Harley-Davidson announced the latest of its "Dark Custom" models, the FLSTSB Cross Bones, at a glitzy party at the Viper Room in Hollywood, California. The new bike, styled like a classic post-WWII bobber, has apehangers, a springer front end, a cut-down rear fender, a tractor saddle and tough, aggressive styling. It's another indication of Harley-Davidson emphasizing its history while at the same time reaching out to new, younger consumers.
It looks wild and new, but this model has the hint of parts-bin engineering to it, albeit with Harley's polished execution. The basic Softail chassis is tried-and-true, with hidden shocks giving it that hardtail look. The springer front end is also an H-D staple, dating back to the 1940s, then reinvented in the 1990s. The 1584cc Twin Cam 96 powerplant, equipped with the six-speed Cruise Drive transmission, is ubiquitous in the Motor Company's lineup—like all Softails, this is the B-model, counterbalanced version. The spoked steel wheels carry pleasingly plump tires, a 135/90-16 up front and a 200/55-17 in back. It's not a lot of high-tech for an MSRP of $16,795 for the basic black bike, ($17,140 for colors) but that's the whole point; you get a stripped-down factory bob-job for your money.
It joins its rowdy siblings in the "Dark Custom" lineup. Along with the VRSC-based Night Rod Special, there's the Night Train, also Softail-based, the pair of Bobs—in both Street and Fat variety—plus the Sportster-derived Nightster. All these bikes have a stripped-down design ethos.
To reach out to the younger motorcycle buyers, Harley-Davidson has celebrities from the BMX bicycle and skateboarding worlds to lend a hand. BMX bicycle stunter Micah Kranz was at the bike's West Coast unveiling in the trendy Hollywood saloon, and skateboard team Emerica rides on a platoon of Dark Harleys in the Internet-only VBS program "Epicly Later'd." If that's not X-treem enough for you, bro, the Ultimate Fighting Championships will also get Bar-and-Shield sponsorship.
But not everyone who purchases Harley-Davidson products has gothic-script neck tattoos and flat-billed baseball caps. For Buell sport-touring fans, there's a new Ulysses model, the XB12XT. It's billed as the "the second model in the Buell Ulysses family of adventure sportbike motorcycles" in a Harley-Davidson press release, but it is basically a heavily accessorized Ulysses XB12X.
Not that there's anything wrong with that. For $12,995—$1500 more than the standard Uly—the XB12XT comes with shorter suspension travel and a different saddle for a less-lofty seat height and lower center of gravity, locking hard luggage (side and top boxes), a taller screen and heated grips. The bike also comes standard with Pirelli Strada tires, which should wear longer than the Scorpion Syncs that come standard on the XB12X. Seat height is down 1.1 inches, to 30.7, and dry weight climbs 40 pounds to 465 claimed. These changes should make this new Ulysses a better value and an even better sport-tourer...or is that "adventure sportbike?"
Getting back to the Cross Bones, here's hoping Harley continues with its new "pirate" theme. I can just imagine the new Sportster 883 "Ahrrrrrr!" Comes with chrome parrot perch and bar-mounted treasure map roll...