New 2016 Iron 883, Forty-Eight and Street models "lead the Dark Custom Movement"
"Start with a dark canvas. Add horsepower and soul. Then make it your own." Thus sayeth Harley-Davidson's latest crop of PR graduates about a "Harley-Davidson Dark Custom movement" that "strips a motorcycle to its mechanical essence and the motorcycling experience to its rebellious core – the quest for freedom and self-expression."
So, in these über-competitive times, the Motor Factory doesn't want to "meet the nicest people" on its products then!
Harley says that it is asserting "its Dark Custom leadership" with "new, hard-nosed machines that offer an authentic, affordable experience to a new generation of riders. Forged, pressed and machined to minimalist perfection, the Iron 883 and Forty-Eight models balance function with style that can stand on its own or spark a fire of custom inspiration."
It gets worse… "Dark Custom with an urban gene, the nimble Street 500 and Street 750 models roll into a second season with customer-led updates, ready to master the global cityscape.
“With Dark Custom, we embrace the beauty of the basic motorcycle structure,” said Harley-Davidson Styling Director Brad Richards. “It’s about the beauty of the nuts and bolts, the steel and rubber and the heart of the machine, which is a Harley-Davidson V-Twin engine. Dark Custom reaches back to our styling roots, but also invites the rider to move forward, to make the Dark Custom motorcycle his or her own with accessories, ingenuity or riding experiences.”
 |
| XL 883N 'Iron 883' - as with the other models being billed as "new", this "upgrade" is all part of Milwaukee's attempt to drive the brand and balance sheet ever deeper into minority and youth rider territory. Nothing wrong with that as part of a balanced approach to market chasing, but there will come a point at which savvy social-media generation consumers (especially) see through brands that appear to be trying just that bit too hard to be convincing. Harley aren't there yet (hopefully), but they are courting danger with a demographic whose reaction to improved ride comfort is more likely to be "how come it wasn't always thus" than "oh goody-good, now I'll buy"! By definition, younger riders and new entrant demographic groups don't have the hard-miles experience to be able to make valid and comparative technical judgements; instead they come from a place that expects their consumer products to not need improving every year, a place where brand trust is everything. Betray that trust by saying that, well, actually, what we were selling last year really wasn't very good, is a slippery slope to lost consumer trust. Replacement is the more common response to any perceived flaws or changes in the wind of 'cool' and that can just as often mean replacement of lifestyle or brand choice as it can mean simply trading up and staying within the meaning and embrace of a brand. Harley-Davidson's use of social media and "brand ambassadors" may have given them feedback on the colors that sell now, but trying to factory-program freedom of choice and short-lived styling fashion by tuning so-called "Dark Custom" into a "thing" could smack too much of "the man" for the tastes and attitudes of these very fickle target consumer groups. |
Iron 883 - "the grit and grime of riding and living in the urban environment"
Said to be "drawing inspiration from garage-built bobbers past and present" the new Iron 883 model is "chopped and drilled, intentionally a little raw and rough around the edges. Clipped fenders, blacked-out powertrain and exhaust, drag-style handlebars and a solo tuck-and-roll seat cover evoke bare-knuckle street performance. A ribbed air cleaner cover speaks to the stamped-from-steel authenticity of this motorcycle. Bullet-hole details on the belt guard, exhaust shields and front fender brace recall a racer’s effort to lighten the bike.
Harley say that the "colors and finishes for the Iron 883 were selected to help hide the grit and grime of riding and living in the urban environment, for riders who don’t own – or care to own – a garden hose and a driveway.
“It’s always been my vision that this bike will look better with some dirt or patina,” said Harley-Davidson Senior Stylist Dais Nagao, who led the Iron 883 design project. “It’s quick and nimble and encourages the rider to be aggressive. As it’s ridden it may get some scuffs, scratches or other character marks. We can’t do that at the factory. That’s the privilege of the owner, and becomes part of the story of the bike.”
