Harley-Davidson Fire/Rescue Electra Glide, 2009

 

Harley-Davidson Fire/Rescue Electra Glide, 2009

Specifications

U.S. UNITS
DIMENSIONS U.S. UNITS
Length 95.14 in.
Seat Height
Laden 1 27.3 in.
Unladen 30.7 in.
Ground Clearance 5.10 in.
Rake Steering Head/Trail 26° / 6.69 in.
Wheelbase 63.5 in.
Track Width N/A
Fuel Capacity 6.0 gal.
Oil Capacity 4.0 qt.
Weight
Dry Weight 791.0 lbs.
Running Order 828.0 lbs.
Luggage Capacity
Volume N/A
Weight N/A

POWERTRAIN
Engine 2 Air-cooled, Twin Cam 103™
Displacement 103.00 cu. in.
Bore x Stroke 3.88 in. x 4.38 in.
Engine Torque 3 102 ft lbs @ 2500 rpm
Fuel System 4 Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI)
Compression Ratio 9.6:1
Miles per Gallon 5
ESPFI 54 hwy / 35 city
Primary Drive Chain, 34/46 ratio
Gear Ratio (overall)
1st 9.593
2nd 6.65
3rd 4.938
4th 4
5th 3.407
6th 2.875

WHEELS/TIRES
Wheels 6
Front Black, Slotted Disc Cast Aluminum
Rear Black, Slotted Disc Cast Aluminum
Wheel Option N/A
Tire Size
Front D407F BW
Rear D407 BW

ELECTRICAL
Instruments Tank-mounted electronic speedometer with odometer, tachometer.
Indicator Lamps 7 High beam, turn signals, hazard signals, neutral, low oil pressure, engine diagnostics, low fuel, police emergency light activation, 6-speed, ABS light (optional)
Reverse Function N/A

CHASSIS
Brakes 32 mm 4-piston fixed front and rear
Parking Brake N/A
Lean Angle (per SAEJ1168) 31° / 33°
Exhaust System Chrome, cross-over exhaust w/ dual mufflers and taper End Caps

METRIC UNITS
DIMENSIONS

Length 2416.56 mm
Seat Height
Laden 1 693.42 mm
Unladen 779.78 mm
Ground Clearance 129.54 mm
Rake Steering Head/Trail 26° / 169.93 mm
Wheelbase 1612.9 mm
Track Width N/A
Fuel Capacity 22.71 L
Oil Capacity 3.78 L
Weight
Dry Weight 358.79 kg
Running Order 375.57 kg
Luggage Capacity
Volume N/A
Weight N/A

POWERTRAIN
Engine 2 Air-cooled, Twin Cam 103™
Displacement 1688 cm³
Bore x Stroke 98.55 mm x 111.25 mm
Engine Torque 3 138.31 Nm @ 2500 rpm
Fuel System 4 Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI)
Compression Ratio 9.6:1
Liters per 100 KM
ESPFI 4.36 hwy / 6.72 city
Primary Drive Chain, 34/46 ratio
Gear Ratio (overall)
1st 9.593
2nd 6.65
3rd 4.938
4th 4
5th 3.407
6th 2.875

WHEELS/TIRES
Wheels 5
Front Black, Slotted Disc Cast Aluminum
Rear Black, Slotted Disc Cast Aluminum
Wheel Option N/A
Tire Size
Front D407F BW
Rear D407 BW

ELECTRICAL
Instruments Tank-mounted electronic speedometer with odometer, tachometer.
Indicator Lamps 6 High beam, turn signals, hazard signals, neutral, low oil pressure, engine diagnostics, low fuel, police emergency light activation, 6-speed, ABS light (optional)
Reverse Function N/A

CHASSIS
Brakes 32 mm 4-piston fixed front and rear
Parking Brake N/A
Lean Angle (per SAEJ1168) 31° / 33°
Exhaust System Chrome, cross-over exhaust w/ dual mufflers and taper End Caps

Harley-Davidson & Playboy 2009 pics

Harley Davidson and Playboy have teamed up for a competition, with an evening of Playboy bunnies and Harley motorcycles in one of Milan’s fashionable spots.

To win and be part of this evening seems almost too simple, but basically you have to have a motorcycle licence, be more than 21 years of age and live in Italy, and register yourself on the www.anightwith.it site.

