If ever a set of handlebars could make a statement, it’s right here. Take a look at the factory ape hangers on the front of this Wide Glide® model. No doubt, they spark thoughts of early tricked-out choppers. When you grab hold of them, that feeling comes rushing to life. Settle into the custom chopper seat, reach to the forward foot controls and stare down a distant horizon. It’s a laid-back way to see a country. This year, it gets even better. With a restyled, stretched fuel tank and console. It sports a new 3-D Bar & Shield® with flame graphics. Custom all the way. You get a 21'' laced front wheel, chromed sissy bar, backrest and raked fork. And a Twin Cam 88® powertrain, now available with a sophisticated EFI option. All you have to do is sit back and enjoy.

The Wide Glide® was born to defy convention. You may well be looking at the wild child of '70s counterculture. The days when riders flared fenders, raked front ends and bolted on a handlebar of the skyscraping order. A clean, laid-back profile that seems to stretch for miles. The front fork – wide, raked and rolling on a 21 inch chrome, laced wheel. The curvy profile of the Fat Bob™ tank. Standard chrome, laced wheels with 160 mm of asphalt-hungry rear rubber. A vibration-isolated new Twin Cam 96™ engine matched to six perfectly spaced gears. Hop in the saddle. Grab the factory ape-hangers. Stretch legs to the forward controls. Ride easy, friend. Heels to the wind.

The king of fat and funky customs pulls out all the stops this year. Virtually redesigned down to every last bit of chubby. Big new Twin Cam 96B™ motor matched to six smooth-shifting gears. Unique H-D® tread design on enlarged front and 200 mm rear tires. Wider chopped rear fender. Wider seat. Skillet slabs of silver, disc cast aluminum wheel ringed with .50-calibur bullet-size holes. Low-profile risers accentuate the fattened 1-1/4 inch internally wired handlebar for a clean look. New nacelle, valance and tank strap with chrome bullet tip details. New pinstripe graphics punctuate its substantial presence. Live life to the fattest.

For decades, fun could best be defined as a potent engine sitting dead center in a strong, agile frame with nothing but miles of winding asphalt ahead. As long as we keep building and refining the Sportster®, that definition will stay true. If you’ve never swung a leg over, you should. Once astride, twist the throttle and feel the V-Twin generate mounds of torque. It’s a satisfying rush that hits you right in the pit of your stomach. We rubber-mounted the engine to the frame for a more comfortable ride — no road is unfamiliar territory, no journey too far. And though riding a Sportster has always been a blast, we keep finding more ways to make things even more rider friendly. We redesigned the transmission so it shifts smoother. Take a quick trip through the gears and you’ll no doubt appreciate the near-effortless clutch. There’s also improved kickstand ergonomics — now the bike is easier to reach and lift. The pure American street machine just keeps getting better.

The original factory streetfighter returns with its minimalist styling, premium components and broad, torquey powerband. Ready to tear from the pack? Choose your weapon.