Motorcycle Review: The Dyna Switchback From Harley-Davidson

Harley-Davidson

Lose we have a tendency toight fast! BOGO! simply one or two of extremely effective promoting terms we felt Harley may have simply incorporated into the substance for its latest model, the Dyna Switchback.

It appears everybody and their physical trainer is usually seeking out the newest craze to quickly drop many pounds. And why not, slimming down helps you look and feel higher and you'll move faster and ar additional agile. Well, what if we have a tendency to told you there was a weight loss program wherever you'll shed nearly a hundred pounds while not reducing on your massive macintosh intake or cardiopulmonary exercise one mile? It's potential. merely roll into your native Harley business and trade that 812* pound Road King for a 718* pound Dyna Switchback. And better of all, with a tag that rings in $1,500 cheaper than a King, with the Switchback you are basically evaluation yourself a BOGO or purchase one get one deal, seeing because the Switchback is essentially 2 bikes in one.

Of course construct} of 2 bikes in one is not a very new concept from Harley by far; the mill has offered convertibles within the FXR, Dyna, and Softail families. what's distinctive and totally different concerning the Switchback is that with its forty one.3mm front-end, chrome light source enclosure, 130mm front tire, floorboards, arduous saddle luggage, and full sweptwing FL-style fenders; it's like from the road lineage and not simply a Dyna with arduous luggage and a screen. Then once you peel off the screen and saddle luggage, well, it still quite sounds like a part of the road family, simply stripped down, clean up and sexier.

Once you throw a leg over the saddle and hit the streets it becomes clear this bike is not the offspring some overweight seat glide. It's agile and powerful. I spent somewhat of your time on the Switchback and everything from its appearance and handling to the performance, storage capability, and flexibility affected ME.

The Harley engineers extremely did their schoolwork once it came to putting in place the steering and suspension to create certain the bike had the comfy and plush ride of a road bike, however the manoeuvrability and handling of a Dyna. The front-end pure mathematics, tire specs, and suspension were all designed to figure along to offer crisp and light-weight steering.

Within the burly fork legs could be a 20mm cartridge that helps supply increased damping, whereas at the rear could be a set of Nitrogen-charged mono tube rear shocks with twin rate springs. The rear shocks ar adjustable, that it straightforward to line up the rear suspension for solo, two-up, or loaded up riding. keep a copy front a 130mm Dunlop provides a pleasant steady footprint whereas bombing down the main road, however the low profile style of the tire helps get the bike over and in and out of tight turns with ease. One issue I undoubtedly detected was that not like the members within the road family which may typically provide unwanted feedback within the kind of shaking once upset by inconsistencies within the road at high speeds and high-speed turns, the Switchback was solid from tire to tire at excessive speeds, tight sharp turns, and once loaded up and leaned over in high-speed sweepers. Even after I gave the mini ape handlebars an honest shove whereas cruising straight down the main road, the bike steady unbroken its line while not the rear obtaining squirrelly or needing time to quiet down.

Powered by the 103ci engine and backed by the six-speed transmission, the Switchback gets to wherever you would like it, ahead of that massive rig, with ease. Granted it is not aiming to break any land speed records, however with the saddle luggage absolutely loaded and a road bag strapped to a carrier, I will simply slip past slow traffic on inclines while not having to drop it down into Fifth. deliberation in forty three pounds lighter than the Heritage Softail Classic (761* pounds), and solely twelve pounds heavier than consequent heaviest Dyna, the Fat Bob (706* pounds), the Switchback is simple to unload off the kickstand however not thus serious that it hinders the performance or potential of the triple digit displacement engine. locked to the proper facet of the rubber mounted engine could be a chrome 2-into-1 straight cut exhaust that offers a good note and provides the bike additional of performance look as opposition the twin classic look of found on road models. and in contrast to the road models that have exhaust secured to the rear of the saddle bag supports, Harley engineers designed the rear exhaust hanger bracket to mount off the rear of the drive train and to truly move with the drive train. With overall weight a main concern, Harley opted for Associate in Nursing metallic element rear hanger bracket as opposition steel.

Slowing the Switchback down or returning to an on the spot stop is motor-assisted by a four piston fastened front caliper and 300mm uniform growth floating rotor, with a two-piston torque-free rear caliper clinching down on a 292mm rotor. The bike I tested was with the protection Package possibility (add $1,195) that bundles the Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) with the good Security System with proximity-based hands-free security fob. As we've expertise with alternative equipped bikes the beating brakes in tight things works well.

The Switchback sounds like it might be the Road King's younger relation, that is nice since the King has been such a favourite among Harley enthusiasts. The proportions of the bike ar good with the saddle luggage being concerning twenty five % smaller than a typical FLT saddle bag and a four.7-gallon fuel tank rather than the 6-gallon tank found on the King. even if the luggage ar smaller, i used to be ready to stuff into them a jacket, many shirts, a tool roll, and a camera in one bag alone, by putting in a sissy bar or a carrier and adding an oversized travel bag, i used to be ready to carry enough gear with ME for a two-week road trip.

I found the mini ape bars to suit my 5-foot-10-inch frame perfectly; they weren't too high approximately short that I felt aching in my shoulders or arms even when many miles within the saddle. Speaking of the saddle, the two-up seat was comfy and contributive to long hauls, however esthetically it had been simply too puffy on behalf of me. i prefer a seat that includes a bit dilutant profile and blends into the lines of the bike. i really like floorboards for long distance travel and was glad to envision Harley outfitted the Switchback with floorboards.