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Motorcycling Destinations
BIKES: Riding The New 2013 Harley Davidsons Into Canada
Neale Bayly accepts an invitation to join Harley Davidson for a unique four-day tour through the Pacific Northwest, and up into Canada to experience their new 2013 model lineup.
These brilliant new colors are California Gold Flake, Lucky Green Flake, and Big Red Flake, and a number of the machines available for our group featured these options. (Photo: Tom Riles and Brian J. Nelson)
Riding in the Canadian mountains, hours and miles from civilization, where the long strip of twisting tarmac cut into the expansive grasslands starts to fade into the heat haze, the miles roll effortlessly by as time stands still. And then they appear on the horizon, like specs or dots on the majestic landscape, before their shape comes slowly into focus. Out where there are few fences, few signs of man, and wide horizons, wild horses run. With nostrils blazing fire they gallop, their muscular flanks coated in sweat, seemingly untouched by human hands. For a time they pause to watch us as we slow to watch them. Strong, beautiful, and guarded, they observe from a distance, as if accepting us as fellow sojourners traveling through this vast, unspoiled land. We connect for a time, using silent thoughts that let them know we are okay, and they acknowledge us for a time before galloping away kicking up dust from their hooves. As they slip off over a low bluff, it’s as if they had never been there at all, leaving only the soft call of the wind and beating of our hearts.
Arriving in Seattle, Washington, in mid-August with an invitation to join Harley Davidson for a unique four-day tour through the Pacific Northwest, and up into Canada to experience their new 2013 model lineup, I was suitably excited to learn more about the ride. Harley Davidson has partnered with Global Enduro Ltd to provide authorized tour programs, and we would get to sample a shortened version of what’s on offer in this part of the world while enjoying plenty of seat time on the new machines. The globetrotting part of my motorcycle brain was immediately pulsing as I met with the Global team during an afternoon of meet and greet in the Bellwether Hotel on picturesque Bellingham Bay, just twenty miles from the Canadian border, and situated at the base of 10,781-foot Mount Baker. We concluded the day with a boat trip and some incredible stories of motorcycle travels from around the world: just what we needed to get our minds right for the upcoming days in the saddle.
With 2013 heralding Harley Davidson’s 110th year, the Motor Company is hard at work with preparations for their biggest celebration yet, and to learn all about the many events, competitions and offers, a trip to www.harley-davidson.com/110 will give you more information than I can remember. Rolling out anniversary editions of the 1200 Custom, Super Glide Custom, Fat Boy Lo, Heritage Softail Classic, Road King, and Electra Glide, the only really “new” machine in the lineup is the Street Bob. This is one of the five machines in the Dyna family, and this is really more of a makeover than an all-new machine. The tour also allowed us to be introduced to Harley’s new Hard Candy Custom campaign, which features three dazzling metal flake paint schemes applied to the Street Bob, the Seventy-Two, the Forty-Eight, the Softail Deluxe, and the new CVO Breakout. Aimed at the younger demographic, it’s about wild paint, brilliant chrome, and very cool apparel, gear, and accessories to match. These brilliant new colors are California Gold Flake, Lucky Green Flake, and Big Red Flake, and a number of the machines available for our group featured these options. Over the four days of riding, I ended up spending a fair amount of time on the Street Bobs, which came with a choice of standard mini ape- hangers, drag bars, or lower pull-back bars. There is also a choice of forward or regular foot controls, and I got rather attached to these different versions of the new Street Bob for a number of reasons.
Departing Bellingham on a crisp sun-filled morning, I opted for the two-tone, chrome yellow pearl FLHTK Electra Glide Ultra Unlimited, trying saying that after a few adult beverages, which was powered by the familiar 103 cubic-inch twin-cam engine. From the moment I slipped into gear, and navigated out of the tight parking lot with consummate ease, I was immediately comfortable with the near 900-pound touring machine. Carrying its weight low, the laid-back seating position and wide bars make it a breeze to ride and oh, so comfortable. Built in America for long distances on American roads, it was the perfect choice as we rolled out for a day of fun and adventure. Especially nice was the wind protection on a slightly cool morning, as we followed the coast from Bellingham Bay through Edison to Whitney, rolling through rich, fertile farm country with the big twin rumbling quietly along in sixth gear on the lightest of throttle openings. Fueling is outstanding on this and all the various models I rode, and the engine’s character had a chance to shine as we climbed along the sides of mountains, meandered beside rivers, and dived down through sinuous, tree-lined roads on the other side.
