BEGRUDGED CHANGE

As I sit here to write this article, social media is going into panic mode over the newly announced 2018 Harley-Davidson line, and it’s mostly over the Dyna model or lack thereof.

I’ve got to admit that some of it is pretty funny, but the anger is obvious. Understandably, people feel betrayed. In their eyes Harley did not just make some major updates to a popular model. In their eyes Harley just ruined a tradition. These people have absolutely zero interest in the Softail or bagger line. They ride Dynas. The end. It is not a trend to them. High performance and handling never go out of style. There is an entire industry of aftermarket brands and shops that strictly cater to Dynas, clothing, and accessory brands dedicated to Dynas. These bikes are so much more to people than just bikes.

I’m not going to bore you by trying to explain the details of why a monoshock is beneficial to the overall handling of a motorcycle. That is H-D’s job and this is not a 2018 Harley brochure or advertisement. This is just a non-biased article written by a Harley-Davidson customer of almost 30 years now.

One thing I have learned over the years is that people hate change, especially motorcycle enthusiasts. They love change on their own terms (customization), but they do not like to be told, “Yeah, that bike you really dig, we are making it obsolete. It’s time for change so live with it.”

Now here is when I ask you to hear me out. I was first able to afford newer-style motorcycles in the mid-’90s. The tail end of the beloved, bulletproof, simple, easily buildable EVO motor was at its bitter end of its run, and the brand-new, quiet, complicated, unproven, with zero aftermarket support, H-D Twin Cam 88 motor was on the horizon. I promised myself I’d never run one. It was early ’90s FXRs and Evos for life and f—k new bikes.

Let’s just say within a year or so after its release I’d changed my mind about the now-legendary TC88 motor. Of course, right when I got done patting myself on the back for accepting that huge change I got the news that Harley was really going to ramp up production of EFI bikes and start to phase out carbed bikes. I’d completely lost my mind over that news, as it made no sense to me. Plain and simple, a Harley’s loped, adjust-on-the-fly, legendary idle can only come from a carbed bike. EFI bikes idle too fast that they sound like hyper sewing machines. I swore I would always hate EFI. Harley and EFI would never sound right together. Looks like it’s strictly ’99–’02 carbed Dynas for me for life.

You see where I’m going here?

Fast-forward a decade and a half and I’ve discovered what great overall bikes Road Glides are and what they can be potentially built to do. I’m addicted. I’ve got two high-performance (2012 and 2013) purpose-built Road Glides with some fancy paint and absurd stereo systems. I’m having a blast. Life is good. So what does Harley do? They discontinue the best bike they have ever produced for 2014! That’s it. I’m done. I give up. Harley has no idea what their loyal customer wants. Looks like I’ll be searching for clean 2012–’13 Road Glides to build into monsters for the rest of my life.

You already know what happens next. Six months later Harley drops an all-new RG for 2015 that at first I tried to not like just off looks alone, but of course it grew on me. Some of my friends picked a few up, and of course they made me take theirs for a ride. And, yes, the new RG lived up to the hype. Harley improved the Road Glide more than I thought was possible for a stock bike. Straight off the showroom floor this bike can be ridden all day and hang with the pack. They feel so damn light, nimble, and comfy. It really is a new and improved RG. Reliable performance right out of the gates and a perfect blank canvas. I’m eating my words over here. So what does Harley do a year and a half later? They announce they are ditching the beloved, bulletproof, easily buildable, ol’ reliable 103-inch motor for this highly complicated Milwaukee-Eight 107-inch motor?

Please, no. I hate this idea. I hate everything about it. Goddamn, the EPA is going to kill the motorcycle industry…

A month later I rode one and I wanted to hate it so bad. I don’t need another bike. My garage is full. I’m good with the bikes I have at the moment. Let me take this overhyped bad decision Harley made for a quick ride and bring it back and be at peace with not buying a new bike this year ’cause this thing is going to be a slow turd compared to my highly built motors in the garage.

Long story short, I’ll be ordering a 2018 Road Glide Special this week. It’s a love/hate, but it’s mostly love and endless good memories with my friends and family on these goddamn bikes. I can’t complain too much.

My advice to the Dyna guys who feel betrayed: Hang tight and don’t knock it until you ride it. I’m willing to bet that shops are anxiously waiting for the first customer to roll through the door and ask, “What can you guys do to set my bike apart from the rest?” and I guarantee these shops will have their own lists ready to go and will make these bikes perform better than ever. Not a doubt in my mind!

The aftermarket will be on these bikes like white on rice. I’m excited to watch all this go down. HB