A rocker is the star at Harley-Davidson

The name says it all. With the cult brand Harley-Davidson, it's the other way around. Now there's the bike to go with the program: Rocker - that's the name of one of the three new products from Milwaukee.By Dieter Liechti and Markus Schmid*The production cuts announced by Harley-Davidson at the beginning of the month caused the motorcycle title to stutter on Wall Street. But stuttering and shuddering have always been part of the business for the cult brand from Milwaukee. For decades, the V-twins were responsible for the stuttering, the riders on the heavy bikes for the shuddering. Because long before doctors, advertisers, managers, stars and starlets discovered the US bikes, Harley riding was the privilege of so-called «outlaws» and rocker gangs.

Salon-capable rockers

But 60 years after the devastation of the Californian town of Hollister by angry biker gangs, the majority of rockers have long since become socially acceptable. Decades ago, public buildings had to be protected from bikers in leather outfits, but today it is the other way around: in Bern, for example, there is hardly a major event without Broncos Security GmbH, founded in 1999, ensuring law and order. This is astonishing, as the company originated from the activities of the Broncos MC - the second largest motorcycle club in Switzerland after the «Hells Angels». Harley-Davidson, which was only able to survive in the early 1970s thanks to the brand loyalty of real bikers and «outlaws», has therefore named the latest model in its softtail range after the long-haired, tattooed men. And this rocker is the absolute star of the 2008 model year, which is currently hitting our streets.

Muscular rear

And the Rocker has it all: the rear end is sensational for an off-the-shelf Harley. As on all softtails, a swingarm with two suspension struts positioned horizontally under the gearbox guides the rear wheel. On the Rocker, the mudguard is bolted directly at the front to the crossbars of the swingarm and thus swings backwards at a consistently close distance over the now standard, thick 240/40 rear tire. A look that previously only expensive conversions could offer. At the front of the rocker, too, they didn't mess around, they went all out. The flat steering head angle of 53.5 degrees enables an extremely elongated silhouette.

On the move, the whole thing feels very normal and civilized despite the flat fork angle and thick rear wheel. Even maneuvering is no problem. The turning circle is astonishing: you can turn in one go on any main road in Switzerland. In contrast to many custom conversions, the outer end of the handlebars is still easily accessible from a seated position. This is because the handlebars are relatively narrow.

  

Scratching at the traffic circle

All this applies to both Rocker and Rocker C - the version with fold-out pillion cushion. However, the riding position is completely different. Even on the C with its 641 mm seat height, you sit quite low. This impression is immediately put into perspective on the normal rocker: everything fits here. Your hands grip the grips only slightly below shoulder height, you get the feeling that your arms are reaching forward horizontally and you are sitting behind the perfectly legible speedometer in the bike. The seat/pegs/handlebar triangle fits perfectly. The suspension elements also do their job perfectly, the progression is just right and bobbing only occurs when the throttle is opened. There is only one point where the Rocker is no better than other wide-tire steamers: the lean angle clearance is quickly used up, the pegs scratch even in the first quickly approached traffic circle. But Harley fans know all about that.

Superior power delivery

The 96-cubic-inch twin pulls away beautifully smoothly from the bottom, the coarsest vibrations are absent, but the typical pulse of the 45-degree twin still comes into its own. The engine revs up freely, offers a beefy torque - there is always enough power, the connection in the gears fits. Another chapter is the gearbox: at low revs, and if you give the rear derailleur enough time, everything is fine. But if these requirements are not met, it thunders loudly and violently.

But the same applies here: Harley owners are not frightened by this, they know this and are pleased to note that the brakes also work perfectly. With these features and its unproblematic riding characteristics, the new Rocker is a great compromise between show bike and sporty single-seater. The Rocker will be available in Switzerland in November from CHF 25,999. If you like it cheaper, you don't have to change brands: Harley-Davidson has two more cool new models in store with the Dyna Fat Bob (from 21,799 francs) and the Sportster Nightster (13,499 francs). And they will be available at Harley dealers this weekend during the Open Houses.

* Markus Schmid is editor-in-chief of the specialist magazine «Moto Sport Schweiz».

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