The rumor mill was working overtime this year about what Harley would be offering in 2005. Well, everything we heard around the office as to what would be new was wrong... completely wrong. There were no water-cooled baggers, no choppers, and no new motors.
Instead, the Motor Company pushed hard for the CVO (Custom Vehicle Operations) to create three new bikes, a V-Rod, a Fat Boy, and Ultra. Then, to complement them, four new standard models, an XL883 Low, an FXDC Super Glide Custom, a Softail Deluxe, and a Softail Springer Classic, are being released. Even Buell came out with a new model this year: the CityX. So, while there are no earth-shattering changes or giant revelations in the Harley world, there are plenty of new bikes to check out.
Some things will cross the entire platform lineup this year, including a clear lens, reflective optic headlamp, and chrome spokes and nipples on all wire wheels. Additionally, there will be a chrome-aluminum profile-laced wheel option -- a very nice-looking wheel -- and 11 new paint and badging options. Here is a quick look at some of the new bikes to tide you over until we get around to doing full road tests on them.
FLHTCSE Screamin' Eagle Electra Glide
Might as well start with the biggest bike there is: the new FLHTCSE Screamin' Eagle Electra Glide. If you like the big beast, you better grab one quickly as there will only be 3,500 of them this year. With a 103ci, fuel-injected motor, the Glide runs quickly. Add to that the wild paint, colormatched inner fairing, and a number of cool innovations, like a pop-up gas door release, a detachable tour pack, a hydraulic clutch, an oil cooler, and Thunderstar wheels and rotors, and you have a well-equipped custom touring machine. Additional upgrades, like cruise control, premium sound system with CD player, and spun-aluminum gauge faces, just take it to another level still.
All of these features don't come cheap though, MSRP is $29,995 and the bikes are available in three color combinations.