Would you buy American for your next motorcycle?
To celebrate the fourth of July Visordown looks at some of the best American Motorcycles you can buy new and used in 2019.
It’s no secret as to the global success of Japanese and European motorcycle brands such as Kawasaki, Honda, Ducati, and Triumph. These brands have a diverse range of motorcycles to suit all kinds of riding and all kinds of people.
Unfairly, when I think of American motorcycles I picture poor handling heavy cruisers that behave like a hovercraft when faced with a slight bend. This is no longer the case, and I need to stop mentally stereotyping American bikes - as times have changed.
Of course, there is still chubby highway munching V twins on offer from Harley, but we’re going to look at some lighter more nimble, even sporty, American bikes which might just float your boat.
Harley Street Bob 2019
Price: £12,295
Power: 87HP
Torque:145Nm
The Street Bob is the worthy successor to the Dyna and features the awesome Milwaukee-Eight 107 motor.
The Bob is a stripped-back, lighter and more sporty middleweight cruiser that if required can lean aggressively into bends thanks to its redesigned frame geometry.
Indian FTR1200
Price: £11,899
Power: 123Hp
Torque: 120Nm
Inspired by their championship-winning FTR750 race bike, the FTR1200 is a true flat tracker for the road, and looks cool and hell!
The FTR1200 isn’t just a looker though, as it has borrowed a rear swingarm design from the 750 race bike, and like many modern superbikes, it has a fuel tank positioned under the seat for better weight distribution.
Looks, power and handling performance, this thing sounds more and more appealing by the second…
EBR 1190RX
Price: £13,998 (new)
Power: 185bhp
Torque: 135.5Nm
After a fair bit of turmoil Buell has finally shut its doors for good, but there can be no debating that before they took an honorable bow from the market they built a stunning exotic superbike.
The 1190RX design draws from 30 years of racing experience and engineering and was a bit of an Enigma in the sportsbike market as it featured a unique single front disk set up.
It’s no Ducati, but it’s definitely a head-turner.
Lightning LS 218
Price: around £31,000
Power: 200Hp
Torque: 227.7Nm
A bit of a wild card on this list, but believe it or not the silent electric pocket rocket is the fastest production motorcycle in the world - with a top speed of 218 mph. If the lighting is ridden at more legal speeds then the range is anywhere from 120- 180 miles on a single charge.
Acceleration wise, the Lightning LS 218 is so efficient that it can accelerate from 100 - 150mph in jsut two seconds!
Think that’s all that needs to be said about this bad boy. Now to find £31,000… hmmm.
Zero SR/F
Price: £17,990
Power: 110Hp
Torque:190Nm
Straight out of the silicon valley and In keeping the with the electric theme, the Zero SR/F claims to be the world’s first fully “smart” motorcycle, featuring a customizable dash and Zero’s next-generation app which allows rider and motorcycle to communicate critical information on the go.
Zero has upped the ante in the electric bike game for sure, with the SR/F having the components and the feel of a conventional motorcycle, just without the harmful ice cap melting fumes. No more do affordable electric bikes look like children's toys, and thank God.
Which bike takes your fancy? Chuck it in the comments below.
