RIYADH, 17 November 2006 — The beast just got wilder. Pumped with a new 1584 cc twin engine instead of its previously 1450 cc one, the all new 2007 Harley Davidson is ready to take on the streets of the capital.

However, fans of the oldest motorcycle that goes way back to 1903 will have more to brag about. Modifications to the new 2007 arrivals include better power, torque, and sound quality while meeting noise and emission regulations. And as you would expect from a Harley Davidson, the new technology is designed and integrated so that the classic looks of the motorcycle remain unspoiled.

The twin cam 96/96B will power all models in the Harley-Davidson family, Softail and Touring.

While previous motorcycles had the 6-speed cruise drive transmission as an optional choice, the transmission gear is standard among all new motorcycles.

“The new air/oil cooled twin engine with the 6-speed cruise drive transmission delivers 19 percent more torque,” said Marwan Al-Mutlaq, managing director of the Harley Davidson of Riyadh, in a press conference here yesterday. He also said that new models are equipped with a new anti-theft system that makes it almost impossible for any motorbike jacker to steal it.

Fuel injection is introduced on Harley Davidson Sportster models for 2007 and will be standard on all 883cc and 1200cc models. The Sportster range also benefits from further reduced clutch and front brake lever effort. The seat height on the XL883 low model has been reduced by a further 19mm.

As for the Harley Davidson Custom Vehicles Operations (CVO), three new models are available: The Screamin’ Eagle Road King, the Screamin’ Eagle Ultra Classic Ultra Glide, and the Screamin’ Eagle Softail Springer. Each is powered by a new-high performance twin cam110 powertrain and features new accessories and new paint schemes.

According to Al-Mutlaq, 70 percent of buyers of Harley Davidson in Riyadh are Saudi nationals, against 30 percent foreigners.

He said the Riyadh Harley Davidson was generating sales more than any other showroom in the entire Gulf region, with an exception to Dubai.

The prices of the new motorcycles, he said, ranges from SR25,000 to SR96,000 depending on the motorcycle, its features, and style.

The managing director explained to the press yesterday the many activities members of the Harley Davidson in Riyadh had contributed in, including visits to schools, participations in civil defense safety programs, and others.

“When you buy a Harley Davidson, you’re not just buying a motorcycle, you’re buying a way of living,” he said.

The number of members of Harley Davidson in Riyadh is 200, pointed out Al-Muqrin. As for the entire Kingdom, their number is around 1,000.

He said that during March this year, a group of 12 members of the Harley Davidson Riyadh — 8 of them Saudi — set out on a journey to attend a Harley Davidson rally in Ireland. The team started off from Riyadh and reached Ireland after passing through Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Greece, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom. They covered more than 8,000 kilometers during their long ten-day trip.