Bike of the Month for September 1999
Harley-Davidson FLXTD Softail Deuce
Harley-Davidson has been watching clone makers pop-up left and right like malevolent prairie dogs. The clones prey on Harley's still limited production capacity, and the need of America's newly wealthy class of entrepreneurs to make everyone think they are special. So the clones buy imitation Evolution engines from S & S, drop them in imitation Softail frames, give them fancy paint and names, and sell them for $25,000 and up. Way way up. Harley isn't going to let a bunch of upstarts (who will almost certianly fold up the first time our bubble economy has a hiccup) take away their market share. Harley did customs long before anyone had coined the term custom. They are the kings of the cruiser market, because they've been building cruisers since cruisers were called motorcycles. Hence the Deuce. It is Harley's response to the clone market. They are saying that they are the originals, and the best. Harley is right. It looks great in pictures. It looks even better in person. Take a look at those chrome front forks. See how they taper at the top? Then there is the extended gas tank, the rear fender, and a host of other features. Finally, it gets the new stronger softail frame and counter-balanced 88B engine. Unlike all those inexperienced clones, this is custom cruiser that works.
August 1999's Winner Benelli Tornado 900
July 1999's Winner Excelsior-Henderson Super X
June 1999's Winner Yamaha XJR1300
May 1999's Winner MV Augusta F4
April 1999's Winner Harley-Davidson FXR2
March 1999's Winner Kawasaki Estrella Custom
February 1999's Winner Laverda 750S Formula
January 1999's Winner Kawasaki SW650
December 1998's Winner Harley-Davidson FLSTS Heritage Springer
November 1998's Winner BMW R1100S
October 1998's Winner Triumph Speed Triple
September 1998's Winner Moto Guzzi V10 Centauro Sport
August 1998's Winner Harley-Davidson FXDX Super Glide Sport
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