Join us on a thrilling journey through the world of Harley-Davidson motorcycles with a compilation of reviews from the Men & Motors team!
Experience the thunderous roar of the engines and the meticulous attention to detail that makes each Harley a true work of art. Whether you're a seasoned rider, a passionate enthusiast, or simply curious about the magic of Harley-Davidson, this video compilation is your passport to the captivating world of classic bikes.
------------------
Enjoyed this video? Don't forget to LIKE and SHARE the video and get involved with our community by leaving a COMMENT below the video!
Check out what else our channel has to offer and don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to Men & Motors for more classic car and motorbike content! Why not? It is free after all!
----- Social Media -----
Follow us on social media by clicking the link below to elevate your social media experience by connecting with us!
https://menandmotors.start.page
If you have any questions, e-mail us at talk@menandmotors.com
© Men and Motors - One Media iP 2024
Experience the thunderous roar of the engines and the meticulous attention to detail that makes each Harley a true work of art. Whether you're a seasoned rider, a passionate enthusiast, or simply curious about the magic of Harley-Davidson, this video compilation is your passport to the captivating world of classic bikes.
------------------
Enjoyed this video? Don't forget to LIKE and SHARE the video and get involved with our community by leaving a COMMENT below the video!
Check out what else our channel has to offer and don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to Men & Motors for more classic car and motorbike content! Why not? It is free after all!
----- Social Media -----
Follow us on social media by clicking the link below to elevate your social media experience by connecting with us!
https://menandmotors.start.page
If you have any questions, e-mail us at talk@menandmotors.com
© Men and Motors - One Media iP 2024
Category
🚗
MotorTranscript
00:00 [music]
00:10 A Harley Davidson is a rolling fashion statement.
00:13 Now whether you think they're for perfume ponces with more money than scents,
00:16 or whether they rock your two-wheeled world to the exclusion of everything else,
00:20 one thing is for certain, you cannot ignore them.
00:23 And boy does Joe Public love their Harleys.
00:25 Valentino Rossi could wheelie down your local high street,
00:28 naked, facing backwards and singing the Italian national anthem.
00:31 Chances are nobody would bat an eyelid.
00:34 However, you turn up on a Harley, you've got their attention in seconds.
00:37 And there is no Harley Davidson guaranteed to get more attention than this,
00:42 the brand new V-Rod.
00:44 It's an image thing, it's a heritage thing, it's a rock and roll thing,
00:47 but most of all, it's a cool thing.
00:50 Just one look tells you this ain't no ordinary Harley.
00:52 The styling's gone all swoopy, bendy, liquid mercury on us.
00:56 Hell, the thing almost looks futuristic for a change.
00:59 And then there's the performance.
01:01 No, really, there is.
01:03 Okay, we'll never see a V-Rod in world super bikes,
01:06 and you're going to struggle if you want to do a track day on one,
01:08 but this big beast fair old shifts when you put the hammer down.
01:12 It'll even stop hard when asked, and can get round corners
01:15 with a degree of accuracy and amusement should you wish to get funky with it.
01:19 Hoverboard the V-Rod, and once you've got over the incredibly low seat height
01:23 and the vast length of the thing, you're going to find yourself
01:26 slipping into cruiser mode in no time at all.
01:29 You know the deal, feet up in the breeze, 4,000 revs on the tacho,
01:32 and feeling like you're Peter Fonda out of Easy Rider.
01:35 However, this is only half of the story with this Harley.
01:39 Because it revs to 10,000 RPM, very high for a cruiser.
01:43 Pin that throttle, hang on, and I challenge you not to laugh,
01:47 because this bike is indecently fast for something so fat.
01:51 In fact, away from the traffic lights, it charges like a rampaging bull walrus on heat.
01:57 This is a Harley that could actually land you in hot water with the law.
02:01 Well, I never.
02:03 Twin discs and four-pot calipers take care of braking duties at the front,
02:07 while the forks actually seem to have a degree of control and damping about them,
02:11 rather than the normal vague deadness we've come to expect from a Harley front-ender.
02:15 So you can really use those anchors to their full effect.
02:18 At the back, you'll find plenty of power on the other end of that huge brake pedal, too,
02:22 so vast, howling, childish skids are very much on the menu, should you fancy it.
02:27 So it's got the looks, it's got the cred, and by jingo, it's even got the performance to go with it.
02:32 Could this be the perfect performance poser?
02:35 Possibly, but it sure ain't perfect.
02:38 First up, there's that price tag.
02:41 14 grand is a lot of money for a motorcycle, no matter how pretty it is.
02:45 And talking of pretty, that's one thing your V-Rod won't be for long if you're lazy with the polishing rack,
02:51 because this thing will rot like a supermarket trolley in the local canal if you don't look after it in our climate.
02:56 Then there's the comfort, which is, to be honest, marginal for the rider at best,
03:01 as you sit there like a spinnaker in the wind, hanging off those bars.
03:04 And as for pillions, forget it, unless they're small, female,
03:09 and keen on doing their best baby lemur clinging to its mother's back impression every time they go out.
03:14 Not only does that pillion seat slope backwards, but it is tiny to go with it.
03:19 And for a final kick in the pods, V-Rods have been notoriously difficult to get hold of until now,
03:25 although Harley say they're bringing a lot more in this year, so maybe that problem's going to go away.
03:30 But what the heck? The V-Rod is simply stunning to look at, and it is a technological marvel for Harley.
03:36 Also, it performs in a way that bikes like this really shouldn't.
03:40 So if you're after something a bit different, you've got loads of cash to splash, and you want to turn heads,
03:45 this could really be a smart place to go.
03:48 However, just don't forget the polishing rags. There's a good chap.
03:52 And now it's time for the scores.
03:54 Performance, 8 out of 10. Absolutely stacks of it for a cruiser.
03:59 Style, 10 out of 10. She's a beauty.
04:03 Comfort, 6 out of 10. Bearable, but not beautiful.
04:07 Reliability, 6 out of 10. You are going to have to look after this thing if it isn't going to rot before your eyes.
04:14 Value for money, 10 out of 10 if you like the looks, 0 out of 10 if you don't.
04:20 Whatever way you look at it, it is an expensive motorcycle.
04:23 Now you ask any member of the public to name you a motorbike, and pound to a pinch of salt, they're going to say Harley Davidson.
