Old Skool Attitude

Story by Glenn Roberts// Photos by Jeff Stephenson
January 1 2013
Harley-Davidson Seventy-Two

Harley-Davidson rips a page from the So-Cal history books to create this chopperesque Sportster.

Parked on a downtown street at night, the bike catches the glint of lights from nearby bars and streetlights, and easily captures the attention of all those who walk by. Even in artificial light, the robust pieces of metal flake buried under layers of clear coat reflect from any angle. Imagine the array of colour in bold sunlight.

This paint scheme almost seems out of place these days, but it was all the rage during the late sixties and early seventies. Powerboats, dune buggies, Norton motorcycles and helmets all came in big metal-flake livery, and similarly, vinyl upholstery in local diners looked like it was adorned in metal flake.

Even my own early years were affected by the glittering paint trend. Long before I was able to legally ride a motorcycle on the road, I had a three-quarter helmet finished in large gold metal flake with a bubble face shield that I used for years while enjoying a friend’s minibike and my family’s 1967 Olympique Ski-Doo.

That just happened to be the era rife with muscle cars and choppers cruising the streets of Southern California. It could be construed, then, that the Seventy-Two assumed its name from its minimalist chopperesque look of the day, but those similarities are just coincidence. The bike’s name is actually derived from Route 72 – a highway running through East L.A. that was the scene for legendary custom-culture cruise nights of all things cool.

Harley-Davidson Seventy Two Gas TankFollowing the lead of the lean choppers of the early ’70s, Harley-Davidson’s Seventy-Two is a minimalist bike in every way. The first thing I noticed upon walking up to the bike is the low 710 mm (28 in.) seat height. About halfway up my thigh, a high step easily allowed me to straddle the seat. Sitting down, feet flat on the floor and legs bent, the next thing that hit me, apart from the 838 mm (33 in.) wide mini-ape handlebar that seemed out of place, was the size of the Sportster, or lack thereof, I should say. My first thought was: anorexic. The seat isn’t long enough to reach the small, but traditional, Sportster “peanut” fuel tank, leaving a substantial gap that serves mostly to show off the top of the rear cylinder between your legs.

Continuing the dainty theme of the Seventy-Two is the skinny triple tree out front, which holds the single gauge above the small headlight, and below that, the slender, 21-inch whitewall tire, hugged by a small sliver of metal that acts as the fender. The wheels are laced with chrome spokes mounted to polished hubs, and the engine is finished in a gray powdercoat as chrome covers round out the driveline’s styling cues. The Seventy-Two comes in standard colours, but if you like the razzle-dazzle look, you would want to go with the Hard Candy metal flake that the Motor Company claims is more than seven times larger than regular production metal flake; it seriously “pops” in the sunlight. The Seventy-Two is a real looker, and as with all Harley-Davidsons, fit and finish of all components is second to none.

Everything is in proportion, and the initial impression of having next to nothing below you not only lends to the cool factor, but it oozes excitement. And to top it all off, the torquey 1200 cc Sportster V-twin engine is one of my favourite powerplants.

Test Drive Harley-Davidson 72The fun factor of this bike doesn’t disappoint. You want to be sure you are hanging on when twisting the throttle, as the engine pumps out plenty of torque right from idle, with a maximum torque of 73 ft-lb (99 N-m) showing up at just 3500 rpm. The powerful, fuel-injected, air-cooled V-twin propels the 251.7 kg (555 lb.) bike and its rider quickly up to highway speeds. A firm prod is needed on the shift lever, but shifting is smooth and positive, and thanks to a short throw of the shifter, gears can be changed in the blink of an eye. Finding neutral from first or second was never an issue on the 5-speed transmission, and the cable-operated clutch pull was light.

The rubber-mounted engine gave off very little vibration in the handlebars and seat, and was in no way annoying when I actually noticed it. Even the mirrors offered a clean view behind at any rpm. Hand controls are typical Harley; easy to use and intuitive, and the signals are self-cancelling based on speed and lean angle. The single, clean and uncluttered gauge up front houses the analog speedo along with an LCD that displays the odometer, two trip meters and time of day.

The single rotor and dual-piston caliper up front does an adequate job of slowing the bike with a firm squeeze on the brake lever. The rear brake is lethargic on its own, but it seriously improves overall braking performance when used in concert with the front brake.

