To write or to ride, That is the question. Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to share accounts of adventures past, or to partake of agreeable weather and free time to pursue an adventurous present...
While I realize it's been far too long since I have posted anything worth reading here, (And Boy do I have things to post, even though none of them involve recent rides) I have today, for the first time in weeks, the perfect weather and opportunity to get out & ride. I Hope Kate has the energy to go...
Have a wonderful day & I'll try to post something later.
Ride Safe & I'll catch you on the road...
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Harley's Newest Offspring...
I got an email from my contact person at Harley, filling me in on another wonderful motorcycle being released by the company and I can't help but feel a little giddy, Like a little kid finding out about a new toy. I can't wait to put one in my toy box, or at least go to the store & play with theirs, ya know? But...
I have mixed emotions about this one...
The New model is the Iron 883N... Another dark custom edition for the sportster family. Don't get me wrong I love sporties... Always...But I can't help but notice what seems to me to be a rather obvious oversight in the Dark customs...
They now consist of The Iron 883N, The Nightster, The Night Train, The Cross-Bones, and to be technical about it, I believe the Night Rod qualifies, even though it's not in the list on the Dark Custom Website...
Does anyone catch what's missing?
Go through it again...
Iron 883N ( Sportster), Nightster (Sportster), Night Train (Softail), Cross-Bones (Softail), And Night Rod (VRSC)... Did anyone See a Touring bike? I didn't and I just don't understand how the most overhauled & updated family of the year has been completely left out of the hippest, coolest special project that the company has...
Now I understand that as a nation we are in financial straits, and I get that the company has to lure customers in by offering them a great deal. (Believe me, the Iron 883N is definitely that!) I just hope that when the smoke clears, Harley comes out with a Dark Custom for the Touring family. Preferably a blacked out & stripped down Road Glide (That's my next bike, I swear) I would be happy to consult on the project!
Now then, Without the immediate reaction, my unbiased thoughts on the Iron 883 are simple... We are in a recession, Harley's stocks have been sliding. Presumably because Gas prices have gone down considerably & people are once again looking at bikes as a luxury instead of a necessary way to cut fuel costs. While there are undoubtedly people left who can afford bikes a lot of them will hesitate to buy until they get a better look at how the new presidential administration will handle the economy. Surveys show that most people have an optimistic view of this administration, however self-defense is the order of the day. So with that in mind, Harley brought out an extremely appealing Dark custom bike. (The aesthetics of this bike are astounding to anyone who has ever liked sportsters). The only complaint I have is that I don't really care for the side mount license plate... Easily overlooked with this bike.
Not only does this bike come with a price tag that's almost as beautiful as the bike,(starts at just $7899) but according to the website, It is included in the "We Ride Free" promotion, so you're guaranteed to receive your full MSRP in trade towards any Big Twin for a year after your purchase.
I wish I could give you a rider's review, just like I wanted to of the XR1200, but, Alas, my relationship with Harley hasn't grown that far, yet.
Here is Harley's official blurb on the Bike... and a few pics to go along with it...
You know my take on it... What's yours?
Decked in black from fender-to-fender, the new Harley-Davidson Iron 883 brings the beat of an 883 Evolution engine backed up by a combo of gritty, old-school garage features like front fork gaiters, drag style handlebar and side-mount license plate holder.
The black powder-coated 883 cc Evolution powertrain with black covers takes the Iron 883 deep into the heart of darkness. With Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI) and performance tuning with a flat torque curve, the Iron 883 delivers plenty of power for the city scene. The pipes on the straight cut shorty dual exhaust flow the distinctive American V-Twin sound.
The black chopped rear fender with its combination stop/turn/tail lights shows more of the 150 mm rear tire and black, 13-spoke cast aluminum wheel, while the front tire also rides on a black wheel. The rest of the Iron 883 gets a darker-suited presence with black front forks and fender supports, fuel tank, oil tank cover, belt guard, drag style handlebar and mid mount foot controls.
A classic Sportster solo seat with a height of 25.3 inches fits the lone rider, while a passenger seat and a backrest in complementing black finishes can be added as accessories.
Check out more on the Iron 883 and Harley-Davidson Dark Custom motorcycles at www.harley-davidson.com/darkcustom.
I have mixed emotions about this one...
The New model is the Iron 883N... Another dark custom edition for the sportster family. Don't get me wrong I love sporties... Always...But I can't help but notice what seems to me to be a rather obvious oversight in the Dark customs...
They now consist of The Iron 883N, The Nightster, The Night Train, The Cross-Bones, and to be technical about it, I believe the Night Rod qualifies, even though it's not in the list on the Dark Custom Website...
Does anyone catch what's missing?
Go through it again...
Iron 883N ( Sportster), Nightster (Sportster), Night Train (Softail), Cross-Bones (Softail), And Night Rod (VRSC)... Did anyone See a Touring bike? I didn't and I just don't understand how the most overhauled & updated family of the year has been completely left out of the hippest, coolest special project that the company has...
Now I understand that as a nation we are in financial straits, and I get that the company has to lure customers in by offering them a great deal. (Believe me, the Iron 883N is definitely that!) I just hope that when the smoke clears, Harley comes out with a Dark Custom for the Touring family. Preferably a blacked out & stripped down Road Glide (That's my next bike, I swear) I would be happy to consult on the project!
Now then, Without the immediate reaction, my unbiased thoughts on the Iron 883 are simple... We are in a recession, Harley's stocks have been sliding. Presumably because Gas prices have gone down considerably & people are once again looking at bikes as a luxury instead of a necessary way to cut fuel costs. While there are undoubtedly people left who can afford bikes a lot of them will hesitate to buy until they get a better look at how the new presidential administration will handle the economy. Surveys show that most people have an optimistic view of this administration, however self-defense is the order of the day. So with that in mind, Harley brought out an extremely appealing Dark custom bike. (The aesthetics of this bike are astounding to anyone who has ever liked sportsters). The only complaint I have is that I don't really care for the side mount license plate... Easily overlooked with this bike.
Not only does this bike come with a price tag that's almost as beautiful as the bike,(starts at just $7899) but according to the website, It is included in the "We Ride Free" promotion, so you're guaranteed to receive your full MSRP in trade towards any Big Twin for a year after your purchase.
I wish I could give you a rider's review, just like I wanted to of the XR1200, but, Alas, my relationship with Harley hasn't grown that far, yet.
Here is Harley's official blurb on the Bike... and a few pics to go along with it...
You know my take on it... What's yours?
Decked in black from fender-to-fender, the new Harley-Davidson Iron 883 brings the beat of an 883 Evolution engine backed up by a combo of gritty, old-school garage features like front fork gaiters, drag style handlebar and side-mount license plate holder.
The black powder-coated 883 cc Evolution powertrain with black covers takes the Iron 883 deep into the heart of darkness. With Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI) and performance tuning with a flat torque curve, the Iron 883 delivers plenty of power for the city scene. The pipes on the straight cut shorty dual exhaust flow the distinctive American V-Twin sound.
The black chopped rear fender with its combination stop/turn/tail lights shows more of the 150 mm rear tire and black, 13-spoke cast aluminum wheel, while the front tire also rides on a black wheel. The rest of the Iron 883 gets a darker-suited presence with black front forks and fender supports, fuel tank, oil tank cover, belt guard, drag style handlebar and mid mount foot controls.
A classic Sportster solo seat with a height of 25.3 inches fits the lone rider, while a passenger seat and a backrest in complementing black finishes can be added as accessories.
Check out more on the Iron 883 and Harley-Davidson Dark Custom motorcycles at www.harley-davidson.com/darkcustom.
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