Harley Davidson FXD Dyna Super Glide

WITH ALL THE ballyhoo and blarney surrounding the appearance of the new Harley Bad Boy (BIKE, November), the new Dyna-chassised FXD Super Glide has pretty much sneaked in unnoticed. While the Alvin Stardust-on-wheels Bad Boy grabbed all the attention, the subtle, understated Super Glide simply got on with it.

Which is exactly what it's there for. The Super Glide has always been the basic, no-frills, entry-level 1340 Harley. At a full grand cheaper than any of the other 80 cubic inch Hogs, the bare bones FXR has never had the glitter and gloss to get anyone in a lather. Think of it as a 1340 Sportster, a 1340 Sportster with a big, Fat Bob tank, and you won't be too wide of the mark.

New for '95 is the switch to the Dyna Glide chassis that's slowly being adopted by the. whole of the Harley range. In a nutshell that means the engine is now rubber-mounted via a two-point isolation system intended to smooth out vibes. It might sound very Buck Rogers but in truth adds up to little more than a few new engine mounts and a couple of rubber grommets. It also means the old FXR Super Glide has become the FXD  in other words, D, once again, is for Dyna.

The frame is essentially identical to that of the Dyna Low Rider Convertible launched last year but with the substitution of the raked-out rear shocks of the Low Rider to give a lower seat height. As such, the FXD blends both the sprightly steering of the Convertible, whose frame has a comparatively stumpy 28-degree head angle, and the low and laid-back seat of the Dyna Low Rider.

Overall dimensions, then, are closer to a Sportster than any of the rest of the big block range. The new one-piece embossed seat is a Low Rider low 680mm (26.7in); the sharper rake helps give the Super Glide a shorter wheelbase than other 1340s (at 1588mm it's 60mm stumpier than the Low Rider and only 50mm longer than the 1200 Sporty) and weighing just 271kg dry it's the lightest (if nigh-on 6001b can ever be called light) 80 cubic inch Harley too.

It all adds up to a comparatively light (for a Hog), sprightly and punchy machine. Ride, especially at cruising speed, and handling have both been significantly improved thanks to both the Dyna frame and dual rate front fork springs. The annoying feet-buzzing, hand-numbing vibrations that afflict most non-Dyna Harleys around 75mph are smoothed out. The steering (again, for a Harley) is respectably light and precise - although the ground clearance when you get enthusiastic isn't much better than a tea trolley. And the low, bum-hugging seat is deep and snug.

Only the Fat Bob tank gives it away as something meatier and  bigger than a Sporty. Now with a new centre-mounted filler, the fat, 181itre tank splays across your thighs, spreading your legs and fuelling (ho ho) the impression that this is a fat, chunky bike. Up front, a new electronic speedo is now mounted on the pull-back buckhorn bars rather than on the tank. And paint is a plain (and cheap) one-colour job: rich burgundy pearl (as shown), vivid black, victory red or aqua pearl.

The rest of the bike is just as clean, simple and attractive. To keep costs down, wheels are cast nine-spoke alloys, a 19-inch front, 16-inch rear and just a single, barely acceptable 291mm disc up front to haul the whole rig up. Also to keep things cheap, the engine cases and cylinders have a bare alloy finish rather than the black crinkle finish applied to the rest of the 1340 range. Personally I like it. It gives the Super Glide a milled-from-solid uniqueness other big Harleys lack, heightens the basic heavy metal appeal of the machine and also casts another nod in the direction of the 883 and 1200 Sportsters (which share the same engine finish) whose spirit the Super Glide emulates so well.

Finish apart, that big hefty lump is identical to every other 1340 Hog, of course: an 80 cubic inch Evo with a five-speed 'box, belt final drive and a Euro-friendly exhaust system which suffocates most of the fire within. Like every other big Harley it's alive: kicking and jumping and invigorating more than any Jap motor can at 50mph. It's got a healthy bounce when accelerating from standstill up to, say, 40; has a real manly, metal feel to it which few bikes can match; is an absolute doddle to bimble around on, and is completely embarrassed, performance-wise, above 70. Yes, I know, I'm 'missing the point'. I've heard it all before.

I liked the FXD Super Glide. For me it's the honest, no pretensions, no dressing up Hawg. I like the fact that it's a bit of a street sleeper  plain but pokey. I like its plain metal finish engine and its classic, no poncing looks and I like the fact that what you see is what you get. It handles respectably, it goes half decently, it's comfy and, perhaps more than anything, it's not dressed up like a Christmas cracker. But if you want it to be, you can spend what you save on the usual vast range of Harley accessories too. Nice one H-D.