Born To Be Wild

THAT is one sick ride!

The Harley Davidson Crossbones continues to awe cruiser enthusiasts around the globe thanks to its dark and mean looking character.

Based on the original springer, the FLSTSB Softail category machine defines factory produced 'custom' motorcycles to a whole new dimension.

Harley already pushed the enveloped middle of last year when it introduced its Rocker C range for the 2008 collection. Nevertheless, the Crossbones is certainly one of the best designed factory bike seen today.

Wonder if the other metric bikes or Jap bikes, especially Kawasaki, would try their hands on creating a smaller rip off. After all, Kawasaki's sales of its Vulcan and Nomad series, which many claim is similar to that of a Harley Softail and Touring respectively, has boomed over the years and their version of a Crossbones could take the scene by storm - at half the price of its American counterpart.

BASIC STATS
Length: 90.5 in.
Seat Height: Laden - 26.6 in. Unladen - 30.2 in.
Ground Clearance: 4.9 in.
Rake Steering Head/Trail : 32°
Wheelbase : 64.5 in.
Fuel Capacity: 5.0 gal.
Oil Capacity: 3.0 qt.
Weight: Dry Weight - 700.0 lbs. Running Order - 737.0 lbs.

POWERTRAIN
Engine: Air-cooled, Twin Cam 96B™
Displacement: 96.0 in.³
Bore x Stroke: 3.75 in. x 4.38 in.
Engine Torque: 84.8 ft. lbs. @ 3100 rpm
Fuel System: Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI)
Compression Ratio: 9.2:1
Miles per Gallon: ESPFI -54.0 hwy / 35.0 city
Primary Drive: Chain, 34/46 ratio
Gear Ratio (overall)
1st - 9.312
2nd - 6.421
3rd - 4.774
4th - 3.926
5th - 3.279
6th - 2.790

WHEELS/TIRES
Wheels
Front: Black, Laced Steel
Rear: Black, Laced Steel
Tire Size
Front: D402F MT90B16 72H
Rear: D407 200/55R17 78V

CHASSIS
Brakes: Single-piston front and 2-piston rear
Lean Angle (per SAEJ1168): 27.6° / 27.1°
Exhaust System: Chrome, straight over/under shotgun, slash-cut exhaust w/ dual mufflers.