So what’s defiant, then?
Ok, so aside from the ‘Defiant V-twin attitude’, there’s no denying that the Low Rider S does have some presence to it. H-D has been working the aesthetics pretty hard and on the 2020 bike you get:
■ 1-inch diameter handlebars mounted on four-inch risers to lever you forward into a pro-forward position
■ The dash has been moved to the top of the petrol tank, a first time this has happened on a Low Rider
■ LED headlight and tail-light are swish, but classy
■ Wheels get a matt dark bronze colour.
A colour-matched mini-fairing frames the headlamp and blocks the wind, and the high back solo seat is shaped to hold the rider in place when accelerating.
All bright finishes are replaced with black finishes for an aggressive look. The powertrain, primary cover and tank console are finished in ‘Wrinkle Black’ – hahaha! The engine cover, intake and lower rocker covers are Gloss Black. Mufflers and exhaust shields are Jet Black. Forks, tripleclamp, riser and handlebar, and rear fender supports are Matte Black. The LED layback tail lamp has a smoked lens. The five-gallon Softail fuel tank features a Harley-Davidson graphic.
Cast aluminium wheels (19inch front and 16-inch rear diameter) are finished in Matte Dark Bronze for a contrast to the motorcycle’s dark components.
“The look of the new Low Rider S is really rooted in the legacy of the Low Rider models of the 1980s, that has a devoted following which has spread worldwide from origins in Southern California, and in the recent Dyna-based Low Rider S model,” said Brad Richards, Harley-Davidson Vice President of Styling and Design.