MCN tests the 2008 Harley-Davidson Rocker, Rocker Custom, Nightster, CVO and Fat Bob

MCN Chief Road Tester Trevor Franklin is currently in New York testing the brand new 2008 Harley-Davidson range, which includes the new Rocker, Rocker Custom, Fat Bob, Nightster and CVO machines, here’s what he has to say so far:

“All these new bikes feature uprated brakes and suspension not to mention a sweep of styling modifications influenced by the TV craze for custom shootouts.

“In the flesh, the Rocker is gorgeous, it’s as simple as that – as is the Nightster. The highlights are the Rocker’s suspension, but equally impressive is this, and all the new bikes’, detailing. The quality of the paint, cast and machined alloywork plus the sheet metal work such as the fenders, are all superb. The brakes are much improved too.

“With the Rocker, though, there’s one slight lowlight that’s become apparent on our rides so far – the massively wide 240-section rear tyre fights against the spindly front hoop when it comes to the bike’s handling. At low speed it’s quite agile but in faster sweeping curves it’s a little bit more tricky. Not that it takes away from the fabulous pose of the whole thing, though”

Read Trevor’s full test in the Wednesday July 25th edition of MCN.