Despite this success or perhaps because of it, the H-D brand tends to polarise opinion, dividing a substantial proportion of motorcyclists into two tribes – those who fly the H-D flag and those who don’t.

The Switchback name comes from the bike’s ability to easily change roles from tourer to cruiser. For highway work it’s equipped with hard panniers and a screen that can be unhooked in seconds from their quick-release attachments, converting it into a traditional slim and trim city cruiser. Presented by Harley-Davidson Australia as a premium Dyna model, its $25,995 (rideaway) price is a pleasant surprise given the included touring gear and standard fitment of a new Bosch ABS system.

As with all Harleys, the engine takes pride of place. At the heart of the latest Dyna is the Twin Cam 103 (TC103). The extra cubes come from increasing the bore from the TC 96’s 95.3mm to the TC 103’s 98.4mm.

While the max torque of 126Nm (92.8ft-lb) at 3500rpm is only marginally higher than the TC 96’s 124Nm (91.4ft-lb), the TC 103 has a much flatter curve, delivering high torque over abroader rev range. As always Harley-Davidson is coy about quoting maximum power figures, but I can tell you the fuel-injected engine features a two-into-one exhaust system fitted with revised lambda sensors.

The driveline has been upgraded to handle the increased torque by fitting a new beefed-up compensator. Final drive is by the usual toothed belt.

A new 41.3mm fork unconventionally incorporates a cartridge set-up in one side only and uses three-stage progressive springs. Chromed twin ‘cigar-tube’ shocks, adjustable for spring preload, support the rear, providing 54mm of rear wheel travel. The bike rolls on five-spoke cast wheels that wear deeply valanced guards. Single discs front and rear handle the braking.

ALL ABOARD

I was immediately comfortable on the Dyna. Despite the low seat (it’s a nice, well-padded perch), there was plenty of room for my legs and my feet fell quite naturally to the footboards. The reach to the ’bars was good too, so a big tick in the ergonomics box.

The standard of finish is excellent and the paint and plating look deep and lustrous. Everything fits well. The big 125mm (5in) tank-mounted speedo is easy to read and features a snazzy little LCD display with odometer, tripmeter, clock and tacho functions. You scroll through the options using a switchblock-mounted selector.

The Switchback is a pleasure to ride. It’s less of a handful than the fully-fledged Harley touring models. It has a nice clutch action and the sweetest shifting big-twin Harley gearbox I’ve used.

The new TC 103 engine is a lovely big grunter with super-slick engine management and fuelling. And there’s the characteristic V-twin cadence that produces enough vibration for the rider to enjoy, not enough to annoy.

It launches the bike convincingly and always has plenty of torque on tap. You notice that it’s stronger than the TC 96 in top gear at highway speeds. Whereas the 96 always required you to kick it down a gear or two for a quick pass, the new motor pulls off the same passes generally in sixth, only occasionally needing to go down to fifth. While I appreciated the engine’s torquey calmness, I would have liked a bit more fire in its belly – a touch of mongrel when you stir it up (no doubt a modest investment in freeing up the intake and exhaust systems would pay good dividends).

Here’s a small thing: H-D’s two-button turn indicators are the best in the industry. They’re intuitive and easy to use with a really effective self-cancelling system.

Considering the minimal rear suspension travel, the bike dealt quite well with rough road surfaces.

The Switchback’s handling was competent and predictable. As always the footboards limit the lean angle, but if you plan your lines through corners so you’re just skimming the inside footboard lightly through the bends, it will deliver a satisfyingly brisk ride through the hills. While the Dyna’s chassis isn’t as sophisticated a handler as the latest H-D touring family versions, its lighter weight and smaller size seem to compensate and add to its handling abilities. Certainly I was smiling as the Switchback powered through bends, responding faithfully every time Ientered a turn with a push on its wide ’bars, and just as faithfully when I nudged the big twin into action with a twist of the throttle, to power away from an apex.

The single front disc was adequate, although it required a firm squeeze; on a cruiser you use quite a bit of the strong rear brake anyway. The ABS was unobtrusive and effective when I provoked it.

I was happy with the protection afforded by the quick-release screen, but the tallest rider (about 188cm) on the launch reckoned it was too short, making the airflow more turbulent around his helmet.

A fuel tank capacity of 17.8lt is okay for a bike likely to do some touring. We didn’t get a chance to do an accurate fuel consumption check on the day, but you could assume a safe highway touring range of close to 300km.

THE WASH UP

The Dyna Switchback is a versatile and enjoyable motorcycle that delivers an authentic serve of the ‘Big Twin’ Harley-Davidson riding experience in a user-friendly manner. And it’s quite a lot of Harley-Davidson for the money.

I think the H-D marketing people are realistic in expecting it to attract a bunch of newbies to the Harley fold.

Personally, the Dyna Switchback is a bike I would happily add to my ‘everyday ride’ list. 

Specs

ENGINE

Type: 1690cc, air-cooled,two-valves-per cylinder, 45-degree V-twin

Bore x stroke:98.4mm x 111.3mm

Compressionratio: 9.6:1

Fuel system: Electronic fuel injection

TRANSMISSION

Type: Six-speed

Final drive: Belt

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR

Frame type: Tubular steel frame withrectangular section backbone

Frontsuspension: 41.3mmcartridge fork, non-adjustable

Rearsuspension: Pre-loadadjustable twin shocks

Front brake: Single 300mm discs withfour-piston caliper, ABS equipped

Rear brake: Single 292mm discwith twin-piston caliper, ABS equipped

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES

Dry weight: 320kg

Seat height: 663mm

Fuel capacity: 17.8lt

PERFORMANCE

Max power: N/A

Max torque: 126Nm (100ft-lb) at 3500rpm

OTHER STUFF

Price: $25,995*

Colours: Vivid Black, Ember RedSunglo or Brilliant Silver Pearl

Bike suppliedby: Harley-DavidsonAustralia

Warranty: 24 months/unlimited kilometres 

*Rideaway