2012 Harley-Davidson Models Update from Motorcycle.com

Check out the article below and give us your comments.  Are you planning to buy a new bike in 2012 or will you be investing in parts/accessories for your current bike?



Motorcycle manufacturers continue to play it safe in the face of a still-strained economy, and perhaps there’s no surer sign of this than the limited number of wholly new motorbikes the major brands are rolling out for the 2012 model year.
Victory recently announced a couple new-ish models (Cross Country Tour and Cross Roads Classic LE), but in essence these new bikes are more or less iterations of existing bikes. The High-Ball, announced in January 2011, was issued as an early-release 2012 model and is perhaps the most-new model from Victory.
Harley-Davidson is also keeping risk to a minimum thus far for 2012 as it, too, has a limited amount of new product on the shelf. We recently reviewed the 2012 Dyna Switchback – a two-for-one bike, if you will, it’s the only machine that constitutes a new model from H-D.
But the Milwaukee-based bike maker also updated its V-Rod line.

The V-Rod Night Rod Special received significant updates to rider ergos. However, this is one of only a handful of notable updates to the H-D line for the 2012 model year.

Have 10 years passed already since the V-Rod was introduced? Wow. This 2012 10th Anniversary V-Rod commemorates the introduction of the V-Rod in 2002.

The 10th Anniversary V-Rod is a silvery version that pays homage to the original ‘Rod released 10 years ago, while the V-Rod Night Rod Special also went under the pen for its own improvements. Both motorcycles received a heavy dose of revision to rider ergos and some seriously lighter new wheels, among other enhancements. Look for an upcoming review covering both refreshed ‘Rods.
When it comes to bold new stuff from Harley, though, that’s the meat of it. However, H-D did grace several areas of its entire product lineup with some notable updates. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s new across the 2012 Harley-Davidson line.
Twin Cam 103 now standard on Touring, Softails and most Dynas

Along with the new Dyna Switchback joining Harley’s family of 32 motorcycles the other big news for 2012 from H-D is that the Twin Cam 103 now powers most Big Twin bikes.

Several years ago the TC 103 was standard only on Harley’s in-house custom line known as CVO (Custom Vehicle Operations). While the CVO line now utilizes the Screamin’ Eagle 110 V-Twin, the 103 was otherwise only an available upgrade option on select models as late as last year. For 2012 the Twin Cam 103 is the standard mill in all Touring models, Softails and Dyna motorcycles, with the Dyna Street Bob and Dyna Super Glide Custom retaining the Twin Cam 96 in order to remain price-point models.
Harley claims the 103 makes as much as 6% more peak power than the Twin Cam 96’s claimed 94 hp at 3500 rpm.
The touring models also benefit from an oil cooler in order to offset the wind flow-limiting effects of the tourers’ additional bodywork (fairing lowers). Finally, the PowerPak – Twin Cam 103 upgrade option from 2011 – is eliminated for 2012, as a large portion of the lineup now has the TC103 as standard.
$1195 Security Package (Security System and ABS) – now also available on Dyna models
Harley’s ABS is no longer a standalone option, as it’s now coupled with Harley’s proximity-fob keyless ignition to create the Security Package option. The package remains as an option for V-Rods, Softails and various Touring models, with the following three models receiving the package as standard equipment: Road King Classic, Electra Glide Ultra Limited and Road Glide Ultra. Package pricing of $1195 remains the same as last year.
Touring models updates
In addition to the Twin Cam 103 for all touring models, other updates include a new front fairing wind deflector for the Road Glide Ultra, and new optional tubeless Chrome Profile laced (spoke) wheels.
This new tubeless aluminum rim utilizes a new rim seal and molded valve stem to allow use of tubeless tires. Along with the benefit of easier tire installation, this new tubeless wheel set also provides a 30% reduction in spin inertia according to Harley’s Bjorn Christensen. The obvious benefit of a lighter wheel is less rotational mass, which in turn means lighter effort steering/handling, as well as improved suspension control – all good things for you. This new wire wheel is available for all touring models except the Electra Glide Ultra Limited.
Softail models updates
The Softies get a smaller, less visually apparent exhaust and heated O2 sensors, and the tubeless Chrome Profile spoke wheel mentioned above for the touring line is also an option for the Softails.

