![]() ![]() It burbles and shakes like a good Harley should. A bit worried by the excruciating effort, I press the ignition key and wake the engine into life. I wrestle quite a bit, just backing it away from the parking space. What isn’t comfortable is the weight of this “hog”. And not just any truck this shiny chrome machine is the motherload Semitrailer of motorcycles. With its water-cooled massive V-Twin engine, and push-rod cam-shafts (it only recently got 4 valves per cylinder), the Road King is a proud American truck on two wheels. Like the Royale Enfield Bullet I road back in India, this Road King is a technology relic. These are what 1.6L compact family sedans made back in the 80s. These figures should ring a bell if you are a “petrol-head” like me. ![]() And that torque, 150Nm of it to be exact, comes at a very low 3,200rpm. Yes, an ordinary car has a more impressive output.īut the Road King is not about output but about low-down torque. Its two large, 45 0 V-Mounted pistons produce a meager 89hp, but those come at a very low 5,500rpm. ![]() ![]() The Burgundy motorcycle that’s now in front of me, however, is the complete antithesis to everything the crazy daemon from Italy represents. The day before, I rode a manic psycho-killer in the shape of a 208hp, 998cc, 186kg naked (naked!!!) MV Augusta Brutale. This massive 360kg behemoth is powered by a mammoth 1.7L (107 Cubic Inches) engine. While I understand his excellent choice of a bike, I go full traditional and bag myself a fully loaded Harley Road King. Joining me on the ride is one of our Product Managers who picks up a Yamaha Tenere. We head straight to the nearest Eagle Riders bike rental shop Near LAX – Los Angeles International Airport. And what a better way to attend a “Hells Angeles” gathering than on the back of a large, Heavy Road King. I’ve heard about the event from one of our Brand Managers based in Long Beach, California, and decided to check it out myself. This annual rite is a festival of Harley and Harley-like (colloquially referred to as “V-Twins” for their engine configuration) riders. When the press ride is over, and the successful event is behind us, it’s time to set the scope on a new target – the Arizona Bike Week. I’ve flown all the way to Los Angeles to launch our newest Cardo communicator – the Packtalk Edge. It’s blistering hot, and we’re wearing full riding gear – gloves, helmet, jacket, and boots. We got a full tank of gas half-eaten energy bar. ![]()
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