Harley-Davidson recently unveiled the Iron 883 as the latest addition to its phantom Dark Custom line. The Darks aren’t a separate model line, but more like a sinister club or collection of single models culled from Harley’s prolific arsenal of existing V-Twins: the Dynas, Sportsters and Softails.
The underpinning theme with a Dark is pared-down, no-nonsense styling, eschewing chrome and brightness in favor of muted, basic color schemes – namely black. And for a few of them there’s a decidedly deliberate chopped and bobbed influence.
As a theme, Dark Custom didn’t make an official appearance until the January 2008 introduction of a Softail Springer that received the chopped/bobbed/black-out treatment and the name Cross Bones. It was at this Hollywood premiere-style unveiling of the ‘Bones that Willie G. Davidson and son Bill told the moto-world about the birth of this new shadow series of motorcycles.
To help jump start the introduction of the Iron 883 into the Dark Custom line, Harley-Davidson showcased the bike as part of an art gallery opening this past Saturday at the Robert Berman Gallery in Santa Monica, CA. The media got an early look on Friday, February 6th.
The theme of the gallery opening was “The Art of Rebellion,” and included 10 contemporary fringe artists, each creating a custom-painted Harley gas tank in conjunction with the gallery theme. Among invited creative types was street artist Shepard Fairey, most notable for his “Andre the Giant Has a Posse” sticker that later evolved into the “OBEY Giant” collection. Fairey recently resurged in notoriety by creating the now-iconic Barack Obama HOPE posters used extensively in the former presidential candidate’s successful campaign for the Oval Office.
The gallery of tanks as well as a piece from the artists own collections will be on display and available for purchase. Proceeds from the sale will benefit Art Matters, a charity that supports and encourages the exploration of new ideas and art. One hundred copies of a signed, limited-edition Shepard Fairey poster were given away at the event.
A nice accent would’ve been black exhaust pipes instead of chrome; still, the matte black paint and oodles of other basic black finishes give potential owners a good canvas to continue their own dark customizing. If you’re a purist, you can keep the bike as is – simple – just as true bobbers were meant to be.
Like its larger-displaced brother the Nightster, the Iron makes rebellion and outlaw style accessible to a wider audience by way of its very low 26.3-inch solo seat height, and an equally low starting MSRP of $7,899. The Iron 883 is available in Black Denim and Brilliant Silver Denim colors.
For 2009 the Dark Custom line consists of the Iron 883, Nightster, Cross Bones, Street Bob, Fat Bob and Night Train.
The Iron 883 not only advances the Dark Custom line, it also reflects a trend toward bobbing in the bike culture that’s now moving into the mainstream. Makes us wonder if at that point it’s still rebellious?
Here’s a quick rundown of goods on the Iron 883: | |
• Rubber-mounted Evolution 883 cc V-Twin black powder-coated engine | |
• Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI) | |
• Black fuel tank with unique graphics | |
• Black front forks with gaiters | |
• Black belt guard and front fender supports | |
• Black, 13-spoke cast aluminum wheels, 19-inch front/16-inch rear | |
• Black low-rise drag-style handlebar | |
• Black mid-mount foot controls | |
• Black low profile front fender | |
• Black chopped rear fender with combination rear stop/tail/turn lights | |
• Chrome staggered shorty exhaust with dual mufflers | |
• Side-mounted license plate holder | |
• One-piece, solo Sportster classic seat | |
• 26.3-inch seat height | |
• Optional Harley-Davidson Smart Security System | |
• Classic 3.3-gallon fuel tank |
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