2010 Honda Fury - First Look

The Fury, originally uploaded by RichardUpshur.

The first Honda Furys are hitting the dealerships now. I sat on a blue one (not the one pictured) at my dealer in Laurel, MD yesterday. The bike certainly gives the feel of a chopper with the arms stretched, feet forward seating position. Choppers aren't made for long distance riding. the seating position dictates getting off the bike often to stretch and stand up straight. Chopper seats are usually hard on the fanny too, but in my short time sitting on the Fury this seat felt pretty good.

Somehow the thought of a Honda chopper doesn't really register. Those who follow this blog will know that I like all types of bikes. My first thought was to wonder why Honda didn't choose the 1800 for their chopper platform, rather than the mid-sized 1300. I suppose they have their reasons, but a thumping 1800 engine would gain more respect from die-hard big motor chopper fans. In the chopper world quaking the bike with every beat of the motor and pounding your eardrums with the concussion of big combustion chambers is the name of the game.

Being a Honda, this bike will likely be a lot more reliable than most custom-built choppers. Liquid cooling, which is not unusual for Honda but is very unusual for a chopper, will give better operation on hot days and longer engine life.

One thing most buyers will change is the exhaust. The bike is way too quiet for a chopper. Moreover the canister-shaped mufflers just don't look like something you would find on a chopper. When we start seeing them on the streets with custom exhausts and cool air intakes, then the Fury will truly turn heads.

The $13,000 price tag saves you a lot compared to the factory chopper from Harley Davidson - The Rocker - which sits on the show room floor for just shy of $20,000. So if you are in the market for a budget priced chopper, the Fury should do the trick.

Looking Forward: watch this blog for future articles and comparison of the Fury against the Harley Rocker and the Victory Vegas. Also watch for an article next week on US Route 30 in Pennsylvania, which I call the Pennsylvania Anti-Turnpike.

Photo by Richard Upshur on flickr.com.

Should we have liquid cooling on Harley Davidsons?

I witnessed recently two Harley Davidsons with the Twin Cam 96 engine overheating in traffic on a hot day. One rider was off his Fatboy, pushing it along on the freeway as the traffic inched forward. The other pushed his Ultra Classic off to the shoulder because it had gotten so hot it shut down.

The Harley dealer can install a software download that shuts off fuel to the real cylinder at idle when the bike is stationary. They also will sell you an auxiliary fan to cool the engine. Richening the fuel mixture will reduce heat as well.

These are beautiful and exciting motorcycles. What a shame we can't have new Harleys that require no aftermarket remedies for heat. I think these bikes would be just as beautiful and exciting with a radiator. There are many rumors on the web that Harleys will be liquid cooled in 2010, mandated by government emission standards. Please comment on what you think about liquid cooling on Harleys. Would it make a Harley less exciting? Would you welcome the increased reliability? Do you think radiators on Harleys would ruin their appearance?

More information on reasons and remedies for the Twin Cam 96 heat problem can be found at http://www.americanrider.com/output.cfm?id=1279963