The ride is a little stiff for the average broken Indian road, though, and a ground clearance of just 120 mm is a recipe for belly-scraping disaster. Especially when you encounter your first oversized speed-breaker back home. Just the thought sends a shudder of unease through my being. However, it is called the Low Rider, after all, so this shouldn’t come as any surprise. The low ground clearance means you’re going to be leaning on the brakes to shed speeds in a jiffy as soon as you spot the bike-breakers. Well, good news, the brakes do the job. Grab a fistful of the brake lever and the Low Rider S drops anchor with nary a fuss. The ride is set up slightly on the firmer side but soaked up cracks and blemishes on the B-roads that formed our route without any trouble.
As I rumbled back to the hotel, I found myself a little conflicted. I really, really wanted to like the Low Rider S, but I just couldn’t find myself looking past its platform-sharing Softail sibling, the Fat Bob. The forward-mounted pegs and post-apocalyptic roughish style it offers is more my speed. But, hey, that’s just me. If you are looking for something with a little less brashness, a little bit of California cool, and a much more aggressive riding posture, the Low Rider S is definitely worth a punt. Especially since it comes in with a reasonable ex-showroom sticker of Rs 14.69 lakh here in India.
Harley-Davidson Low Rider S Specifications:
Price: Rs 14.69 lakh (ex-showroom)
ENGINE
Configuration: Air-cooled with oil cooler, V-twin
Valve-train: DOHC, eight valves
Displacement: 1,868 cc
Bore x Stroke: 102 x 114 mm
Compression ratio: 10.5:1
Fuelling: Electronic fuel-injection
Maximum Power: 93 hp at 5,020 rpm
Maximum Torque: 155 Nm at 3,000 rpm
Clutch: Wet multi-plate
Transmission: Six-speed gearbox, belt final drive
CHASSIS
Type: Steel tubular frame
Front suspension: 43-mm USD telescopic
Rear suspension: Monoshock, preload adjustable
Front brake: Twin 300-mm discs, four-piston calipers
Rear brake: 292-mm disc, twin-piston caliper
Front wheel: 2.50 x 19-inch, cast aluminium
Rear wheel: 5.00 x 16-inch, cast aluminium
Front tyre: 110/90 B19 Michelin Scorcher 31
Rear tyre: 180/70 B16 Michelin Scorcher 31
Rake/trail: 28°/145 mm
Wheelbase: 1,615 mm
Seat height: 690 mm
Tank capacity: 18.9 litres
Weight: 308 kg
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