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2016 Harley-Davidson Motorcycles: Preview

The 2016 Harley-Davidson motorcycles are here! And the updates that the Harleys received this year are big and bold with an emphasis on Big Power and key styling elements within the Harley Cruiser, Harley Bagger, and Harley Custom Vehicle Operations categories across the board. Every year motojournalists from around the globe eagerly anticipate what the Harley-Davidson Motor Company has in store for consumers and for 2016 the H-D motorcycles are definitely packing a punch.

What’s been promoted by Harley-Davidson as featuring its “most powerful cruiser lineup in Harley-Davidson history” is powered by the Screamin’ Eagle Twin Cam 110 engine, the new Fat Boy S and Softail Slim S cruisers deliver power and performance once reserved for Custom Vehicle Operations (CVO) models. Both limited-edition models feature dark styling for menacing looks that match their muscle. The Softail Slim S is available in a new Olive Gold Denim color with military- inspired styling, paying homage to the post-war customs that launched the bobber movement. Harley-Davidson gives more riders a dose of Project RUSHMORE performance by making the High Output Twin Cam 103 engine standard in every other 2016 Softail model. The High Output Twin Cam 103 is also the new standard engine for all 2016 Dyna models except the Street Bob model.

“Our engineers will tell you one of the best predictors of motorcycle acceleration is the power- to-weight ratio,” said Paul James, Harley-Davidson Director of Motorcycle Product Planning. “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, in a keep- them-lean and make-them-mean approach to delivering the performance riders are asking for.”

2016 Harley-Davidson 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 109 pound-feet 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.

2016 Harley-Davidson Softail Slim S

2016 Harley-Davidson Motorcycles 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 optimized 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 color 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 Brad Richards, Harley-Davidson Director of Styling. “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 utilizes rear suspension control provided by coil-over shock absorbers mounted horizontally and out of sight below the transmission. Combination stop/turn/tail lights and a side-mounted license plate 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.

2016 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy S

2016 Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Fat Boy S

Harley-Davidson stylists gave the iconic Fat Boy motorcycle a darker attitude in the S Series, designing a menacing look to complement the muscle of its Screamin’ Eagle Twin Cam 110 engine, trimmed out for this application with a Screamin’ Eagle Ventilator intake and optimized 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 Richards. “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 aluminum disc wheels and is reinforced by the massive headlamp and nacelle, half-moon rider footboards and a classic five-gallon Fat Bob fuel tank. The Softail chassis mimics the clean lines of a vintage hardtail frame but utilizes 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 24.25 inches off the pavement. Color choices are Vivid Black and Denim Black.

2016 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Ultra

2016 Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Road Glide Ultra

“Since its introduction in 2011, the Road Glide Ultra has been the bike of choice for Harley- Davidson owners who ride the hardest and longest,” said Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Product Planning Director Paul James. “In fact, our research shows Road Glide Ultra riders rack up more miles per season than owners of any other Harley-Davidson model. We’ve designed the new Road Glide Ultra for that hard-core touring rider and passenger, with a special focus on aerodynamic performance and by creating a riding position that’s a comfortable place for a long day in the saddle.”

The distinctive design of the frame-mounted Road Glide fairing was created by Harley-Davidson stylists and engineers using computational fluid dynamics, hundreds of hours of development in a wind tunnel and thousands of miles of road testing. Integrated triple splitstream vent openings in the fairing work in concert with the 13.5-inch tall touring windscreen to manage air pressure between the fairing and the rider to virtually eliminate head buffeting. Mid-frame air deflectors mounted below the fairing help to maintain comfortable airflow around the rider and direct cooling air to powertrain components.

Because the fairing is mounted to the frame, the effect of its weight and impact from the wind are reduced through the handlebars, resulting in light, precise steering control. The fairing also holds Dual Reflector Daymaker LED headlamps, a distinctive and conspicuous styling element that punches farther through darkness with brilliant white high- and low-beam illumination.

The rider triangle is unique to the Road Glide Ultra model and designed to put a wide range of riders in a position that’s ideal for long-haul touring comfort. The 1.25-inch diameter handlebar is positioned 1.9 inches higher than Road Glide and Road Glide Special models to optimize long-range touring comfort, and the seat shape is revised and slightly lower.

