{"id":20038,"date":"2012-04-01T01:06:30","date_gmt":"2012-04-01T05:06:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/motorcyclemojo.com\/?p=20038"},"modified":"2020-02-27T13:01:23","modified_gmt":"2020-02-27T18:01:23","slug":"harley-switchback","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/motorcyclemojo.com\/2012\/04\/harley-switchback\/","title":{"rendered":"Quick-change Artist \u2013 2012 H-D Switchback"},"content":{"rendered":"
Harley-Davidson\u2019s longevity and unique history has allowed them to sell retro-styled bikes in record numbers over the past many years. For example, the hardtail frame and horseshoe oil tank from the \u201930s, \u201940s and \u201950s bode well for today\u2019s Softail sales, and the modern FL line takes its cues from the Electra Glide of the mid \u201960s.<\/p>\n
This is the genre that the new 2012 Dyna Switchback fits into. The Switchback bears a remarkable resemblance to the 1965 Electra Glide, albeit without the sprung saddle, but in a fully modern package. Its rounded hard bags follow the lines of the covered rear shocks, full-sized footboards, fuel tank\u2013mounted console, windshield wrapped around the chromed headlight nacelle and chromed fork covers reaching down to the slightly smaller FL-style fender, all of which makes the Switchback very much like a mini version of the Road King. In fact, the cryptic model designation letters that Harley uses to distinguish family models for a Dyna have always begun with FX, until now. The model letters for the Switchback begin with FL, implying that it belongs to Harley\u2019s FL touring family. Because it might be Harley\u2019s smallest bagger to date, I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if some even nickname it the Road Queen. While the Switchback would make an ideal ladies\u2019 bike, seeing that the seat height is 45 mm (1.8 in.) lower and it\u2019s a whopping 38 kg (84 lb.) lighter than the Road King, in no way should it be considered strictly a ladies\u2019 motorcycle.<\/a><\/p>\n What was once reserved for the elite CVO line of Harley-Davidsons, the Twin Cam 103 now sits in the complete line-up of big V-twin Harleys, with the exception of a pair from the Dyna family, the Street Bob and the Super Glide Custom. According to Harley figures, the Twin Cam 103 pumps out 100 ft-lb (136 N-m) of torque at 3500 rpm, and considering that the Switchback is considerably lighter and much more nimble than a Road King, you might not want to call it a girl\u2019s bike when the lady in your life beats you to the next stoplight or leaves you in the dust as she accelerates quicker out of a corner.<\/p>\n The Dyna line is the most sporting of the big-block Harley-Davidsons, and this agility lends itself nicely to a touring bike. Moreover, the Switchback is a versatile convertible, since the windshield and locking hard bags easily remove. Go from weekend bagger to boulevard cruiser in seconds, literally \u2013 it took me 29 seconds to remove both bags and the windshield. An ingenious mounting system easily sheds the bags; simply pull and turn the knob inside each bag and they slide off of the three mounting points. Once off, the mounting hardware is unobtrusive. The bag lids are a little awkward and require two hands to open and close, and care is needed to properly align the lids to the bags when latching.<\/p>\n Most people who ride a Harley like a little vibration from the engine \u2013 it\u2019s a visceral reminder of the pair of big pistons pounding away between your legs \u2013 and the Dyna line has been designed to have just the right amount of vibration emitting from the rubber-mounted engine. My demo, unfortunately, had inordinate vibration beginning at 2700 rpm. Even though the bike handled perfectly, I theorized that the engine or the exhaust was out of alignment in some way. I later tried another Switchback and a Dyna Fat Bob, neither of which exhibited this vibration, leading me to believe my demo was an anomaly.<\/p>\n
MODEL<\/strong><\/td>\n2012 Harley-Davidson Dyna Switchback<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | List Price<\/td>\n | $18,169 black, $18,609 silver or red<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Warranty<\/td>\n | 24 months, unlimited mileage<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Engine Type<\/td>\n | Air-cooled, Twin Cam 103 V-twin<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Displacement<\/td>\n | 1691 cc<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Power (claimed<\/em>)<\/td>\n | N\/A<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Torque (claimed<\/em>)<\/td>\n | 136 N-m (100 ft-lb) at 3500 rpm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Bore and Stroke<\/td>\n | 98.4 x 111.1 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Compression Ratio<\/td>\n | 9.6:1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Fuel Delivery<\/td>\n | Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Transmission<\/td>\n | 6-speed<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Final Drive Type<\/td>\n | Carbon fibre belt<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Front Suspension<\/td>\n | 41.3 mm fork with 20 mm cartridgedamping and triple-rate spring<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Rear Suspension<\/td>\n | Nitrogen-charged 36 mm monotubedamper with 5-step preload adjustable<\/p>\n | dual-rate spring<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Wheel Travel<\/td>\n | 98 mm (3.9 in.) front; 54 mm (2.1 in.) rear<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Brakes<\/td>\n | Front: 300 mm floating rotor with 4-piston fixed caliperRear: 292 mm rotor with 2-piston torque-free floating caliper<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Wheelbase<\/td>\n | 1595 mm (62.8 in.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Rake and Trail<\/td>\n | 29.9 degrees\/148.3 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Tires<\/td>\n | 130\/70B-18 front; 160\/70B-17 rear<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Weight<\/td>\n | 330 kg (727 lb.) in running order<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Seat Height<\/td>\n | 695 mm (27.3 in.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Fuel Capacity<\/td>\n | 17.8 L<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Fuel Economy (observed<\/em>)<\/td>\n | 5 L\/100 km (55.3 mpg)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | Fuel Range (estimated<\/em>)<\/td>\n | 356 km<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" | Harley-Davidson\u2019s longevity and unique history has allowed them to sell retro-styled bikes in record numbers over the past many years. For example, the hardtail frame and horseshoe oil tank from the \u201930s, \u201940s and \u201950s bode well for today\u2019s Softail sales, and the modern FL line takes its cues from the Electra Glide of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":20040,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[75,366,1851,1843,1852],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n |