The Iron 883 is powered by an 883cc Evolution V-Twin engine tuned to "power away from stop lights and deliver satisfying performance." A blacked-out floating front brake rotor complements nine-spoke cast aluminum wheels finished in black with machined highlights that reduce unsprung weight by a combined eight pounds to improve ride comfort and handling.
Ride and handling are said to be further enhanced by new cartridge-style forks and new emulsion rear shock absorbers with progressive-rate springs and a threaded pre-load adjustment collar that is said to make it easy for the rider to dial in shock performance to match road conditions or passenger weight. A special shock adjustment spanner stows under the seat.
 |
| XL1200X 'Forty Eight' - improved seats and all-new front and rear suspension featuring emulsion coil-over rear shocks with new front cartridge forks; all the Sportsters have ABS and factory security systems as options only |
Forty-Eight "functional muscle"
The new Forty-Eight motorcycle "waits at the curb like a broad-chested bulldog guarding its turf" (!). A "burly" 130mm front tire is "suspended" by 49mm forks secured in massive forged aluminum triple clamps and an aluminum fork brace. "The classic 2.1-gallon peanut fuel tank creates a narrow, athletic waist. Chopped fenders expose the tire rubber. A perfect balance of black, color and chrome gives this bike a bold visual presence.
“The low handlebar and forward foot controls put the Forty-Eight rider in an aggressive posture, so we picked up on that with the styling,” said Harley-Davidson Industrial Designer/Stylist Ben McGinley, the lead stylist on the project. “The big front wheel is like a steamroller coming down the street, and we went with the smaller round steel air cleaner and some chrome on the exhaust to draw your eyes to the engine, which looks larger under the peanut tank. I’d describe the theme of this bike as functional muscle.”
The fuel tank styling features horizontal stripes, a throw-back to 1970s style that’s reappearing today on custom bikes. Those lines are repeated throughout the motorcycle, including in the seat stitching, slotted exhaust shields, rear sprocket and belt guard. New lightweight cast-aluminum wheels feature nine split spokes and a solid black finish with machined highlights. A side-mount license plate and combination stop/tail/turn signals keep the rear fender uncluttered.
The new 49mm forks feature a cartridge design tuned to complement new emulsion rear shock absorbers with progressive-rate springs and a threaded pre-load adjustment collar, a combination that delivers a premium, controlled ride over the roughest urban pavement. A shock adjustment spanner is stashed under the solo seat, which has been formed to support the rider with all-day comfort.
 |
| XL 883L Superlow - Harley's entry level Sportster with a $8,499 MSRP |
 |
| Sportster Superflow 1200T ... the top of the line Sportster in price terms with a $11,799 MSRP. Described by Harley as "light weight with a narrow chassis and premium touring features ... it offers confidence-inspiring handling and a low center of gravity" |
 |
| With an MSRP of $6,849 the XG500 'Street 500' is Harley's entry level motorcycle. Harley describe it as offering "cool, dark styling" and "urban agility". They say that with the Revolution X engine it "invites young riders everywhere to ride into personal freedom. It’s built for maximum manoeuvrability, complemented by a minimalist, blacked-out design." Unlike Henry Ford's original Model Ts, all of Harley's so-called "Dark Custom" models are in fact available in other colors for a modest extra investment |
Street 750/500 - liquid-cooled Revolution X
Said to be "Lean, quick and nimble" Harley claim the Street 750 and Street 500 models "combine a lightweight, easy handling chassis with the responsive performance of the liquid-cooled Revolution X powertrain in a café-inspired Dark Custom motorcycle developed for urban riding.
"For 2016, both Street models receive new front and rear brake systems with 300mm brake rotors and a powerful, stylized front caliper with 34mm pistons and matching rear caliper for even greater confidence when navigating challenging roads. Other braking system upgrades include an improved aluminum integrated rear master cylinder with reservoir, aluminum front master cylinder with reduced friction and higher efficiency, and new brake lines."