Harley's new, optional laced wheel, as seen here on the 2012 Softail Heritage Classic, allows use of tubeless tires. The new wheel is available as an option for the 2012 Touring family (except the Ultra Limited) and 2012 Softails.

Switchgear controls (High/Low Beam, Start button, Trip/Horn, etc.) receive a new “ergonomic” shape. Rather than having a smooth, rounded surface, the switches now have a slight concave shape at the top for improved tactile feel that better allows a rider to differentiate between the top and bottom of the switches. Additionally, a Flash-to-Pass button has been integrated to the left switchgear housing. Think of the pass toggle on most Euro bikes – same idea.
The Softail Fat Boy and Fat Boy Lo have a revised handlebar with less rise and milder bend in the grip area compared to model year 2011. The new shape reduces reach to the bar by 1.25 inches. Lastly, the Fat Boy Lo saddle is now also on the Fat Boy.
Sportster models updates

All Sporties will roll on Michelin tires in 2012. The Forty-Eight also gets slightly revised fuel tank graphics.

The flattrack racer replica XR1200X rolls on Michelin’s Scorcher 11 tires, while all XL models have the Scorcher 31 tire set.  Sportster side covers are now either gloss black or denim black depending on the main color scheme.
Dyna models updates
The biggest news for the Dyna line other than the TC103 and addition of the Switchback is an updated and improved ABS.
While ABS on Dyna models is functionally equivalent to ABS on the other model lines that receive ABS, Harley tailored the system to the Dynas by way of reduced dimensions for a single electro-hydraulic control unit. And expanded diagnostics capability for the system means Harley could use one control module for both the front and rear brakes rather than separate units for each brake set.

Here’s the Switchback stripped of its quick-release windscreen and hard saddlebags. With this bike as the only all-new model for 2012 from Harley it seems even the mighty Motor Company is remaining conservative as a dark cloud continues to linger over world economies.

Dyna bikes also enjoy an updated and more compact ECU and new electrical system. The electrical system is a CAN (Controller Area Network) system (BMW has used this type of system for a while), which uses less wiring and allows a high rate of data transfer – useful for complex systems like ABS that communicate lots and lots of info in the blink of an eye to the bike’s brain.
The new ergo-friendly switchgear seen on the Softails is also on Dyna models, as well as a new LCD tripmeter that now also includes a combo GPI/RPM indicator as one of its functions.

The Dainese Tulu not only offers crash protection, but it is also comfortable and stylish.

About a month ago I was in search of a comfortable pair of riding shoes for a last minute scooter test. Buried under a stack of boot boxes I came across a pair of Dainese Tulu shoes. Luckily they were a size ten and fit perfectly. As with most gear from the Italian manufacturer the styling is decidedly European, sleek and refined. If not for the impact inserts and shift pad, the true intentions of these kicks would be a mystery to the general public. In fact you could get away with wearing them out on the town and nobody would be the wiser.

Constructed from perforated suede cowhide and D-Stone fabric the Tulu is meant to breathe easy so it’s designed for those hot summer days. I have been wearing these during the crazy May and June temperature fluctuations here in Southern California, and they have been comfortable in the cool beach mornings all the way to the heat of the Palm Springs Desert. I would say anywhere above the 60-degree mark your toes will be just fine.

The soles are nice and grippy on the floorboards of scooters and cruisers and are stiff enough for relaxed use on sportbike footpegs. Once at your destination, this shoe is one you can just leave on rather than changing into tennis shoes or flip flops. The foot bed is comfortable enough for wearing all day at the office and walking around for a few hours won’t put you to tears. In fact I met my wife at the mall for a one of her marathon shopping sprees and my credit card gave out long before my feet did.

