Sydney,
Australia: The
rush of acceleration never gets old. That instant when the light turns green,
the throttle snaps open and torque slams the back tyre, is a moment
motorcyclists crave. In 2016 Harley-Davidson gives riders more of that feeling
with the launch of its most powerful line-up of cruiser models ever, including
the new S Series Fat Boy® S
and Softail Slim® S
models powered by the fierce Screamin’ Eagle® Twin Cam 110™engine.
That’s just the beginning of the torque-fest Harley-Davidson is offering
cruiser riders – there’s more power and new features across the entire Softail®
range in 2016.
“Our engineers will tell you one of the
best predictors of motorcycle acceleration is the power-to-weight ratio,” said Adam
Wright, Director of Marketing for Harley-Davidson Australia & New Zealand.
“It’s something you can’t see on a dyno sheet, but you will feel it when you
twist the throttle. We’ve put more power in our Big Twin cruisers for 2016,
without adding weight, to deliver the performance riders are asking for.”
2016
S Series
It’s the classic hot-rod move – drop in a
bigger motor. Make that the biggest motor. The Screamin’ Eagle® performance
once reserved for Custom Vehicle Operations™ (CVO) models is now available in
regular-production motorcycles for the first time ever. With styling inspired
by cutting edge trends in custom motorcycle culture, the limited-edition Fat Boy
S and Softail Slim S models feature the Screamin’ Eagle Twin Cam 110, an engine
tuned to make up to 148 Nm/109 lb ft of torque. Restyled with minimal bright
work, the new S Series models are built for riders who want to stand out on the
toughest bike in town. Both the Fat Boy S and the Softail Slim S feature
Harley-Davidson® electronic cruise control, ABS, and H-D® Factory Security
System as standard equipment.
Softail
Slim S
Classic, lean bobber style, from the
clipped rear fender to the Hollywood handlebar, is the calling card of the
Softail Slim® model. Now the S Series version ups the performance ante with a
gloss-black Screamin’ Eagle Twin Cam 110 powertrain featuring the Screamin’
Eagle® Stage 1 high-flow intake and optimised jet-black over/under dual shotgun
mufflers. Every speck of chrome has been replaced with gloss black paint. The
Softail Slim S is offered in Vivid Black bodywork or the new Olive Gold Denim
colour with military-inspired tank graphics.
“While the Olive Gold paint and star
graphic are reminiscent of the WLA military models Harley-Davidson built during
World War II, the Softail Slim S pays homage to the post-war chop-ups made from
those bikes after the war,” said Adam Wright, Director of Marketing for
Harley-Davidson Australia & New Zealand. “Those garage customs started the
bobber era that continues to inspire our styling team today.”
The Softail Slim S is a rugged,
no-nonsense bobber. The Softail® chassis mimics the clean lines of a vintage
hardtail frame, but utilises rear suspension control provided by coil-over
shock absorbers mounted horizontally and out of sight below the transmission.
Combination stop/turn/tail lights keep the minimal rear fender clean. Period
styling cues include a gloss black cat’s eye tank console with a retro
speedometer face, half-moon rider footboards, a round air cleaner cover, and
laced wheels with gloss black rims and hubs. The cover of the solo seat is
stitched in a tuck-and-roll pattern.
Fat
Boy S
Harley-Davidson stylists give the iconic
Fat Boy® motorcycle a darker attitude in the S Series, designing a menacing
look that matches the muscle of its Screamin’ Eagle Twin Cam 110 engine,
trimmed out for this application with a Screamin’ Eagle® Ventilator intake and
optimised jet-black over/under dual shotgun mufflers.
“When we started styling the Fat Boy S we
took it completely black, and then we pulled it back a little until our gut
told us it was right,” said Wright. “We kept the highlights on the wheels and
the tank badge, but this is still the darkest Fat Boy ever.”
The Fat Boy S rolls with fat-custom
style, an attitude that starts with the bullet-hole aluminium disc wheels and
is reinforced by the massive headlamp and nacelle, half-moon rider footboards
and a classic 18.9 litre Fat Bob® fuel tank.
The Softail chassis mimics the clean
lines of a vintage hardtail frame but utilises rear suspension control provided
by coil-over shock absorbers mounted horizontally and out of sight below the
transmission. Slammed suspension and a low-slung seat put the rider just 670 millimetres
off the pavement. Colour choices are Vivid Black and Denim Black.
High
Output Twin Cam 103™ Power for Softail
Harley-Davidson gives cruiser riders a
dose of Project RUSHMORE performance by making the High Output Twin Cam 103B™
engine standard in every 2016 Softail model (except the Softail Slim S and Fat
Boy S). Tuned to deliver strong acceleration and passing power, the HO 103
engine is equipped
with a high-flow airbox and camshaft that optimises bottom-end torque. The result
is an improvement in performance a rider will feel every day.
Softail Cruise Control
For the first time ever, the convenience
of Harley-Davidson electronic cruise control is standard equipment for select
2016 Softail models and available as a dealer-installed accessory for all other
2016 Softail models. To accommodate the cruise control system, all Softail
models are equipped with electronic throttle control. Cruise control will be
factory-installed on the Heritage Softail® Classic, Softail® Deluxe, Fat Boy S
and Softail Slim S models, and offered through Harley-Davidson® Genuine Motor
Parts & Accessories for the Breakout®, Fat Boy®, Fat Boy Lo®, and Softail
Slim® models.
Refreshed
Heritage Softail Classic
Combining the look of a vintage dresser
with smooth, modern Softail performance, the Heritage Softail Classic model
combines classic cruiser attitude with modern touring comfort and amenities. In
addition to its new High Output Twin Cam 103B powertrain and new electronic
cruise control, the Heritage Softail receives refreshed styling for 2016.
“You can draw a straight styling line
from the Hydra-Glide models of the 1950s to the new Heritage Softail,” said Wright.
“The new bike looks more like the original, still nostalgic but with fewer
studs on the saddlebags, seat and backrest, and a new tank badge.”
The leather saddlebags feature new
conchos with red starburst inserts that match highlights in the seat skirt and
tank badge. The saddlebags also have a new and improved internal support
structure to maintain their shape. A new leather fuel tank panel matches the
pattern of the backrest.
The Heritage Softail Classic retains its
other popular features, including a passenger backrest, a full-coverage
removable windshield with quick-release mounts, a deep FL-style front fender
and chrome laced wheels with covered hubs. ABS is standard equipment.
The 2016 Heritage Softail Classic is
available in the following colours: Solid Vivid Black, Superior Blue, Billet Silver and Olive
Gold; Two-tone Crushed Ice Pearl/Frosted Teal Pearl and Amber Whiskey/Vivid
Black; Custom Colour Purple Fire/Blackberry Smoke and Cosmic Blue Pearl.
The new
2016 Harley-Davidson® motorcycles and accessories start rolling into Harley-Davidson® dealerships soon with availability
from 1 October, 2015. Visit H-D.com.au to see all 2016
Harley-Davidson models® and to find a local Authorised Harley-Davidson dealer.
Harley-Davidson
can be followed on Facebook facebook.com/harleyaustralia, Twitter twitter.com/harleyaustralia, Instagram instagram.com/harleyaustralia
and YouTube youtube.com/user/HarleyDavidsonAus
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