Harley unveils seven new 2006 models

Harley-Davidson yesterday unveiled its 2006 line--including what company officials called a record seven new models--to the press with a tech briefing and ride in the Rocky Mountains outside Denver. And the results are, in a word, impressive.

The biggest revelation comes in the form of those seven new models, five of them in the normal Harley line--the minimalist Street Bob, the nostalgic 35th Anniversary Super Glide, the custom bagger Street Glide, the reintroduced Heritage Softail and the latest derivation of the V-Rod line, the Night Rod. Then there are two additions to the company's limited-production Custom Vehicles Operations, the Screamin' Eagle Ultra Classic Electra Glide and a production drag-racer based on the V-Rod motor.

Members of the press got a chance to ride all those machines in a loop along the Front Range of the Rockies from Denver up to the little town of Nederland, at almost 9,000 feet above sea level. Here are some quick impressions from the day.

"There's no part of this bike you can chop off without making it illegal or unridable." That's the way Peter-Michael Keppler, head of marketing for the Harley Dyna line, introduced the new FXDBI Street Bob (left).

Inspired by "bobbers" built by American riders in the '50s--stripped-down machines with chopped-off, "bobbed" fenders. the Street Bob (starting at $13,195) is light on extras. There's the Harley Twin Cam 88 engine, a solo seat, two wheels, a pair of ape hanger bars and not much else. The result is a lot easier on the eyes than it is on the torso when you settle into the low seat and reach up to the handgrips. But hey, we're talkin' style here, and sometimes that means you have to give up a little comfort.

The other addition to the Dyna line is also quite stylish. It's the 35th Anniversary Super Glide (left), the latest incarnation of the bike that was the original factory custom when Willie G. Davidson drew it up in 1971. The new Super Glide ($16,795) doesn't have the distinctive "boat-tail" rear end of the '71 model, but it gets a red, white and blue color scheme that recalls the original nicely.

Both the Street Bob and the Super Glide benefit from several functional changes introduced to the Dyna line this year. There's a new six-speed "Cruise Drive" transmission, a redesigned frame, lighter clutch actuation and improved braking, thanks to a switch to DOT 4 brake fluid. The clutch parts are said to reduce lever effort on the Dyna line by 35 percent, and that feels about right, replacing the old forearm-muscle workout of Harley clutch levers with a light, progressive engagement. And the six-speed features a shorter throw and lighter action at the shift lever. The top gear isn't an overdrive, but it is somewhat higher than the top cog in the old five-speed, making it a nice cruising gear at highway speeds.

Meanwhile, Harley's FL touring lineup gets an impressive addition with the FLHX Street Glide (left), a ready-made custom bagger that looks and works great.

At the front, the Street Glide (starting at $17,795) retains the familiar Electra Glide "batwing" fairing, topped by a small, eyebrow windshield. In back, the Tour Pak has been eliminated and the bike lowered a full inch. Plus, there are plenty of custom touches, like the fairing-mounted mirrors, color-matched saddlebag latches and a rear fender that fans out to blend into the bags and ends in three distinctive lines of LED lights.

The result is a very custom, integrated look from nearly any angle. But even more impressive is the transformation in the feel of the machine. Standard Electra Glides can feel top-heavy in corners, while the Street Glide pivots smoothly into a turn, with remarkably low steering effort. It's fun to ride at anything from walking speed on up, and fun to look at in the garage when you're through.

The Street Glide and other Harley touring models that come with audio systems now get a new-generation Harman Kardon system that raises the bar on motorcycle sound components. It still features a CD player, plus a receiver for AM, FM and Weather Band. But now, the player will handle CD-Rs filled up with MP3 files, offering tech-savvy riders the opportunity to load up hours of music on a single CD.

In addition, there are add-on modules to give you XM satellite radio or a Bluetooth wireless connection to your cellphone, plus, in September, a GPS receiver. And if that's not enough, there's a standard auxiliary jack where you can plug in a pocket iPod-style MP3 player. Nearly all of those options were available to try, and worked seamlessly through the in-dash display.

The FLST Heritage Softail (left, starting at $15,495), which helped make retro cool from 1986 through '90, comes back to the Harley lineup, rounding out the Softail line. Three of those other Softails, the Standard, the Springer and the Night Train, also get a new, wider 200mm rear tire.

The VRSCD Night Rod becomes the third member of the V-Rod family, powered by Harley's new-tech, liquid-cooled, dual-overhead-cam, 60-degree V-twin motor. It joins the original V-Rod and the Street Rod, introduced as a 2006 model earlier this year. Prices on the two existing models have been reduced (the V-Rod now retails for $15,995, while the Street Rod carries a list price of $15,495), but the Night Rod comes in lower yet, at $14,995.

The Night Rod (left) has the mid-mounted footpegs of the Street Rod, as opposed to the forward controls of the V-Rod. But the front end geometry is somewhere between the two, and the Night Rod also sports a dramatically lower seat (just 26 inches off the pavement), giving the machine a dragbike feel that's enhanced by the motor's claimed 120 horsepower.

If that's not enough, perhaps you need the Custom Vehicle Operations Destroyer (left), a competition-only dragbike Harley has developed for sale through dealers. It's a race-ready machine, complete with a bored and stroked motor the company says will develop more than 165 horsepower, a 25-inch by 7-inch rear slick, wheelie bars, a lockup clutch, air shifter, two-stage launch box and a programmable shift light. Harley officials say it will be good for 10-second quarter-mile times right out of the box, all for the low, low price of $31,249 (hey, if you have to ask...).

The CVO folks also got their hands on an Ultra Classic Electra Glide for '06 (left), giving it a 103-cubic-inch motor and a number of custom features, including the XM satellite add-on for the sound system. Only about 4,000 will be made, with a retail price of $31,995.