Most mainstream bike manufacturers in existence who decided to build a post-war bobber would be chastised by journalists, who would talk of its design cues unsuccessfully attempting to recreate the past in order to sell bikes. “Blasphemy!” They would say. Thankfully Harley-Davidson doesn’t have to worry about street-cred, because the entire essence of the original biker movement was created by veterans who couldn’t re-assimilate into society, but they could sure rebuild a Panhead. Harley-Davidson is the bobber movement, so who better to build the Cross Bones than them? Of course there is added value and legitimacy in paying for such a bike with sweat and skinned knuckles rather than simply buying one. I digress. Regardless, the Cross Bones evokes a heritage of years gone by; an elementary, back to basics way of living that existed before intrusions like the Internet, Twitter and the iPad. Strapping a modern techy device like a GPS or MP3 player to these ape hangers would be as blasphemous as wearing a pentagram to a christening.

The emblematic signature of the one who conceived the modern Cross Bones, chief stylist Willie G Davidson. (Photo: Dustin A. Woods/Moto123.com)

Over the course of roughly 700kms and one week with the Cross Bones, I made use of it for weekday commuting, weekend cruising and quick jaunts around the city whenever I could find time. The fact that I couldn’t get enough of riding this bike would therefore infer that I would have no problem finding room for it in my garage. Is this the bike for everyone? Certainly not! Crotch rocket riders or those who often make long hauls across unpredictable terrain would scoff at the idea of purchasing what they would consider an impractical one-trick pony. If there was one perfect bike that suited every rider’s style, taste, purposes and budget, the motorcycle landscape would be pretty boring, wouldn’t it?

One interesting aspect that I observed while riding the Cross Bones was the way in which pedestrians on the street and cage-dwellers at stoplights took notice. Curious yet guarded, they stared. As the 96B V-Twin grumbled and gurgled at the twist of my right hand, they would stop in their tracks. Riding a different bike week in and week out all summer long makes you take notice of such things, like when middle-aged Hog riders refuse to wave at me when I’m on a Hayabusa but are my best friend when I pull into Timmies on a Street Glide. Fathers gave nods of approval while mothers shook their heads in condemnation. Girls smiled at me seductively while their boyfriends glowered. The funny thing is, it made me like the Cross Bones even more. After all, isn’t that what riding a bobber is all about?

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Bite just as powerful as its bark
Classic styling meets modern muscle
Out-of-the-box custom bobber
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Navigating turns on uneven pavement can get pretty hairy
Single seating means riding two-up isn’t an option
Classic V-Twin is thirsty for fuel