Harley Davidson added a new model to the Dyna family for 2012, the Switchback. We will take a look at the key features of this bike including the motor, fenders, forks, bags, and will rate them either “Bad Ass” or “Bust” and calculate the findings and offer our recommendation of the newest addition to the Harley brand we all know and love.
Motor
The Switchback sports the 103 cubic inch motor off the showroom floor. Does it crank out gobs of power straight out of the box? No… After riding one of these bikes I expected a slightly higher pucker factor than the Twin Cam 88 on my 03’ Fatboy but I felt let down when I came to realize that this motor is nothing impressive without opening your wallet for some much needed upgrades. Does it have potential? Yes… but it’ll cost you.
Rating: Almost Bad Ass
Rear Fender
Who stole the rear fender off my Fatboy and made it fit on that Dyna??? Oh… It was the Harley Davidson design team!
Rating: Bust
Front Fender
Who stole the front fender off the Street Glide??? Oh it was the Harley crew again! Lame
Rating: Bust
Gas Tank
Do you ever look at a Suzuki Boulevard and just wish you could take the tank off and modify it to fit on your Harley? Yeah… Me either. Even the badge on the side of the tank screams BOULEVARD from a distance. Sorry Harley, you really “tanked” this one.
Rating: Bust
Front Forks
Ok, this is starting to get old but… Who stole the forks off my Fatboy??? You get the point.
Rating: Yep, you guessed it! Buuuust!
“Convertible” Hard Bags
Hey, I’m all for having a place to store my beer for those long rides and I am a fan of having buddies with touring bikes with bags in order to accomplish that but the “convertible” bags look like Street Glide hard bags with down syndrome. The best part about them is that they are quick detach and can be removed easily.
Rating: Bust
Innovation
What happened to the Dyna line having an identity of its own? Remember the Wide Glide front forks and the sporty persona that used to represent the Dyna line? I imagine the Harley design team sitting around a desk and talking about creating this new model like this…
“Hey, our sales suck and we need to find a new model that will appeal to everyone! Let’s just take different pieces off of all the other models and slap em’ together to make a NEW model! Do you think anyone will notice? Nooooo… Our customer base is too busy partyin’ and havin fun to notice.”
It just shows that if you try to appeal to everyone, you appeal to no one! It is ok to keep your identity for certain models. It is critical to innovate cool 'NEW' models and make something truly bad ass and unique and not just recycle the same old shit.
This bike is a bust! Enough said!
If you agree or disagree then SPEAK UP!!! Comment on this blog and when you have a chance stop by our website and check out some great innovative American made parts for your Hog at All American Harley Parts!
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