Call me the breeze

If you have ever ridden a Harley-Davidson, you'd know there's something special about them. They aren't devastatingly fast. Nor are they engineered with the finesse that Japanese and Italian superbikes enjoy, to ensure heartstopping performance. But then, they don't have to, because a Harley isn't about speed or personal riding achievements; it's about simplicity and the journey. And a journey is incomplete without the right companion.

With a Harley, the motorcycle is the companion, the ride a social occasion. Every outing is like a night out with friends: a decently large gathering, loads of bonhomie and no concrete plans. But you always end up having loads of fun. Riding alone is like going for a movie or dinner by yourself; it's not just boring, it's totally pointless. So, when we had the choice of testing a Harley by ourselves (like we do for other automobiles), or join one of Harley-Davidson's rides, we naturally chose the latter.

To our surprise, there were quite a few motorcycles to pick from. You see, the Harley-Davidson line up, even in India, is pretty exhaustive. One can choose from a dozen models starting from a basic Rs 6.5-lakh, everyday bike like the Sportster to the continent-conquering Rs 35-lakh Ultra Classic Electra Glide. In the middle are fancy options such as the ever-popular Fat Boy. Made popular by Mr I'll-beback himself, actor Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator 2. There's also the evil Night Rod. Finished in matt black, the Rod is quite a motorcycle, and the most sportsbike-like bike you'll find in the Harley-Davidson stable.

However, if you're looking for a quintessential Harley experience, complete with kicked out front forks, a classic teardrop fuel tank and enough chrome to give bling-kings an inferiority complex, the Super Glide Custom from the Dyna family is the motorcycle to have. The Custom series of motorcycles dates back to the 1970s. This was a time when many Harley owners were customising their motorcycles themselves, altering the frame and the front suspension in particular and giving their bikes fancier paint jobs.

Harley introduced its factory Custom line to cater to these customers. These motorcycles were based on an existing line of H-D bikes but sported a new face, new paint job and contemporary styling. The Super Glide Custom takes the bike into the 21st century. We rode it from Delhi to Jaipur, and loved it. Besides looking great, this is also an easy motorcycle to mount and ride. The seat height is probably the lowest on any motorcycle and with reasonably forward-set footpegs and tall handlebars, the seating is not just comfortable, it conveys attitude by the potloads too.

Yes, it does feel heavy initially when you get it off the stand. But once you slot into first gear and begin riding, it feels natural and manoeuvrable, except around tighter corners, where it still feels lost. It turns, yes, but with a negligible ground clearance when leaning over, you really have to take it slow around bends unless you want to scrape the sides of the motorcycle. But careful, because when you do take it slow, you are rudely reminded of the bike's weight. In a straight line, though, it feels fantastic and is rock solid when ridden at high speeds.

The motorcycle packs in mountains of torque, a measure really of how quickly you can leave the world behind. Imagine this: you are riding lazily at 80kmph taking in the scenery. Suddenly a bunch of hooligans in fancy cars come alongside and smirk at your pace. You simply crack open the throttle and, within seconds, you are sitting pretty at 150kmph with the jokers nowhere in sight. It's a liberating feeling, to say the least.

This feeling of deliverance is courtesy the 1584cc air-cooled, V-twin engine. Besides the torque, it also sounds heart-achingly good for a motorcycle. It's not as refined or free revving as a typical Japanese motor, but in terms of character, it's in a higher league. So is the motorcycle, in fact. So much so that if you are a diehard Harley-Davidson fan, the Super Glide Custom is what we recommend.

(The writer is Road Test Editor, Auto Bild India)