First Ride
For those keeping track of OEM marketing efforts,
'Low' is the buzzword for Harley-Davidson in 2011. 'Low', as in subterranean seat heights, more subtle exhaust notes, and an easier stretch to terra firma for the inseam-challenged. That was the vibe at the Motor Company's 2011 model year launch, which consisted of several new bikes, but none touched on as frequently or emphatically as the new Sportster SuperLow. But we'll get to that in a second.
The whole shebang was a low-er key affair than last year's 39-model push; Harley rolled out three new models for its 2011 main line, compared with the 7 new ones we saw for 2010 (not including the CVO bikes). Hey, times are tough.
The SuperLow, XR1200X and Road Glide Ultra join the mainline OE lineup as new machines, with the rest being carry-over motorcycles (making for a grand total of 32 models).
Other headline news for 2011 is the addition of a bigger Big Twin powerplant on select Harley-Davidson Tourers. The new Twin Cam 103, a bigger-bore version of the long-running TC96, now powers several of H-D's 2011 top-shelf baggers, among them the all-new FLTRU Road Glide Ultra and the Road King Classic (it's still on the Ultra Limited, too). Harley arrived at the new TC103 by increasing the TC96's bore from 3.750 inches to 3.875 inches. The CVO line meanwhile, holds steady with its 110-inch SE engines, and the remaining Big Twins (the Road King, Electra Glide Classic and Ultra Classic Electra Glide, as well as Softail and Dyna platforms) keep engine size at 96 cubic inches.
We got the chance to ride Harley's three newest mainline models-as well as some carryover machines with upgrades- at the 2011 introduction in Portland, Oregon.
2011 XL 883L SuperLow
Helmet:...
2011 XL 883L SuperLow
Helmet: HJC CL-16
Jacket: Shift Streetfighter Hybrid
Gloves: RevIt!
Jeans: Shift Torque
Boots: Icon SuperDuty 3
It's no secret the Sportster series usually sits near the top of Harley's sales charts (the XL883L Low dominates the entry level segment). The Motor Company apparently feels the next generation of its consumers will be coming through that door, which is probably why the Harley rep presenting the new SuperLow greeted gathered journalists with an emphatic, "This bike is
not made for you guys."
To that end, the Low was redesigned to tackle one of its most egregious shortcomings-ride comfort. Where the Low had virtually no rear suspension travel, Harley imbues the SuperLow with a more compliant ride while keeping the seat at an ultra-low 26.8 inches (H-D says it's the same as the 2010 Low, but the company's own spec sheet says the Low had a lower, 26.3 inch seat height). Any way you slice it, the powers-that-be felt those tweaks were substantial enough to earn the SuperLow a new model designation.
At first glance, things appear to be pretty much standard-issue Sportster. But move closer and the extent of the makeover unfurls, starting with a plusher, redesigned solo saddle abutting a bigger gas tank; a new, wider fork; and different wheel and tire dimensions along with rejiggered damping rates front and back.
Harley cleverly addressed the Low Seat/Ride Comfort Conundrum by playing with the spec sheet numbers. The new, split five-spoke (technically, ten) rear wheel is shod with a lower-profile Michelin radial for a reduced overall height-even though the wheel is now 17 inches. That makes way for longer-travel, dual coil-over shocks (now 2.5 inches) under the rear fender. Those longer suspenders also get recalibrated damping rates to better diffuse road imperfections.