This Harley Model Gives New Meaning to ‘Biker’
It will be dressed like a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, with a teardrop gas tank, a saddlebag seat and flared fenders. And its $2,200 price tag is aimed squarely at upscale consumers who wouldn’t blink an eye at dropping $10,000 or more for a Harley-Davidson Motor Co. hog.
But when it comes to power, the limited-edition cruising bike that GT Bicycles and Harley-Davidson are combining to produce will be measured in pedal power rather than cubic centimeters.
“This Harley-Davidson bicycle is unlike any other bike ever designed,” said GT Bicycles President and Chief Executive Michael Haynes. “We have worked hand-in-hand with Harley-Davidson on the styling of the bicycle to ensure that it authentically reflects the spirit and style of Harley-Davidson motorcycles.”
While not commonplace in the bicycle industry, special editions are gaining favor as manufacturers scramble to make their high-pend products stand out in stores. Last year, for example, Schwinn Cycling & Fitness in Colorado Springs marketed a $3,500 cruiser that faithfully mimicked the company’s Phantom Series line from the 1950s.
For Harley-Davidson, the bike is yet another example of how the dominant manufacturer of heavyweight motorcycles is leveraging its highly recognizable name by granting licenses to manufacturers of everything from shot glasses to men’s apparel.
Only 1,000 of the bikes bearing Harley-Davidson’s distinctive logo will be produced, and each will be individually numbered and delivered with a letter of authenticity.
The bike that will be available in time for the holiday shopping season will incorporate modern technology, including a seven-speed internal drive train and a custom suspension fork, as well as a ‘50s-era chain guard.
“I can’t imagine every store in America stocking one of these, but I’m sure they’re going to sell through the edition,” said Steve Wood, manager of the Jax Bicycle Center in Long Beach. “These limited-edition runs seem to be pretty popular.”
“When it comes to technology, on a scale of one to 10, it’s probably about a seven,” Wood said. “But when it comes to head-turning quotient, it’s got to be up there way past 9.9”