04:29 But to many bikers, Harleys are a bit strange, a bit of a cult thing, a bit of an acquired taste.
04:34 But Harley aren't daft, they know these things.
04:39 And as product director Bill Davidson said, this is a bike for those people who always wanted a Harley, but didn't like the bikes.
04:45 Yes, it really is a Harley Davidson. It says so on the tank.
04:51 But this is like no other Harley you've ever seen. Well, not from the factory anyway.
04:55 The V-rod's low, it's long, it's mean, but that's not all. It's fast.
05:03 Yes, fast, because it's got this brand new engine, the revolution engine as Harley call it.
05:07 Gone is the old 45 degree engine, this one is a 60 degree. You can see it there.
05:11 But not only that, it's liquid cooled. First time it's been liquid cooled.
05:15 Actually based on the VR 1000 racer that they developed.
05:18 But this one's had some extra tweaks by Porsche, because they've had experience of going from air cooled to water cooled, so they applied it to this.
05:24 It's double overhead camshaft, four valve cylinder heads, it's got fuel injection, balancer shafts.
05:30 It's all very, very high tech, 1130cc, brilliant engine. And doesn't it look a treat?
05:35 It's got these little fins on the top there on the heads, but that's to give it a bit of authenticity and a bit of a link with the past.
05:41 But I think it looks absolutely terrific.
05:43 One thing they have retained is belt drive to the rear wheel. No dirty chains to spoil all this alloy.
05:53 But back to the engine, and it's a cracker.
05:56 Bags of low down torque, but that's not all. 115bhp means it delivers nearly twice the power of the normal Harley.
06:03 And it'll rev to 9000 revs.
06:06 It also means it'll top out at close on 140mph. Quick enough for most, probably too quick for many a traditional hog over.
06:14 A liquid cooled engine obviously needs a radiator, and here's the radiator.
06:19 I can see quite clearly the honeycomb down the back here. It's got two parts, the liquid cooled part and the oil cooler down the bottom there.
06:25 But the interesting thing is, down the centre there, the radiator's actually blanked off, as you can probably see, to stop any muck getting in it.
06:31 So what it's got is these big scoops round the side with these very trick vortices there.
06:36 So it picks up the air, scoops it round into a full size radiator, which runs right across, but the centre is blanked off, as I said.
06:43 Very clever, keeps all the muck out of it.
06:51 Front and rear wheels are both solid aluminium, and the disc is mounted straight onto the wheel.
06:56 The brakes themselves have got 4-pot calipers with braided brake hoses.
07:00 The forks have massive 49mm diameter stanchions and are raked out at 38 degrees.
07:06 But with a 34 degree head angle, that manages to reduce the trail.
07:10 The frame is an absolute symphony of steel tubes ebbing and flowing around the engine.
07:15 It's actually formed by hydroforming, a special process Harley developed, where they use water pressure after the actual bending of the tubes.
07:23 Similarly, the exhausts use an elastomer forming process, where a rubbery foam is used to actually form those magic sweeping curves.
07:31 The brushed aluminium tank isn't a tank at all. It's a cover for the airbox.
07:36 The actual petrol tank lives down under the seat.
07:39 The rear muck guard is again sculpted aluminium, and that fits over a solid rear wheel and again a solid disc,
07:46 and it's all suspended by a beautiful cast aluminium swinging arm.
07:50 Now something else the traditionalists might not approve of is this styling, but like it or loathe it, you've got to admit it's pretty stunning.
08:04 But style without function is pretty pointless, and the V-Rod certainly puts the Funky into function.
08:09 It'll launch off the line like the drag bike it looks, or pookle along at 2,000 revs, take a handful,
08:15 and it blats forward like a steam train accompanied by what must be a barely legal bark from those beautiful low-slung pipes.
08:28 Wow, what a bike. But that's because with these foot-forward footrests, the first thing that's going to touch the deck is your heel.
08:35 See if you see that? You're way down there.
08:38 Now this for a cruiser is pretty good. Well, it's a sports cruiser, a performance cruiser, isn't it?
08:42 So it's not as bad as some where you scrape them on every little bend. This isn't as bad as that.
08:46 Another thing you've got here, nice low seat height. 660mm, that's all.
08:51 So I feel almost as though I'm sitting on the floor. It's sort of knee-high to a grasshopper.
08:55 But it's great, you feel very, very planted on it. So if you're short of leg, absolutely brilliant.
09:00 Coming up here though, this is the cockpit, the pilot's eye view.
09:05 See this, the way this actually grows out of the headstock up here, or the triple tree as Harley like to call it, this headstock.
09:12 It actually swoops up out of the top and then you've got this nice little binnacle here.
09:16 Speedo in the middle, rev counter on the left, fuel on the right. Really very, very neat.
09:21 Nicely styled. Hydraulic clutch on this for the first time on a Harley.
09:26 And look at all the engineering on it. It's all in silver of course, but nice chunky levers.
09:30 Some people have said the clutch is a bit heavy, but it's not. It is a Harley.
09:35 You want to give it a nice Bacho feel, don't you?
09:37 So it's not over-heavy, it just feels nice. They're nicely finished.
09:41 The indicators are very neat as well. And for those of you who don't know Harleys, these are different to the run of the mill bike as well.
09:47 You push on that one there to go left, see the old light coming up in there, in the Speedo.
09:52 Push on it again to cancel. Same with the right-hand one, push there, push again to cancel.
09:56 Now I think that's pretty good and it's better than BMW's setup.
09:59 So it's all very neat. The mirrors themselves, very good. You see a clear view behind, nice oval shape.
10:05 Again, finished in this silver. It's really pretty good.
10:08 This screen by the way is an optional screen. One of the many, many extras that you get.
10:12 So you get this sports screen and you get that little cover there over the headlamp. It's great.
10:18 The V-Rod comes in silver with aluminium or aluminium with silver.
10:26 Same thing, but it's got loads of style, whichever way you say it.
10:30 So much style that all this year's allocation has been sold.
10:33 Still, if you want one in 2003, get your order in now.
10:38 It'll cost you just under £14,000.
10:42 Next up it's the Harley-Davidson XL 883 Custom.
10:47 The 883 Custom is available with a larger petrol tank to allow you to tackle longer journeys
10:52 safe in the knowledge that you won't run out of petrol in the middle of nowhere.
