Harley-Davidson 2006

HARLEY-DAVIDSON 2006

LEAVE IT TO BILL DAVIDson, great grandson of Harley-Davidson founder William F. Davidson and director of motorcycle product development, to lay it all on the line. "This is probably the biggest, single launch we've had in our history." No kidding. At its Denver dealer show this past July, The Motor Company unveiled no fewer than seven new models for 2006, including a 103cubic-inch CVO Screamin' Eagle Ultra Classic Electra Glide.

Leading the way is the completely reworked, sixmodel Dyna line, spotlight on the 35th anniversary Super Glide and the apehanger equipped Street Bob that pays homage to home-built customs. Across the range, on-road attitude is greatly improved. "Even the Wide Glide outhandles every thing but the V-Rod,"

claimed Peter Michael Keppler, Dyna platform leader.

With its shorter throws and helical-cut gears, the sixspeed Cruise Drive transmission is far and away the smoothest-shifting gearbox in company history. Further, clutch effort is so light that even experienced riders will swear the cable has snapped. These user-friendly revisions, along with subtle ergonomic updates, are all part of a plan, Davidson says, to "reach out to new riders." T~.

On the Softail front, con trary to previous reports, the returning Heritage doesn `t get the 200mm-wide rear tire now standard-issue on the Standard, Train and _______ Springer.

Other new models include the bad-in-black Night Rod, which features a color-matched "Speed Screen," 36-degree steeringhead angle, mid-mount foot controls and highway pegs, and the "undressed" dresser, the Street Glide. Among the touring-bike acces sories: subscription-based XM satellite radio.

Matthew Miles

VRSCD Night Rod

p~;i FLHX/l Street Glide

FXDBI Street Bob