Harley-Davidson Unveils 2010 Models

Harley-Davidson unveiled nine new models for 2010 over the weekend at its dealer meeting in Denver. Once the dealers get their first look at the new models, then the media is allowed to announce them to the public. Harley-Davidson is calling this its most expansive new-product introduction in the history of the Motor Company.

“This ambitious new motorcycle launch reaches to our riders with the incredible passion that Harley-Davidson has inspired for more than a century,” said Bill Davidson, Harley-Davidson Vice President of Core Customer Marketing. “We are thrilled to offer our customers nine new models and a full selection of products for 2010 that lets their enthusiasm for enjoying great motorcycles continue at full throttle.” The nine new models include the four new CVO motorcycles (Custom Vehicle Operations) and five new additions to the regular lineup.

As the new king of the Harley-Davidson Touring line, the Electra Glide Ultra Limited model delivers the performance upgrade of a Twin Cam 103 engine (used to be the standard Twin Cam 96), and features standard equipment items previously offered only as accessories on regular-production Harley-Davidson Touring models. Brembo triple-disc brakes with ABS, heated hand grips, the Harley-Davidson Smart Security System, a Premium Tour-Pak luggage rack, Premium saddlebag and Tour-Pak liners, and a 12-volt/15 amp Tour-Pak power supply are all standard features on the Ultra Limited. A special two-tone paint scheme will be available only for the Ultra Limited model, which also features its own 28-spoke cast aluminum wheels with contrasting chrome accents, new titanium-tone instrument faces and distinctive Ultra Limited badges in five locations.

The new Road Glide Custom model looks lean and mean, with a slammed suspension, 18-inch front wheel and a new 2-into-1 exhaust system. This is the one bagger in Harleys line up that has a frame-mounted fairing versus the fairing mounted to the front forks. The rear suspension is lowered by 1 inch, so the Road Glide Custom model appears to hug the highway, a look that is reinforced by the “ground effects” trim at the bottom edge of the rear fender.

The Wide Glide returns after being absent from the lineup in 2009 as an all-new Dyna model done in old-school chopper style, with black laced wheels, a chopped rear fender, black “wire” sissy bar, 2-1-2 Tommy Gun exhaust and an optional flame paint scheme. The engine is finished in black powdercoat with bright machined highlights on the cylinder fins and chrome-plated rocker and derby covers. The 6-Speed Cruise Drive transmission features a new helical-cut fifth gear for smooth operation. The rake on the Wide Glide is the longer than the other Dynas at 34 degrees and the lowered front and rear suspension reduces seat height to just 25.5 inches.

The new Street Glide Trike brings stripped-down, hot-rod styling to the three-wheel category, and joins the Tri Glide Ultra Classic in an all new Trike family for 2010. With a smoked mini wind deflector and no Tour-Pak luggage carrier, the Street Glide Trike is lighter and more compact than the Tri Glide Ultra Classic. With its Trike platform, Harley-Davidson brings original-equipment design, quality and service to the three-wheel motorcycle segment. The motorcycles are designed by Harley but manufactured by Lehman Trikes.

Black is definitely the new chrome in the new Fat Boy Lo. Dressed in satin chrome and denim black, the new Fat Boy Lo presents a darker and lower interpretation of the motorcycle that still defines the fat-custom segment. The front and rear suspension are each lowered by 1.15 inches giving the Fat Boy Lo model a road-hugging stance. Seat height is just 24.25 inches, now the lowest of any Harley-Davidson model. For comparison the next lowest Harleys are the Rocker and the Softail Deluxe at 24.5 inches. The Sportster 883 Low has a seat height of 25.3 inches for those thinking its the lowest Harley. A new seat on the Fat Boy Lo is narrower, which along with the low seat height makes it possible for almost any rider to place both feet flat on the ground when the motorcycle is at rest.

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Harley-Davidson Custom Vehicle Operations, now in its eleventh year, are masters at adding shimmering chrome and bold paint to existing models. For 2010, four new limited-production models are offered. The CVO Softail Convertible is a versatile urban touring motorcycle, while the CVO Street Glide is a high-performance hot-rod bagger. The CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide and CVO Fat Bob models are refreshed for 2010 with new paint schemes and styling details. All CVO models are powered by a Twin Cam 110 engine, the largest displacement V-Twin offered by Harley-Davidson.

Upgrades To Existing Models
The only existing model to get a fresh look for 2010 is the Street Glide, giving it more of a “hot-rod soul.” Updates include a larger front wheel, slimmed-down exhaust, and a new tail light assembly. An 18-inch Black Slotted Disc cast aluminum front wheel with machined highlights replaces the previous 17-inch front of the same style. Combined with a lower-profile, 130/70B18 tire, the new wheel updates the front-end styling. The 2-into-1 exhaust feeds a single, four-inch-diameter chrome muffler located below the right saddlebag.

A fresh design for the tail light assembly joins a pair of red LED brake/tail/turn lamps with a sweeping chrome bracket that doubles as a visor over the low-mounted license plate. This design eliminates the separate tail/stop lamp. The 2010 Street Glide also retains the Tri-line LED lighting at the bottom edge of the rear fender. The 6-speed Cruise Drive transmission is fitted with a new helical-cut fifth gear for smooth operation.

The Sportster line and the rest of the motorcycles received the usual new model upgrade of additional paint scheme offerings. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Harley expects to ship from 212,000 to 228,000 motorcycles to its dealers and distributors worldwide this year, down 25 percent to 30 percent from 2008 shipment levels and lower than earlier expectations.