There will be a kind of lucky dip that gives two winners a red carpet evening out on June 29, with a ride on a high performance Harley VRSC and the chance to meet Italy’s Playmates of the moment.

Two centrefolds will accompany the winners throughout the course of the evening, with photographers capturing the moment for a Playboy magazine feature. For a taste of what the evening offers, see the gallery after the jump.

New Radical Harley Davidson

Harley-Davidson XL1200 Nightster® , with a Harley-Davidson Factory Radical Paint set

Scottish dealership, Glasgow-based West Coast Harley-Davidson has created an eye-catching version of the Harley-Davidson XL1200 Nightster® , with a Harley-Davidson Factory Radical Paint set and a host of added accessories. Named Devil’s Infantry, the paint kit is one of just five across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Only 200 exist worldwide.

The Factory Nightster® is fitted with mini Ape Hanger bars, forward controls, slammed Progressive rear suspension and a leather sprung seat. West Coast have also fitted it with a stage#1 1200cc v-twin engine, diamond black throttle, clutch and brake lines and custom footpegs.

The custom paint job, features roaring flames and an incredibly detailed burning skull motif, and is finished with a subtle blue pearl tone.

Ride safe.

Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://bestmotorstyle2011.blogspot.com//
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

motor sports |new motorcycle |modification |2011 Harley-Davidson Sportster XR1200X Review

Ask and ye shall receive.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

Good things come to those who wait.

Patience is a virtue…

Those cliché adages sum up perfectly the American motorcycle market’s experience with a specific Harley-Davidson model: the XR1200.

When Harley announced in late ’07 the XR1200 as a 2008 European-only model, the decision seemed confounding to Americans who couldn’t buy the Americana-infused XR.

Here’s the XR1200 that we didn’t get first.

First and foremost because it is, after all, a Harley-Davidson; secondly because its styling is directly inspired by the iconic XR750, Harley’s famous, purpose-built flat-track dominator.

It seemed crazy the States wouldn’t see this “all-American” machine. However, sensible marketing logic was behind excluding the XR1200 from the U.S. market.

As we’ve noted in numerous reviews, the European sport-standard segment is remarkably stronger than is the same segment in the U.S. For reasons not very well understood, we just don’t seem to have an appetite for the nakeds and standards.

Despite this reality of poor sales for sport-standards in the U.S., Harley said it heard enough requests for the XR from its home market, and so by the end of 2008 the Milwaukee-based company introduced the XR1200 for America as a 2009 model.

Now we, too, get the new XR1200X that was first released in Europe. For 2011 the X model will come in White Hot Denim or Black Denim colors and will replace the XR1200.

As something of a cautious homage to the original XR750, the XR1200 saw an initial limited run of only 750 units. Hurray for us anyway!

However, only one year later we were back in that “Europe first” loop.

For 2010 the European market received the XR1200X: an XR with uprated suspension and some additional touchups. American XR owners could have the same suspension package, but only as an optional kit on the order of $1500. Dang.

Welcome home! Round two

Finally, we, too, will now have the XR1200X. It’s the first release of Harley’s 2011 models and it’s slated to hit dealers by this August.

The X model trades the XR1200’s 43mm non-adjustable inverted fork for Showa’s fully adjustable 43mm Big Piston Fork, first seen in wide release on the ’09 ZX-6R. Also swapped out are the fairly basic twin coil-over shocks in favor of fully adjustable 36mm Showa shocks.

The front half of the XR’s suspension consists of Showa’s Big Piston Fork.

The new Showa shocks retain ramp-style preload adjustment, but the simple compression damping adjustment dial atop the piggyback reservoir(s) is handy.

Also easy to access is the rebound damping adjustment screw found at the bottom of the shock. One caveat: the exhaust impedes access to the right-side shock’s rebound adjuster, so it’s not as easily reached as the left side.

Although the XR-X still employs the same powerful dual, four-piston Nissin calipers from the previous XR model, the 292mm rotors are now of the floating variety.

The spirited 1200cc Sportster engine in the X model gets the black-out treatment, as does the dual upswept exhaust system that’s reminiscent of the XR750’s high pipes. The XR1200’s engine and exhaust were finished in a silvery color.

