2012 That Seventies Bike

The Harley-Davidson Seventy-Two motorcycle is a metal flakedream machine, a Sportster on a trip back to the days when the cool kids rode aSting-Ray and the big boys parked choppers in a row on the curb. Thosemotorcycles were long and lean; candy-apple color and gleaming chromeshimmering in hazy summer sunlight. From its Hard Candy Big Red Flake paint andape bars to its narrow whitewall tires, the Seventy-Two is a respectful nod tothat era, and to the influence of the custom culture that still percolatestoday along Whittier Boulevard, the legendary cruising street in East LosAngeles also known as Route 72. A new generation of custom builder is tappinginto that era and making a fresh statement, not just in California but ingarages across the country, even around the world.

“In creating the Seventy-Two, we were also inspired by thevibe of the early chopper era,” says Frank Savage, Harley-Davidson Manager ofIndustrial Design. “Those bikes were colorful and chromed, but also narrow andstripped down to the essentials. You look at period examples and they arealmost as simple as a bicycle. It’s a custom style that’s very particular toAmerica and that California scene.”

Metal flake, an iconic design element of the ‘70s, appearedin everything from dune buggy gel coat to vinyl diner upholstery, and on custommotorcycles. Harley-Davidson brings the sparkle back on the Seventy-Two withHard Candy Big Red Flake paint. This new finish is created by applying a blackbase coat, followed by a polyurethane system that carries hexagon-shaped flakesthat are more than seven times the diameter of metal flake used in typical productionpaint. Each flake is coated with a thin aluminum film and then tinted red. Fourapplications of clear coat, combined with hand sanding, create a smooth finishover the flakes.

“The final touch to the Hard Candy Big Red Flake paint is alogo on the tank top and pinstripe scallop details on both fenders,” saysSavage. “Each was originally created by hand, and we recreated that art in adecal for production, so they still have the appearance of hand-appliedgraphics in that they are not exactly perfect. The graphics are then coveredwith a final clear coat application.”

A solo seat and side-mounted license plate bracket leavemuch of the chopped rear fender – and more of that paint – exposed on theSeventy-Two. The powertrain is finished in Gray powdercoat with chrome coversand a new round air cleaner with a dished cover. A classic Sportster 2.1-gallon“peanut” fuel tank adds a final period touch to the motorcycle.

Key features of the 2012 Harley-Davidson® Seventy-Twoinclude:

Air-cooled Evolution® 1200cc V-Twin engine with ElectronicSequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI), rated at 73 ft. lbs. peak torque at3500 rpm.

Powertrain is finished in Gray powdercoat with Chromecovers.

Paint color choices include Hard Candy Big Red Flake withperiod pinstripe details on fenders and fuel tank, Black Denim, and Big BluePearl.

Classic 2.1-gallon peanut fuel tank.

Dunlop® white side wall 21-inch (MH90-21) front and 16-inch(150/80B16) rear tires.

Chrome Laced wheels.

Ten-inch mini-ape handlebar mounted on a two-inch highriser.

Chrome, eight-inch round air cleaner cover with center screwmount.

Chopped rear fender exposes rear tire.

Side-mounted license plate bracket.

Chrome, staggered, shorty dual exhaust with slash-cutmufflers.

Solo seat with black textured vinyl cover.

Handlebar-mounted speedometer with chrome cup.

Chrome rear fender struts.

Chrome coil-over pre-load adjustable rear shocks.

Forward foot controls.

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