MotorBikes: Harley-Davidson FXDBThe new Harley-Davidson Street Bob is, says Conor Twomey, a special occasion - and a real Harley experience
The sun is beating down on me, and I roar across a mountain pass aboard my Harley-Davidson Street Bob. The massive torque, of its 96-cubic-inch, air-cooled, pushrod V-Twin, means I'm clipping along a decent lick with the engine barely turning over, so rather than carving through every corner as I normally do on test rides, I simply rest my hands on the mini ape-hanger bars, and soak in the scenery.
It's a cliché, I know, but that's what riding a Harley-Davidson is all about. It's more than just a bike ride. It's a special occasion.
Up to today, the only Harleys I've ridden have been in Texas and California, and over there it feels like the most natural and normal thing in the world. Long, straight roads with gentle curves and smooth surfacing are the natural stomping ground for the laid-back Harley range, while the company's fiercely loyal customers salute you as they pass and engage you in conversation when you stop. In America, Harleys are more than just a way of getting around. They're a way of life.
Finding myself atop the Street Bob on a warmish August afternoon on the Wicklow mountains, then, is quite surreal. The roads I'm on are not exactly Interstate standard, and they're dotted with damp patches and gravel that's been washed out by the recent deluge, making it a much more involving ride than I had anticipated.
I'm also decked out in Spada sportbike gear, not quite as rebellious as the ripped vest and bandana headgear favoured by hard-nose Harley fans in the US perhaps, but a good deal safer in the event of a spill I expect. And yet despite the road conditions not being ideal, and not having the correct Harley uniform, I'm thoroughly enjoying the whole experience - much, much more than I had expected in fact.
The Street Bob, or Harley-Davidson FXDB Dyna Street Bob to give it its full name, is part of Harley's Dyna family, which emulates the look of the factory customs from the 1970s.
Its ape bars, exposed coilover rear suspension and big V-Twin make it one of the most recognisable of the firm's bikes and, finished in matte Denim Black, it's also one of the meanest looking, too. Dublin Harley-Davidson, which provided my test bike, fitted an aftermarket pipe kit to our Street Bob, so it not only looked like a complete badass, it also made all the right noises.
Rolling out on to the heavy Naas Road traffic, I couldn't help but notice the reaction from other road users - it seems as if everyone was drawn to the immense sound and entranced by the contrast of matte black and gleaming chrome.
As much fun as posing on my Street Bob, riding it proved to be even more amusing.
The bars on my test bike were set up for someone a bit smaller, so I wasn't able to get quite far forward enough to be comfortable, but otherwise the riding position was roomy, and the broad seat was as comfortable as you'd expect an American bike's to be.
On the open road I certainly felt the wind in my face, but because I was sitting quite low it didn't batter me about as much as I expected. The muscular new 1584cc V-twin pulls strongly from tickover (peak torque of 124Nm is delivered at just 3,125rpm) and remains astonishingly smooth and civilised all the way up to the rev-limiter, although I can't tell you where exactly it runs out of puff, because the Street Bob has elegant, but rather basic, retro-style instruments.
At least the rev-limiter is gentle about reining in your enthusiasm, and pretty soon you learn from the sound and feel of the engine when is a good time to change gear anyway.
On twisty roads, the long bars make the steering feel light, while the low centre of gravity (and low riding position) helps stability and make the bike surprisingly easy to throw around.
That's not to imply that it's a sporty bike, you understand, but it is unexpectedly satisfying to power out of corners on the Street Bob, dragging the pegs along the asphalt with the fat rear tyre squirming around for grip.
Its comfort-tuned ride also means it never feels skittish or unsettled over bad Irish surfaces, while ensuring a smooth ride on motorways and well-worn national roads, too.
All in all, then, the Street Bob is quite a fun bike to pilot, not for its outright pace or unrivalled dynamic brilliance, but because it manages to offer a variety of riding experiences all at the same time.
It's a bike that likes to be looked at and listened to, sure, but it's also quick and agile enough to give far sportier machines a bit of a scare, if not a proper run for their money.
There's simply nothing quite like riding around on a Harley-Davidson and the Street Bob is definitely one of the better ways of enjoying the whole Harley experience.
Factfile:
Engine: 1,584cc (96 C.I.) air-cooled, rubber-mounted pushrod V-twin
Output: 76hp, 123Nm
Transmission: Six-speed gearbox, wet clutch
Frame: Tubular steel
Dimensions: length: 2,255mm, width: N/A, wheelbase: 1,630mm, seat height 655mm
Weight: 290kg dry
Suspension: 49mm USD telescopic forks, steel swingarms with external coilover shock absorber
Wheels: Spoked steel, 19" front, 17" rear
Tyres: Dunlop HD Series: Front 100/90-19 57H Rear 160/70B17 73V
Brakes: Four-piston front calliper, single 300mm disc; two-piston rear calliper, 292mm single disc
Price: €16,570