MILWAUKEE (Feb. 1, 2012) - Harley-Davidson revealed two new 2012 models yesterday at Southern California's iconic Cook's Corner roadhouse - one of them a Sportster, and the other a Softail. Both tap into distinct custom movements from decades past.
The new 2012 Harley-Davidson Seventy-Two motorcycle is a metal flake dream machine, a 1200cc Sportster on a trip back to the days when the big boys parked choppers in a row on the curb. From its Hard Candy Big Red Flake paint and ape bars to its narrow whitewall tires, the 2012 Seventy-Two is a respectful nod to that era, and to the influence of the custom culture that still percolates along Whittier Boulevard, the legendary cruising street in East Los Angeles also known as Route 72. A new generation of custom builder is tapping into that era, not just in California but in garages around the world.
"In creating the Seventy-Two, we were also inspired by the vibe of the early chopper era," says Frank Savage, Harley-Davidson Manager of Industrial Design. "Those bikes were colorful and chromed, but also narrow and stripped down to the essentials."
Metal flake, an iconic design element of the '70s, sparkles back to the fore on the Seventy-Two, which is bathed with Hard Candy Big Red Flake paint, a finish created by applying a black base coat followed by a polyurethane system with flakes seven times larger than the norm. Each flake is coated with a thin aluminum film and then tinted red. Four applications of clear coat, combined with hand sanding, create a smooth finish.
"The final touch to the Hard Candy Big Red Flake paint is a logo on the tank top and pinstripe scallop details on both fenders," says Savage. "Each was originally created by hand, and recreated in a decal for production, so they still have the appearance of hand-applied graphics."
A solo seat and side-mounted license plate bracket leave much of the chopped rear fender exposed on the Seventy-Two. The powertrain is finished in Gray powdercoat with chrome covers and a new round air cleaner with a dished cover. A classic Sportster 2.1-gallon "peanut" fuel tank adds a final period touch to the motorcycle.
An air-cooled Evolution 1200cc V-Twin engine with ESPFI powers the package, which rolls on chrome laced wheels, shod with a Dunlop® white side wall 21-incher upfront and 16-inch rear.
A ten-inch mini-ape handlebar mounted on a two-inch high riser dominates the cockpit, which also features a handlebar-mounted speedometer. Completing the rider triangle is a solo seat with a back textured vinyl cover and forward foot controls. Chrome coil-over pre-load adjustable rear shocks providing the damping, and a staggered, shorty dual exhaust with slash-cut mufflers expels the gases out back. Paint color choices include Hard Candy Big Red Flake with pinstripe details on fenders and fuel tank; Black Denim; and Big Blue Pearl.