Friday February 10, 2012
It may have originated in notoriously bike-unfriendly New York, but when Federally funded, motorcycle-only checkpoints became a nationwide trend, something had to give.
The checkpoints single out motorcycles from four-wheeled traffic over license, helmet, and exhaust violation concerns, and are supported by the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Striking back in defense of motorcyclists is a bipartisan group of lawmakers, among them Republican Wisconsin Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, who calls the movement "an intrusive governmental overreach," and Rep. Tom Petri (also a Republican from Wisconsin) who says "Motorcycle riders are right to be outraged at being singled out for safety inspections." Read More...
Monday February 6, 2012
If you're familiar with our recently customized Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Lo, you've got an idea why I dubbed the 700 pound bike "Fatty."
Harley fans seeking a narrower, slighter cruiser with more minimal styling on the Softail platform might find their bliss with the 2012 Harley-Davidson Slim.
Pluses? Retro styling, almost 30 fewer pounds to lug around, and at 23.8 inches, the lowest seat height in the Harley lineup... not to mention a lower starting price of $15,499. Minuses? The Slim's got pared-down good looks, but it offers less lean angle than its already scrape-happy stablemate.
See shots of the new bike in this 2012 Harley-Davidson Softail Slim Photo Gallery, and stay tuned for a review.
Related:
Photo © Harley-Davidson
Click for gallery
Wednesday February 1, 2012
Behold, the new Harley-Davidson Seventy-Two!
Based on the longstanding Sportster platform, the new 72 is a chopper-inspired ride powered by Harley's tried-and-true 1,200cc Evolution V-Twin. Visual features include bicycle-like narrowness, H-D's signature 2.1 gallon "peanut tank," and a looong fork raked at 30.1 degrees with a 21-inch spoked wheel at the end.
Seventy-Two stylist Frank Savage says Harley toyed with building a similar chopper six years ago. "All of us who road it out in the desert that weekend agreed that it had a sweet laid-back feel," he told me over email. "You felt like heading for the sunset and never turning back."
Take a look at this Exclusive 2012 Harley-Davidson Seventy-Two Photo Gallery and tell me: does it look like something you'd want to ride into the sunset?
Related:
Photo © Basem Wasef
Click for gallery
Wednesday February 1, 2012
By virtue of their wonky geometry and cartoonishly long forks, choppers tend to make visual promises that are difficult to deliver: you may think you look like Peter Fonda or Dennis Hopper while riding down Main Street, but maneuvering these raked out rides can be trickier than it seems.
How does Harley's chopperesque Seventy-Two deliver in the area of riding dynamics? I scored some saddle time with this new factory custom in advance of its official unveiling, and offer my thoughts in this 2012 Harley-Davidson Seventy-Two Review: Easy Ridin'
Related:
Photo © Basem Wasef
Click for review
