Launch: 2016 Harley-Davidson Dark Custom range

Torrential rain inundated parts of Japan recently, including Tokyo: Bikesales can vouch for that! We have been in the Japanese megalopolis to ride the 2016 Dark Custom range from Harley-Davidson, where the remains of Tropical Storm Eta dumped up to 20 inches of rain over one day in some prefectures.

Tokyo wasn't drenched quite as much, but there was never in doubt that it would be a "wet race" as we set out to tread a path through some of the most picturesque and bustling parts of the massive city on the three members of the Dark Custom family: the Iron 883, Forty-Eight and Street 750, which have all been updated for 2016.

Yes, that's right, the Street 750: the 'forgotten' half of the Street family — at least in Australia where it isn't sold. And it isn't likely to get a chance to dip its toe into the local waters anytime soon while the Street 500 goes about blasting its way to sales stardom.
Harley's local boss Nigel Keogh confirmed as much in Tokyo, but the Street 750 would still give us a feel for the updates to the family, including beefier 300mm brakes (with Brembo calipers) and sturdier levers — a rapid-fire response to a chorus of complaints in those areas. Harley-Davidson has also cleaned up some of the sloppy wiring.

The Dark Custom range was launched in 2008 as the "underground and contemporary face" of Harley-Davidson that also expresses the "rouge roots" of the company. A perfect fit for a Tokyo launch, really, book-ended by a massive party attended by many Tokyo heavy hitters — and then there were the Aussie and New Zealand journos…

The Iron 883 and Forty-Eight have received comprehensive updates for 2016. The lead stylist for the Iron 883, Milwaukee-based Japanese guru Dais Nagao, was in Tokyo to give a first-hand account of the updated machine. Nagao wanted to maintain a "bare knuckle" feel for the Iron 883, which in the Asia-Pacific is an extremely popular choice for young adults — a third of the people who buy them fall into that category.

The Iron 883 has the "chopped and drilled look" with bobbed fenders, blacked-out powertrain and exhaust, a solo tuck-and-roll-seat and drag-style handlebars. The bullet-hole look takes his place on the belt guard, exhaust shields and front fender, and the paint has been selected to look good when it's dirty and grimy.

The nine-spoke cast aluminium wheels also reduce unsprung weight by 3.6kg, and the ride has also been enhanced by new cartridge-style forks and new emulsion rear shock absorbers with progressive-rate springs and a threaded preload adjustment collar. A special shock adjustment spanner stows under the seat.

Colours are Charcoal Denim, Black Denim, Olive Gold and Hard Candy Gold Flake, with pricing set to be announced for the Iron 833 — and all the 2016 Harley-Davidson range — on September 25 at midday (AEST). Bikesales will have them to you straight away.

The route through Tokyo wasn't an exhaustive one, so we only got an average of about 20km on each bike, but the Iron 883 was the pick of the bunch for me.

Quite simply, it has a healthy glow that just begs you to take it for a spin — even when it's bucketing down! It's authentic, cool and has plenty of old-school charm. Compact as well, although the 247kg dry weight may beg to differ.

There's not a lot of shiny stuff on the Iron 883, and it's that neutral palette which is also part of its appeal.

As we made a beeline towards the stevedoring precinct of Tokyo Bay — a stark reminder that this country is still an industrial powerhouse — the laid-back nature of the Iron 883 soon became apparent, with an easy reach to the bars and an ergonomic pose that has the knees at about 90 degrees. It just feels right.

The Evolution engine may be middle-aged but is more than animated enough, and with peak torque of 72Nm at 3500rpm it hunkers down nicely and you push through the dive-speed gearbox.

Clutch engagement is nice, the throttle action is light, and at low speeds the Iron 883 is a cinch to manoeuvre through traffic, so you'll be seeing off most other commuters with ease. The 300mm disc on the 19-inch front wheel is perfectly adequate for the speeds that are produced in these urban scenarios.

