Introducing the New Harley Davidson Softail:
The Blackline
I was pretty excited to hear that HD had released a new bike, the Blackline, to their 'Dark Custom' series. A series that includes the Iron 883, Nightster, 48, Street Bob, Fat Bob, and the Crossbones. I had thought that the Fat Boy Lo was in this series, but I was wrong. At first glance the Blackline seems to be a knock off of, ready for it, The Honda Fury. Am I wrong? I don't get it. This bike just doesn't fit. All the other 'Dark Custom' bikes have a little bit of their own special style to each bike. The Blackline just doesn't do it for me. Its part Dyna, part softail. No imagination. Doesn't HD have people working in their design and marketing department that could come up with some better ideas then this bike? HD always seems to not go far enough, they do this on purpose. They want you to spend the extra $3000-$4000 on HD accessories to finish it off. Guess what? Most people are going to do that. I did it. Now that I look back I regret spending the money in the local HD shop to add some silly accessories that do nothing for the bike. I dont know if there's much you can do to this bike to make it look any better. Bring back the Nightrain please. HD claims to have named the Blackline from the "long black line of the road ahead." I guess each new HD has to start somewhere. I ride an '09 Nightster myself so I guess I shouldn't be bitching about any new 'Dark Custom' bikes since mine is in the family. I did however, make my bike my own and I know that people will scoop this bike up and do the same thing. If there's anyone that could make this bike look good it would be Roland Sands. I bet Roland Sands has one in his shop right now and is already working on an RSD Blackline. RSD kills it when it comes to customizing any HD there is. Check out the latest Hot Bike Magazine and take a look at his RSD Crossbones to see what I mean. Funny how RSD came out with their new 'Black Ops' design only to have to HD release their 'Blackline' soon afterwards. Thats my 2 cents.
Here's another marketing vid from HD for the new HD Blackline:
Here's the press release from HD:
New Harley-Davidson® Blackline™ is Softail® stripped to the core
MILWAUKEE (January 21, 2011) - Lean as wire, hard as iron and dark as a tar road at midnight, the new Blackline motorcycle is a Harley-Davidson Softail model pared to the bone. A rebellious creation of the Dark Custom movement, the Blackline celebrates three fundamental elements of motorcycling: mechanical beauty, internal combustion, and the long black line of the road ahead.
The Blackline balances allegiance with rebellion, discarding previous conventions of color and chrome for a Dark Custom look that's honest, functional and attainable. Visual elements of the original bobber movement are combined with the raw, hand-hewn style embraced by today's young builders. The Blackline throws new fuel on a fire that burns across generations, an unquenchable desire to ride.
Lean and Tight
The rear fender is bobbed high-and-tight over a slim, 144mm tire that emphasizes an authentic hardtail profile. The compact headlight and speedometer are tucked low into the wide, FX front end, and there's just enough shine to make the black parts look blacker. Black-rimmed laced wheels complete a look that's tough, tempered and undeniably Harley-Davidson.
The styling spotlight shines on a Big Twin engine dressed in black and silver, and on a fuel tank shaved smooth and low. Aboard the Blackline, the rider hugs the frame on the lowest two-up seat ever offered by Harley-Davidson, and reaches high for new Split Drag™ handlebars that bolt right to the top triple-clamp.
The Softail chassis utilizes rear suspension control provided by coil-over shock absorbers mounted horizontally along the frame rails below the powertrain, where they are out of sight. So while the swingarm section replicates the lines of a vintage hardtail frame, the Blackline delivers suspension performance and handling that are thoroughly modern. The internally counter-balanced Twin Cam 96B™ engine is rigid-mounted within the frame, creating a solid connection between rider and the power that moves the motorcycle to enhance the emotional experience of riding.
Key features of the 2011 Blackline include:
•NEW Powertrain styling
◦Powertrain is finished in gloss black powdercoat on the rocker box covers, the crankcase, the outer primary cover, and the transmission side cover. The cylinders are silver powdercoat with machined highlights. The derby cover and timing covers are chromed.
◦Rigid-mounted, counter-balanced Twin Cam 96B™ V-Twin engine with Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI), rated at 89 ft. lbs. peak torque at 3250 rpm.
◦6-Speed Cruise Drive® Transmission.
•NEW Round air cleaner cover in brilliant chrome.
•NEW Black Denim powdercoat frame and swingarm.
•NEW Profile Laced Aluminum wheels with black anodized rims. Front wheel is 21 x 2.15 inches; rear wheel is 16 x 3 inches. Dunlop® D402 tires are MH90-21 front and MU85B16 rear.
•NEW FX front end with black powdercoat triple clamps and black painted fork lowers.
•NEW Split Drag™ internally-wired handlebars mount directly to the top triple clamp.
•NEW Asymmetric five-gallon Softail fuel tank is clean on the left side, with a low-profile fuel fill on the right. Die cast "Blackline" trim panel flowing down the center of the tank is just high enough to cover the fuel pump hardware.
•NEW Analog speedometer on a triple-clamp mount that also holds indicator lights. LCD screen on the speedometer includes low-fuel warning and "miles to empty" display function.
•NEW Bobbed rear fender with combination stop/tail/turn lights in black housings, and a new composite license plate holder and light module that mounts on the lower edge of the fender.
•NEW Raw forged rear fender supports are finished in Black Denim powdercoat.
•NEW One-piece, two-up seat and passenger pillion. Laden rider seat height is 24 inches, the lowest two-up seat offered by Harley-Davidson. Gap between the nose of seat and fuel tank exposes the top of the frame.
•NEW 5.75-inch diameter headlamp in gloss black shell.
•Polished forward foot controls.
•Over/under chrome shotgun exhaust.
•Optional Security Package with Anti-lock Braking System and Smart Security System
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