2007 Harley-Davidson Motorcycles - New 1600cc 6-Speed Engine For All Big Twins

The V-Rod family is welcoming two new models based on the 1130cc VR engine. The VRSCDX Night Rod Special, which Harley's release calls "the evil twin brother of the Night Rod," is easily distinguished with a wicked style set by an almost totally blacked-out finish. Its dark side is apparent almost everywhere, including the 120-horsepower engine, the hyrdoformed frame, back fork sliders, black triple clamps, swingarm, color-matched black screen visor, brushed Straight-shot Dual exhaust with black end caps, black exhaust shields, black Machined Slotted Disc cast aluminum wheels with orange pin-striping and a black on (you guessed it!) black paint scheme. The seat has been restyled slightly. Suggested price is $16,495.

The other new V-Rod, the limited-edition VRSCX, pays homage to the scorchingly successful Screamin' Eagle/Vance & Hines NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle dragracing team with more than just radical drag-race styling and components. It's also armed with a 1250cc, 123-horsepower version of the VR double-overhead camshaft engine. Race-inspired touches include drag bars, forward foot controls, a Profile Laced Aluminum front wheel with a cast rear wheel mounting the same 240mm tire as the Night Rod Special, drag visor and paint and graphics featuring a redesigned version of the Harley's tradition Number 1 logo. Only 1,400 units will be produced at a suggested price of $19.995, and wheelie bars are not standard equipment.

The power upgrade offered by the new 1584cc engine might be most welcomed by purchasers of Harley's Touring series motorcycles, since they may load their machines enough to fully employ the additional torque and horsepower. No doubt incorporating the six-speed Cruise Drive transmission will also be appreciated most by riders of Electra Glides and the rest of the Touring familiy because the new ratio set lowers rpm by about 11 percent in top gear on the highway. Our experiences with this drive train also promise much lighter clutch pulls and far smoother, more controllable clutch engagement, features that you don't fully appreciate until you have ridden the bike in traffic or turned around in a tight spot.

In the Dyna family, the FXDC Dyna Super Glide Custom has been massaged with a new two-up, ribbed seat, a Fat Bob fuel tank with a Wide Glide-style tank-mounted speedometer and ignition console, additional chrome and other custom touches, including a mini-pullback handlebar. It starts at $14,645 in black and $14,970 in Black Pearl, Black Cherry Pearl, Deep Cobalt Pearl, Pewter Pearl (a new color), or Yellow Pearl. You can add the new security system on any of the new models for $325, and putting the optional Profile Aluminum Laced wheels on your Dyna Super Glide Custom instead of the cast wheels will add $450.

For 2007, Harley's Custom Vehicle Operations (CVO) has four models: the Screamin' Eagle Road King ($28,495), the Screamin' Eagle Ultra Classic Electra Glide ($33,495), the Screamin' Eagle Softail Springer ($24,995), and the Screamin' Eagle Dyna ($24,995), all of which get a new high-performance Twin Cam 110-cubic-inch powertrain with the six-speed gearbox.

Other product announcements include the new Harley-Davidson Smart Security System, which features a hands-free fob and auto arming/disarming. It's an available factory-installed option for all models. The company has 17 new color combinations for 2007.

We expect to ride the new bikes in the next week and will have reports then.