A Twenty First Century First. A Harley Davidson With Brakes!

The year 2008 was Harley Davidson’s 105th anniversary which isn’t a particularly well recognised milestone I’ll admit but that didn’t stop them celebrating it with style as they have done every 5 years since God Knows when. It also happened to be the 25th Anniversary of H.O.G. – the Harley Owners Club – which was arguably more significant.

To celebrate the occasion were a few notable events. The first was a four day festival of non-stop activities and music in Milwaukee City centred primarily along the lakefront area. The mighty H.O.G. held their event at Miller Park, there was an organised run to the whole thing beginning at 105 separate Harley dealers from all around the states and Harley Davidson themselves released a total of 14 separate models of extremely special limited edition bikes.

They weren’t just simple styling packs either. As well as offering delicious copper and black colour schemes, with tasteful detailing including copper shield decorations to tanks and air cleaners plus matching inserts to seats, they also offered something new. Fitted as an option to some models and standard to the top of the range was a Harley Davidson first – Advanced ABS with Brembo disks.

These aren’t just any old bike ABS systems either. Because of their age-old tradition of style and image before any other consideration – a tradition which has served them extremely well by all accounts – fitting and amending an already existing setup wasn’t even on the agenda. Instead the crafty engineers at HD designed a unit from the ground up and hid it almost entirely within the wheels!

One of the bikes to receive this treatment was the top of the range CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide. Already a bike with more features than a headline festival, including a built in navigation system, Harmon-Kardon stereo system, Cruise Control and even heated seats, the Anniversary edition is truly an incredible touring bike to behold.

Then there’s its positively huge Twin Cam 110 engine to consider. There’s a full 1803 cubic centimetres of V-Twin power under the tank of these monsters. And it’s fully rubber mounted to allow the traditional Harley Shake to continue unhindered without affecting rider comfort over whatever distance you care to ride. It hardly rattles the bike at all but still sounds so beautifully ‘Harley’ and looks the part as well.

So there you have it, a Goldwing beater with panache. It looks better, sounds better and well to be honest that’s about it really. But it doesn’t matter if the Goldwing is 10 times better on paper. It might handle better, use less fuel, use less oil or anything at all. I don’t know and I don’t particularly care. The 105th Anniversary Edition FLHTCUI Ultra Classic Electra Glide is infinitely better in the style department which is the only place that counts really. Otherwise we’d all drive cars wouldn’t we?