10:55 The riding position has been adjusted, giving you a more natural seating position
10:59 to allow those extra miles to go by smoothly.
11:02 And will give you more chance to admire your reflection in passing shop windows.
11:06 This bike features the Evolution engine, which is combined with a new, larger rear tyre
11:11 to give a better riding experience.
11:13 So, Chris, walk this way and we're on to bike number two, the Harley-Davidson Sportster 883.
11:19 Are you into Harleys?
11:21 Not particularly, but they interest me.
11:23 Do they?
11:24 I mean, they're a motorcycle. I like motorcycles.
11:26 Absolutely.
11:27 And, of course, I see this is a centenary edition.
11:29 It is, yes. It's also custom style as well, so your feet are out there.
11:34 Yes, my feet are forward, yes.
11:36 Easy rider.
11:37 Yes, we saw a lot of these. We were over in Colorado last year with our Panthers,
11:41 which we took over the Rockies.
11:44 So you were causing a stir with the Harleys with your Panthers?
11:47 Yes, they were pulling up and turning around and coming and looking at our Panthers.
11:50 Really?
11:51 Never seen anything like it.
11:52 I bet. So what do you actually think to these then?
11:54 Well, I'd be interested to have a go on it, because I've never ridden these easy rider style.
11:59 And I'd be interested to see what they're like.
12:03 I mean, obviously this is a baby Harley, isn't it? So do you think it looks a bit small?
12:07 It looks quite trimmed, doesn't it?
12:09 It does, doesn't it?
12:10 Yes, but they're all about style, aren't they, and image, the Harleys.
12:14 So they look quite good at my age.
12:18 Don't they? You'll be all leather chaps next week by the end of it.
12:21 Well, get your helmet on then and let us know.
12:23 Right.
12:24 The 883 Chris is riding is a 2003 model on a 53 plate and is priced at £6,400.
12:32 Modern Harleys are very reliable and feature a belt drive which makes them virtually maintenance free,
12:37 having no dirty oily chain to adjust.
12:40 Standard bikes can feel very underpowered, which is a nasty side effect of American emissions regulations.
12:45 This can simply be overcome by fitting a free breathing air filter and less restrictive exhaust pipes.
12:51 This also has the rather pleasant side effect of unleashing that famous Harley engine note.
12:56 Service history, as always, is important, and Harleys are unusual in the fact that their spares are relatively cheap.
13:01 But labour costs can reach astronomic levels rather quickly.
13:05 So, Chris, the Harley Davidson.
13:19 Yeah. Pleasantly surprised, to be honest.
13:22 Really?
13:23 Yes. It wasn't as agricultural as they sometimes say.
13:27 Yep.
13:28 Easy rider, all about style and image, isn't it?
13:33 How was the riding position then? Because obviously your feet are outstretched there.
13:36 Comfortable, but I think on a long journey, the upright back could get uncomfortable.
13:42 I don't think there's enough padding in the seat.
13:44 If you lean forward in the traditional style, you take some of the weight on your arms,
13:49 but on this you're totally on your bum.
13:51 Yeah.
13:52 And I think the seat would get a bit hard after a while.
13:55 Yeah.
13:56 Feet forward isn't a problem, except when I stopped I was looking for...
14:00 Your toe picks!
14:02 When I set off again.
14:03 Yeah.
14:04 Suddenly kept thinking they were missing.
14:05 That's it. Well, I mean, they sound amazing, these. How was the power?
14:08 The power wasn't bad at all.
14:10 So handling then, because this is a nice, spindly little tank. Handling-wise, what was it like?
14:15 The handling seemed reasonable, but I wouldn't have liked to have been cornering fast on it, I don't think.
14:20 No.
14:21 It is very much that easy rider, pump, pump, pump, along.
14:24 Laid-back cruiser.
14:25 Yeah.
14:26 And I noticed it's the Satine Re-edition, and we were over Colorado with our Panthers.
14:34 We shipped them over there and rode them over the Rockies, and we saw them coming back from Sturgis last year.
14:39 Yeah.
14:40 Which was interesting.
14:42 So, I mean, not much of a pillion seat on the back there, actually.
14:45 No, I don't take pillion very often. My wife rides her own bike.
14:49 Ah, very good.
14:50 So...
14:51 She might like this one, then.
14:52 Yes, so...
14:54 You might be buying two.
14:55 Yeah, that's right.
14:56 Right, well, let's see what you give us on the scoreboard, then.
14:59 Okay.
15:00 So, Chris, what do you give the Sportster for style?
15:03 Eight. It's a good-looking bike, for what it is.
15:07 Performance?
15:08 Seven. Felt a bit lumpy.
15:11 What about practicality?
15:13 Five. I thought the seat was hard for any distance riding.
15:17 And reliability?
15:19 Seven. New Harley should be okay.
15:22 And value for money?
15:24 Five. I think it was overpriced.
15:27 Hi. Welcome back to part two of this edition of Bike Shores UK,
15:31 which comes from the slightly damp surroundings of the Butlins at Mynead in Somerset.
15:36 We're here for a giant party to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
15:41 And all round here, there are old manors of stoles selling all kinds of things that are Harley-related.
15:47 But what is it that inspires such devotion in the followers of this American motorcycle?
15:53 Well, let's ride one and find out, shall we?
15:55 The latest Harley is the most affordable of the lot.
16:01 It's the 883R.
16:03 And it does seem strange that a bike company should have a range that starts with a machine of almost 900cc,
16:09 but don't get the impression that this is any sort of road rocket.
16:13 It's a very sedate motorcycle in a lot of ways,
16:17 but the brakes, double discs up the front, quite unusual on a Harley of this size,
16:21 are very reassuring.
16:23 It's a comfy riding position, and boy, does it half look good.
16:27 Rarely has the name of a motorcycle been quite so misleading
16:31 as on this anniversary edition 883 Sportster R.
16:36 Not only is it a Sportster that isn't very sporting,
16:38 the R stands for racing, and quite frankly, this is no road rocket.
16:43 In fact, if anybody else made it, they'd have trouble actually giving them away.
16:46 But of course, it isn't anyone else. It's Harley-Davidson.
