painted Thunderbolt fitted with fairing lowers, touring bags, lower pegs and higher
handlebars—and the all-new hot-rod SI Lightning. The $9995 Lightning was as far removed from the theme of c\ olulionatx change as possible. To see wh\
it had Harlcy/Buell dealers jumping with excitement, read the exclusive test on page 30.
Steve Anderson
