Photo: Harley-Davidson
Welcome the 2016 Harley-Davidson Roadster, the newest member of the Sportster family. Far from being yet another 1200cc Sportster with a few restyled parts, this machine introduces a pretty sweet mix of old-school looks and a modern approach to bike making.
One of the first things that will capture your attention is the new front end. The 2016 Roadster comes with neat upside-down forks and more massive triple clamps. Also, the steering geometry has been revised to allow the Roadster to carve around the bends more easily and with more precision.
The 43mm forks now also look more aggressive, especially with the low handlebars Harley fitted on the 2016 Roadster. The front also boasts two 300mm floating rotors squeezed by two-pot calipers for massive and confident stopping power. ABS is optional in the US, but comes standard in Europe. The retro, '20s headlight is common for both models.
Harley added a pair of cool-looking cast aluminum wheels, 19" for the front and 18" for the rear, both with five offset-split spokes. The tail section has also been redesigned and now exudes a fastback fender that complements the all-new two-up seat perfectly.
Speaking of the seat, we must also mention its 30.9" (78.5 cm) height. The mid-mounted controls, low bars and low seat height might make the 2016 Harley-Davidson Roadster a bit uncomfortable for taller riders. Also in the back, new dual emulsion-type shocks with pre-load adjustment are there to help riders attain the perfect road stance.
The 1,202cc air-cooled Evolution 45-degree v-twin engine produces 103 Nm (76 lb-ft) @ 3,750 revs per minute, and this should make the Roadster pretty fun to ride on winding, sloping roads. Sure, we'd have loved to see the Roadster with a 6-speed gearbox, but it just wasn't meant to be this time.
Harley claims 48 mpg (4.9 l/100km) and the 3.3 US gal (12.5-liter) tank could have been a bit roomier for longer trips. With a 568 lb (258 kg) weight in running order, the 2016 Harley-Davidson Roadster looks decent on the scales, too.
Prices start at $11,199 in the US, while EU riders can get it for €12,705 (German price).
The 43mm forks now also look more aggressive, especially with the low handlebars Harley fitted on the 2016 Roadster. The front also boasts two 300mm floating rotors squeezed by two-pot calipers for massive and confident stopping power. ABS is optional in the US, but comes standard in Europe. The retro, '20s headlight is common for both models.
Harley added a pair of cool-looking cast aluminum wheels, 19" for the front and 18" for the rear, both with five offset-split spokes. The tail section has also been redesigned and now exudes a fastback fender that complements the all-new two-up seat perfectly.
Speaking of the seat, we must also mention its 30.9" (78.5 cm) height. The mid-mounted controls, low bars and low seat height might make the 2016 Harley-Davidson Roadster a bit uncomfortable for taller riders. Also in the back, new dual emulsion-type shocks with pre-load adjustment are there to help riders attain the perfect road stance.
The 1,202cc air-cooled Evolution 45-degree v-twin engine produces 103 Nm (76 lb-ft) @ 3,750 revs per minute, and this should make the Roadster pretty fun to ride on winding, sloping roads. Sure, we'd have loved to see the Roadster with a 6-speed gearbox, but it just wasn't meant to be this time.
Harley claims 48 mpg (4.9 l/100km) and the 3.3 US gal (12.5-liter) tank could have been a bit roomier for longer trips. With a 568 lb (258 kg) weight in running order, the 2016 Harley-Davidson Roadster looks decent on the scales, too.
Prices start at $11,199 in the US, while EU riders can get it for €12,705 (German price).
Google News