Lots of ornaments
In terms of dynamics, the most stylish Screamin' Eagle proves to be quite surprising. I found it much more agile than many Japanese rivals of similar displacement. Despite a ton of ornaments and a cannon-looking air filter, this Harley behaves sanely, even in dense traffic. Thank God for the ultra-low center of gravity, which gives the impression of riding a much lighter bike. 

The riding position is excellent and even feels tailor-made. You'll find plenty of room and more than reasonable seat comfort for this type of motorcycle.

Despite a ton of ornaments and a cannon-looking air filter, this Harley behaves sanely, even in dense traffic.

Gigantic twin-cylinder
The heart of the Softail Springer is actually the biggest V-twin ever produced by Harley-Davidson. It's called Twin Cam 110 and it delivers 1,803 cubic inches of pure mechanical delight. Directly mounted onto the frame, it communicates every vibration -- and thrill -- to the rider. The sophisticated ESPFI electronic fuel injection system and counter-balancing shafts help smoothen the power delivery, even at high engine speed.

The performance delivered by this twin-cylinder is on par with a tuned-up engine's. It pushes so hard at low and medium revs that you almost don't need to reach higher RPMs. Accelerations are convincing and passing maneuvers, breathtaking. In addition, the typical Harley exhaust note is just hearty enough to excite the rider without waking up the entire neighborhood.

When you sit on such a spectacular bike, you feel like the lead actor in a major motion picture. Your mind gets carried away and you enter a world of fantasy and adventure. Think I'm exaggerating? Maybe a little. But truth be told, the first time I rode this sublime steed, it literally cast a spell on me. I got so enchanted that I managed to forget my way back to the company's headquarters.

The 2008 Harley-Davidson Softail Springer Screamin' Eagle is quite simply one of the most seductive and sensational cruisers on the planet.

The 2008 Softail Springer Screamin' Eagle is one of the most captivating cruisers out there.

Photo Credit : Philippe Champoux