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Other Breaking Motorcycle News on
Clutch and Chrome!
Harley looks forward with another retro motorcycle
By the Staff of Clutch and Chrome
February 5th, 2008
Undaunted by industry
concerns over shaky
motorcycle sales,
Harley-Davidson
recently announced and new model.
Following in the
classic-retro footsteps of The Rocker, the new
Harley-Davidson FLSTSB Softail Cross Bones cuts the
aggressive profile of an authentic custom bobber, but with
some dark twists that deliver a wickedly fun and emotional
riding experience.
Click to Enlarge
The new Softail model was
announced at the Harley-Davidson Winter Dealer Meeting in
San Antonio. With the retro look of a Springer front end and
other post-war era bobber styling cues like a sprung solo
seat, half-round rider footboards, Gloss Black round air
cleaner cover and chopped front fender, the Softail Cross
Bones rides with a Black and Polished Twin Cam 96B
powertrain, 6-speed Cruise Drive transmission and truly
unique Softail suspension.
"Only Harley-Davidson could do this bike," said Bill
Davidson, Harley-Davidson Vice President, Core Customer
Marketing. "It's a motorcycle inspired as much by our early
Knuckles and Pans, as by our desire to deliver innovative
technology and content to make the ride today as magical and
transforming as only a Harley-Davidson can. Cross Bones is a
bike that makes me want to strap a blanket across the handle
bar, hit the campgrounds on my next road trip and get
totally in touch with what's right about this land."
 As
the latest of several Harley-Davidson Dark Customs, Cross
Bones melds stripped and chopped custom creativity with
rough and raw finishes. Soul mates of the Cross Bones
include the Nightster, Night Train, Night Rod Special, Fat
Bob and Street Bob. Check out more on Dark Custom
motorcycles on the
web.
The Softail name originates from its rear suspension design,
with a swingarm section that honors the lines of a vintage
rigid frame, while delivering a smooth, comfortable ride.
Hidden horizontal coil-over rear shock absorbers are
strategically mounted out-of-sight below the powertrain. The
counter-balanced Twin Cam 96B powertrain is rigid-mounted in
the Softail frame to give the rider a core connection to the
motorcycle. Harley-Davidson Electronic Sequential Port Fuel
Injection (ESPFI) is standard on all Softail models, as is
the 6-speed Cruise Drive transmission with its accommodating
clutch lever effort.
The Softail Cross Bones takes on the road with a rebellious
expression accentuated by a Gloss Black painted Springer
front end with chrome springs, black bucket headlamp and
black mini ape-hanger style handlebar. While the chopped
front fender exposes more of the front wheel, a Bobtail
fender does the same for the wide 200 mm rear tire. Tires
with matching treads ride on Steel Laced wheels with Gloss
Black painted rims.
 The
sprung solo seat, gloss black round air cleaner cover and
old-style half-round rider footboards form a nostalgic focal
point of the Cross Bones, recalling images of a classic era
on this contemporary motorcycle. With two coiled springs
underneath, the adjustable two-position Cross Bones seat
rides in modern comfort at a height of 26.6 inches. A
distinctive Softail horseshoe-shaped oil tank with the
time-honored Harley-Davidson patent badge is located below
the seat.
An authentically designed five-gallon fuel tank sports a
gloss black "cat-eye" styled console with accessible
ignition switch and a new speedometer face. A hand-laced
leather tank panel on the console compliments the sprung
solo seat. A straight shot exhaust system with chrome
slash-cut mufflers provides optimum performance and stands
out in contrast to the Cross Bones' many darker components.
The FLSTSB Cross Bones is available in premium custom
graphics with wicked striping and paint featuring new Dark
Blue Pearl, Dark Blue Denim, as well as Vivid Black, Black
Denim, Olive Pearl and Pewter Denim.
FLSTSB Cross Bones features:
- Rigid-mount, 1584 cc
Twin Cam 96B balanced engine
- 6-speed Cruise Drive
transmission
- Black powder-coated
engine with polished rocker box covers and pushrods and
untreated fins
- Electronic Sequential
Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI)
- Gloss Black painted
Springer front end with chrome springs
- Gloss Black mini
ape-hanger handlebar
- Straight shot exhaust
with chrome slash-cut mufflers
- Adjustable sprung solo
seat with leather lacing
- 26.6-inch seat height
- Chopped front fender
with striping
- Bobtail rear fender
with striping
- Gloss Black cat-eye
tank console with new speedometer face
- Gloss Black round air
cleaner cover, oil tank and rear fender supports
- Distinctive
five-gallon fuel tank with hand-laced leather tank panel
and striping
200 mm rear tire
- Laced Steel front and
rear wheels with Gloss Black painted rims
- Half-round old-school
foot boards
- Horseshoe oil tank
with Harley-Davidson patent badge
- Optional Smart
Security System
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