Harley-Davidson IRON 1200: I can’t help myself in the fall

The coolness of autumn can finally neutralize the heat of the motorcycle engine, and you no longer have to worry about the bright summer sun and the double-layer heat from the "oven" on your crotch. It can be said that autumn is the only gift given to knights in the four seasons, allowing us to feel its charm more freely and freely.

Without considering the actual needs of the car, today’s protagonist-IRON? 1200 (hereinafter referred to as: Tough Guy 1200) is my favorite model currently sold by Harley-Davidson in the Chinese market. In addition to its size being the most suitable for my figure, the historical story behind the tough guy 1200 and the distinctive retro painting on the 2020 fuel tank all add a lot of points to this entry-level model of the Sportster 1200 series.

With a towering handlebar and a low seat suitable for both men and women, the Tough Guy 1200 creates the "Chopper" style of a classic American motorcycle. Although it is still very different from the orthodox "Chopper" in terms of size, the tough guy 1200 can still satisfy many American motorcycle enthusiasts.

As a detail that distinguishes other models in the Sportster family, the Tough Guy 1200 has a more "blackened" body color, as well as a headlight hood similar to the British "Cafe Racer" style and a hump single-seat design. In addition, unlike the relatively low body lines of FORTY-EIGHT (Harley 48) and 1200? Custom, the tough 1200 with a high handlebar setting can better highlight the broad and straight shoulders of the rider.

Aside from these traditional appearance features, what attracts me most about the Tough Guy 1200 is its beautiful retro fuel tank painting. Being able to transplant classic coatings almost intact onto today's new cars, except for motorcycle brands like Harley-Davidson that value heritage and culture, no other motorcycle brand would dare to do this.

Behind these seemingly random colored strips on the fuel tank, there is actually an unforgettable history of Harley-Davidson. After World War II, people's demand for cheap transportation tools increased sharply. Japanese motorcycle brands represented by Honda entered the U.S. market and challenged Harley-Davidson. At that time, Harley-Davidson was forced by powerful competitors. A "dead end". In order to tide over the difficulties, Harley-Davidson received financial support from the American Machinery Foundry Company (AMF) in 1967 and temporarily survived the financial crisis. AMF was in charge of the Harley-Davidson brand for 14 years from 1967 to 1981.

The fuel tank color bar idea we see today also originated from AMF. Since AMF’s previous business projects were bowling and large-scale amusement park facilities, this can also explain why the retro painting on the Tough Guy 1200 fuel tank looks so cartoony and playful.

As the lightest, most agile, longest-selling, and best-selling model in the Harley-Davidson family, the Sportster model originated from the 1952 K-type model and has witnessed this long-standing American brand. It has developed and grown in the past half century. After 60 years of hard work, today’s Tough Guy 1200 is still as gorgeous and agile as when it was born.

However, the agility here is more compared to other Harley-Davidson models. I knew that even if I tried my best, I would not be able to catch up with the Ducati Scrambler Cafe Racer in front of me on the Tough Guy 1200. The purpose of the existence of the Tough Guy 1200 is to allow motorcycle beginners to experience the hard-core charm of Harley-Davidson and its large displacement and torque. Compared to aggressive mountain running, I believe the owner of the Tough Guy 1200 prefers to complain about his car with a smile while taking a break from riding, and then tell the story of why he likes it and bought it with bright eyes.

The shortcomings are obvious enough, but some people still love it so much that they can’t help themselves. This is the charm of Harley-Davidson. The traditional cost-effectiveness of motorcycles does not apply to Harley-Davidson. People often only have two attitudes towards this brand and its models: they like it and they don't like it.

The price is 125,800 yuan. As a Harley-Davidson that is fully accessible with hard work, the tough guy 1200 with feelings, stories and history will be the starting point for many people to like Harley-Davidson. Perhaps these Harley-Davidson fans will eventually become obsessed with the touring series, but they will never forget which Harley-Davidson brought them the first taste of the road and the satisfaction and happiness it brought. Just like this rainy autumn, after the storm, people will always remember the rainbow.

Which Harley-Davidson model do you like?

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This article is from the author of Autohome Chejiahao and does not represent the views and positions of Autohome.