Centennial Harleys

CENTENNIAL HARLEYS

“I HATE THIS LIGHT,” groaned Willie G. Davidson. Harley's VP of styling had reason to be annoyed, what with the artificial brightness of a rented conference room taking the zing out of the six-years-in-development 100th anniversary Sterling Silver/Vivid Black paint.

With no brand-new bikes to debut and the most sweeping change being wider rear-view mirrors, paint was the order of the day. And what paint it is! According to fellow Veep Jerry Wilke, the only two-tone of three new-for-'03 hues is "like no other paint we've ever seen before." Broad striping with integrated watermark-esque “Harley-Davidson” lettering divides the colors.

Every motorcycle built during the upcoming 14-month model year (extended to meet projected demand) will be a birthday bike. Two-toners will have gas-tank emblems with gold bar-and-shield cloisonné inserts, logo-embossed seats, medallions stamped into engine cases, model nameplates, the aforementioned striping, and detailed air-cleaner, derby and timing covers. Gold cast wheels are an option on select models. Solid-color Gunmetal Pearl or Vivid Black models receive tank badges with chrome inserts, engine medallions, nameplates and striping. V-Rods can be had in original anodized aluminum or the twotone silver/black.

“Our dealers and customers had great expectations of our 100th anniversary models,” explained an emotional Bill Davidson. “And we wanted to deliver.” -Matthew Miles