The 2016 Road Glide Ultra features all of the Project RUSHMORE innovations and technology enhancements that have collectively transformed the Harley-Davidson Touring platform, including stout 49mm forks, Reflex Linked Brakes with ABS, sleeker fenders, lighter Enforcer cast aluminum wheels and improved instrument graphics and hand controls. Cruise control is also standard on the Road Glide Ultra.

The robust touring performance demanded by Road Glide Ultra riders is provided by the Twin- Cooled High Output Twin Cam 103 powertrain. A combination of air-cooled and precision liquid cooling strategies allows the engine to maintain peak performance under the most demanding loads and riding conditions, and enables a higher 10.1:1 compression ratio for increased power and efficiency, including 10.7 percent more peak torque than the standard Twin Cam 103 engine. Coolant circulates through the cylinder heads in the area around the exhaust valves and through heat exchangers located in the left and right fairing lowers. The precision cooling system is thermostatically controlled and uses an electric pump to circulate coolant.

The Road Glide Ultra is equipped with the BOOM! Box 6.5GT infotainment system with color touch screen, GPS and Bluetooth capability. Mounted in a reshaped inner fairing, the 100-watt BOOM! Box 6.5GT is now located two inches closer to the rider compared to previous models for enhanced visibility of the high-resolution screen and an easier reach to the faceplate buttons. All infotainment functions are controlled through thumb-operated five-way joysticks located on the left and right hand controls or the touchscreen. Four 5.25-inch speakers are optimized to the system and mounted in sealed-and-tuned enclosures. Equalization is optimized for the motorcycle environment and automatically adjusts the bass and treble levels to the selected volume for optimal sound quality at all riding speeds. Fairing storage space includes a rubber- lined Jukebox media compartment with USB connection in the right side of the inner fairing.

The new Road Glide Ultra addresses passenger comfort with a seat that’s one inch wider and one inch longer than the previous model, and a revised backrest shape provides more lumbar support. The shape and angle of the armrests are adjusted to keep passenger arms from slipping forward.

Restyled luggage includes sleeker hard saddlebags and a new Tour-Pak luggage shape that offers 4-percent more capacity than the previous design. The Tour-Pak is topped with a chrome tubular luggage rack. The saddlebags and Tour-Pak are equipped with One-Touch latches, a signature design feature of Project Rushmore, for easy one-handed opening or closing. Road Glide Ultra color choices include three categories: Solid: Vivid Black, Superior Pearl; Two Tone: Billet Silver/Vivid Black, Mysterious Red Sunglo/Velocity Red Sunglo; Custom Colors: Purple Fire/Blackberry Smoke, Cosmic Blue Pearl.

2016 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Classic

2016 Harley-Davidson Motorcycles 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 103 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 Rebecca Krueger, Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Product Planning Manager. “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 colors: Solid Vivid Black, Superior Blue, Billet Silver and Olive Gold; Two-tone Crushed Ice Pearl/Frosted Teal Pearl and Amber Whiskey/Vivid Black; Custom Color Purple Fire/Blackberry Smoke and Cosmic Blue Pearl.

2016 Harley-Davidson CVO Limited

2016 Harley-Davidson Motorcycles CVO Limited

Offering the ultimate in refined touring luxury, the CVO Limited model appears in a new paint scheme that flows from front to rear and incorporates new tank badges. New styling details include a color-matched splitstream vent in the batwing fairing, replacing the previous black vent. A new color-matched bezel for the wrap-around lighting on the Tour-Pak luggage replaces the previous black bezel. A new super-premium cover material for the rider and passenger seating surfaces combines vinyl and perforated leather for improved comfort. Refined by Project RUSHMORE, the CVO Limited is equipped with Daymaker LED lighting, Reflex Linked Brakes with ABS, and the color touchscreen BOOM! Box 6.5 GT infotainment system with 3D GPS and 6.5-inch BOOM! Bagger speakers with 75-watt-per-channel amplification. The Airflow Collection combines black rubber and brilliant chrome highlights on heated hand grips, the brake pedal pad and shifter peg and rider and passenger floorboards. Premium removable luggage liners, back-lit hand control and dash switches and a high-output charging system are also standard equipment. The CVO Limited rolls on polished-chrome Slicer custom wheels. The new paint scheme is offered in three color combinations: Palladium Silver/Phantom Blue, Carbon Dust/Electric Red Pearl, and Charcoal Slate/Palladium Silver.