16:49 What this bike does is evoke those classic flat-track racers of the 1960s,
16:54 the XR750, the bike that bred racers like Kenny Roberts and Wayne Raney,
17:00 with the back end kicked out, the front end heeled over like that.
17:04 It was the mainstay of American racing,
17:06 and the Sportster was actually designed back in the '60s
17:09 to see off the likes of British intruders like Triumph and BSA
17:13 with their lightweight, sporty bikes.
17:15 Today, the Sportster has a different kind of market.
17:17 For a lot of people, it's an entry-level Harley.
17:20 And when you think that this one can be yours for under £6,000,
17:23 when a V-Rod is the best part of £16,000,
17:27 you can certainly see the attraction. It's a way in to the Harley way of life.
17:31 It's not a very quick way into the Harley way of life,
17:34 but you can spend another £500 to £1,000.
17:36 Yes, I know that sounds a little strange,
17:38 spend another few hundred pounds on a brand-new motorcycle.
17:42 And it's really quite a nice bike. I liked it.
17:46 Harley-Davidson. You either love them or you hate them.
17:53 Personally, I can sort of take them or leave them, really,
17:56 and I've made no secret of it in the past that I'm not the world's biggest Harley-Davidson fan.
18:00 The only reason, really, is that the bikes themselves don't suit my particular purpose.
18:05 I like bikes that handle very sharply and have got really good, sharp brakes.
18:09 And most of all, I like performance machines.
18:11 And it's fair to say that Harley-Davidson can't hold a candle
18:15 to the Japanese sports bikes of today when it comes to performance.
18:18 But the lads here at the Big Rock Harley in Nottingham
18:21 assure me that they've got one that really does perform.
18:25 (HARLEY-DAVIDSON)
18:27 And this is it. It's an FXDX Superglide Sport, which is a right mouthful, isn't it?
18:42 But it has added to it just about every performance bolt-on part that you could wish for
18:47 at some considerable cost, I might tell you, as well.
18:50 So let's see if this can change my opinion of Harley-Davidson.
18:54 So what have we here? A Harley that really goes?
19:05 Well, actually, yes. And boy, does it go.
19:08 Whack the throttle open, and it's like being smacked up the backside by a juggernaut.
19:13 It's very addictive.
19:15 Forget all those stereotypical statements about Harleys being slow with poor brakes.
19:20 This souped-up Superglide is all about acceleration.
19:23 Yes, it shakes about a bit, and you need to show it who's boss,
19:27 but it's definitely different for a Harley.
19:30 And if you think it vibrates when you're on it, well, you should see it when it's stood still.
19:38 That reminds me of a lady I once met in Amsterdam, but that's another story.
19:41 We don't want to go there. Let's just turn the damn thing off.
19:44 There we go. We're nice and quiet now.
19:46 You want to know about-- No, I'm only joking. It's not that bad.
19:49 You want to know what they've done to this, because it is now a fast Harley-Davidson.
19:52 It pulls like the clappers. Away from the lights, it's great.
19:55 You can beat most sports bikes up to about 60 or 70 mph. Really very impressive.
19:59 Well, it's called a stroker kit. That's what they've fitted to this.
20:02 In fact, the lads in the shop refer to this bike as the stroker.
20:05 So loads and loads of work done in the engine department.
20:08 It now has a stroked crank and rods. That sounds good, doesn't it?
20:11 It's now got adjustable pushrods. Originally, they were solid rods.
20:14 The pistons are different. They've changed everything.
20:16 The pistons are now forged pistons. Originally, it would have had cast pistons.
20:21 Carburettor is different. This bike originally had a 40mm Kine carburettor.
20:26 That there now is a 45mm McUnie carburettor.
20:29 And sticking out the side of that, you can't miss that, can you?
20:32 Especially when it shakes about when it's running.
20:34 Wacking big K&N filter there to help the whole thing breathe a bit better or breathe more easily.
20:39 Cylinder heads are different. Look at the size of these now.
20:41 Big Screaming Eagle cylinder heads.
20:43 In fact, this engine started life as a 1450cc motor. That was the stock motor.
20:48 This now, believe it or not, is 1700cc. 1.7 litres.
20:53 So, as big, in fact, bigger than some family cars, which is incredible, really, isn't it?
20:57 The ignition system, that's completely different.
20:59 This now has a Screaming Eagle race ignition system.
21:03 And just to finish the whole job off, you can't fail to notice, you can't fail to hear them,
21:07 these lovely, rather smart-looking Screaming Eagle pipes.
21:11 [Engine revs]
21:17 [Engine revs]
21:22 [Music]
21:38 You know, I'm really enjoying this. It's a bloody fast bike.
21:42 In fact, the lads who put it together tell me that it's actually done the quarter mile in 11 seconds.
21:48 And that's faster than many of your so-called performance bikes.
21:51 So, what's the point, you say?
21:53 Well, the point is that riding a Harley is very involving.
21:57 You feel every bump, and twisty country lanes can become very challenging at speed.
22:02 When you add to that more acceleration than you dare to use, you know it's going to be a whole load of fun.
22:08 [Music]
22:25 Well, is it all worth it, all this work, all this engineering work and mechanical work?
22:29 I suppose the only thing that proves whether it's worth it or not is figures.
22:32 So, let me give you some figures.
22:34 The stock bike, you go and buy this as a stock machine out of a showroom,
22:37 I can tell you that it will produce 59 brake horsepower and 70 foot-pounds of torque.
22:43 They've done all this work on it.
22:45 This now produces 117 foot-pounds of torque, and they're claiming 108 brake horsepower.
22:51 So, they've near enough doubled the power of it, which is very impressive, and you really do feel it.
22:56 This is now a fast bike, not top-end, but fast off the mark.
22:59 It really pulls your arms out of the sockets. It's good fun to ride.
23:02 14,000 quid, this would cost you now.
23:05 What else could you buy for 14,000 quid?
23:08 Well, you could probably buy a nearly new Fireblade and a nearly new R1.
23:12 So, is it worth it?
23:14 Well, dyed-in-the-wool Harley Davidson fans will probably say, "Yes, absolutely, every penny."
23:18 Me, as a regular sports bike rider, I think I'm still to be convinced.
23:25 Ask anyone who isn't into bikes to name you a motorcycle, and I'll bet you they'd say Harley Davidson.
