Ever try to
put lipstick on a Pitbull? It’s a hazardous enterprise. Blood is spilled.
Fingers vanish. Michael Vick leaves nasty messages on your voicemail. Ignoring
the obvious peril, the brave souls at Big Dog Motorcycles have given their
vicious, 10-year-old Pitbull a complete makeover for 2008. Admirers of the
ill-tempered street dog need not fear—this is no Queer Eye,
metrosexual de-fanging. The snarling ProStreet machine has been transformed into
a sleek, board track inspired beast. And, yes, Big Dog’s pioneer rigid frame
motorcycle is still a hardass.
 RIDING STYLE
Helmet: Icon Domain2 13
Jacket: Icon Strongarm 13
Gloves: Icon Timax TRX Short
Pants: Icon Strongarm
Boots: Red Wing 979. (Click image to enlarge)
The 2008 Big Dog kennel is divided into two pens: A pair of
rangy
choppers, and the three-dog ProStreet line. Among the latter, the Pitbull
stands out as the most radically redesigned member of the pack, the
new-for-’08
entry level Mutt notwithstanding.
The notion of hopping on a rigid custom is enough to send
shivers down the compressed spine of anyone familiar with the chiropractic arts.
Thankfully, this new Pitbull has some flex in its haunches. In the most notable
change for 2008, the Pit features a suspended saddle, riding on twin adjustable
shocks from Works Performance. The cushy perch sits atop an all-new frame and
between totally reconfigured wheels.
 The frame’s sweeping lines, combined with the nostalgic wedge
of the stretched 4.6-gallon fuel tank evokes the hellride styling of the
notorious early-20th century board trackers. The fluid new design also sucks
most of the daylight from between engine and frame, contributing to the
Pitbull’s malevolent stance. (Click image to enlarge)
Replacing 2007’s 300mm rear tire is a more obedient 280,
wrapped around a 20-inch billet spoke wheel, then countered by a 130mm, circling
a 23-inch hoop up front. The taller, more balanced profile is complimented by a
wheelbase that has been clipped to 73 inches and a rake diminished eight clicks
to 31 degrees. These welcome changes propel the bike’s styling into the post-fat
tire, scrawny front-end era, while shortening the leash on the Pitbull’s
handling characteristics.
 The tastefully pugnacious attitude trickles down to the details
as well. Chrome struts anchor the classic, austere fenders. Discreet stop/turn
signals and a side-mount license plate frame keep the Pitbull’s hindquarters
well groomed. The raised speedo/tachometer is mounted on the steering head; only
a filler cap disturbs the clean, elongated stretch of the tank. As you drop into
the saddle, the low-rise handlebars sweep back into your palms. (Click image to enlarge)
A musuclar 117 cu in S&S motor rumbles in the Pitbull’s
belly. The carbureted V-Twin is no puppy mill, making substantial power and
torque while growling through a two-into-one exhaust. Like all Big Dogs, the
Pitbull utilizes the BDM Balance Drive system, which places the final drive on
the right side to distribute weight and improve low-speed maneuverability. The
Baker 6-speed internals are actuated by a redesigned clutch that, while
requiring 50-percent less hand effort than last year, is still isometric enough
to have you crushing dog food cans after a couple hundred miles of city riding.
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