2016 Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide Ultra

2016 Harley-Davidson Motorcycles CVO Road Glide Ultra

Wind-tunnel tested to deliver outstanding aerodynamic performance for rider and passenger, the distinctive frame-mounted, shark-nose fairing of the CVO Road Glide Ultra motorcycle features triple splitstream vents and a 13.5-inch touring windshield to virtually eliminate head buffeting. An exclusive 1.25-inch diameter chrome handlebar offers more pullback and height to position the rider for optimal control and long-haul comfort. Touring comfort is further enhanced by improved seat and backrest shapes and foam density for rider and passenger. A new color-matched bezel for the wrap-around lighting on the Tour-Pak replaces the previous black bezel. The fairing is equipped with brilliant Dual Daymaker Reflector LED headlamps. The color-matched inner fairing holds a color touchscreen BOOM! Box 6.5 GT infotainment system with 3D GPS and 6.5-inch BOOM! Bagger speakers with 75-watt-per-channel amplification. The influence of Project RUSHMORE includes Reflex Linked Brakes with ABS, One-Touch design latches, and stout 49mm forks. A dual- control heated seat, polished chrome Slicer custom wheels, premium removable luggage liners, back-lit hand control and dash switches and a high-output charging system are also standard equipment. The paint scheme features flowing color in three new combinations: Ruby Red/Palladium Silver, Stardust Silver/Palladium Silver, and Charcoal Slate/Carbon Dust.

2016 Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide

2016 Harley-Davidson Motorcycles CVO Street Glide

The CVO Street Glide combines muscular Screamin’ Eagle performance with a premium audio system unmatched for sonic quality in the motorcycle category – a BOOM! Box audio system driving four dual-amped three-way speakers through a pair of 300-watt, four-channel amplifiers, meticulously engineered to deliver extraordinary sound optimized for the motorcycle riding environment. A color-matched splitstream fairing vent replaces the previous black vent in the batwing fairing. The CVO Street Glide also features a side-fill fuel tank topped by a slammed console with illuminated CVO logo, extended saddlebags, Airflow Collection accessories from hand grips to muffler caps, a custom CVO seat, DaymakerTM LED headlamp and aerodynamic Wind Splitter windscreen. Project RUSHMORE features include an iconic Batwing fairing with splitstream vent to reduce head buffeting, Reflex Linked Brakes with ABS, and the BOOM! Box 6.5GT infotainment system with touch screen and GPS. For 2016, wheels are selected to complement each paint color combination: Five-spoke Contrast Chrome Aggressor wheels and a blacked-out engine are paired with the dynamic Carbon Crystal/ Phantom Flames and White Amethyst/Black Licorice Flames colors; Polished Chrome Aggressor wheels and a Granite and Chrome engine are matched with the Atomic Red/ Candy Apple Flames or Black Licorice/Midnight Cobalt Flames colors.

2016 Harley-Davidson Iron 883

2016 Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Iron 883 Sportster

Drawing inspiration from garage-built bobbers past and present, the new Iron 883 model is chopped and drilled, intentionally a little raw and rough around the edges. Clipped fenders, blacked-out powertrain and exhaust, drag-style handlebars and a solo tuck-and-roll seat cover evoke bare-knuckle street performance. A ribbed air cleaner cover speaks to the stamped-from- steel authenticity of this motorcycle. Bullet-hole details on the belt guard, exhaust shields and front fender brace recall a racer’s effort to lighten the bike. Colors and finishes for the Iron 883 were selected to help hide the grit and grime of riding and living in the urban environment, for riders who don’t own – or care to own – a garden hose and a driveway.

