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Off the Chain
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Big Dog Bulldog
David Morris
08/01/2007
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Photography by Cordero Studios/corderostudios.com
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In just a few moments, the Bulldog and I have become friends.
Morrow leads me along our day’s route, and he has cleverly chosen a variety of
road configuration and surface. The Bulldog proves its worth accordingly. As we
surge forward, the power and finish impress equally. The controls are crisp and
all of a piece; this is clearly a custom designed and built with rigor and
coherence. The bike communicates solidity and confidence, and I enjoy the
suppleness of the machine. Its chassis delivers handling that belies the length
and weight of the bike, making it feel like an extension of my newly discovered
"bad" self. The suspension tames irregularities in the tarmac. The engine
provides useable power across the curve, with instant excitement on tap, its
sharp growl raising the hairs on the skin. My angel is smiling.
From a more real-world perspective, the ergonomics of the
Bulldog present no evident issues. The chassis balance and smooth power can be
exploited by riders of various physiques, irrespective of sex, as male and
female Dog lovers will testify. The reach to the bars is not extreme, and the
seating position is a natural one.
 The Big Dog Bulldog attracts riders
who want their customs strictly legal and backed up by an extensive dealer
network. (Click image to enlarge)
An all-day excursion saddled up on your new best friend along
the back country roads around Volusia County, speeding along past the farms and
forests, punctuated by pauses at the panoply of watering holes, juke joints and
fish camps is an escape into a time warp that will not fail to please. As Morrow
points out, the purpose of this kind of motorcycle is to provide a means of
intense and satisfying escape, almost like a psychological cleansing. "It’s a
bike you can ride for even a half hour," he says, "and whatever was on your
mind, well, doesn’t really matter anymore." Type A personalities, take note.
As we pull back in to Carl’s Speed Shop, the urge to acquire a
Big Dog looms large. The impression is indelible. My pulse is racing with the
charisma that emanates from a custom meant to be ridden with an intensity to
match the stares it elicits. Enthusiasts will be hard pressed to resist the idea
of a Bulldog in their kennels.
Expounding on Big Dog’s future with understandable enthusiasm,
Hansen says, "We are now a true OEM, with full two-year factory warranties and
finance programs. Focusing our strategy on serving the discerning client has
paid off. Our order book is healthy, and we expect to roll our 25,000th bike off
the line by spring 2008. We are full members of the Motorcycle Industry Council
and committed to securing our position at the upper end of the market."
True to the desires of its constituents, Big Dog Motorcycles
offers a complete array of personalization choices from paint schemes to
performance parts. For those who wish to travel two-up, suitable seating can be
arranged. They also organize events around the country where Dog owners can show
off their best of breed.
Wichita has reason to be proud. A unique poetry is woven in the
winds that caress the Kansas plains. It celebrates our individuality and our
incontrovertible need to become one with our destiny; as noted motorcyclist Bob
Dylan sang, "To dance beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free." No
matter what chains the world may put upon us, or we upon ourselves, the
motorcycle allows us to slip their bonds, and live all of our lives in a single
minute. This spirit is unleashed in the Big Dog Bulldog.
www.bigdogmotorcycles.com
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