Lose weight quickly! BOGO! Just a few effective promoting and marketing words we think Harley could have easily incorporated into the promotional material to its most recently released model, the Switchback.
It seems everyone as well as their physical trainer are always looking for the newest trend to efficiently shed some pounds. Why not, losing a few pounds helps you look and feel better and you can move much faster and they're a bit more agile. Well, let's say we informed you there was a diet program where you could shed about 100 pounds without reducing your Big Mac take in or jogging one single mile? It's possible. Simply just go into your local Harley dealer and exchange that 812* pound Road King for a 718* pound Dyna Switchback. And best of all, with a price tag that plays around fifteen hundred dollars less expensive than a King, choosing the Switchback you're simply getting yourself a buy one take one value, considering the Switchback is basically two bikes in one.
Obviously the idea of two bikes in one is not a completely new concept from Harley by far; the factory has presented convertibles in the FXR, Dyna, and Softail families. What's special and different with regards to the Switchback is the fact that with its 41.3mm front-end, chrome front lights nacelle, 130mm front wheel, floorboards, tough saddle bags, and full swept FL-style fenders; it looks like from the Touring lineage and not simply a Dyna with hard bags and a windshield. Then when you peel off the windscreen and saddle bags, well, still it kind of looks like part of the Touring family, pretty much undressed, cleared up and more sexy.
As you lay on the saddle and cruise the highway it becomes clear this motorbike isn't the offspring of some plump sofa glide. It's agile and sturdy. I spent some time with the Switchback and everything in it from its external features and maneuvering to the performance, storage capacity, and flexibility pleased me.
The Harley engineers really did their homework when it came to setting up the suspension and steering to make certain the motorbike got the comfy and soft ride of a touring motorcycle, but the control and handling of the Dyna. The front-end geometry, tire specs, and suspension were all created to work together to give crisp and easy steerage.
Inside the big fork legs is a 20mm tube that helps deliver better damping, and at the rear is a set of two Nitrogen-charged mono tube back-end shocks with dual rate springs. The back shocks adjustable, which help make it quite easy to set up the rear suspension for solo, two-up, or loaded up riding. Back to the front, a 130mm Dunlop provides a nice steady footprint and bombing across the road, but the low profile design of the wheel can help get the motorcycle over and in and out of sharp comfortably.
The one thing I definitely observed was that compared to the members under the Touring models which can sometimes bring unwanted feedback in the form of shaking when ticked-off by inconsistencies in the road at top speeds and quick curves, the Switchback was solid from tire to tire at over the top speeds, tight sharp turns, and once loaded up and leaned over in high-speed sweepers. Even tough I gave the mini ape handlebars the right push while cruising straight down the route, the motorbike continuously retained its line without the rear becoming squirrelly or needing time to quiet down.
Driven by the 103ci engine and backed by the 6 speed transmission, the Switchback goes to the spot where you want it, facing that big rig, easily. Granted it's not going to break any kind of speed records, but with the saddle bags fully jam-packed and a touring bag strapped to a baggage carrier, I am able to comfortably slip through slow-moving traffic on inclines without having to drop it down into the fifth. Weighing in 43 pounds lighter compared to the Heritage Softail Classic (761* pounds), and only 12 pounds heavier than the second heaviest Dyna, the Fat Bob (706* pounds), the Switchback is easy to fold back kickstand but not so hefty which slows down the efficiency or potential of its triple digit displacement engine. Bolted to the right side of its rubber secured engine is a chrome 2-into-1 straight cut exhaust that offers a decent note and gives the motorbike a lot more of over all appearance and not the dual traditional look available on most touring models. And unlike the Touring models which have tailpipe system secured to the rear of the saddle bag sustains, Harley engineers designed the back exhaust hanger clump to mount the back of the drive train and to actually move while using drive train. With overall weight a main concern, Harley opted for an aluminum rear end hanger bracket as opposed to metal.
Slowing down or arriving at a quick stop is assisted by a 4 piston set front caliper and 300mm regular expansion floating rotor, with a two-piston torque-free rear end caliper getting down on a 292mm rotor. The bike I tested had the Security Package Option which bundles the Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) together with the Smart Security System.
The Switchback looks like it could be the Road King's younger brother because the King has been a crowd favorite within Harley-Davidson collectors. The measurements of the motorbike are perfect along with the saddle bags being about 25 percent smaller than a regular FLT saddle bag and a 4.7-gallon tank and not 6-gallon tank that comes with the King. Even though the bags are smaller sized, I was able to pack in them a jumper, a few shirts, a tool roll, and a video camera in one bag alone, by installing a sissy bar or maybe a baggage rack and adding a sizable travel bag and hooked up my motorcycle helmet on the side, I'm able to pack just enough gear with me on a two-week road trip.