Comfort is definitely key in a pair of riding shoes, but they must be up to the task of protecting your feet in the event of a crash. The Italian cowhide and D-stone fabric offer formidable abrasion resistance. Double stitching holds the shoe together while the TPU insert on the outside prevents your ankle from resembling something from a horror flick. Hidden lace holes not only look smooth; they also keep your shoe strings from catching on the bike easily thus removing them in short order during a tumble.

I’ve become very fond of my new Dainese riding shoes in the short time since I’ve discovered them. The only complaint I have would be that the pricing is a bit steep at $199, but nothing comes cheap in the Dainese catalogue. And for good reason as the level of safety and craftsmanship is commensurate to its lofty price tag. The only other problem is the black suede gets dirty quickly and requires constant vigilance to keep them looking as new as the day they were unboxed.

The Dianese Tulu can be purchased at Dainese.com or at an authorized Dainese dealer near you.

Ducati has the reigning superbike horsepower champion, the BMW S1000RR, in its sights with the release of the 2012 1199 Panigale and its claimed 195 hp.

We’ve got a new contender in the superbike horsepower wars. Ducati broke wraps on its 2012 1199 Panigale Superbike today in a press conference at the Teatro Dal Verme in Milan, Italy. Touting gaudy performance numbers of 195 hp and a claimed dry weight of 361.5 pounds, Ducati’s new superbike is said to be the new benchmark in production motorcycle power-to-weight and torque-to-weight ratios. If its peak output numbers, claimed to be 195 hp @10,750 rpm and 98.1 lb-ft torque @ 9000 rpm, ring true, it would better the reigning horsepower champion, the BWW S1000RR, which topped our 2011 Superbike Smackdown at a real-world 183.37 hp @ 13,100 rpm.

"Without doubt, this has been the most ambitious project in Ducati’s history and underlines our engineering excellence and ‘product emotion,’ an aspect of our brand which, in such a competitive market place, has become more important than ever. This motorcycle represents pure Italian style, the reference point for performance and a safety-enhanced, confidence-inspiring experience for our customers on road and track,” said Ducati President Gabriele Del Torchio about the motorcycle’s launch.

The 1199 Panigale will utilize a new monocoque chassis which reduces parts, shaves weight and is designed to make the claimed 195 hp manageable. Moving away from the tradional Ducati trellis-style frame is a surprise departure that Ducati purists would never have expected so, like everyone else, we are eager to experience the new Ducati for ourselves. The engine is a stressed member of the frame, attaching to the aluminum monocoque frame at the cylinder heads. This section protrudes forward to house the steering head bearings and forms the airbox as a result. Integrating the 1199’s airbox into the frame is one of the factors Ducati claims helped reduce its latest superbike’s dry weight by 22-lb. The die-cast aluminum swingarm also attaches directly to the engine at the rear. The new swingarm is 39mm-longer than the one used on the 1198 which helped stretch its wheelbase to 56.6 inches. The aluminum rear sub-frame has been trimmed down and attaches directly to the engine while the front sub-frame is made of magnesium and attaches to the frame.

(L) Besides the L-configuration and Ducati's signature Desmodromic valve control system, the 1199's Superquadro is a totally reconfigured engine. (M) The 2012 1199 Panigale S Tricolore get up-spec Ohlins suspension, 3-spoke Marchesini wheehls, and a titanium racing exhaust. (R) Ducati rotated the top end of the signature 90-degree L backwards around the crankshaft which provided six-degrees more clearance for the front wheel.

