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The Harley-Davidson Low Rider S: Torque it up
You’d be excused for taking a second glance at this Harley-Davidson (HD). Yes, you can find similarities with your Uncle’s Dyna but the Low Rider S is a completely different animal altogether. Visually the LRS is one of the best looking bikes to come out of HD for some time. With blacked-out features, the ’80s inspired “denim gold“ cast aluminium wheels, shotgun exhausts and a front fender that looks straight from Jax Teller’s spares box, the LRS may appeal to some younger riders that never would have considered riding a Harley-Davidson.
While purists might cringe at some of the obvious SOA styling nods, you will be hard-pressed to find anyone disappointed with that v twin. 1801 cubic centimetres of twin-cam Milwaukee goodness sits rubber-mounted between your legs and will feed you 156nm of torque. It’s note at idle is surprisingly subtle while still sounding distinctly Harley-Davidson, and when you open it up those blacked out shotgun exhausts will shoot out a ballsy roar. Even the deep inhale from the heavy breather intake seems to bring a smile to your face. My only engine gripe would be the pesky rev limiter sticking it’s hand up at 5,500 rpm, which feels premature even with six speeds to shuffle with.
Image: Gannett
All this torque was obviously fun punching straight lines in the city, but I thought a ride up Ku-Ring-Gai Chase would reveal a few chinks in the LRS’s armour. That simply wasn’t the case. The bike felt agile from the get-go; not just for a Harley-Davidson, but for any cruiser.. which is even more impressive when you factor in that front rake. You have 30 degrees of lean before you’re making sparkles, and although the rear shocks had minimal travel, the bike never felt unsettled. The front bar set-up will move your mittens wide and tall without looking too ridiculous, and although the mid-mount controls were a bit cramped for me (190cm) I think most people will love the leg position.
In terms of features, keyless security will keep the LRS safe outside the pub, and cruise control might get a look when you hit the freeway. Rolling on the throttle is controlled electronically but it never feels like it, and ABS will pipe up when you squeeze those four-piston callipers too hard. I quite liked the look of the wrinkle black console, but unfortunately, the tank mount means the gauges are never in your line of sight.
Hands down, this is one of the most fun and on point Harley-Davidson motorcycles that I’ve ever ridden. Sure I have gripes, but in most cases, they are few and easily fixable. My praise for this bike, however, comes in 1801cc bucket loads deeply rooted in the soul of this beast.
Priced at $26,250 ride away – even if you’ve never considered riding a Harley-Davidson, get to your local dealer and take the Low Rider S for a test; it’s not all torque.
CHECK OUT THE HARLEY-DAVIDSON LOW RIDER S
In collaboration with Harley-Davidson
Justin Jackie
Justin Jackie is a freelancer automotive writer with over five years of experience reporting and reviewing cars and motorcycles. His work has appeared in a number of industry-leading publications, including the New York Times, T Magazine, BurdaLuxury, Mr Jones, and Prestige Online.