It seems everyone as well as their physical trainer are always looking for the newest trend to efficiently shed some pounds. Why not, losing a few pounds helps you look and feel better and you can move much faster and they're a bit more agile. Well, let's say we informed you there was a diet program where you could shed about 100 pounds without reducing your Big Mac take in or jogging one single mile? It's possible. Simply just go into your local Harley dealer and exchange that 812* pound Road King for a 718* pound Dyna Switchback. And best of all, with a price tag that plays around fifteen hundred dollars less expensive than a King, choosing the Switchback you're simply getting yourself a buy one take one value, considering the Switchback is basically two bikes in one.
Obviously the idea of two bikes in one is not a completely new concept from Harley by far; the factory has presented convertibles in the FXR, Dyna, and Softail families. What's special and different with regards to the Switchback is the fact that with its 41.3mm front-end, chrome front lights nacelle, 130mm front wheel, floorboards, tough saddle bags, and full swept FL-style fenders; it looks like from the Touring lineage and not simply a Dyna with hard bags and a windshield. Then when you peel off the windscreen and saddle bags, well, still it kind of looks like part of the Touring family, pretty much undressed, cleared up and more sexy.
As you lay on the saddle and cruise the highway it becomes clear this motorbike isn't the offspring of some plump sofa glide. It's agile and sturdy. I spent some time with the Switchback and everything in it from its external features and maneuvering to the performance, storage capacity, and flexibility pleased me.
The Harley engineers really did their homework when it came to setting up the suspension and steering to make certain the motorbike got the comfy and soft ride of a touring motorcycle, but the control and handling of the Dyna. The front-end geometry, tire specs, and suspension were all created to work together to give crisp and easy steerage.
Inside the big fork legs is a 20mm tube that helps deliver better damping, and at the rear is a set of two Nitrogen-charged mono tube back-end shocks with dual rate springs. The back shocks adjustable, which help make it quite easy to set up the rear suspension for solo, two-up, or loaded up riding. Back to the front, a 130mm Dunlop provides a nice steady footprint and bombing across the road, but the low profile design of the wheel can help get the motorcycle over and in and out of sharp comfortably.
The one thing I definitely observed was that compared to the members under the Touring models which can sometimes bring unwanted feedback in the form of shaking when ticked-off by inconsistencies in the road at top speeds and quick curves, the Switchback was solid from tire to tire at over the top speeds, tight sharp turns, and once loaded up and leaned over in high-speed sweepers. Even tough I gave the mini ape handlebars the right push while cruising straight down the route, the motorbike continuously retained its line without the rear becoming squirrelly or needing time to quiet down.
Driven by the 103ci engine and backed by the 6 speed transmission, the Switchback goes to the spot where you want it, facing that big rig, easily. Granted it's not going to break any kind of speed records, but with the saddle bags fully jam-packed and a touring bag strapped to a baggage carrier, I am able to comfortably slip through slow-moving traffic on inclines without having to drop it down into the fifth. Weighing in 43 pounds lighter compared to the Heritage Softail Classic (761* pounds), and only 12 pounds heavier than the second heaviest Dyna, the Fat Bob (706* pounds), the Switchback is easy to fold back kickstand but not so hefty which slows down the efficiency or potential of its triple digit displacement engine. Bolted to the right side of its rubber secured engine is a chrome 2-into-1 straight cut exhaust that offers a decent note and gives the motorbike a lot more of over all appearance and not the dual traditional look available on most touring models. And unlike the Touring models which have tailpipe system secured to the rear of the saddle bag sustains, Harley engineers designed the back exhaust hanger clump to mount the back of the drive train and to actually move while using drive train. With overall weight a main concern, Harley opted for an aluminum rear end hanger bracket as opposed to metal.
Slowing down or arriving at a quick stop is assisted by a 4 piston set front caliper and 300mm regular expansion floating rotor, with a two-piston torque-free rear end caliper getting down on a 292mm rotor. The bike I tested had the Security Package Option which bundles the Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) together with the Smart Security System.
The Switchback looks like it could be the Road King's younger brother because the King has been a crowd favorite within Harley-Davidson collectors. The measurements of the motorbike are perfect along with the saddle bags being about 25 percent smaller than a regular FLT saddle bag and a 4.7-gallon tank and not 6-gallon tank that comes with the King. Even though the bags are smaller sized, I was able to pack in them a jumper, a few shirts, a tool roll, and a video camera in one bag alone, by installing a sissy bar or maybe a baggage rack and adding a sizable travel bag and hooked up my motorcycle helmet on the side, I'm able to pack just enough gear with me on a two-week road trip.
About the Author:
A buff and custom motorbike builder himself; He runs to a motorcycle superstore from time to time to check out the newest stuff such as motorcycle helmets, apparel, parts and accessories to review.
