2011 Harley-Davidson Blackline Review [Video]

[jjn]

I've enjoyed riding motorcycles since eight years old (off road), and I'm now 57. I've owned about 25 bikes. Owned some of all the Japanes big four plus an old BSA, a Bultaco, a Royal Enfield 500 Bullet, and two Sportsters. An '84 iron head and my present 2006 XL883. I have worked in parts at an HD dealership for five years now.

I still love to ride, and I like them all. Big, small, dirt, street,etc.

I have to say the Blackline, in my geezerish opinion, is a great looking motorcycle. I have not ridden one yet. I'm more a Sportster fan. I don't care for bikes that scrape easily in the corners. My Sportster has standard length suspension (all current Sportsters save the fine XR1200 series have shortened suspension causing a problem for my "I live for the corners" type of joy in riding. I had a younger co-worked with his Nightster follow me for a ways (me on my XL883), and he couldn't belive how far I was leaning my bike. Can't do that on his Nightster without a shower of sparks.

Not saying my XL is a sportsbike--far from it, but as a nice standard motorcycle that can do about anything I need to, it's a good, and reliable ride. I think most twin cam Harleys would hold me up in the twisties if I was following them too. Now an XR1200-that would be a different story.

jon

[seruzawa]

Originally Posted by sarnali2

I'm Sarnali and I like to wind up Libertarians and Republicans by asking them what they'll do with all the poor and unemployed their selfish bullsh*t ideas will cause...

What? You mean that there could be more?

[shalbleib]

it doesn't look cool. it doesn't even look good. harley needs to hire some weekend builder from bikeexif.com or pipeburn.com and give them a budget to come up w/ something that doesn't look like another regurgitation of the stuff they've been producing for years. I don't know that they've made anything since the 50's I'd want in my garage.

[seruzawa]

Originally Posted by shalbleib

it doesn't look cool. it doesn't even look good. harley needs to hire some weekend builder from bikeexif.com or pipeburn.com and give them a budget to come up w/ something that doesn't look like another regurgitation of the stuff they've been producing for years. I don't know that they've made anything since the 50's I'd want in my garage.

To be fair, Harley has tried a few times. The V-rod... which gathers dust. The XR750-styled 883... also gathered dust while chopperseque 883lows flew out the door. The customers just want cruisers so that's what HD gives them.

[Sir_Angus]

Originally Posted by newagetwotone

Tell me more, I'm intrigued....

About what ... Harley? A 40 yr old hooker? Or, wearing a new dress? 'Cause you might look pretty in a dress ... Cuzin, he shur do got a perty mouth don't he? LOL

[sarnali2]

Looks like we got us a sow here instead of a boar...

[The_AirHawk]

Originally Posted by Sir_Angus

About what ... Harley? A 40 yr old hooker? Or, wearing a new dress? 'Cause you might look pretty in a dress ... Cuzin, he shur do got a perty mouth don't he? LOL

We've already seen a picture of him in one O' them "Man-Skirt" thingies. I'd care NOT to see it again. Not enough eye-bleach in the World... IN THE WORLD... to burn that image away.....

[Kevin_Duke]

Originally Posted by jjn

I've enjoyed riding motorcycles since eight years old (off road), and I'm now 57. I've owned about 25 bikes. Owned some of all the Japanes big four plus an old BSA, a Bultaco, a Royal Enfield 500 Bullet, and two Sportsters. An '84 iron head and my present 2006 XL883. I have worked in parts at an HD dealership for five years now.

I still love to ride, and I like them all. Big, small, dirt, street,etc.

I have to say the Blackline, in my geezerish opinion, is a great looking motorcycle. I have not ridden one yet. I'm more a Sportster fan. I don't care for bikes that scrape easily in the corners. My Sportster has standard length suspension (all current Sportsters save the fine XR1200 series have shortened suspension causing a problem for my "I live for the corners" type of joy in riding. I had a younger co-worked with his Nightster follow me for a ways (me on my XL883), and he couldn't belive how far I was leaning my bike. Can't do that on his Nightster without a shower of sparks.

Not saying my XL is a sportsbike--far from it, but as a nice standard motorcycle that can do about anything I need to, it's a good, and reliable ride. I think most twin cam Harleys would hold me up in the twisties if I was following them too. Now an XR1200-that would be a different story.

jon

Yeah, Harley has been chasing lower seat heights for the last several years. They believe that when a customer sits on a low seat in the showroom, it leads to much greater sales. Personally speaking, they're going too far, but then I'm not a six-figure marketing guy...