23:30 Perhaps they're thinking of something like this.
23:32 On the other hand, if you come to the average sports bike rider and ask them what they think of Harley Davidson,
23:37 I reckon you're going to get a slightly different answer.
23:41 But I tell you what, they must be doing something right,
23:44 because they introduced this, the Fatboy, in 1990, and they just can't make enough of them.
23:52 So, Harley are certainly doing something right.
23:55 Their sales are up 12% this year, while the market as a whole is only up 4%.
24:00 They sold 204,000 bikes last year, and even outsell Honda in the States.
24:05 They also outsell Harley Cruiser look-alikes in Japan, which must tell you something.
24:11 Now, the Harley experience is certainly a different one.
24:14 The Yanks always say there's no substitute for cubes, and certainly big-inch engines like this one have a certain appeal.
24:20 It might only produce a humble 62bhp at 5,500 revs,
24:25 but it kicks out its 78ft-lb of torque at a lowly 3,000 revs, and that's the real trick.
24:31 No doubt about it, this is the rumble-in-the-jungle stuff legends are made of.
24:36 You can putter along on a whiffer throttle at 50,
24:38 wind it open, and the good old Fatboy just gathers up his long guns and goes.
24:43 Roll it off, and you're back to cruising, and that's what it's best at.
24:48 Take it easy, lay back, and enjoy it.
24:51 So what makes Harley so special?
24:54 Well, they say God rides a motorbike. Perhaps the Statue of Liberty did, I don't know.
24:58 But here we have it, the Fatboy, as I said earlier.
25:00 And just look at that engine. It dominates the whole bike. It shouts motorbike at you.
25:05 And I think that's why a lot of people buy Harleys. They're big, and they're bold, and they're brash.
25:08 Really in-your-face stuff.
25:10 There's all this chrome, this great big 45-degree V-twin, 1490cc.
25:16 And it looks pretty old technology.
25:18 You've got all the fins up there, pushrod overhead valve, just two valve heads.
25:22 Nothing spectacular. Pumps out 60 brake horsepower.
25:25 Nothing spectacular there, but absolutely loads of torque to go with it.
25:29 But just look at the detail on it.
25:31 You've got these pipes, which I think are double-skinned because they certainly don't blue.
25:35 And they don't get, well, they do get hot, but they're not over-hot.
25:37 So you've got big pipes there.
25:39 You've got a separate oil tank, and of course it's all chromed.
25:41 And as I say, it really hits you in the face.
25:44 Topped off by this tank, very distinctive shaped Harley tank.
25:48 And look at the chrome on the top here.
25:50 Speedo just sitting there.
25:52 Nothing as worrisome as a rev counter. Who wants a rev counter on a Harley?
25:55 Big Speedo.
25:56 That's the ignition switch there, which is a bit odd.
25:59 I'm not really into Harleys, but what you have to do to switch it on,
26:02 you have to flick that back, put this little round key in the old slot, switch the ignition on.
26:07 Then you can turn it round, like that.
26:10 That switches it on.
26:11 Then you take the key out again and put it in your pocket, because if you don't, it can fall out.
26:15 Then you put that on there, turn the ignition on and off.
26:18 But what you've got to remember to do is lock it off at the end of the day.
26:20 Someone can pinch your pride and joy.
26:22 But it's perfectly safe there.
26:24 If you actually sit on the machine, if I can cross in front of the camera,
26:28 just cock a leg over, you get a fantastic view up the front here.
26:33 I can see myself, which isn't part of the fantastic part, I must say.
26:36 But here you can see this big chromed headlamp.
26:39 As you're going along, especially under trees, see the trees whizzing by and the sun and the sky.
26:45 It's a nice open-air feeling.
26:47 You can actually see the curved bars there as well.
26:49 And you can really get into this sunny California culture,
26:52 especially as it's such a blisteringly hot day today.
26:55 So you're laid back and cruising, big wide bars.
26:58 Controls are big and hefty.
27:00 Look at the size of these levers.
27:01 You won't see these on any Jap bike or any European bike.
27:04 Big and meaty things.
27:06 And something else, these actual clusters for the different thumb switches,
27:10 they're different as well.
27:12 We all thought BMW were a bit odd.
27:14 Well, on this one, if I put the ignition on, click right, turn the right-hand one on,
27:18 push it again, goes off, click left, left-hand one goes off, push that again, it goes off.
27:23 That is more logical than BMW's.
27:25 You do get used to it.
27:27 And also, they do self-cancel after a while, which is pretty useful stuff.
27:31 All this goes together pretty well.
27:33 It's designed to cruise, not to bruise, and it handles fine for such a fat boy,
27:37 like 320 kilos fat.
27:40 Sure, on twisty stuff, you can touch the footboards down,
27:43 but at least it keeps you on your toes, and that's not a pun.
27:47 Still, its gearbox is a great improvement on Harley's of old, too.
27:50 You can find neutral, which is one of the most important things,
27:53 and the other gears go in okay.
27:54 It might clunk a bit, but it works.
27:56 The brakes work, too.
27:58 They're not the best in the world.
27:59 The back one feels a little bit wooden, but it stops.
28:02 And so it goes, it stops, and you feel in control.
28:05 That's as long as you can resist looking at your reflection in a shop window.
28:09 So, is it for me, you're wondering?
28:11 Well, if you're a regular watcher, you probably know that I'm not really into custom cruisers.
28:14 I still like my sports bikes.
28:16 But I'll tell you what, in this sort of climate, beautifully warm,
28:19 there's something about cruising along which seems to make a hell of a lot of sense.
28:22 Why should you have to race everywhere?
28:24 Something like this, laid back, ticking over, it's got its certain attractions.
28:29 So, perhaps if I had a garage full of bike, this might just make it.
28:32 But perhaps at the moment, this reasonably slim person isn't for a fat boy yet.
28:37 One thing I don't have any doubts about is that this is the ultimate pose machine.
28:42 Love it or loathe it, you certainly can't ignore it.
28:45 Having said that, if you're tempted, you better have a word with your bank manager,
28:49 because this one's not cheap at an on-the-road price of £13,295.
28:54 Still, what price style?
28:57 As they say, anything else is less.
29:00 OK, you have sports bikes, tourers, sports tourers, retros, big trailers, classics, cruisers and customs.
