Monday 06 / May / 2024
Leaner, meaner, darker the 2016 Harley Davidson Roadster was launched worldwide recently, including the GCC.“Since its introduction in 1957, the Harley-Davidson Sportster has proved capable of constant reinvention, and the Roadster writes a new chapter in that story,” said Harley-Davidson Director of Styling Brad Richards. “We’ve watched our customers take the Sportster in so many different directions. The Roadster is a mash-up of styling genres, but the intent was to build a rider’s motorcycle, a Sportster that’s lean and powerful and connects the rider to the road.”
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The new Roadster model, joins the Dark Custom lineup with a minimalist design inspired by classic racing motorcycles, and a profile reminiscent of racing Sportster motorcycles from the 1950s and 1960s.
“We wanted to give the Roadster some DNA from the high-performance KHR models of the mid-50s, and the later Sportsters tuned for the drag strip,” said Richards. “Those bikes had fenders cut to the struts, the small fuel tank, and were stripped to their bare essentials to achieve a singular performance purpose.”
The Roadster features air-cooled 1200cc V-Twin engine that delivers a strong pulse of mid-range torque. The 19-inch front and 18-inch rear Offset-Split 5-Spoke cast aluminium wheels contribute to the motorcycle’s balanced, athletic stance. ABS come as standard on the Roadster.
The Roadster puts its rider in an aggressive posture with a new low-rise handlebar and mid-mount foot controls that centre the rider’s weight over the classic profile of the 12.5litre Sportster fuel tank.
In keeping with the Roadster’s stripped-down styling, the rear fender has been clipped shorter than previous bobbed Sportster fenders. The slotted belt guard and muffler shields mimic the lightening holes drilled through race-bike. The 2016 Roadster is available in four colours. Makes a bold statement even when parked.