The new Superquadro engine is claimed to be most powerful twin-cylinder in production. The Superquadro is named after its highly oversquare 112 X 60.8mm L-Twin. Besides its standard L-configuration and Desmodromic valve control system, Ducati started with a clean slate for the powerplant. Ducati rotated the top end of the signature 90-degree L backwards around the crankshaft which gives six-degrees more clearance on the front wheel and allowed the front-to-rear bias to be skewed slightly to a 52% front bias. It also perfectly positioned the cylinder head attachments with the monocoque frame. The primary-drive and clutch casings, sump and cam covers are cast in magnesium alloy for weight savings. The crankcases use a shell main bearing for the crankshaft, a feature reserved for the Desmosedici RR engine up till now, while the top of the crankcase apertures have separate nikasil-coated aluminum wet-liners. Its inlet valves have been switched to titanium from steel and the diameters of both inlet and exhaust valves have increased, bumping up intake from 43.5 to 46.8mm while the exhausts are now 38.2mm, up from its previous 34.5mm measurement. The original belt-drive of the Desmodromic system has been replaced by a combined chain and gear-drive arrangement in order to control such large valves.

Ergos have been changed up on the 1199 Panigale thanks to a shorter reach to the handlebars which now sit up higher and out farther. A longer swingarm extends the wheelbase.

The transmission on the 1199 Panigale has been reworked, with bigger, stronger gears to go along with its wet, oil-bath clutch, similar to ones used on the Multistrada and Diavel. The clutch has a slipper function where its self-servo mechanism compresses the friction plates under engine drive.

The 2012 Panigale is the most sophisticated production Ducati superbike to date. Its list of high-end electronic rider aids includes the Ducati Riding Mode which oversees functions of the ABS, Ducati Traction Control (DCT), Ducati Electronic Suspension (DES), Ducati Quick-Shift (DQS), Ducati’s race-derived Engine Brake Control (EBC), and Ride-by-Wire throttle system. Even the full color Thin File Transistor display changes according to mode selection.

The 1199 Panigale sees the debut of Ducati’s Engine Brake Control system designed to improve stability when decelerating while it monitors throttle position, gear selection and crankshaft deceleration rate under heavy braking. The Ducati Quick-Shift used on the Panigale was first introduced on the 1198 SP and allows riders to keep the throttle open when rolling through gears, saving valuable time while keeping a steadier air flow to the throttle bodies.

The Ducati Riding Modes were introduced on the 2010 Multistrada and changes engine output and suspension set-up to pre-programmed parameters. Riders can choose between Race Mode, where they get unrestricted access to the Panigale’s 195 hp, to a Wet Riding Mode which drops horsepower to 120 and increases input from the DTC system. The Ducati Traction Control has eight levels of adjustment which controls wheel spin and interacts with the ABS. The combination of controls on the sophisticated 1199 allows riders to tailor the bike to their preferences at the push of a button based on road and weather conditions.

The 1199 Panigale's Thin Film Transistor screen (TFT) automatically changes its display according to Riding Mode.

Ducati’s also talks highly of its Thin Film Transistor (TFT) screen. The system, introduced last year in the Diavel, automatically changes its display according to the "Riding Mode" it’s in, attempting to give optimum clarity as it adjusts for varying light conditions. It also switches what’s displayed on the readout, putting vehicle speed in the center of the display when set in “Road” and “Wet” riding conditions, while moving the onboard lap timer to the center of the display in “Race” mode.

The standard 1199 Panigale features a new 50mm Marzocchi fork which uses a pressurized damping system to reduce the amount of oil and shave off valuable ounces. The 1199 Panigale S and Tricolore get up-spec Ohlins units front and rear as part of the Ducati Electronic Suspension (DES) system. The 43mm Ohlins NIX30 fork is electronically adjustable for compression and rebound damping and comes with an adjustable steering damper. The rear features an Ohlins TTX36 shock with separate damping adjustment in compression and rebound.

The 1199 does get a new generation of Brembos to scrub off the speed on the front. The Brembo Monobloc M50 calipers are ultra-compact and help reduce unsprung weight by a claimed 0.5 kg. The new M50’s are aimed at delivering higher rigidity and resistance to fade during extreme braking. ABS is optional on the 1199 Panigale and 1199 Panigale S but comes standard on the 1199 Panigale S Tricolore.

This is all the competition will see of the new Ducati 1199 if they don't up their games in the superbike realm, too.

