Chrome and Custom Cycles In the "News"
| Big Dog Motorcycles® Stays True To Its Name | ||
| Big Dog Motorcycles®, the leader in the high performance, highly-styled cruiser niche and the second largest American V-twin motorcycle manufacturer, raised the standards of premium motorcycles by a quantum in its 2005 line. The company’s immensely powerful, yet supremely styled models are endowed with such massive components that they tower above all others. “The new line remains the benchmark of the industry,” commented Nick Messer, president, Big Dog Motorcycles. “With a sharp high performance edge added to the high style characteristics, the 05s ride like a motorcycle should – comfortable and manageable, but able to transform into a brute with the flick of the wrist.” Big Dog Motorcycles’ 2005 line includes two rigid motorcycles, the Pitbull and Ridgeback, and three with A-frame swingarm suspension, the Chopper, Mastiff and soon-to-be-released Bulldog. The company has retired the rubber-mounted Boxer. All models in the new five-bike line-up are so big, with such massive components, they are sure to be called motorcycling mega-bikes, eclipsing the competition. Pitbull & Ridgeback Weighing in at 654 pounds, the radical chopper-style Ridgeback is nearly nine-feet long giving it a commanding presence on any highway or boulevard. The Pitbull, with its long and low stance, creates head-turning whiplash in its own right. The most awe-inspiring addition to the 2005 Ridgeback and Pitbull is the extremely beefy 300mm rear tire. In the wide-rubber race, Big Dog Motorcycles has become the clear leader. Big Dog Motorcycles is the only production motorcycle manufacturer with tires of this magnitude. The 300mm rear has an ultra-low profile, is radial constructed with aramid belts to provide added stability, and is H-rated for higher speeds. Secured within the Pitbull’s and Ridgeback’s muscular 1½” frames is a powerful, road-ripping 117 cubic inch engine (1,916cc). Mated with a redesigned American-made 6-speed transmission, the 117 – with a block to accommodate its 4 1/8” x 4 3/8” bore and stroke and redesigned chrome rocker boxes – delivers plenty of power and torque for any rider’s appetite. Like its 107-inch predecessor, the 117 cubic inch power plant is hand assembled at Big Dog Motorcycles’ factory to its own exacting specifications using specially designed S&S components. To allow for bigger tires, while promoting superior balance, rideability, and cornering, Big Dog Motorcycles has added a revolutionary right side drive system to its entire 2005 line up, including the Chopper and Mastiff. “The Pitbull in its eighth year and the Ridgeback in its second have both been brought closer to motorcycling perfection than ever before. They are both bigger and better than ever,” Messer continued. Chopper & Mastiff Just a few inches shorter than the Ridgeback, the 104-inch Chopper is in its third model year. First introduced in 2003, the Chopper has a redesigned A-frame swingarm attached to its thick 1½” frame. Cradled within the swingarm is a generous 250mm tire, standard on the rebellious bike since it hit first the market. “This bold approach to the Chopper creates amazing capabilities for the bike,” said Messer. “But as sharp as the bike is, its heart is always the engine.” The Chopper’s 117-inch engine is shared by all in the 2005 arsenal and is the biggest ever in Big Dog Motorcycles’ history. Delivering plenty of power and torque, the substantial V-twin is oriented to the very highest level of performance. Equally powerful with an equally big 250mm rear tire, the 2005 Mastiff is very much its own machine. A true and gifted motorcycle, the Mastiff – at just a compact 98 inches and 641 pounds – is one of the most nimble in the line. Light-footed, but still very rock solid. The 250mm tire is an increase from the 240mm found on the rear of previous Mastiffs. As it holds to the pavement, the 250mm is secured with a redesigned A-frame swingarm for a more active suspension and smoother ride. Other notably big components across the 2005 line-up include beefy front tires, wide steel fenders, and new redesigned thick triple trees. “Eleven years after our first bikes hit the streets, Big Dog Motorcycles still enjoys enormous popularity,” continued Messer. “To ensure this continues, we designed a thoroughly improved riding experience, both in technical innovations and a bolder, bigger look,” he added. About Big Dog Motorcycles® Big Dog Motorcycles, LLC, started production in 1994 and has since become the Number Two American V-twin motorcycle manufacturer and the leader in its specialized niche. The company’s entire line of motorcycles uses high-performance V-twin 117 cubic inch engines, 6-speed transmissions, stretch tanks, right side drives, super fat tires, chrome components, and an extensive variety of custom paint colors and graphics. The 2005 line also includes Big Dog Motorcycles custom-designed electronics, hand controls, foot controls, mirrors, air cleaner cover, coil cover, and other components, all earning the company OEM status. The company’s motorcycles are distributed through nearly one hundred dealers throughout the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii – eight are Big Dog Motorcycles branded dealerships. Designing, manufacturing, and distributing are performed at the company’s 175,000 square-foot world headquarters in Wichita, Kansas by over 350 employees. For more information, visit the new, comprehensive website at www.bigdogmotorcycles.com. | ||