Harley-Davidson 2014 model line-up

There may have been a revolution in the Harley-Davidson Touring line-up, but the rest of the 2014 fleet has only had a minor evolution.

At the top of the line-up is the CVO range which includes a Twin-Cooled Ultra Limited, a Road King, a Softail and a limited-edition Softail Deluxe with detachable windscreen, GPS, Daymaker LED headlights and detachable saddlebags.

Softails and V-Rods are largely unchanged, although the Night Rod Special gets suspension upgrades.

The five Sportsters now complete the Harley line-up with ABS and smart remote key fobs. They also get new hand controls, cleaner wiring, new brake components and improved service access.

In the Dyna range, the Street Bob and Super Glide drop the 96 Twin Cam and join the others with a 103 engine.

Meanwhile, the Harley Fat Bob gets darker cosmetics which evoke an even more menacing look on the road.

I love the black rings around the twin headlights, the black powdercoated wheels with a laser-engraved Harley-Davidson logo and rim stripe, and the diagonal Harley emblem on the tank.

The unique desert sand paintjob is certainly eye-catching, although most people will probably opt for the traditional black gloss.

The drag bars now come with a slightly closer bend back toward the rider which improves rider ergonomics while still retaining that attacking, aggressive feeling.

I’m not so sure the modernised slash-cut taillight assembly works with the retro feel of the bike.

However, the LED lights should make the bike a little safer and less prone to rear-enders.

I rode it for a short while in the Rockies at the harley world product launch recently and was reminded of its aggressive attitude, it’s confident front wheel for attacking corners, its wind-in-the-face demeanour and its peg-scraping performance.