Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/738714
13 www.thunderpress.net THUNDER PRESS nNovember 2016n that riders insist on these days. A new lighter-pull Assist and Slip 9-plate clutch (10 plates in the 114-inch CVO version) has been added along with an anti-backlash transmission gear to eliminate lash. Outside of the motor, the exhaust and catalytic converter have been repo- sitioned, again in the interest of heat abatement, and the new air cleaner and primary cover have been brought tight to the motor for improved operator leg room. And best of all, new suspen- sion components are fi tted front and back, with heavy-duty hand-adjustable rear shocks—and an index number guide for quick reference of optimal settings for various conditions. The front suspension now uses Showa Dual Bending Technology that emulates car- tridge-style units. What does all this mean in prac- tice? Plenty, it turns out: lower weight, more power including 10 percent more torque, and, amazingly, greater fuel economy—pegged at an impressive 45 mpg. There's all that, but the fi rst indi- cation of things being very different on the Milwaukee-Eight comes quickly and simply with stepping the shifter pedal down into fi rst gear; it is abso- lutely silent and silken, and disconcert- ing at fi rst for those of us accustomed to previous units—you fi nd yourself stepping it again because you can't believe you're actually in fi rst. The electronic throttle rolls on seamlessly and aggressively, and the motor's torque bump is palpable— particularly when accelerating out of a curve at low rpms. And fi nding yourself down in the rpm band is not unusual; the motor will pull like a Percheron in sixth gear all the way down to 2000 rpm. The ride route for the launch started out in wet conditions, and stayed tha t way for extended periods such that removing rain gear was rarely advisable. Even when the skies bright- ened, another dose of rain was perpet- ually in the offi ng. One result of that weather pattern was the cancellation of two of the riding photography ses- sions slated, the fi rst being at the end of the fi rst day when, having ridden up to Port Angeles—our stopping point for the night—we continued on into the National Park and ascended the aptly-named Hurricane Ridge. It didn't get that name by accident. Once at the summit the clouds lowered to ground level and a stiff wind blew. The bikes were now fi lthy, the light less than optimal, and the riders depleted from the day in the saddle. It was descend- ing from the ridge that things got truly dicey, with visibility reduced to near- zero on a road without white lines or refl ectors to guide by. It was at that point that the Road King's expanse of clear polycarbonate and LED fog lamps proved their value, permitting a clear view of the roadway right up to the front tire. Riding by Braille, is what it was, and the King was up to the task. A second photo ses- sion, this one a tracking shot endeavor with each bike fol- lowing the photographers' car for dynamic riding shots, was short-lived the following day when, again within the boundaries of the park, a park ranger got involved early in the going and put the kibosh on the whole deal. A lunch stop at the rustic-opulent lodge at Crescent Lake followed, and the rain lightened suffi ciently and the clouds lifted enough to provide breath- taking views across the lake and to the mountainous tableau beyond. With autumn in the air, and leaves falling and skittering across the pavement the experience made for a glorious insight into the natural appeal of this far-fl ung corner of the lower 48. The fi nal leg of the outing the next day took us back towards Tacoma in increasingly fair weather conditions until we came within spitting distance of our destination back at the Hotel The Road King in full accessorized trim, including the snorting Stage I modifi cations The Stage I treatment's Screamin' Eagle Street Cannon slip-on muffl ers announce their presence with authority The Defi ance Collection footboard and brake pedal add a custom touch to the basic King The rear-mounted Speaker Expansion Kit provides surround-sound in concert with the han- dlebar-mounted Boom! Audio Bluetooth Cruiser amp and speakers See "Road King," page 14, column 1