Twice the fun

We have been having quite a few reviews of cars in this section soI thought why not write about bikes for a change? It's a whole different world, one where differentials and axles and steering wheels don't exist; where road presence and sound play a major role in keeping you safe, especially on busy roads where a biker is generally given very little consideration. It's no wonder that bikers choose early weekend mornings on relatively uncluttered highways to do their joy rides rather than in the city on weekdays. The Dubai-Hatta road on a Friday morning is a routine run for most bikers.

Thinking of cars and bikes as two distinct tribes was my first mistake. They aren't just two different tribes. They don't even belong in the same world if you ask enthusiasts of either. Bikers like to stand out within their two-wheeler world broadly classified into sport bikes and cruiser bikes.

Some manufacturers try to mix the best of these categories for those who want a bit of both. In this review, I'm going to focus on a couple of Harley-Davidson bikes that I got to ride. The brand of course needs no introduction and the two models are from the two ends of the Harley spectrum. One is the 2010 Nightster from their relatively smaller Sportster range and the other is the 2010 Electra Glide Ultra Limited which is oneof their largest.

Most sport bike fans don't see the point of a Harley, but a lot of them respect it. The respect this brand now demands after all these years of delivering exceptional machines is commendable.

Personally, I prefer large cruiser bikes like the Electra Glide over smaller and much faster sport bikes simply because riding for me is more about taking in the freedom slowly and actually enjoying the stability and build quality of something artistic like a Harley. Lightning speed on a sport bike on a highway is not my kind of thing.

For those not well acquainted with the brand, Harleys have been around for more than a hundred years. Founded in 1903 by William Harley and Arthur Davidson, this brand continues to be one of the most respected in biking history and has a huge following to this day. Most of us recognise the distinct Harley exhaust note and the ‘larger than life' styling which has inspired a lot of other brands.

Today, the Harley-Davidson model range comprises the Sportster, VRSC, DYNA, Softail, Touring and CVO series. The Nightster belongs to the Sportster family that has been around since 1957, and were primarily designed as racing motorcycles.

Today, a Sportster buyer might have anything but sports or racing in mind when buying one because that's not what this series is about any more. It's an entry into the world of Harley-Davidson. The first rung on the ladder. Something that's more of an orientation to the world of luxury cruising.

The 2010 Nightster comes with a 1202 cc air-cooled 45 degree V-twin Evolution engine that produces 90hp @ 7,000rpm and 100Nm of torque @ 3,500rpm. The Evolution engine is something that Harley-Davidson brought out in the mid 1980s as an engine that is built to last and go the extra thousands of miles compared with other manufacturers. V-twin engines are primarily suited to cruiser bikes and its presence on a Sportster simply implies that racing is not its basic instinct.

Riding the Sportster was a good experience, although my initial expectations before the ride were quite contrary to what I felt during it. I expected a really quick bike given the fact that it's a 1202 cc combined with the fact that it's quite lighter than its other Harley brothers. The Nightster isn't a fast bike although it's fast enough for a cruiser bike.

The engine is more of a ‘torquer' than a ‘high revver', if you know what I mean. It's not built for instant acceleration or track handling. It's a small cruiser with a sporty look. A Harley-Davidson that's just entered its teens, waiting for adulthood.

Manoeuvrability and handlingon the Nightster is very Harley-like and it's a straight road lover. It's built for the highways and cross-country rides. Its curve-handling capabilities are a lot better than the bigger Harleys, but its cruiser characteristics are very evident.

Road presence and exhaust tones are prime characteristics of a Harley-Davidson and the Nightster boasts both. Every Harley is a head-turner and that goes for their smallest Sportster as well.

The 2010 Electra Glide Ultra Limited, however, was quite a different experience. This bike is primarily what Harleys are all about: touring. Complete with an audio system, cruise control, luggage space and wind deflectors, riding this beast felt as comfortable as driving a sedan. The long distance or touring design is so perfectly done that you can't think of anything more to fit onto a motorcycle. The Electra Glide has everything including an armrest and speaker volume controls for the pillion rider!

This limited edition motorcycle from the Touring series comes with a 1690 cc air-cooled twin-cam engine that churns out a good 136Nm of torque @ 3,500rpm. Like the Nightster, this bike loves straight roads too. Only straight roads!

Riders like me who aren't very accustomed to Harleys could get into a lot of trouble if not careful while negotiating bends. You need to take them slow and steady.

The car-like feel that the Electra Glide offers does not apply when turning and you need to actually come to terms with the fact that you are riding something that is just short of a caravan in terms of features on just two wheels.

Cruising on the highway with the Electra Glide Ultra was quite a liberating experience and that is what Harley-Davidsons are all about. A lot of movies that portray the image of Harleys have been made in the past and the relatively recent Hell Rideis a must-see, especially for thosewho would love to explore theworld of Harleys.

To summarise, all I can say is that the sense of freedom that you feel on a motorcycle like one of these needs to be experienced and no amount of words can convey the high-spirited feel while on a Harley-Davidson.