However, if you are willing to buy sight-unseen, Yamaha has some special incentives for those who put a deposit on one of the 'Liners. If you'd rather try before you buy, Yamaha has a program to help dealers maintain demo bikes.-Art Friedman
'06 Holdovers
Not to be undone...well, actually, that's not true. Even though Honda has also unveiled its first 2006-model-year cruiser motorcycle models, the list includes 10 carryover models, basically '05 bikes adorned with minor cosmetic changes. With '06 VTX1300 models, Shadow Sabre and Spirit 1100s, Shadow Aero and Spirit 750s, the 600cc Shadow VLX and VLX Deluxe and the unchanged 250cc Rebel, there's no new bling in Honda's ring just yet, but we anticipate Team Red will announce additional '06 models (likely to include more carryovers) in the next few months. Stay tuned.
Meanwhile, Kawasaki decided to take Honda's lead, also announcing a short list of carryover models for the '06 model year. The usual suspects include the Vulcan 750 and Drifter 800 in an array of colors. No major changes or upgrades were announced, though we like to think Kawasaki has something up its sleeve to be revealed this autumn.
Screamin' Eagle Stripper
Joining the ever-expanding ranks of the V-Rod family is Harley's newest long and low tire-wrecker. You can't take the VRXSE Screamin Eagle V-Rod Destroyer on the road, however-this incarnation of the streetwise V-Rod is fast and nasty, and purpose-built to challenge the Christmas trees of dragstrips everywhere. Sprung from the same speed-addled minds that brought you the Vance & Hines World Champion Pro-Stock motorcycle, the Destroyer is a production race-ready rocket that's good to go out of the box (if you happen to be on a dragstrip, anyway). The big-bore 1300cc Screamin' Eagle Revolution motor churns out 170 ponies at the rear wheel along with 97 foot-pounds of torque for quick getaways and blistering runs. A custom paint job, dragrace-only wheels and slicks, a race-ready chassis, wheelie bar and on-board shift light make it the real deal. Poseurs need not apply. The MSRP is not yet available. Visit www.harley-davidson.com for more details.
Insurgent Custom
There isn't exactly a huge selection of riding rigs out in Iraq these days, but no one ever said U.S. troops aren't a resourceful bunch. Sergeant Mark Byars from Tennessee has been deployed in the war zone since last year, and told us via e-mail that he missed riding his Road King so much, he was able to, uh, persuade some local insurgents to let him borrow theirs. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to make it a long-term rental because shortly thereafter the beater was destroyed, but he says his short time on the bike was enough to rekindle a few fond memories of riding his hog. Luckily, he had the foresight to send us a picture of the mangled machine. Here's to ya, Byars, and we hope to see you back home safe and sound. -Andrew Cherney
Brand Re-Recognition
The Indian Motorcycle Company (whose rights were purchased six months ago; see details at www.motor-cyclecruiser.com) is getting ready to ride again. We're told it's in a pre-production phase right now, which will likely last 9-12 months. In the latest press release, the new owners say they've reestablished contact with many of the former parts suppliers for Indian, and are evaluating the viability of Indian's Powerplus engine (as relating to stricter CARB and EPA standards in the near future) before choosing future Indian models. 2003 and '04 bikes will likely be selected as a starting point for new designs, however. You can follow the progress of the new Indian at www.indian-motorcycle.com.