THERE IS SOMETHING inherently incongruous about the idea of riding a Harley-Davidson in Hong Kong. I mean, all that stuff about independence and rebellion, freedom and wide open spaces - on this little island? I think not.
But as I stand chatting with Techno Harley-Davidson sales manager Galen Wong outside Harley's Tin Hau showroom, and we turn to see his mechanics rolling the test bike from the shop floor, my cynicism dissolves in a sharp jolt of adrenalin. This great gleaming altar of style, power and technology is to be mine to command, if only for a while. By the time I don my jacket and gloves, I'm already humming the second verse of Born to be Wild.
For those not familiar with the newest Harley-Davidson line, there is something unusually stark about the look of the dragster-inspired Street Rod. This is a machine designed to look as if it performs, and its modern, raked and angular lines bear a relatively faint family resemblance to the generous, languid curves of the other four Harley variants. It offers just a hint of sentimental homage to the Easy Rider choppers of the previous century.
The seating position is aggressively bum up and foot back, ready for down and dirty cornering. The deliberately exposed tubular frame declares stripped-down racing pedigree. Minimalist instrument housing; short, sharp drop-down handlebars and chunky inverted front shock absorbers all add to a first impression of a bike that means business.
The Street Rod is the latest incarnation of Harley's VRSC (V-Twin Racing Street Custom) line, launched in 2002 to bridge the gap between the angry sport bikes of other manufacturers and the lazy cruiser that Harley is often seen to epitomise. They suggest that you call this new machine a roadster.
Another gap Harley had in mind with the VRSC was the rapidly shrinking one between its bed-rock baby-boomer market and their impending demise. This is a younger, faster, meaner Harley, bred to conquer demanding new markets.