Many have claimed that rock is dead, and if recent trends are anything to go by, they may be right. As the Black Keys’ screed against Nickelback last January showed, rock is struggling to reconnect with a generation that has turned to auto-tuned, plastic pop stars for entertainment instead of the thrum of electric guitars. But the main reason why people have turned away from rock has gone unsaid. Rock was always about rebellion, but lost people when the image of rebellion overtook the message. Like rock, motorcycles are a symbol of rebellion in culture gone soft. Also, like rock, they are struggling to reinvent themselves for a new generation after marketing rebellion instead of living it. However, as Harley-Davidson’s Softail Slim shows, rebellion is not dead in the motorcycle marketplace. And if this bike is anything to go by for both rock and motorcycles, the way to reconnect with younger kids may be going back to what made you so popular in the first place.

The Softail Slim is one of two new Dark Custom motorcycles that harkens back to the days of the choppers and bobbers from the 1950s. In the ‘50s, choppers weren’t just something you could buy; they were built with bare hands and bad attitudes as a serious style statement. To bring the Slim in line with this attitude, the bike is finished with a few time-appropriate design cues. But it’s not enough to just make the bike look old and then market it as something badass; the product should actually act out the marketing message. What Harley has done to the Slim to capture that old chopper mindset is to follow up its vintage look with a really raw riding experience.

This first step in bringing the bike in line with its historical inspirations is to get the look right. First, the overall stance is slimmed down to give the bike a more custom look. The fenders are bobbed, turn signals and accessories are slimmed down or removed, a thin solo seat is placed on the bike, and skinnier tires with thick sidewalls are added. Then, a few period correct cues are put on, like the Hollywood handlebars on the bike. Characterized by the crossbeam on the top, and the gentle sweep to bring the bars closer to your hands, the Hollywood bars were originally a Harley-Davidson accessory back in the ‘50s that have been taken out of retirement to give this bike a more vintage feel.

However, like the lead guitar in a band, the center of attention on a Harley has always been the engine. In the Slim, the motor is a 103 cubic inch V-Twin that has had an extra dose of attitude added with a healthy coat of black paint. To highlight the vintage feel, a round air cleaner has been added. Internally, nothing is changed over other Softail models. What this means is that you get the same 79hp and 90lb feet of torque that is on other Softails, such as the Blackline we reviewed last year. But more importantly, this is where that vintage feel starts to shine through. The motor responds to inputs nicely, but along the way it vibrates, shimmies and shakes. It feels natural where other motors feel too refined and clinical. It’s more time machine than engine in that it really brings you back to how older bikes feel.

So, how does a bike styled to look like it’s from the ‘50s ride in 2012? Vintage feel is a theme that keeps coming up. The motor is strong and torquey like in the Blackline, but does not like to be rushed. Even when pulling the bikes 700lbs of American Iron around, though, power is adequate. Front-end effort is high, and the suspension has very little travel, but looks do come with sacrifice. Braking feel and performance can also be described as decent. Braking response may be difficult to get used to at first, but you quickly learn how much force to apply to get the bike slowed down quickly. Also, the bike has ABS as an option which is highly recommended for new riders.

Around town, the weight and feel of the controls seem to bog you down, but out on the highway, it all comes together to form a cohesive, enjoyable package. Just point the bike forward and let the weight and torque take care of the rest as you easily plod along to your destination. The bike is unencumbered by long distances, road imperfections, and other small obstacles that make some other bikes feel jittery while traveling on the highway. The bike is a real confidence booster on longer trips.

But Harleys have never been only about the performance; they are about feeling, emotion and attitude, and that’s what shines on this bike and all of the Dark Custom bikes. And their efforts are paying off. CMO Mark Hans Richer pointed out on this trip that Harley-Davidson has the largest amount of younger buyers in the 18-35 demographic. Where the news is dominated by stories saying younger kids only like iPhones and Facebook, Harley has succeeded where others have failed in bringing new, younger riders into the fold.

This trend points to a larger theme that younger people want emotional connectivity – not just what is faster, better and newer. A Harley is not an objectively fast bike, but what it offers is an experience past the spec sheet. The way the motor reacts to your inputs, the heft of the bike, and the way it looks all combine to create a very analog experience where most new bikes have you feeling cold. In a world where one of the largest selling apps is one that makes digital pictures look old, it makes perfect sense why younger people should want to ride a Dark Custom bike. And if that’s anything to go by, if rock can reconnect with its roots the same way Harley has, then it should be just fine too.

