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Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Harley-Davdison Forty-Eight Press Preview
January 21, 2010 NEW YORK CITY—In keeping with its “Bad Boy” image, Harley-Davidson held the unveiling of its new “Forty-Eight” model in the basement ballroom of the Ace Hotel, a historical metaphor lost on the numerous non-New Yorkers present for the event.
From the mid-1800s through prohibition New York City’s Tin Pan Alley was the home of America’s notorious music publishing business, which was known for it’s rampant plagiarism and shady dealings. The area was also home to the numerous bordellos and gambling parlors frequented by both local gadflies and the city’s wealthy elite.
The new Ace Hotel is the reincarnation of the Hotel Breslin, which opened in 1904 as the gem of Tin Pan Alley heralding a new era and has over the years sheltered such luminaries as the boxer Joe Louis, the author W. E. B. Du Bois and the avant-garde filmmaker and musicologist Harry Smith. The infamous Diamond Jim Brady was also known to frequent the Breslin, and Tin Pan Alley.
Planned or not, Harley’s new “Forty-Eight” was as at home in the neighborhood as Diamond Jim was back when the bikes were merely a twinkle in the eyes of Mr. Harley and Mr. Davidson.
Named for the year a peanut tank first appeared on a Harley (the Model “S”), the Forty-Eight is the apotheosis of notorious design to come out of Willie G’s studio in some time. A bullfrog bobber with fat tires, and a 1200cc fuel-injected mill with polished covers and Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI) that will draw envious stares whether throttling past the Ace Café in London, the Ear Inn in New York or the Rock Store in LA.
As a proud Rich Christoph (photo below), Industrial Designer at Harley-Davidson Styling who works with Willie G in the Willie G. Design Department told me, "This is the most honest Sportster we've had in a long time. That's no BS!" He went on, “This bike is a very, very, very solid direction of where we’re taking XL. Back to its minimalist roots and the honesty of the motorcycle itself."
An “out of the box” custom bike the Forty-Eight offers up most of the currently popular custom upgrades and some with a new twist.
The first thing this reporter noticed were the under-the-handlebar mirrors which have a better aesthetic than bar-end mirrors and probably offer less image shake. Low profile drag style bars, a minimal instrument pod, fork-mounted turn signals and forward controls round out the cockpit. And most of the metal brackets have been drilled to lighten the weight.
The front black steel-laced front wheel with a single-disc brake sports a 130mm Dunlop MT90 tall tire, in all its fat black glory. The 150mm rear tire is mounted on similar 16-inch black steel laced wheel and framed by a black chopped rear fender with combination stop/turn/tail lights and a side mounted license plate. Dual shorty exhaust pipes add sleek lines to the machine and vertically challenged riders will appreciate the 26-inch seat height.
The hallmark peanut fuel tank holds 2.1 gallons so you’ll be stopping often for fellow riders to drool and is available in three paint jobs; Vivid Black, Brilliant Silver and Mirage Orange Pearl.
Officially the XL1200X, the Forty-Eight is the latest incarnation of the Sportster mold and infused with the Harley Dark Custom DNA.
The Dark Custom formula has been a winner for Harley. Paul James of Harley’s PR department put it succinctly, “The demographic on Dark Custom what we’ve seen is that it’s the youngest riders in our family that are buying Harley-Davidson motorcycles are buying Dark Customs. They’re drawn to Dark Custom because of the kind of raw elemental appeal of the motorcycles; they’re the quintessential Harley-Davidson experience distilled to the purest form. This age demographic, the 18 to 34 year olds are really inspired by it.”
Intended to be an entry-level custom I can see the Forty-Eight appealing to the throbbing masses. For roughly $10,500 (in Vivid Black) notoriety out the door is virtually guaranteed.
From the mid-1800s through prohibition New York City’s Tin Pan Alley was the home of America’s notorious music publishing business, which was known for it’s rampant plagiarism and shady dealings. The area was also home to the numerous bordellos and gambling parlors frequented by both local gadflies and the city’s wealthy elite.
The new Ace Hotel is the reincarnation of the Hotel Breslin, which opened in 1904 as the gem of Tin Pan Alley heralding a new era and has over the years sheltered such luminaries as the boxer Joe Louis, the author W. E. B. Du Bois and the avant-garde filmmaker and musicologist Harry Smith. The infamous Diamond Jim Brady was also known to frequent the Breslin, and Tin Pan Alley.
Planned or not, Harley’s new “Forty-Eight” was as at home in the neighborhood as Diamond Jim was back when the bikes were merely a twinkle in the eyes of Mr. Harley and Mr. Davidson.
The "Forty-Eight" (Photo courtesy The Harley Davidson Motor Company)
Named for the year a peanut tank first appeared on a Harley (the Model “S”), the Forty-Eight is the apotheosis of notorious design to come out of Willie G’s studio in some time. A bullfrog bobber with fat tires, and a 1200cc fuel-injected mill with polished covers and Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI) that will draw envious stares whether throttling past the Ace Café in London, the Ear Inn in New York or the Rock Store in LA.
As a proud Rich Christoph (photo below), Industrial Designer at Harley-Davidson Styling who works with Willie G in the Willie G. Design Department told me, "This is the most honest Sportster we've had in a long time. That's no BS!" He went on, “This bike is a very, very, very solid direction of where we’re taking XL. Back to its minimalist roots and the honesty of the motorcycle itself."