29:08 All the key manufacturers have something in the catalogue to satisfy your tastes, whatever that may be.
29:13 And all the bases are covered.
29:15 Then Harley-Davidson stroll into town and move the goalposts.
29:20 If you've been living on Mars for the past year, you may not have encountered the Harley-Davidson V-Rod,
29:25 the bike that was launched in a blaze of publicity that's turned the market on its head.
29:29 For with the V-Rod, Harley-Davidson have invented a completely new category of bike
29:34 and have at once catapulted themselves to the very forefront of cutting-edge performance.
29:39 (MUSIC)
29:42 (MUSIC)
29:46 (MUSIC)
29:49 (MUSIC)
29:57 (MUSIC)
30:04 (MUSIC)
30:12 (MUSIC)
30:15 (MUSIC)
30:24 (MUSIC)
30:32 (MUSIC)
30:41 Harley call this bike a hot rod, and let's get one thing quite clear.
30:45 While it may still be a V-Twin, it bears very little relation to any previous Milwaukee product other than the name on the tank.
30:52 The 1130cc engine is an entirely new, state-of-the-art unit with development work by Porsche.
30:59 And the story doesn't end there.
31:02 The stylists were let loose with their pencils to craft something so modern looking
31:06 it might have just been transported back in time from the 25th century.
31:11 Harley have got the timing just right with this bike, as more and more sports bike riders,
31:16 discouraged by the rash of gatsos afflicting our roads, look for alternate ways of enjoying a life on two wheels.
31:22 Many who would have dipped a toe into the cruiser market will enjoy the V-Rod
31:26 with its unique combination of street style and high performance.
31:29 You can go slowly on this bike and enjoy the ride,
31:32 then when roads permit you can open the throttle and enjoy a rush of power
31:36 that will whip you up to a claimed maximum of 140 miles an hour.
31:40 Pardon the cliche, but this bike truly is awesome.
31:44 (MUSIC)
31:47 (MUSIC)
31:50 (MUSIC)
31:54 (MUSIC)
31:58 (MUSIC)
32:02 (MUSIC)
32:05 (MUSIC)
32:09 (MUSIC)
32:13 (MUSIC)
32:17 (MUSIC)
32:21 (MUSIC)
32:25 (MUSIC)
32:30 (MUSIC)
32:33 (MUSIC)
32:37 For performance, 9 out of 10.
32:40 The bike is sweet and easy to ride in town, but open the throttle and it surges forward with a will.
32:46 That radical looking steering geometry works a lot better than you might expect,
32:50 but the bike is long and will run a little wide in tight turns until you get used to it.
32:55 It's solid, the steering is light and the brakes are excellent.
33:00 Comfort, 8.
33:02 Some may find the low slung feet forward riding position puts a lot of weight on their backside,
33:07 particularly if migrating from a sports bike.
33:11 Value for money, 9 out of 10.
33:14 At over 14 grand the Harley is never going to be a cheap option,
33:17 but for your money you get an exclusivity that simply isn't available elsewhere.
33:22 There's currently a waiting list for these bikes, so if you want one in a hurry,
33:25 be prepared to pay over the list price.
33:28 The V-Rod really is in a class of its own,
33:30 and the bike's cult status is likely to keep second hand prices high.
33:34 Build quality, 9 out of 10.
33:37 The V-Rod is difficult to fault on quality,
33:39 and it's beautifully finished from its radical engineering down to its tasty detailing.
33:44 For street cred, 10 out of 10.
33:48 Everyone, everywhere is impressed by this bike.
33:52 Traditional dyed in the wool Harley riders respect it from a distance,
33:56 while Fireblade and R1 owners cluster round wherever you park to get a glimpse of the future.
34:02 Right here, right now, Harley's Hot Rod is the coolest bike on the street.
34:08 [Music]
34:35 Thanks, Wazza. And now for something a little heavier.
34:38 Custom bikes. Well, it's the only bike category out there where size matters.
34:43 The bigger, the better.
34:45 But then again, they do originate in the good old US of A, where size means everything.
34:50 Take Harley-Davidson, for example.
34:52 They have a whole range of bikes, and this is a fine example.
34:55 It's the Dyna Lowrider, and this bike weighs in at a hefty 300 kilos.
35:02 Now, you really wouldn't want to get the side stand wrong on that, would you?
35:06 Especially outside the wine bar on a sunny afternoon.
35:10 The bike, like the rest of the Harley range, is powered by the newish Evo motor.
35:15 We say newish because even though it's three years old now, in Harley's eyes,
35:19 its life has barely begun and will probably remain largely unchanged for the next 30.
35:25 Technology? Well, who cares about that?
35:27 You don't buy a Harley for its modern advances.
35:30 You buy it because it's a Harley.
35:32 It's the name, the lifestyle, the dream, you know, sun on your face and wind in your hair.
35:38 And when you've learned to live with that, you can put up with the bike's inadequacies,
35:42 and you may even grow to love it, especially if you like being looked at.
35:48 Jump aboard the Lowrider, and you're immediately aware of how the bike got its name.
35:53 You see, I can get both my feet planted firmly on the terra firma,
35:58 and that really makes a refreshing change.
36:01 Now, we know what Harleys are all about, so let's fire up that huge 1450cc engine,
36:10 and those two pistons are moving up and down in what appears to be slow motion,
36:15 but it sounds the biz, and it feels like there's an earthquake about to take place.
36:23 This motor is as under-stressed as they come, yet in spite of its thunderous proportions,
36:29 the feeling in the saddle is somewhat smooth and refined,
36:32 thanks to the two-point rubber isolation mounting system
36:35 that soaks up the engine's vibrations before they reach the rider.
36:39 The gearbox is solidly mated behind the engine, adding to the rigidity of the Dyna-Glide frame.
36:45 Let's face it, this bike needs all the rigidity it can muster,
36:49 not to improve performance so much as to simply stop it from folding in half.
36:54 Well, there's no getting away from the fact that Harleys are as popular now as they always have been,
37:00 and 2003 is a special year for them, as they celebrate 100 years of bikes in the making.
37:06 So if you are thinking of treating yourself to one, I suggest you get your name down on that waiting list,
37:11 as this model wears the centenary badge to make you feel that little bit more special.
37:17 And we should now see how it measures up with our scores on the doors.
