American Beauty
While the majority of motorcycles built in India give frugality another boring rerun for its money, an increasing number of two-wheelers that are arriving on the scene, say, “To hell with that!” And none more so than from American luxury bike producer Harley Davidson, with the immigration of its Forty Eight, sportster model recently.
Known as the XL 1200X Forty Eight, this low-riding brute won’t have any problem commanding supreme authority on the Indian roads. This bike is designed to look bad, with plenty of blacked-out colour treatment and details that you’ll never get tired of checking out; like the twin chrome exhausts from the couplet of cylinder blocks of the 1200 cc motor and the uber-sexy side mounted rear licence plate. Other drool-worthy design elements include the chunky black wheels, the ‘peanut’ fuel tank and those custom low handlebars with brilliantly conceived drop-down mirrors that sit under the bars, rather than on top of them.
While Harleys are generally not built solely for speed, the huge torque output of 90 Nm from the V-Twin engine will easily keep you way ahead of the lesser mortal beings on the tarmac. The XL 1200X should corner pretty well too with decent tilt angles and fantastic grip from those Grand Canyon-wide tyres. Also, the single leather means the Missus can’t nag you if you really twist it, because quite simply, she can’t be accommodated! All the more reason to go out and buy one, what say? After all, the Forty Eight is one of the more ‘affordable’ Harleys available in India now, which costs around Rs 8.5 lakhs.
But seriously, would this Harley really be worth that huge amount? Quite simply, there is no other motorcycle available quite like the Forty Eight, with its custom bike-inspired design and a deep-throated exhaust note that would test the build quality of our road surfaces. Just a glance at this beautiful piece of Uncle Sam’s machinery and AC/DC’s Back in Black anthem begins to ring in one’s mind. That seems reason enough for the boys to get one eh?
The writer is an automobile enthusiast based in Kodaikanal.
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