Orange pinstripes for the three-spoke cast aluminum wheels round out the cosmetic updates.

But perhaps best of all is the X’s MSRP of $11,799, a $1000 increase over the XR1200 model. Recall that the same suspension that’s now on the X model was last year offered as a $1500 upgrade for the standard XR.

The X model’s engine and exhaust are all black, creating a more cohesive appearance, especially on the Black Denim color scheme.

Also worth noting, the XR1200X model will replace the XR1200 in 2011.

An American track for an American bike

Harley-Davidson chose a street-only setting for the December 2008 press launch of the XR1200; but for the X’s launch it was wheels up on a famous American racetrack!

New fully adjustable Showa coil-over shocks offer easy access to compression damping via the simple dial atop the piggyback nitrogen reservoir. Rebound adjuster is at the shocks’ mount point.

Brake rotors are now floating type. The XR-X retains the dual four-piston caliper set from the XR1200.

Road America, located in the lush countryside of Elkhart Lake, Wis., – about an hour north of Harley’s Milwaukee home – was the venue where American motopress would sample the X. This track was also the first stop in a five-race schedule for the AMA Vance & Hines XR1200 Series.

We ran an abbreviated version of the 14-turn, 4-mile-long circuit, as there was little point in subjecting the XR and its 7K-rpm redline to Road America’s long front straight.

As it was, while in top gear (5th) with the throttle twisted to the stop, the rev limiter routinely cut in to limit my top speed to around 122 mph on the shorter straight between turns 11 and 12. The thing to take away from my rev-limiter-bouncing is that although the XR’s gearing is a wee bit short for track use, this means it has close to ideal gearing for street riding.

While on the subject of redline, the XR-X wasn’t too keen on high-rpm clutch-less upshifts.

The gearbox often resisted such shifting shenanigans, and generally it felt sticky. But on this issue I’m giving it a pass, as the big flywheel in the Twin means lots of engine momentum, which in turn can contribute to lunky shifting. But this isn’t news for a Harley.

Also, most of the bikes we rode displayed low three-digit figures on the odometer. Additional miles might see the trans loosen up.

Best shifting practice was to shift as infrequently as possible. Instead I let the Sportster’s copious low-end torque and large flywheel action dig me out of slower turns.

In 2008 I was impressed by the strong initial bite from the Harley-branded Nissin brakes.

The powerful binders are more than sufficient for street duty, but hauling down the X’s claimed running-order weight of 573 pounds (as well as extra weight from the rider!) from racetrack speeds proved taxing for the brakes.

The closing laps of a 20-min session usually meant some brake fade, and a four-finger grab on the lever in order get the XR-X slowed enough at the end of the aforementioned back straight.

If you plan to take your X model to the track (or XR for that matter), a simple swap to race-compound pads should serve well to improve feel and power. If you’ll only ever ride the streets and canyons, then the XR-X has all the brake you could desire.

Something else Road America revealed about the XR was the bike’s limited lean angles. Of course, this wasn’t a big surprise, as even assertive street riding will result in the long-ish footpeg feelers scraping.

Nevertheless, feeling and hearing the lower exhaust heat shield touch down during the long right-hander (Turn 10), known as the Carousel, was a disquieting experience.

Although the XR1200X is reasonably eager to turn and provides good handling, in stock form shallow lean angles are the limiting factor to white-hot lap times. Note the minimum clearance between the lower exhaust heat shield and the track surface. Scrape!

In the time between the first XR’s appearance over two years ago and now, surely Harley would’ve heard enough bellyaching from riders and reviewers about limited ground clearance. It’s a wonder then why The Motor Company didn’t capitalize on the opportunity to increase clearance on the X model, especially in light of its improved performance parameters thanks to the new suspension.

Despite good grip and feedback from the Dunlop Qualifier D209 tires, I wasn’t in a hurry to lever them off the ground by way of grinding the exhaust header into the track surface. These lean-angle annoyances aside, we must remember the XR-X is a streetbike, not a race-prepped supersport.

With that in mind, I must give due credit to how easily the X bike set into turns considering its ready-to-ride weight mentioned above along with its un-sportbike-like 60.0-inch wheelbase. Transitioning from left to right required deliberate action, but leverage offered from the XR’s wide handlebar helped reduce steering input effort.