Switching out for my first ride on the Street Bob, I hopped on a bright yellow unit with pull back handlebars and the standard foot-peg position. Using a 96 cubic-inch engine, or 1584cc if you prefer, it has a little less grunt than the bigger 103 I had just been riding, but in the lighter Street Bob there was no way of knowing. The bike felt tight and more nimble, and, devoid of any over-size tires, was fun to ride on the often-twisting roads. Brakes are not anything to write home to the folks about, but with a hefty application of rear and a good, manly squeeze of the front lever to get the most out of the single disc, it gets the job done safely enough. You can add ABS for $1,195, which also gives you a security package as it comes under the H-D1 Factory Customization program. This is the program that allows you to go online and pick what you want for your Street Bob, and it is not limited to just the 1200 Custom anymore.
Arriving in Seattle, Washington, in mid-August with an invitation to join Harley Davidson for a unique four-day tour through the Pacific Northwest, and up into Canada to experience their new 2013 model lineup, I was suitably excited to learn more about the ride. Harley Davidson has partnered with Global Enduro Ltd to provide authorized tour programs, and we would get to sample a shortened version of what’s on offer in this part of the world while enjoying plenty of seat time on the new machines. The globetrotting part of my motorcycle brain was immediately pulsing as I met with the Global team during an afternoon of meet and greet in the Bellwether Hotel on picturesque Bellingham Bay, just twenty miles from the Canadian border, and situated at the base of 10,781-foot Mount Baker. We concluded the day with a boat trip and some incredible stories of motorcycle travels from around the world: just what we needed to get our minds right for the upcoming days in the saddle.
With 2013 heralding Harley Davidson’s 110th year, the Motor Company is hard at work with preparations for their biggest celebration yet, and to learn all about the many events, competitions and offers, a trip to www.harley-davidson.com/110 will give you more information than I can remember. Rolling out anniversary editions of the 1200 Custom, Super Glide Custom, Fat Boy Lo, Heritage Softail Classic, Road King, and Electra Glide, the only really “new” machine in the lineup is the Street Bob. This is one of the five machines in the Dyna family, and this is really more of a makeover than an all-new machine. The tour also allowed us to be introduced to Harley’s new Hard Candy Custom campaign, which features three dazzling metal flake paint schemes applied to the Street Bob, the Seventy-Two, the Forty-Eight, the Softail Deluxe, and the new CVO Breakout. Aimed at the younger demographic, it’s about wild paint, brilliant chrome, and very cool apparel, gear, and accessories to match. These brilliant new colors are California Gold Flake, Lucky Green Flake, and Big Red Flake, and a number of the machines available for our group featured these options. Over the four days of riding, I ended up spending a fair amount of time on the Street Bobs, which came with a choice of standard mini ape- hangers, drag bars, or lower pull-back bars. There is also a choice of forward or regular foot controls, and I got rather attached to these different versions of the new Street Bob for a number of reasons.
Departing Bellingham on a crisp sun-filled morning, I opted for the two-tone, chrome yellow pearl FLHTK Electra Glide Ultra Unlimited, trying saying that after a few adult beverages, which was powered by the familiar 103 cubic-inch twin-cam engine. From the moment I slipped into gear, and navigated out of the tight parking lot with consummate ease, I was immediately comfortable with the near 900-pound touring machine. Carrying its weight low, the laid-back seating position and wide bars make it a breeze to ride and oh, so comfortable. Built in America for long distances on American roads, it was the perfect choice as we rolled out for a day of fun and adventure. Especially nice was the wind protection on a slightly cool morning, as we followed the coast from Bellingham Bay through Edison to Whitney, rolling through rich, fertile farm country with the big twin rumbling quietly along in sixth gear on the lightest of throttle openings. Fueling is outstanding on this and all the various models I rode, and the engine’s character had a chance to shine as we climbed along the sides of mountains, meandered beside rivers, and dived down through sinuous, tree-lined roads on the other side.
Switching out for my first ride on the Street Bob, I hopped on a bright yellow unit with pull back handlebars and the standard foot-peg position. Using a 96 cubic-inch engine, or 1584cc if you prefer, it has a little less grunt than the bigger 103 I had just been riding, but in the lighter Street Bob there was no way of knowing. The bike felt tight and more nimble, and, devoid of any over-size tires, was fun to ride on the often-twisting roads. Brakes are not anything to write home to the folks about, but with a hefty application of rear and a good, manly squeeze of the front lever to get the most out of the single disc, it gets the job done safely enough. You can add ABS for $1,195, which also gives you a security package as it comes under the H-D1 Factory Customization program. This is the program that allows you to go online and pick what you want for your Street Bob, and it is not limited to just the 1200 Custom anymore.
Motus Gears Up For Production
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