37:21 Performance, the bike is halfway there, earning itself 5 out of 10.
37:26 It's hardly awe-inspiring, but the lowrider can be used for little more than cruising,
37:31 with its 68bhp at 5,400rpm, and of course it weighs in pretty heavily.
37:39 As for comfort, well, taller riders will find the bike akin to lying in bed.
37:44 Only the V-twin throb will prevent you from sleeping, and it earns itself 7 out of 10.
37:50 As for the build, Harleys always score quite high there.
37:54 The lowrider may, well, weigh as much as a tank, but fortunately for us, it's built like one too.
38:00 You could keep this bike forever, and it would never miss a beat or perish. 8 out of 10.
38:05 And as for value for money, well, I give it 6 out of 10.
38:10 It's priced at around £11,800, and for that there's no real technology.
38:17 And as for street cred, the lowrider earns itself 7 out of 10.
38:21 It appeals to a far wider audience than, say, a sportster.
38:25 It's considered a proper Harley, but it still remains solely the machine of choice
38:30 for the older generations or those Hell's Angel wannabes.
38:35 Our third bike today is Harley-Davidson's Road King.
38:39 The Road King was relaunched in 1997 as a return to traditional values.
38:44 The Road King gives you a classic Harley look, including spoked wheels,
38:48 combined with updates like electronic sequential port fuel injection.
38:53 The engine is the Evo, and when fitted with electronic fuel injection,
38:57 it makes it easy to start, more economical, and improves the overall riding experience.
39:02 The Road King comes with detachable windshield and pillion pad
39:05 that converts it from a cruiser to a capable tourer in minutes,
39:09 with the kudos of being a Harley.
39:11 So then, Martin, Catherine, we like to be a little bit different on this programme.
39:16 So we thought we'd throw a Harley in there.
39:18 Yeah.
39:19 Are you a Harley man?
39:20 No, I'm not, not at all. Never liked them.
39:23 Well, you can't say never, you see, because a lot of people say that,
39:25 and then they get on them and think they're marvellous things.
39:28 Because what you have to do is forget everything you know
39:31 and just think differently about these.
39:32 I'll try and keep an open mind.
39:33 Yes. Well, keep an open mind on the budget as well, because we've blown it.
39:38 All right.
39:39 This one is the youngest of our bikes, but it is £12,500.
39:43 So if you fall in love with it, you'd better have a little word with Catherine before you say yes.
39:46 So get your helmets on and let us know what you think.
39:49 Lovely.
39:50 Martin and Catherine are testing the 2003 model, which is priced at £12,500.
39:57 Second hand, Harleys do hold their value.
40:01 Be sure to check that the belt drive isn't worn, as you may find yourself replacing it,
40:05 and check that there isn't any dodgy chrome.
40:08 There are lots of older models, so you should have quite a good choice,
40:11 and a lot of them will already have the Harley extras fitted by a previous owner.
40:15 Weighing 335 kilos, it's a heavy one, but once moving, it handles well.
40:21 Relaxed and comfy, living the dream.
40:29 So Martin, Harley Davidson, what do you reckon?
40:32 Very nice. Very impressed with it.
40:34 Yeah?
40:35 Yeah.
40:36 Because you said you didn't like it. What did you not like about Harley Davidson before you went on it?
40:39 To be honest, I don't know.
40:41 Yeah, I know. This is the thing. People do say, "I don't like Harleys."
40:44 But if you can detach yourself, they can be quite pleasant, really.
40:48 I was very impressed with it overall.
40:50 Tell me about the ride, then.
40:51 It's very powerful. Plenty of torque there.
40:55 It's not over-heavy. Very comfortable riding position.
40:59 Wind deflection, alright?
41:01 Superb, yeah. Very good. And it handled very well, as well. I felt very confident with it.
41:05 Yeah? How about the brakes?
41:07 Superb. Very good. Can't fault it, really.
41:09 Can you imagine doing some miles on it?
41:11 Oh, I can, yeah. Definitely. Very relaxed.
41:13 Because there's plenty of chrome.
41:15 Oh, there is.
41:16 That's your problem. When you're touring and you have got some rubbish coming up there,
41:20 you need one of these panniers for the chrome cleaner and cloths, basically.
41:23 Indeed. Take a bit of cleaning.
41:24 Absolutely. So, everything's okay in that respect, then.
41:27 How did you feel on the back there, Catherine?
41:28 Yeah, it's quite comfortable, except for the seat's a bit small.
41:31 Yeah, it does look a bit small, actually. Plenty of miles would...
41:34 But you can get, obviously, different seats and stuff with Harleys.
41:37 That is one of the beauties of them.
41:39 Now, obviously, it is the youngest of the bikes, but it is £2,500 over your budget.
41:45 Yes, I know.
41:46 So, would you ever be tempted to go above budget that much?
41:50 Well, I would, for the right bike.
41:51 But in this case, I'm happy with it, but I don't think Catherine's quite so happy.
41:54 Oh, okay.
41:55 So, probably not in this instance.
41:57 Right. Well, we'll have to go to the scoreboard, then, and see how we score this one.
42:00 Okay.
42:01 Okay.
42:02 Style, Martin?
42:04 Ten points. It really does look the part. It's lovely.
42:07 Performance?
42:09 Eight points. It handles surprisingly well, and it's very talky.
42:13 Practicality?
42:15 Five points. Again, the storage capacity doesn't look very good.
42:20 And reliability?
42:21 Eight points. Basic engineering, I can't see the rock shells on with it.
42:25 And value for money?
42:27 Eight points. It really does look nice.
42:29 A type of bike you can be proud of.
42:31 But way over your budget.
42:33 Way over my budget.
42:35 Harley-Davidson has always been the bike of choice among the rich and famous.
42:40 Apart from the obvious Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper connection,
42:44 famous names like Steve McQueen, Mickey Rourke, and Elvis Presley
42:47 have all owned and ridden Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
42:50 In fact, it's rumoured in certain circles that God himself rides a Harley.
42:55 Well, if the almighty was to choose a bike from Harley's current catalogue,
42:59 you can bet your immortal soul that the Harley-Davidson ElectraGlide
43:03 would be at the very top of his shortlist.