On the subject of the new suspension, I was content with its performance.

Damping qualities and spring rates seemed perfectly suited for my weight (geared up, roughly 170 lbs) and abilities. Stability was sufficient, as was front-end feedback. However, I can say – again considering weight and skill level – the XR1200 was also up to the task of track duty.

I seized the opportunity to ride an XR1200 back-to-back with the new X model. Although the new BPF front-end and improved shocks provided a moderately firmer feel, the standard suspension on the XR12 wasn’t far off pace in terms of stability and damping quality.

Despite the reality that the XR1200X isn’t ideally suited for racetrack duties, caning a street bike powered by a big Harley Sportster engine around Road America provided endless entertainment.

Although the previous model’s suspension performed well enough for me on the track, it’s likely a heavier or much more aggressive rider would give a different report and thereby see big benefits from the X model’s adjustable springy parts.

I also took the opportunity to do a 75-mile or so street ride aboard the 2011 XR1200X.

Suspension action was forgiving without sacrificing feel, and it generally provided a decent ride over even the crummiest sections of pavement. All this performance without ever having tweaked suspension settings speaks highly of the upgrades on the new XR1200X.

Small price to pay

The new XR1200X brings the ability to fine-tune suspension adjustments, and as such most riders will find they can resolve most individual handling issues they might encounter on this sportiest of the Sportsters. For this reason alone I cannot conjure a good reason to lament the X’s added cost.

With this latest update to the modern XR series, we can once more thank our motorcycle-loving European brethren (sisters, too, I suppose).

Back on home soil: the 2011 Harley-Davidson XR1200X.

Though it seemed a little odd we were runner-up for an American motorcycle with such an iconic American appearance, I guess, as the saying goes, it was worth the wait, even the second time.

2010 Harley-Davidson CVO Ultra Classic Electric Glide Dark Side Limited Edition

2010 Harley-Davidson CVO Ultra Classic Electric Glide Dark Side Limited Edition

2010 Harley-Davidson CVO Ultra Classic Electric Glide Dark Side Limited Edition

2010 Harley-Davidson CVO Ultra Classic Electric Glide Dark Side Limited Edition

Motorcycle Pictures of the Week - Robert

Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Website. This feature has been expanded to include Bikes Only and Trikes Only. These pictures are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery. See Robert's 1973 Harley-Davidson Servi-Car under Men on Motorcycles. There are no Trikes Only (I know that a Servi-Car is a trike but if the picture contains a male owner, that picture goes under Men on Motorcycles.), or Women on Motorcycles, or Bikes Only this week. We need more pictures of men and women with their motorcycles. Get your picture in. For details, see Motorcycle Pictures of the Week.

Motorcycle Pictures of the Week - Bikes Only

Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Website. This feature has been expanded to include Bikes Only and Trikes Only. These pictures are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery. See Otter's 1992 Harley-Davidson Sportster XLH under Bikes Only. There are no Trikes Only, or Women or Men on Motorcycles this week. We need more pictures of men and women with their motorcycles. Get your picture in. For details, see Motorcycle Pictures of the Week.

If you'd like to see your bike or trike as Picture of the Week, submit a picture of you and your bike or trike along with its description.

Coast-to-Coast on a 95-Year-Old Harley

This story caught my eye. It tells of a coast-to-coast antique motorcycle race, the Motorcycle Cannonball Run, to start September 10, 2010 from Kitty Hawk, NC and end in Santa Monica, CA. One rider plans to ride a 1911 Harley-Davidson Silent Grey Fellow all the way. Here's an excerpt from an article appearing in the Simi Valley Acorn written by Angela Randazzo"

"While the antique motorcycle’s thrust pales in comparison to today’s street bikes capable of speeds in excess of 200 mph, Simi Valley resident Paul Watts, the proud owner of an 11F, is hoping the 95-year-old bike is capable of carrying him across the country." -- Angela Randazzo

Read the complete article.

Might Harley-Davidson Leave Milwaukee?

This report from the Associated Press by Dinesh Ramde indicates that 107 years in one town may be enough for Harley-Davidson. Here's an excerpt:

"It's the roar that made Milwaukee famous — the distinctive throaty rumble of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. But that much-loved racket could be rumbling away to another state if the company cannot bring down its labor costs." -- Dinesh Ramde

Read more.

