Harley Davidson Blackline

Harley Davidson is all set to launch its new age Blackline this year in India. Let’s check out this new soft tail bike in detail.

Exterior

The biggest USP of this bike is its retro look which is expected to grab the attention of bike lovers instantly. Harley has kept it quite simple yet attractive. The small circular headlight is placed a bit low between its long front forks. The bike lacks any type of visor and front cowl and looks naked when seen from the front. The small metal finished black colored rear view mirrors are mounted on its split drag handle bars while round shaped orange colored side indicators are placed just above its hand levers. The partly black finished fatty front forks gels well with its metal front fender and black colored multi spoke rim. The disc plate is placed on the right side and completes the front look of Blackline. The bike looks best when seen from sideways, it features two chrome finished exhaust pipes getting out of its exposed V-twin engine which simply looks fabulous with its handcrafted fuel tank. The black colored stripe on this fuel tank adds premium touch to this bike. There are no decals or graphics on its elongated fuel tank which comes with a brilliant paint job. The bike features an extremely low rider seat which is placed on its angular rear cowl. This cowl also sports two side indicators which enhance the rear look of this bike. Blackline features an extremely short rear fender which comes with futuristic LED tail light. The wide rear tyre adds visual bulk to this bike and gives it a macho look.

Instrument Console

Blackline has a very basic instrument console with a triple clamp mounted electronic analogue speedometer and odometer. The bike also features clock, dual trip-meter, low fuel and oil warning light, gear indicator and ABS (optional) and other essential LED indicators.

Engine and Gearbox

Blackline will be powered by an air-cooled, Twin Cam, 1690cc engine. The power output of this 4-stroke engine is not disclosed yet but it produces Bore and Stroke of 98.4 mm and 111.1 mm respectively. The torque output of this engine is of 134 Nm which arrives at 3250 rpm. The bike is equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox with one gear down and five gears up-shit pattern.

Acceleration and Performance

The bike is powered by a refined and powerful engine which offers magnificent low range. The heavy torque building at low rpms results into instant acceleration and pick up. The bike reaches 100 km/hr from standstill within 7.5 seconds. Despite being on the heavier side, its massive torque output of and short gear ratios make this bike a speed enthusiast. Blackline makes no sound when rev hard and gives you positive feedback. The bike can reach the top speed of 177 km/hr and feels best when driven around 140-150 km/hr. There are no signs of harshness and vibrations in this engine and it sounds quite refined. The smooth gearbox allows you to effortlessly shift gears and gives you hassle free rides. Blackline can reach the three digit mark in its second gear without making much noise. The bike picks up quickly in city traffic but performs best on highways.

Mileage

Looking at the high displacement of its engine and heavy weight of this bike, it may give you a fuel efficiency of around 8-10 km/ltr.

Comfort while Driving Harley Davidson Blackline

The low slung seat and front set foot pegs not only gives you relaxed riding posture but also gives you the aggression needed to drive such bikes. The low seating position allows you to get complete control over this long cruising machine. You can also put your feet down quickly thanks to the low riding position which is quite helpful in city driving. The well-padded seat is quite wide and gives you optimum under thigh support. The compact drag handle bars offer you firm grip and stays vibration less at high speeds. The rider gets a clear view of roads and instrument console. Blackline is offered with premium quality of plastic buttons on its handle bar which are quite soft to touch and can be easily operated.

Storage Space and Safety Features

There is not much storage space in this bike but comes with premium safety features like Smart security system which locks/unlocks the bike automatically by sensing your movement. The powerful headlight also gives you clear vision of roads at night.

Suspension and Braking System

Blackline comes with massive front telescopic forks of 43mm and features hidden horizontal shock absorbers at the back. Both wheels of Blackline are equipped with disc brakes and callipers. The bike features a 280mm disc brake at its front with four-piston callipers and single rear disc brake of 240mm with 2-psiton callipers. The bike also comes with an optional ABS.

Ride and Handling

Blackline has an extended wheelbase of 1689 mm which adds stability to this bike at high speeds. The low speed stability and cornering abilities of the bike improves with a ground clearance of 133 mm. The strong suspension system and fatty tyres holds this bike firmly around corners. It’s a very capable suspension which easily takes the mass of this machine and provides you comfortable journeys. The bike handles quite easily on highways and steers quite accurately. Its long size and heavy weight certainly restricts its frequent movement in city traffic. With optional ABS, the bike offers you great control on it and it’s always easy to stop this bike accurately.

Tyre Size, Shades and Variants

Blackline features a large 21inches rim at its front while it comes with a smaller R16 size of tyre at the back. Harley is likely to offer two variants of Blackline in three shades, out of which two will be dual tone colors.

Verdict

Looking at the bike and high brand reputation of Harley Davidson, we expect high price tag for this bike. It’s certainly a powerful cruiser bike which will target only few buyers in a country like India and may be priced around INR 16 lakhs.