“It’s always been my vision that this bike will look better with some dirt or patina,” said Harley- Davidson Senior Stylist Dais Nagao, who led the Iron 883 design project. “It’s quick and nimble and encourages the rider to be aggressive. As it’s ridden it may get some scuffs, scratches or other character marks. We can’t do that at the factory. That’s the privilege of the owner, and becomes part of the story of the bike.”

The Iron 883 is powered by an 883cc Evolution V-Twin engine tuned to power away from stop lights and deliver satisfying performance. A blacked-out floating front brake rotor complements nine-spoke cast aluminum wheels finished in black with machined highlights that reduce unsprung weight by a combined eight pounds to improve ride comfort and handling.

Ride and handling are further enhanced by new cartridge-style forks and new emulsion rear shock absorbers with progressive-rate springs and a threaded pre-load adjustment collar that makes it easy for the rider to dial in shock performance to match road conditions or passenger weight. A special shock adjustment spanner stows under the seat. A passenger pillion matching the tuck-and-roll seat upholstery will be offered through Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Parts & Accessories. The 2016 Iron 883 is offered in four color options: Charcoal Satin, Black Denim, or Olive Gold with an eagle-and-shield tank logo, or Hard Candy Custom Gold Flake with a flame detail paired with black fenders.

2016 Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight

2016 Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Forty-Eight Sportster

The new Forty-Eight motorcycle features a burly 130mm front tire, 49mm forks secured in beefy forged aluminum triple clamps and an aluminum fork brace. The classic 2.1-gallon peanut fuel tank creates a narrow, athletic waist, and chopped fenders expose the tire rubber. A perfect balance of black, color and chrome gives this bike a bold visual presence.

“The low handlebar and forward foot controls put the Forty-Eight rider in an aggressive posture, so we picked up on that with the styling,” said Harley-Davidson Industrial Designer/Stylist Ben McGinley, the lead stylist on the project. “The big front wheel is like a steamroller coming down the street, and we went with the smaller round steel air cleaner and some chrome on the exhaust to draw your eyes to the engine, which looks larger under the peanut tank. I’d describe the theme of this bike as functional muscle.”

The fuel tank styling features horizontal stripes, a throw-back to 1970s style that’s reappearing today on custom bikes. Those lines are repeated throughout the motorcycle, including in the seat stitching, slotted exhaust shields, rear sprocket and belt guard. New lightweight cast-aluminum wheels feature nine split spokes and a solid black finish with machined highlights. A side-mount license plate and combination stop/tail/turn signals keep the rear fender uncluttered.

The new 49mm forks feature a cartridge design tuned to complement new emulsion rear shock absorbers with progressive-rate springs and a threaded pre-load adjustment collar, a combination that delivers a premium, controlled ride over the roughest urban pavement. A shock adjustment spanner is stashed under the solo seat, which has been formed to support the rider with all-day comfort.

The 2016 Forty-Eight is offered in four solid colors: Vivid Black, Billet Silver, Velocity Red Sunglo and Olive Gold. Hard Candy Custom options include Hard Candy Cancun Blue Flake and Hard Candy Gold Flake.

2016 Harley-Davidson Street 750 and Street 500

2016 Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Street 500 and Street 750

Lean, quick and nimble, the Street 750 and Street 500 models combine a lightweight, easy handling chassis with the responsive performance of the liquid-cooled Revolution X powertrain in a café-inspired Dark Custom motorcycle developed for urban riding. For 2016, both Street models receive new front and rear brake systems with 300mm brake rotors and a powerful, stylized front caliper with 34mm pistons and matching rear caliper for even greater confidence when navigating challenging roads. Other braking system upgrades include an improved aluminum integrated rear master cylinder with reservoir, aluminum front master cylinder with reduced friction and higher efficiency, and new brake lines. The rear brake pedal has a new position with improved ergonomics, and the new clutch and brake levers look and feel more robust. The horn mount has been tucked behind the radiator and a modified wiring harness has a tidy appearance. Both 2016 Street models will be offered in Vivid Black, Black Denim and two new colors, Superior Blue and Velocity Red Sunglo.

The new 2016 Harley-Davidson motorcycles and accessories start rolling into Harley-Davidson dealerships immediately. Visit H-D.com to see all 2016 Harley-Davidson models and to find a local authorized Harley-Davidson dealer.