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You might want to check out Harley-Davidson’s 2021 models

A fun and noisy way to make a statement on two wheels

Despite competition from Japan and Europe, there's something pleasantly different about a Harley. PHOTO FROM HARLEY-DAVIDSON

We’re still waiting for Harley-Davidson to unveil its much-touted Pan America adventure touring bike this February. The Pan America should be a fun way to deal with cabin fever and connect with the outdoors. However, the iconic American motorcycle brand recently revealed the latest enhancements to its long-running Softail, Touring and CVO product lines.

The Softail line's styling makes it the classic Harley-Davidson motorcycle. PHOTOS FROM HARLEY-DAVIDSON

The Softail platform gets a new Street Bob 114 with stripped-down bobber styling and the powerful Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine. With a stretched riding position, mid-mount foot controls, and 155Nm of torque from its 1,868cc V-twin engine, the Street Bob will have no problems pushing its 299kg curb weight around. Baja Orange is a particularly striking color for a change from the usual black.

Meanwhile, the Fat Boy continues its imposing presence made famous by its stellar performance in Terminator 2 by getting a little makeover. Bright chrome adorns the powertrain, the exhaust, the front end, the rear fender struts, and the console. Solid “Lakester” wheels, a rectangular headlight, forward foot controls, and a relaxed riding position give the Fat Boy its distinctive look. It’s similarly powered by the Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine.

Riders seeking more performance can now order Milwaukee-Eight Screamin’ Eagle Stage III kits for Softail models, which boost displacement and compression for significant increases in power and torque over stock.

As the name suggests, the Touring bikes effortlessly munch through miles of highway. PHOTOS FROM HARLEY-DAVIDSON

For the road-trippers, Harley’s Touring lineup of the Road King Special, the Road Glide Special and the Street Glide Special come with new two-tone paint options and a choice of blacked-out or bright-chrome treatment. The Milwaukee-Eight engines that power these bad boys have a low-profile guard to emphasize their slammed profiles. The Road King Special and the Street Glide Special are equipped with a new “Daymaker” LED headlamp.

All three now come with a color touchscreen called Boom! Box and a GTS infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. With wired connection to a compatible smartphone, the rider can access media, streaming services, communication and navigation on the road while minimizing distractions.

Consider getting the CVO treatment if you want individuality. PHOTOS FROM HARLEY-DAVIDSON

For the cream of the crop, Harley-Davidson’s 2021 Custom Vehicle Operations lineup features exquisite finishes and advanced technology. The CVO Street Glide, the CVO Road Glide, the CVO Limited, and the CVO Tri Glide feature new paint options and styling features. All are powered by the 1,923cc Milwaukee-Eight 117 V-twin engine rated at 166Nm of torque, exclusive to the CVO line.

The CVO Street Glide and the CVO Road Glide debut an all-new audio system powered by Rockford Fosgate, which can also be fitted to select Touring models from 2014. All CVO bikes come standard with Harley-Davidson’s Reflex Defensive Rider Systems such as ABS, traction control, hill-start assist, and a tire pressure monitor.



Andy Leuterio

Andy is both an avid cyclist and a car enthusiast who has finally made the shift to motorcycles. You've probably seen him on his bicycle or motorbike overtaking your crawling car. He is our motorcycle editor and the author of the ‘Quickshift’ column.



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