43:06 The ElectraGlide Ultra Classic continues a long line of Milwaukee big cruisers
43:10 that include the HydraGlide and DuoGlide,
43:12 and looks like it might have just been spirited here from 1958.
43:16 Big fat wheels, huge mudguards, sorry, that's fenders,
43:20 fat bob tanks, pull-back bars, footboards, and built-in hard luggage
43:24 give the Harley an instantly recognisable profile,
43:27 which has become a motorcycling icon.
43:30 This pushrod 45 degree V-twin displaces a full 1450cc,
43:35 and now comes with the option of fuel injection.
43:38 Rather coily, Harley don't quote a power output for this engine,
43:42 but do claim a massive 78 foot-pounds of torque.
43:47 Riding the Big Glide is a revelation.
43:49 What looks like a huge and bulky bike on the stand
43:52 is surprisingly light and easy to manage on the move,
43:55 and this riding position has to be the most comfortable on the planet.
43:59 This really does feel like a kind of bike you could cross continents on.
44:03 While the performance is more impressive than you might expect,
44:09 the current crop of Harleys do sound a little muted.
44:12 That distinctive rumbling exhaust note has been suppressed
44:15 in the interests of emissions regulations and noise laws.
44:19 That '50s style fairing conceals utterly modern show of forks.
44:24 Brakes front and rear are now four-pot units on floating discs,
44:27 and are much improved over previous designs,
44:30 well capable of holding down the bike's 345kg weight from speed.
44:37 Though some bikers still regard these bikes as slow and agricultural,
44:40 Harley's latest models have the quality and performance to prove otherwise.
44:45 And wherever you go, to any corner of the globe,
44:48 people will always recognise a Harley Davidson.
44:51 I can't speak for the Almighty, but the Electra Glide has certainly made it
44:55 onto the very top of my shortlist of very desirable motorcycles.
44:59 So let's put some scores on the doors.
45:02 The Harley is no fireblade, nor does it claim to be.
45:05 What it does do is deliver lots of usable power
45:08 in a style perfectly matched to the laid-back cruiser feel.
45:11 It's stable and solid, and the latest brakes and suspension are well up to the job.
45:16 Eight out of ten for performance.
45:19 While the riding position is superb,
45:21 I did find the screen just a little too low for my 6'4" frame.
45:26 At speed, the Buffettin left my head bobbing in a pocket of turbulence
45:30 like an unclaimed lottery ball.
45:32 In stock trim, I'm going to give it nine out of ten for comfort.
45:35 While the overall finish is very good,
45:38 I have to say I do have reservations about the wisdom of chroming aluminium engine casings.
45:43 Subject this bike to the worst rigours of a British winter
45:46 and it could begin to look shabby quite quickly.
45:49 Harley's latest engine and transmission design is solid and well-made,
45:53 and with proper maintenance, should outlast much of the opposition.
45:57 Overall quality? Seven out of ten.
46:00 But it's not cheap at £15,495.
46:04 I have to give this bike eight out of ten for value.
46:08 Thanks, Wazza. And now for a Harley.
46:12 You know, it's difficult to understand looking at this sportster
46:15 to imagine that this bike began its starting life from the Harley-Davidson race programme.
46:20 You see, it all happened in the engineering department of that factory in Milwaukee
46:25 when the engineers decided to experiment with an overhead valve version of the famous K-Racer.
46:31 Then, in 1957, after a bit of trial and error, it all came together
46:36 and this bike was unveiled, the famous Sportster.
46:39 All these years later, the Sportster in many ways remained unchanged,
46:44 only it's as far away from a race bike as any two-wheeler could be.
46:49 But whilst the R1-riding cynics out there
46:52 will probably curse their way through the duration of this test,
46:55 I have to admit, this Harley ain't half bad.
46:58 Powered by Harley's smallest motor, the 883 Evo,
47:03 this bike may weigh well in at a rather unsportster-like 240 kilos
47:08 and produce less horsepower than the manufacturers would care to mention,
47:12 but it's quite good fun and effortless to ride.
47:15 All the twin's power can be found low down in the rev range
47:18 and once up and over 5,000 revs, there's very little going on.
47:22 Now, before all that power is transferred to the road,
47:25 it goes via the standard-issue five-speed box
47:28 and although it only requires quite a positive shove,
47:31 you just can't escape the whole clunkiness of the whole thing
47:34 and, you know what, I would have thought by now Harley-Davidson would have dialed that out,
47:39 but I guess it's just part of the whole Harley-D thing.
47:42 The wooden brakes are wholeheartedly unexciting.
47:45 There's practically no feel to speak of and even with a fistful of lever,
47:49 you still can't stop the thing in a hurry.
47:52 What's interesting though is the way a sportster can be hustled through corners
47:56 faster than you might think.
47:58 The suspension may look rather primitive, but it does work.
48:01 In fact, a well-ridden sportster can prove quite a tool on a tight, twisty road
48:06 thanks to its half-decent geometry and low centre of gravity.
48:10 But most will want a sportster because it's a Harley-Davidson
48:14 and not an expensive one at that, at £5,900.
48:18 It's the baby of the range. The Sportster is the entry-level model.
48:22 But don't forget, this is a special one.
48:25 It's the R version and has a host of extras, including this rather retro-looking paint job.
48:31 So, let's see how our Sportster measures up with our scores on the doors.
48:35 The performance rates 7 out of 10.
48:38 That torquey motor will push you forwards at a reasonable rate
48:41 so long as you access the low down power.
48:44 Comfort, well, it's a bit of a stretch to those dirt-bike style bars,
48:48 but the riding position is overall pretty good and feels most relaxed.
48:53 The suspension is also fairly supple.
48:55 Build quality, our Sportster scores a 9.
48:58 You see, these bikes are built to last.
49:00 Every component is solid and providing you look after the chrome properly,
49:04 it will happily see you through many years of ownership.
49:08 Value for money, well, around £5,999,
49:11 but almost a grand more than the standard 883,
49:15 the Sportster is well-priced and a fairly good bet
49:19 for the first-time buyer of a custom-style machine.
49:22 8 out of 10.
49:24 Street cred, 7 out of 10,
49:26 because non-bikers think the Sportster is a fairly serious machine,
49:30 lending a combination of presence, decoration and noise.
49:35 (music)
49:39 (music)
49:42 (music fades)
49:44 [BLANK_AUDIO]