The reconfigured engine and new frame allowed Ducati to switch up ergos on the 1199. The seat-to-handlebar measurement is now 1.18-in. shorter, the bar is set 0.39-in higher bar and sits out 1.26 in. wider. Ducati is banking that now more than ever the 1199 Panigale will provide “a riding sensation that is closer than ever to a full race bike.”

The 2012 Ducati superbike will be available in three versions – 1199 Panigale, 1199 Panigale S and 1199 Panigale S Tricolore. With the Ducati 1199 Panigale S, owners get the aforementioned electronically adjusted Ohlins suspension system with a 43mm NIX30 fork and TTX36 rear shock. The “S” package also gets different 3-spoke Marchesini wheels and comes with an “Aero kit,” consisting of two lateral attachments for the top section of the fairing which have been designed to further enhance aerodynamic penetration and reduce its drag coefficient.

The Ducati 1199 Panigale S Tricolore comes with a titanium racing muffler from Ducati Performance and a special red, white and green tricolore paint job. It also comes with the new generation DDA+, a data analysis package with a lap timer and other racer-related functions. The 2012 Ducati 1199 Panigale comes with a two-year warranty and costs $17,995; the "S" version lists for $22,995; while the Tricolore goes for $27,995.

Are Sportsters Chick Bikes?

And the debate goes on....here's an article from HD forums discussing Sportsters.  Tell us your opinion below and be sure to let us know what you ride.

 

by Pete Schultz

We are all guilty of looking down our noses at Sportsters. The narrow frame and front end, along with the integrated motor and transmission separate it from being amongst the elite Hogs. Sometimes called "starter" or "entry level" bikes, the Sportster has received both disrespect and acclaim. Some riders revere Sportsters as the best handling and quickest factory Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Other riders regulate the Sportster lineup to duty as "chick bikes". Let's take a look at the Sportster in general and decide if they are worthy of the most hardened biker, or if in fact they are just "chick bikes".

Up until a few years ago, the Sportster motor was a solid mounted. Vibration was transferred from the motor through the frame, up into the handlebars through the rider's hands and into their jawline. These vibrations accentuated themselves at highway speeds making long trips on Sportsters downright miserable. Most Sportster riders were not enthused about touring on their bikes. But now that Sportsters are rubber mounted, bring on the highway!  The motor is isolated from the frame keeping the vibes from ruining the ride - same as the counter balanced and rubber mounted big twins.

Sportsters started out with a 900cc motor, and they still are available as an 883, but can also be had in a 1200 (74 cubic inches). For decades the 74 cubic inch overhead valve motor was considered a "big bore". So why would anyone view the 1200 Sportster as an underpowered chick bike? These bikes are quick from the factory, but with a little head work and a set of cams, they are downright powerful machines. Combined with the lighter weight frame and front end, the Sportster has a decided advantage performance wise. Less weight also means easier braking, and better overall maneuvering. There are numerous reasons for riders wanting a lighter motorcycle, some as simple as stature, others are out of need - such as age or disability. The Sportster provides an American made motorcycle for riders who can't handle the big twins; it also introduces riders looking for a quick and maneuverable motorcycle to Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

I know of many dedicated Harley-Davidson riders who have always ridden Sportsters, either because they were far more affordable than the big twins, or because the Sportster was just what they were looking for: a nimble and quick bike that could get the job done. They never took offense to the "piglet" comments. They knew that they were riding American iron and had nothing to be embarrassed about.

Harley-Davidson has continued to modify and improve the Sportster through the years. The bike is no longer an around town or short trip motorcycle that is ridden by devoted legions of "chicks". The Sportster is a refined, smooth running, quick handling Harley-Davidson motorcycle that is snubbed and overlooked by many because of historical stereotypes.

I have always wondered when the Motor Company would evolve the Sportster into a lightweight touring bike. If they would equip the 1200 Sportster with floorboards, hard saddle bags, five gallon fuel tank and a fairing, they would have a definite winner. Bring on the Sportstour!

What do you think? Is the world ready for the Sportstour? Or are Sportsters just "chick" bikes?