H-D Design Engineer Rich Christoph (Photo©2010 Mark Kalan)
An “out of the box” custom bike the Forty-Eight offers up most of the currently popular custom upgrades and some with a new twist.
The first thing this reporter noticed were the under-the-handlebar mirrors which have a better aesthetic than bar-end mirrors and probably offer less image shake. Low profile drag style bars, a minimal instrument pod, fork-mounted turn signals and forward controls round out the cockpit. And most of the metal brackets have been drilled to lighten the weight.
The front black steel-laced front wheel with a single-disc brake sports a 130mm Dunlop MT90 tall tire, in all its fat black glory. The 150mm rear tire is mounted on similar 16-inch black steel laced wheel and framed by a black chopped rear fender with combination stop/turn/tail lights and a side mounted license plate. Dual shorty exhaust pipes add sleek lines to the machine and vertically challenged riders will appreciate the 26-inch seat height.
The hallmark peanut fuel tank holds 2.1 gallons so you’ll be stopping often for fellow riders to drool and is available in three paint jobs; Vivid Black, Brilliant Silver and Mirage Orange Pearl.
Officially the XL1200X, the Forty-Eight is the latest incarnation of the Sportster mold and infused with the Harley Dark Custom DNA.
The Dark Custom formula has been a winner for Harley. Paul James of Harley’s PR department put it succinctly, “The demographic on Dark Custom what we’ve seen is that it’s the youngest riders in our family that are buying Harley-Davidson motorcycles are buying Dark Customs. They’re drawn to Dark Custom because of the kind of raw elemental appeal of the motorcycles; they’re the quintessential Harley-Davidson experience distilled to the purest form. This age demographic, the 18 to 34 year olds are really inspired by it.”
Intended to be an entry-level custom I can see the Forty-Eight appealing to the throbbing masses. For roughly $10,500 (in Vivid Black) notoriety out the door is virtually guaranteed.
Sunday, March 07, 2010
Saturday, January 09, 2010
The Most Useless Blog Posting Ever
Since I know that most of you riders are "mechanically declined" I thought that you's enjoy this video of the Most Useless Machine Ever.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Triumph Sets Bonneville Speed Records (one record on a Bonneville!)
ATLANTA (September 15, 2009) – Five new world land speed records have been set on Triumph motorcycles during the 2009 BUB Bonneville Speed Trials at the world famous Bonneville Salt Flats. British racing journalist Alan Cathcart of Denemoore, Claverdon, UK, teamed up with South Bay Triumph owner Matt Capri of Lomita, California to set the records with the iconic British motorcycle at its namesake race course.
Cathcart rode a street-legal Triumph Thruxton that was prepared by Capri to three records in the FIM’s 1000cc Normally-Aspirated Twin-Cylinder Unstreamlined class. The duo set new two-way FIM World Records for the flying mile at 152.678 mph and the flying kilometer at 152.770 mph as well as a best one-way speed of 153.150 mph.
Cathcart also rode Capri’s turbocharged South Bay Triumph Bonneville to two more FIM World Records for the 1000cc Forced Induction Twin-Cylinder Unstreamlined class by turning in a two-way speed of 165.405 mph for the flying mile and 165.672 mph for the flying kilometer. The bike’s best one-way speed was 171.624 mph. The mile speed also qualifies for a new AMA record.
“We’ve been coming to Bonneville since 2007 in preparation for this, the Bonneville model’s 50th birthday year,” said Cathcart. “Breaking the 150 mph barrier with the standard bike was always our main objective, and when the FIM established the new Twin-Cylinder category for Speed Records, it was great that we could claim official World Records by doing so. Matt Capri is a genius when it comes to tuning bikes for the Salt, at 4,400 feet in altitude. To set two more World marks with the Turbo, which he’s developed almost as an afterthought and has spent very little time on, is just the icing on the cake. For sure this is a 180 mph-plus motorcycle with more development in its present naked guise, and with a fairing it’ll go much faster. Maybe we’ll be back next year to try to join the 200 MPH Club with it!”
“Triumph Motorcycles wants to congratulate Alan and Matt for their success in setting five new land speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats,” said Jim Callahan, North American Marketing Manager for Triumph Motorcycles. “Setting the records during the Triumph Bonneville’s 50th Anniversary is amazing, and something that will be remembered for quite some time.”
The Triumph Bonneville was born in 1959 to recognize Johnny Allen’s land speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats. The Triumph Bonneville was an instant hit in America and the UK, and 50 years later continues to be one of Triumph’s most iconic motorcycles. Despite its classic appearance, the new Triumph Bonneville motorcycles feature state-of-the-art design and performance.
While the Bonneville first debuted with a 650cc power plant, an 865cc air-cooled parallel twin engine is the heart and soul of today’s motorcycles. A 360-degree firing order gives the new Bonneville the engine characteristics of a classic twin, while twin balance shafts and state-of-the-art production techniques ensure 21st century refinement and reliability. Ninety percent of peak torque – a healthy 51 ft.lbs. at 5,800rpm – is maintained from around 2,500rpm through to the redline, providing smooth and effortless acceleration through all five gears.
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