Harley-Davidson to Quit Making Sidecars

According to Motorcycle.com, Harley-Davidson will soon discontinue making sidecars. Here's an excerpt:

"The Motor Company has been producing sidecars since 1914 but Harley-Davidson will stop accepting orders for sidecars once it completes its 2011 model year orders."

Read more.

Harley-Davidson to Quit Making Sidecars

According to Motorcycle.com, Harley-Davidson will soon discontinue making sidecars. Here's an excerpt:

"The Motor Company has been producing sidecars since 1914 but Harley-Davidson will stop accepting orders for sidecars once it completes its 2011 model year orders."

Read more.

Motorcycle Pictures of the Week - Outrigger

Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Website. These are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery. See Outrigger on his 1999 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Classic w/Frankenstein Trike Conversion. We need more pictures of men and women with their motorcycles. Get your picture in. For details, see Motorcycle Pictures of the Week.

If you'd like to see your bike as Picture of the Week, submit a picture of you and your bike along with a description of the bike.

Motorcycle Pictures of the Week - Outrigger

Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Website. These are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery. See Outrigger on his 1999 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Classic w/Frankenstein Trike Conversion. We need more pictures of men and women with their motorcycles. Get your picture in. For details, see Motorcycle Pictures of the Week.

If you'd like to see your bike as Picture of the Week, submit a picture of you and your bike along with a description of the bike.

Harley-Davidson Recalls 2010 FXDF for Fork Spring Problem

Harley-Davidson is recalling certain model year 2010 FXDF motorcycles with fork leg assemblies (lH P/N 48622-08, RH P/N 48623-08) manufactured from February 29 through February 9, 2010. (Editor's Note: These dates are assumed incorrect.)

These fork leg assemblies may have been incorrectly assembled using the wrong springs.

70 units are affected.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

Harley-Davidson Recalls 2010 FXDF for Fork Spring Problem

Harley-Davidson is recalling certain model year 2010 FXDF motorcycles with fork leg assemblies (lH P/N 48622-08, RH P/N 48623-08) manufactured from February 29 through February 9, 2010. (Editor's Note: These dates are assumed incorrect.)

These fork leg assemblies may have been incorrectly assembled using the wrong springs.

70 units are affected.

Check out my Motorcycle Recalls feature for more details.

Motorcycle Pictures of the Week - POPCYCLE

Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Website. These are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery. See POPCYCLE on his 2001 Harley-Davidson FLHTCUI Trike. We need more pictures of men and women with their motorcycles. Get your picture in. For details, see Motorcycle Pictures of the Week.

If you'd like to see your bike as Picture of the Week, submit a picture of you and your bike along with a description of the bike.

Motorcycle Pictures of the Week - POPCYCLE

Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Website. These are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery. See POPCYCLE on his 2001 Harley-Davidson FLHTCUI Trike. We need more pictures of men and women with their motorcycles. Get your picture in. For details, see Motorcycle Pictures of the Week.

If you'd like to see your bike as Picture of the Week, submit a picture of you and your bike along with a description of the bike.

Motorcycle Pictures of the Week - Marchand

Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Website. These are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery. See Marchand with his 2010 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic Trike. We need more pictures of men and women with their motorcycles. Get your picture in. For details, see Motorcycle Pictures of the Week.

If you'd like to see your bike as Picture of the Week, submit a picture of you and your bike along with a description of the bike.

Motorcycle Pictures of the Week - Marchand

Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Website. These are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery. See Marchand with his 2010 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic Trike. We need more pictures of men and women with their motorcycles. Get your picture in. For details, see Motorcycle Pictures of the Week.

If you'd like to see your bike as Picture of the Week, submit a picture of you and your bike along with a description of the bike.

Motorcycle Pictures of the Week - Norman & Dorothy

Here are my Pictures of the Week as displayed on the Motorcycle Views Website. These are taken from the Moto Pic Gallery. See Norman & Dorothy with their 2009 Harley-Davidson Tri-Glide Ultra Classic. We need more pictures of men and women with their motorcycles. Get your picture in. For details, see Motorcycle Pictures of the Week.

If you'd like to see your bike as Picture of the Week, submit a picture of you and your bike along with a description of the bike.