Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/703695
45 www.thunderpress.net THUNDER PRESS nAugust 2016n by Kenzo LACONIA, N.H., JUNE 11–18— Just like the rest of us, Harley- Davidson is stuck between the die-hard ultra conservatives and the vocal liber- als. On one hand, to alter the design of their iconic product is akin to violating the freedom to ride, while on the other extreme new riders are demanding fea- tures generally found on foreign bikes. Project RUSHMORE was unveiled in 2014 but the Harley-Davidson engi- neers did such a good design job that most people aren't aware that their motorcycles have changed—a lot. At the New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the Milwaukee company set up a special trailer during Laconia Motorcycle Week to show prospective custom- ers how much their bikes have evolved. The sound system— complete with voice acti- vation, 6.5" touch screen, and Bluetooth wireless con- nection—may be intuitive to young riders raised in the era of smartphones, but for the rest of us it requires a bit of practice to master. The GPS not only lets you know where you are, but allows one to download gpx fi les or create navi- gational routes directly on the bike's screen. If that wasn't enough, it even provides a warning when you're low on fuel and gives directions to the nearest gas station. Jukebox is simply a water-resistant storage compartment containing plug connections for thumb drives, iPods and iPhones. It will even charge your phone while you ride. Sirius radio is another standard feature, but there is a sound package ($4,300) that will trans- form your two wheels into a mobile concert hall. Project RUSHMORE has resulted in over 100 changes to the company's touring bikes. Some of these are rela- tively minor and some are huge. The liquid-cooled 103" engine debuted in 2014 and while the concept of using both air and liquid coolant isn't new to motorcycles it certainly was long overdue for these large-displacement V-Twins. The fact that H-D managed to do this without changing the appear- ance of the touring bikes is essential to purists. Anti-lock integrated braking is another new, but long overdue feature. On a bike this heavy I consider such to be essential. by Loretta Jackson CONCORD, N.H., JUNE 11–18— A jaunt of 27 miles from Laconia Motorcycle Week made Heritage Harley-Davidson the perfect pit stop for riders wishing to extend the party with music, vendors and Southern- style barbecue. A week of hospitality coinciding with Motorcycle Week was hosted by Heritage H-D owner Eileen Sleeper and events coordinator Rebecca Bunyard, along with dozens of staffers and volunteers. Vendors from as far away as Florida brought jewelry, accessories, patches and pins. Volunteers directed bikes to the parking lot and the needy to the rest rooms. Special guest Kathy Bacon, membership manager for the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce, checked out a trike and admired the facility, founded in 1982 and oper- ated by a second generation of family. Myrtle Beach residents Joey Johnson, on his 2014 Street Glide, and Timmy Lewis, on his 2014 Ultra Limited, dismounted. They were met with wel- comes and barbecue from Brothers' House of Smoke, owned by A.J. Giglio, of Sutton, New Hampshire. Johnson and Lewis had visited Laconia, enjoyed the diversions there and were ready to head home when Lewis discovered his bike needed ser- vice, quick. Johnson washed his bike at a com- plimentary wash station. Lewis helped dry a couple droplets on the chrome while waiting for his own bike to be repaired. "We drove a thousand miles to wash our bikes at the Harley shop," Johnson said, chuckling. Lewis gave further explanation. "We spent two days in the rain to get to Laconia," Lewis said. "My engine light and tem- perature light came on going home, so we headed here to get it ready to ride." A rocking band, Those Guys, played biker tunes and oldies. Beer and eats from Alan's of Boscawen, a nearby catering pro, satisfi ed some. Most opted for Brothers' ribs, pulled pork, sweet potato casserole, baked beans and cornbread. Patrons also visited Miss Chrissy, renowned as the Patch Queen. She donned her rhinestone tiara and let her sewing machine roar, drilling through hide to af fi x rally patches to jackets and vests. She nodded to rider Ron Cox, who saves his patches until he sees Miss Chrissy. He brought three that day. She said he's her favorite kind of customer, a "be back." He's one who always says, "I'll be back." Tim Alexander, service manager for 10 years at Heritage Harley- Davidson, said Bike Week there was a group effort involving every department and all the personnel. "It was a busy, festive, bike-week atmo- sphere," he said. "We're the best team, throughout the dealership, not just in Service. People know that and they come back." 4 HERITAGE H-D BIKE WEEK 2016 Barbecue, bands and beer Dealership events draw Laconia crowd to Concord Two riders from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Joey Johnson, left, and Timmy Lewis, wash away a thousand miles of dirt from Joey's 2014 Street Glide while Timmy awaits some repairs on his 2014 Ultra Limited PROJECT RUSHMORE EXPERIENCE Full immersion Not your grandpa's Harley See "Rushmore," page 54, column 4 The touring simulator has three large, curved LCD screens and dual fans are coupled with a stationary Ultra that runs in place 103 c.i. "dual-cool" engine cut away to show the areas affected by liquid coolant