While a high handlebar generally doesn’t help in the handling department of a motorcycle, the Seventy-Two handles well at slow speeds and does a good job of taking corners for the style of bike that it is. While it can never be compared to a sportbike or even a standard, for that matter, the relatively short wheelbase of 1524 mm (60 in.), thin front tire and wide handlebar allows it to turn into corners with ease. Keep in mind, though, that it has a ground clearance of only 119 mm and an average lean angle of just a hair over 29 degrees, making it easy to grind the foot-peg feelers into the pavement. (And the right side is a little less because of the exhaust.) But let’s be honest, this bike is not a canyon carver and is far better suited for cruising to local hangouts and strutting its stuff.

In a nutshell, the Seventy-Two looks fantastically cool and offers massive curb appeal, especially with Harley’s Hard Candy paint, but it’s this very look that leads me to my one complaint about it – the comfort level. It’s a fun and nimble bike to ride, but it doesn’t take long to feel the effects of its minimalist styling.
With feet positioned on forward controls and hands hanging onto ten-inch mini-ape handlebars at chest height without any wind protection, the Seventy-Two provides a good upper-body workout. I consider myself an average size at 5 foot 11 with a 32-inch inseam, but I found the seat too close for comfort. I was sitting at the very back edge of it. For a smaller rider it would probably be ideal, and most certainly, the low seat height will help inspire confidence in those with a lesser inseam.

With a slammed bike comes reduced suspension travel. I didn’t have a problem with the 145 mm movement of the 39 mm front fork, but only 54 mm of travel in the rear made for a rough ride. I felt every ripple in the road, and I wanted to avoid potholes and frost heaves at all cost. The rear shocks provide adjustment for spring preload only.

Fortunately, Harley-Davidson’s H-D1 customization website allows you to digitally add accessories to see what the end result will look like before you shell out your hard-earned cash, and it offers 12 different seat options for the Seventy-Two, including a couple of spring seats, which should help add a bit more rear-end suspension. The seat options alone should help alleviate most of the discomfort concerns I describe.

Part of the Sportster’s heritage is the classic peanut fuel tank. It not only fits the ideal appearance of the traditional Sporty, but it may also be a saving grace. With a tiny 7.9-litre tank, this bike would have a tough time passing many gas stations, so getting off to fill up and stretch your legs regularly will at least help to pack a few more kilometres into a day if the comfort gods aren’t on your side. I was surprised to see the low-fuel light come on at only 95 km. I filled up at 98 km with 5.83 L, giving an acceptable fuel economy of 5.95 L/100 km (47.49 mpg), but an estimated range per tank of only 132 km. With a maximum distance like that on a tank of fuel, there are many parts of Canada you would not want to venture into without a jerry can.

I have always been a fan of the Sportster because of its classic styling, small stature and powerful, torquey engine. It isn’t a bike that I would want to take cross-country, but for an around-town runabout, it fits the bill perfectly. I can’t think of many vehicles better suited for cruising the main vein. The Seventy-Two fits that bill to a tee, and if you include one of the three premium, metal-flake colours, you’ve got yourself some real eye candy.

List Price $12,149, Hard Candy $12,969
Warranty 2 years unlimited mileage
the drivetrain  
Engine Type Air-cooled Evolution V-twin
Displacement 1200 cc
Power (claimed) N/A
Torque (claimed) 99 N-m (73 ft-lb) at 3500 rpm
Bore and Stroke 88.9 x 96.8 mm
Compression Ratio 9.7:1
Fuel Delivery Electronic sequential port fuel injection
Transmission 5-speed
The essentials  
Final Drive Type Belt
Front Suspension 39 mm telescopic fork, non-adjustable
Rear Suspension Dual coil over shock, preload adjustable
Wheel Travel Front: 145 mm (5.69 in.), Rear: 54 mm (2.12 in.)
Brakes Front: 292 mm disc with twin-piston caliper, Rear: 260 mm disc with single-piston caliper
Wheelbase 1524 mm (60 in.)
Rake and Trail 30.1 degrees/135 mm
Tires Front: MH90-21 54H; Rear: 150/80B16 71H
Weight (wet) 251.7 kg (555 lb.)
Seat Height 710 mm (28 in.)
Fuel Capacity 7.9 L
Fuel Economy (observed) 5.95 L/100 km (47.49 mpg)
Fuel Range (estimated) 132 km
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