Harley-Davidson Lays It On
HARLEY-DAVIDSON LAYS IT ON
...ELSEWHERE ON THE PREVIEW CIRCUIT
HARLEY-DAVIDSON gets the Lavishness Laurel this year, having set their press preview in the Bahamas. It was so idyllic that we almost didn't bring back pictures.
Most interesting for road riders was the introduction of a new 1000-cc Sportster ohv V-Twin in electric and kick-start versions. It is a sexy dude, finished in black or maroon and accented by big, ominous looking black cylinder barrels. The styling emphasizes functionality and classic simplicity, with denuded fork stanchions and an optional slim, curving seat slung over a conventional metal rear fender.
The increased displacement comes from a bigger (3.18-in. or 79.7-mm) bore, as the stroke remains the same at 3.81 in., or 96mm. A new Bendix carburetor promises reduced width at the rider's knee, and less finicky performance than the old Tillotson. The optional seat will lower seat height from 33 to 29.3 in., a good thing for small riders who want a big machine.
The garishness has gone out of the Super Glide, that stripped, 74-cube job which appeared last year, wearing a white, red and blue Captain America paint job. Super Glide for '72 ventures into the realm of good taste and looks much like the black Sportster.
For racers, particularly H-D factory team racers, a completely revamped light alloy XR750 ohv V-Twin was previewed. Not too many details were available, but it was shown with unbridled optimism in company with a movie of Harley's past racing exploits. The XR has essentially the same good handling lightweight frame as last year, but the troublesome cast iron components which collected so much heat in the first version are gone. The aluminum finning on the new model is copious, and the engine/transmission unit is 18.5 lb. lighter. The word is out. H-D is going racing next year on an unprecedented scale.