We played at a sedate pace on the sodden Tokyo tarmac, so most of the suspension hits weren't of the full-blown variety. But it painted a positive picture, and the updated suspension is definitely a clever move by Harley-Davidson, especially as the Iron 883 continues to face opposition from the likes of the Yamaha Bolt.

The Iron 883 is a stirring little machine, and it's clear that Harley-Davidson has kept the fun alive with the changes it has made for 2016. Ride at a casual pace on the Iron 883 and you'll be rewarded with a great ride through cities and back streets alike.

Compared to the Iron 883, the 1202cc Forty-Eight was just as eager to please in the short gallop, but it didn't have the initial buzz factor of its Dark Custom sibling. The forward controls and ample reach to the bars add to a more aggressive posture, and Harley-Davidson designer and stylist Ben McGinley says the "big front wheel is like a steamroller coming down the street".

The 130-section 16-inch Michelin Scorcher tyre (the rear is a 150-section 16-incher) now hangs of 49mm forks, with massive aluminium triple clamps as well — Dyna type fare now on the Sportster range. The shocks now have 50mm of preload adjustability as well.

As well as the geometry changes, there are lighter nine-spoke cast-aluminium wheels, a new seat, cut-outs in the chrome exhaust shields, and a blacked-out belt guard. The fuel tank has horizontal stripes, and there are combination stop, tail and turn signals.

And it's all melded into a great finish. Colours are Vivid Black, Billet Silver, Velocity Red Sunglo, Olive Gold, Hard Candy Cancun Blue Flake and Hard Candy Gold Flake.

The Forty-Eight weighs the same as the Iron 883, but feels completely different with a more robust and less a seat-of-the-pants sensation. It definitely has the ponies though (97Nm at 3250rpm), befitting the bigger rubber-mounted donk, and the coolness and authenticity that goes with the machine cannot be underestimated. The engine is quite primal, no doubt about it, but it's still polished enough for modern times.

Even non-believers will find it hard not to be seduced by the Forty-Eight, even though the classic peanut fuel tank (7.9 litres) won't let you go too far out of town.

The peanut fuel tank is a classic influence on the Forty-Eight, as well as features like the staggered pipes. There are also modern touches with the underslung mirrors (not really a big fan, even though they suit my shortish statue) and bobbed fenders, so there's a nice balance going on.

It feels good to ride, and you can do it alone as there's no passenger seat unless you grab one from the ample accessories list — Harley-Davidson has 10,000 parts and accessories across all its families. But if a passenger enjoys the slammed ride, then why not! Meantime seat height is just 710mm, so taller riders may feel like they are being folded in half…

As the rain began to really lash down, it was time to wave goodbye to the Forty-Eight, but with the reaffirmation that while it doesn't play the technology card or is particularly fast, it has staying power and an easy ride-me-now manner.

The finishing line was in sight as we sauntered through some of Tokyo's ritziest suburbs, with a sea of umbrellas flanking the footpaths — the Japanese capital really is an amazing place. I was on the Street 750 by then, with my ability for critical thinking being tested by the driving rain, but Harley-Davidson has certainly made up plenty of ground with the more potent brakes.

The clutch engagement on the Street 750 felt a little iffy, and compared to the Iron 833 — a bike that it would probably take sales off it if it went on sale in Australia — it doesn't have the same depth of character.

But that's a different argument, and Harley-Davidson has reacted quickly to the Street family's launch deficiencies, although the Street 500 is already slaying it in Australia.

The Dark Custom range is a real jewel in Harley-Davidson's marketing crown. Of course, there's a fair amount of hyperbole thrown into the mix, but it's very real — that's why customers, dealers and distributors are pushing the 'movement' from all angles. That was self-evident in Tokyo, and the Iron 883 and Forty-Eight, in particular, are leading the case.

Want to play the Dark Custom game yourself, and win a trip to Milwaukee and a new bike in the process? Then click here to find out more about a test ride competition that runs until December 31, 2015.

The 2016 Harley-Davidson range hits dealer showrooms from October 1, 2015.