Nothing recharges the rebel mojo like a chopper. Well, nothing
that’s legal anyway. Straddling a snarling V-Twin with fists forward in the
universal posture of insubordination is a bestial remedy for dispiriting times.
Since the dawn of the custom era, maverick souls have forged chopped, slammed
and raked sculptures around Harley-Davidson’s iconic engines. The equally iconic
Willie G. melded radical custom styling with the kind of exhaustive R&D and
factory warranty only possible from a large manufacturer such as the Motor
Company by authoring the factory-custom genre. With the unveiling of the low,
stretched Softail Rocker, Harley-Davidson is intent on revitalizing the
species.
 RIDING STYLE
Helmet: Shoei RJ-Platinum R
Eyewear: Harley-Davidson Profile
Jacket: Tour Master Coaster II
Gloves: Shift Primer
Pants: Shift Torque Street Jeans
Boots: Wesco Boss. (Click image to enlarge)
The 2008 Rocker rolls in two editions, each designed to appeal
to a specific breed of rider. The standard Rocker is trimmed in satin champagne
powdercoat throughout, for a rougher, raw appearance. Its chromed counterpart,
the Rocker C, is aimed at the high-end rider, with extensive color matching,
swirling flame paintwork and gleaming Milwaukee chrome. Another feature
exclusive to the Rocker C lurks beneath its solo seat. Flipping up the cushion
reveals a stowed pillion and chrome strut that folds up to create a suspended
passenger perch. Despite its diminutive appearance, the pillion has a 250-pound
capacity and creates the illusion that the passenger is floating behind the
rider.
In the case of both Rocker siblings, the most striking
innovation begins where the bike ends. Named for its ingenious Rockertail rear
end—a derivation of the shock-concealing Softail design—the Rockers replicate
the clean lines of a slammed, hardtail chopper, without the
vertebrae-powderizing repercussions. The swingarm’s elliptical tubes flow
organically from the frame lines. The broad, low profile fender is attached
directly to the swingarm and hovers a bare knuckle’s width above the big 240mm x
18-inch Dunlop rear tire without any discernible support.
Underway, function emerges from form as the fender, wheel and
swingarm "rock" in unison through the 3.4 inches of available cushion. As with
H-D’s Nightster, integrated LED stop/turn/tail indicators eliminate the need for
a traditional center-mount taillight and add to the posterior’s clean, custom
vibe. Only a license plate holder obstructs the Rockers’ southern exposure.
Up front, the chopper attitude stretches out with a 36.5-degree
rake—kicked six degrees farther than other Softails—resulting in Harley’s
longest-ever wheelbase at nearly 70 inches. Curvaceously sculpted 5-inch chrome
risers that look as though they might have emerged from Brancusi’s Cycle Works
sit atop the stout 49mm Showa forks. Two-piece, internally wired pullback V-bars
top off the Rocker C’s stylish upper reaches.
The stretched 5-gallon tank, reminiscent of the discontinued
Deuce’s canteen, sports a raised, speed-shop speedometer that features a reverse
mileage countdown function, so you’ll know precisely whether or not passing that
gas station up ahead is a tactically sound decision. Among the abundant styling
cues are the chromed 19-inch five-spoke cast aluminum front wheel, a
color-matched finned horseshoe oil tank, a hand grenade shaped ignition coil,
and the Bar and Shield Harley-Davidson emblem recessed into the fuel tank. The
design team sought to imbue the Rocker with a host of details that would have
owners discovering minute styling touches months after their purchases.
Garage-bound reveries aside, the Rocker C is built to roll.
Dropping into the wide seat, which at just over 25 inches is among the lowest
available on a production bike, enables even riders with oversquare
waistband-to-inseam ratios to plant their boots firmly, despite the distended
primary necessitated by the massive 240 rear bun.
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