Quick spin: Harley-Davidson Seventy-Two

Name: Quick spin: Harley-Davidson Seventy-Two
Brand: Harley-Davidson

A new addition to the Sportster range, and with a metal flake livery to really bring alive the flamboyance of the 1970s chopper scene

Old-school styling at an entry-level price point – that’s how Harley-Davidson Australia is describing the all-new XL1200V Seventy-Two, which joins the company’s Sportster range for the 2013 model year.

At $17,995, the Seventy-Two, which takes its name from the East Los Angeles’ famous Route 72, is priced the same as Harley-Davidson’s two 1200 Customs, with only the Iron 883 and Super Low (883) lesser hits on the wallet in the company’s entire 35-bike range.

There’s not a lot of shock value in the Seventy-Two, but that’s not a criticism – it’s simply a function of the stripped-down, unencumbered, 1970s custom philosophy; one designed to appeal to a younger male demographic. And it’s yet another example of Harley-Davidson’s happy knack of mixing tradition with the modern -- an exercise we only went through a couple of months ago when we tested the Softail Slim.

Features like forward controls, skinny Dunlop whitewall tyres – 21-inch front and 16-inch rear -- solo seat, mini-ape bars on two-inch risers, chrome-laced wheels, 7.95-litre peanut tank, chopped rear fender, staggered exhaust and round air cleaner are all part of the Seventy-Two package. And there’s a nice balance between the shiny bits and those that are more subdued.

A huge part of the bike’s appeal is reserved for the ‘Malvern Star’ metal flake paint. There are also solid colours to choose from.

The metal flake certainly makes a strong statement, although it could have a polarising effect on buyers – a love it or no thanks type of proposition. But that’s when the solid colours should provide plenty of back-up support.

I made acquaintance with the metal flake green – or Lucky Green, officially – on our brief 45-minute spin through the heart of Sydney, where it was certainly a stretch to get the 1202cc Evolution engine out of second gear in the tight confines of suburbia.

But all the same, the Seventy-Two is just so predictable and rock-solid, which is exactly the simplicity that Harley-Davidson is focussing on as a key selling point. It isn’t a complex piece of engineering, but it’s vice free and one where boulevards and twisty roads would be the preference over highway use.

The air-cooled, fuel-injected V-twin produces 96Nm at 3500rpm, which is certainly more than ample to get you moving the 247kg machine along at a fair clip.

The mini-ape bars make for quite a comfortable ride, and the Seventy-Two has more ground clearance than many of its Harley contemporaries. The seat height sits at 710mm.

At 7.9 litres, the peanut tank isn’t for-long-haul travel, but we’d imagine the windblast you’d get at high speeds wouldn’t be such a forearm-loving exercise either.

But we’ll know exactly what the Seventy-Two has to offer across the board when we test it for a longer period of time.

Visit the Harley-Davidson Seventy-Two in Bike Showroom

SPECS: HARLEY-DAVIDSON SEVENTY-TWO

ENGINE

Type: Air-cooled, Evolution V-twin

Capacity: 1202cc

Bore x stroke: 88.9mm x 96.8mm

Compression ratio: Not given

Fuel system: Electronic fuel injection

PERFORMANCE

Claimed maximum power: Not given

Claimed maximum torque: 96Nm at 3500rpm

TRANSMISSION

Type: Five speed

Final drive: Belt

Clutch: Wet

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR

Frame type: Tubular steel cradle

Front suspension: Telescopic fork

Rear suspension: Twin shocks, preload adjustment

Wheels: Chrome steel laced, 21-inch front, 16-inch rear

Tyres: Whitewall Dunlop

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES

Rake: 30.1 degrees

Trail: 134mm

Claimed dry weight: 247kg

Seat height: 710mm

Fuel capacity: 7.9 litres

OTHER STUFF

Price: $17,995

Colours: Hard Candy Big Red Flake, Lucky Green, Coloma Gold, Big Blue Pearl, Chrome Yellow Pearl or Black Denim

Test bike supplied by: Triumph Australia, www.harley-davidson.com.au

Warranty: 24 months, unlimited kilometres

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Quick spin: Harley-Davidson Seventy-Two

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