Test ride with my fingers crossed!

Test ride with my fingers crossed!

I recently entered the annual competition Harley run. It's usually global so the odds of winning aren't the greatest, but like their wonderfully over the top bikes it's  prizes are so very shiny you have to have a go.
This year they're giving you one of their touring bikes, flying you out to the USA to see it being built, taking you for a ride, letting you loose in New York and handing over £2000 spending money! Now I'm not a fan of the huge tourers but this I had to have a go at.

I booked my test ride in February, a weather risky month here in the UK, at the fantastic Lakeside Harley Davidson and signed up to take out a Street Glide Special.

This beast weighs in at 376kg so I was relieved it had stayed dry when they wheeled her out, I was intrigued by the new, highly touted, Milwaukee Eight engine that Harley have installed on their new tourers. It is a 107 cubic inch (1753 cc for those that speak metric) monster that has been getting great reviews and thoroughly deserves them. The low end torque slaps a grin on your mug the second you twist the throttle. Tamed by and excellent slipper clutch that makes it pull rather than spin the rear end out it is a smooth surge through the entire six speed gear box that never stops pulling.

New Showa suspension , supportive seats and plenty of luggage room make for a summer of mile munching in comfort. The gear box and brakes will make it a smooth and confident one.

The only down side I found was the buffeting on the motor way from the Bat Wing fairing, until I notice the vents had been left open, once closed things improved, but I'm not a fan of the weight the instrument, satnav and entertainment centre, laden fairing adds to the front end at slow speeds

The low down location of the radiator seems a bit of an oversight as well. It gets hammered by mud and debris.

Over all though I had a great ride, and fingers crossed!