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STREET GLIDE: It's a touring bike with a strong dose of style.

STRETCHED CONSOLE: Rider's eye view showing the instrument panel and the Harman Kardon sound system.

STREET SMART: The Street Bob is an 88-cubic inch Dyna stripped down to the bare essentials.

'06 Harleys arrive in South Africa

October 17, 2005

Cape Town Harley-Davidson dealer Ad Keukelaar recently uncrated three brand new 2006 Harleys and invited his friends round to check them out. They were the FXDBi Street Bob<>, FLHXi Street Glide and the VRSCD Night rod.

The Street Bob is an 88-cubic inch Dyna stripped down to the bare essentials. It has the 1449cc Twin Cam 88R fuel-injected V-Twin engine, the new-for-2006 six-speed "Cruise Drive " gearbox that's been fitted across the Dyna range, wrap-around rear mudguard and 160/70 – 17 rear tyre.

What it doesn't have is a pillion seat, footboards, rev-counter or extra chrome add-ons.

The engine and transmission have been blacked out and the bike runs on spoked wheels to reinforce the perception that this is a serious bike for serious riders.

The Street Bob would make a good basis for a custom project – or as a ready-to-go bike for a Harley rider for whom the riding is more important than the destination.

The FLHXi Street Glide is a touring bike with a strong dose of style. The rhino fairing has a single headlight and a low, smoked screen with the mirrors mounted inside the fairing.

It comes with a Harman Kardon radio/cassette/CD sound system as standard and satellite navigation is available as an option. The chromed tank-top console stretches the whole length of the fuel tank and the tank badges are finished in smoked chrome.

The gaps between the rear mudguard and the clean, Road King style panniers are filled in to improve airflow in this normally "dirty" area and the rear mudguard lights are LED-powered.

The VRSCD Night Rod is a blacked out, styled up version of the V-Rod with its 1130cc, liquid-cooled V-twin engine retuned from 78 to 89kW (interesting, that; the V-Rod is the only bike Milwaukee will quote power output for)

It has the Street Rod's straight tailpipes, a deep bucket seat and mid-mounted footpegs with highway pegs so you can relax on the open road. A 180mm rear tyre lays the power down and Brembo brakes keep everything under control.

There's a little colour-matched "speed screen" cowling over the instruments and a choice of slotted aluminium disc wheels or black staggered 10-spoke cast wheels .

Additional Resources:

Harley Tools and Manuals

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BOLD IN BLACK: The VRSCD Night Rod is a blacked out, styled up version of the V-Rod.