CONVERT FOR THE MASSES
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 than Harley-Davidsons. Some riders let the archetypal American motorsickles become their world and would never 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.
At £9995 the new Forty-Eight Special model is the same price as the standard Forty-Eight. So you get Tallboy handlebars, the engine has a chromed bottom-end, a different seat finish and AMF-era decals on that tiny tank – I liked them but older Harley owners look back at that time with anything but fondness, so I’m not sure how they’ll go down. It looks great through these eyes at least, with a true heritage shining through.