Blackline Black Out | Getting In Control
When we attended the Harley press launch for the Blackline as a midyear model for 2011, we saw a lot of potential in the mostly blacked-out and stripped-down Softail. As is the case with any new model, it often takes a little while for the general public and customizers/bike builders to get on board and start showcasing what can be done with one of H-D’s newest models. We recently procured three photoshoots of three different Blacklines that have been customized by well-known industry veterans who have a knack for taking a good-looking bike and making it even better. Over the course of the next couple issues we will sprinkle in those features and hopefully inspire others out there to tear into Harley’s newest Softail.
In the meantime, we were able to wrestle a 2011 Blackline from the clutches of the H-D press fleet in our own attempt to give the latest Dark Custom model a slightly different and hopefully more sinister look than how it rolled off the assembly line. We already gave you our riding impression of the 2011 model back in our September 2011 issue and with the only difference in the ’12 model being the addition of the 103ci engine, we figured a Vivid Black ’11 model would be a good jumping-off point for what we had in mind. To get started on this multi-series project, we cracked open the H-D P&A catalog and began ordering anything and everything we could to make the bike look even tougher. Of course we ordered a bunch of components to further add to the sea o’ black on this bike, but we also ordered some of H-D’s Edge Cut Collection, which is a mix between black and polished machine-cut finishes. The addition of the Edge Cut parts should fit well with the chrome components and hardware already on the bike. In this first installment, we will be tackling the hand and foot controls. HB
Source:
Harley-Davidson
harley-davidson.com | Contact your local dealer