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Read the article and win one of 23 Harley gifts - Harley Davidson launches in Dubai new 2012 models for Middle East & North Africa

This week Harley Davidson Middle East launched in Dubai (UAE) its latest models which will be available across showrooms in the Middle East as well as North Africa, including Egypt of course.

Already exciting enough and unrivalled in sound and style, Harley Davidson spiced up its models a little bit more. Today we drove some of them, and tomorrow we will test the rest of them.

The first one I drove today was the new Harley Davidson Softail Slim, which is a clean, old school custom which has been stripped-down by the engineers from Milwaukee and was given a narrow styling with less chrome and retro details.

Pare down a Harley-Davidson Softail motorcycle to its essential elements and you have the Slim. This was the motto of Harley Davidson. From its narrow rear end to its trimmed front fender, there’s simply less of the Slim; fewer covers, a solo seat, smaller wheels and tyres, and minimal chrome. Call it stripped. Call it old school. Call it lean and mean. What’s left is the elemental Softail profile and iconic Harley-Davidson style that recalls classic custom bobbers of the 1950s.

“It’s time to once again make the engine the design focal point of a motorcycle,� says Senior Designer Casey Ketterhagen, “so we put a Softail on a diet to get the proportions back in check. Scale down the rear with a narrow tyre and chopped fender and the heart of the bike, the motor, becomes the focus. We left a gap between the nose of the seat and tank so the rider can see the top of the motor. I like to be able to look down and see what’s moving me.�

To keep the rear of the motorcycle simple and clean, the Slim has combination stop/turn/tail lights. The rear fender struts are left uncovered, exposing the forged steel and fasteners. A thin formed-leather strap covers the fuel tank seam. The powertrain is finished with polished covers instead of chrome, and the black cylinders left unhighlighted. The FL front fender is trimmed to expose more of the tyre.

The seating position is extremely low and very comfortable, but also extremely close to the (always) hot exhaust pipe, and also your shoes or riding boots can get very close to it as well.

The second bike I tested today was the HARLEY-DAVIDSON SEVENTY-TWO, which revives with a lean look and which comes as a new narrow Sportster in sparking metal flake paint.


The Harley-Davidson Seventy-Two motorcycle is a metal flake dream machine, a Sportster on a trip back to the days when the cool kids rode a Sting-Ray and the big boys parked choppers in a row on the curb.

Those motorcycles were long and lean; candy-apple color and gleaming chrome shimmering in hazy summer sunlight. From its Hard Candy Big Red Flake paint and ape bars to its narrow whitewall tyres, the Seventy-Two is a respectful nod to that era, and to the influence of the custom culture that still percolates today along Whittier Boulevard, the legendary cruising street in East Los Angeles also known as Route 72.

A new generation of custom builder is tapping into that era and making a fresh statement, not just in California but in garages across the country, even around the world.

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

The handling of the Seventy-Two is extremely easy due to its light-weight. More about the Seventy-Two shortly here on autoarabia.org !


Harley Davidson is planning more models with Twin Cam 103 power in 2012. Among others we will find the V-Rod V-Rod 10th Anniversary Edition and the Dyna?® Switchback Bagger joining the model line.

Harley-Davidson plans to offer more Big Twin performance for 2012 as its Twin Cam 103â„¢ powertrain becomes standard equipment on most Softail?® and Touring motorcycles.

Harley-Davidson will offer two new models for 2012. The V-Rod?® 10th Anniversary Edition celebrates a decade of power-cruiser performance, while the new Dyna Switchback is a convertible custom-touring motorcycle with detachable hard saddlebags and windshield.

In addition, the Night Rod Special has significant updates for 2012 with refreshed bodywork and optimized rider ergonomics. Harley-Davidson Custom Vehicle Operations (CVO) rolls out the gleaming new CVO Road Glide Custom, a limited-production, high-performance touring masterpiece.

Harley-Davidson believes every motorcycle it sells can be a custom of one. Harley-Davidson
H-D is a comprehensive offering of customization tools for the Harley-Davidson motorcycle owner. H-D1 tools include Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Accessories listings in print and on-line catalogues, Fit Shop and consultation services at Harley-Davidson dealerships.

H-D1 offers almost unlimited opportunities to optimise fit, function, style and performance and turn a Harley into a motorcycle that is truly personalised to its owner.

Harley-Davidson Europe, Middle East and Africa region heads into 2012 with 29 models, each born of experience that covers generations and a passion for riding that will never diminish.

In a few days we will publish the complete information about the new 2012 Harley Davidson models offered in the Middle East and North Africa.

In addition to that you might be one of the lucky winners of our Harley Davidson raffle, in which you will be able to win one of 23 interesting Harley Davidson merchandizing products when you read, comment and �like’ the article on our Auto Arabia group facebook and her on autoarabia.org in addition to answering the following questions:

What comes in your mind when you hear the name �Harley Davidson’ and which model do you like most?

The 23 most creative comments will receive interesting HD gifts courtesy of Harley Davidson Middle East and North Africa subsidiary based in Dubai.

So, get prepared for the Harley raffle and start reading a little bit about the Harley Davidson history and about the latest 2012 Harley Davidson models in order to be among the first winners.

Stay tuned !

Mohamed Sheta
15.04.2012
Dubai (UAE)


Update 31.12.2012:

Before the exhausting 2012 year ends, we at Auto Arabia Media Group thought to offer you a little gift. Just answer those two easy questions and win one of 23 interesting Harley Davidson gifts!

1.) What comes in your mind when you hear the name ‘Harley Davidson’ ?
2.) Which model do you like most?

Read our Harley 2012 model range article here on autoarabia.org, comment on the article, ‘like’ it on our auto Arabia facebook group, and post your answer and comment there as well! Don't forget to mention your name, age, city, T-Shirt size, and if you are a smoker or non-smoker!

The 23 most creative comments will receive interesting HD gifts courtesy of Harley Davidson Middle East and North Africa subsidiary based in Dubai.

Good luck & Happy New Year 2013 ! :-)


write comment

Readers Comments:

Amir Elmelegy from Giza - Egypt wrote:
Heavy Metal
the Night Rod Special

nora mohammad from cairo - egypt wrote:
1) Stop time ..... Harley me
2) HERITAGE SOFTAIL CLASSIC

nora mohammad from cairo - egypt wrote:
1) I am a woman .... & I dare
2) HERITAGE SOFTAIL CLASSIC

Mohamed Ashraf from 6th Of October - Egypt wrote:
1- A Thousand Idea for Freedom.
2- FXS Softail Blackline.
3- Mohamed Ashraf - age 28 - October City.
4- Size L - Non Smoker.

Mostafa from Cairo - Egypt wrote:
1- Beauty outside, beast inside.
2- V-Rod 10th Anniversary Edition.
3- Mostafa El Desouky, 37, Cairo.
4- size M or L.. Non smoker.



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