In today’s market, speed rules the conversation. Superbikes, supercars, super(blank) are the center of attention. All marketing materials talk about is going faster and harder. Horsepower, lap times, and what minute difference is going to give one bike an edge is seemingly all we talk about with motorcycles, and what the public sees of us. But beyond the power, speed and fury that few people will use on the street, there is a whole type of riding that goes unnoticed: the road trip.

There used to be a valued segment of the marketplace for “grand tourers.” For cars, these were old Jaguars XK’s and graceful Aston Martins; machines that were built to effortlessly travel long distances with power and grace. As such, they were tuned to deliver a ride that would not rattle every bone in your body to dust. For motorcycles, it has always been the cruiser: Big, bold machines with slow turning engines that produce more torque than power. Many manufactures make bikes built for this segment, but only one has built their reputation on cruisers: Harley-Davidson. On our recent trip to Miami with Harley-Davidson, I discovered the experience of a road trip on a trip from Miami to Key West, and back, in one day.

The U.S. is built for road trips. Our roads are long and flat. Our country is big and wide. Culturally, we have always felt a need to push towards the frontier, and the road trip satisfies that need. It must then be easier to ride long distances than attacking a road course with Red Bull-aided fury since you really are riding in a straight line. But that’s not the case. The experience of a cruise is less technical precision than it is adapting to the little things that get in your way. This is where the difficulty lies.

Take the road itself. Not much attention is paid to it in a car because you don’t feel the differences in the pavement unless you’re in a sports car. On a bike, you feel the difference between where the road has been patched, the seams in the road, gravel, and how it may dip or rise in certain areas, and this all effects how the bike handles. The relationship is much more intense because it changes the way the bike moves.

For this reason, a cruiser is better over a sport bike. Sport bikes are built for maximum road feel so they are affected more by changes in surface. That means they are more jittery and sensitive. A cruiser, on the other hand, is heavier and with a lower center of gravity. As opposed to a sport bike, a cruiser plods along more confidently. This means you spend less time correcting the bikes path and more time enjoying the ride.

But just because you have a cruiser doesn’t mean that road a trip is a time to tune out and stop paying attention. Another small detail that becomes important on a trip is the wind. Again, not something you notice in a car, but a major factor on a bike with no wind protection. It is continually beating you down. Also, there are crosswinds that hit you after traffic passes that you must anticipate and adjust for. The result of just these two small variables is an experience that wears you down over time, rather than in large bursts if pushing the limit on the track. You notice this pain and exhaustion after you sit down at your destination and a day’s worth of effort starts to seep into your muscles.

You might be wondering, how is this supposed to be fun in the slightest? But the pain is part of the fun. Anyone can drive long distances in a car, but it takes a real effort and certain personality type to do it on a bike. This makes it more of an accomplishment. Also, as opposed to blitzing across long distances in a car, you stop in increments along the journey on a bike, adding to the story. You also interact with the machine you are on and the riders you are with. Not from a conversation standpoint, but an unspoken relationship where you begin to trust your group and bike more because of the time you put in together on a trip.

And there is no better feeling than that one moment of nirvana. For me, it was cruising back from the Keys back to Miami. The sun was setting, I was comfortable on the bike, and the temperature had cooled down. At that moment, cruising made sense to me. It is a moment where you feel completely insignificant as you look out over the horizon and notice just how small you are. But you also feel empowered, and yes, a little bit badass.

When it comes to cruising, a Harley is built for this experience. Not from a mere technical standpoint, but an emotional one. The look, sound and feel I was talking about in my first article transfers to how you ride the bike on the road. The way the motor reacts to more throttle, the way the brakes feel, and the way the suspension is tuned makes more sense on the open road in a Harley than it does around town. The sensitivity that is not there around town helps you on long journeys. They provide more wiggle room to be more forgiving of mistakes and more comfortable to use over long distances.

At the end of a cruise you have a story, not just a lap time, and that’s why you should try a road trip no matter what bike you ride. But of course, it doesn’t hurt to make that bike a Harley.

Look, sound and feel. These are the defining traits of the Harley-Davidson brand as told by Willie G. Davidson. The look is characterized by simple designs that highlight the mechanics of the bike. The sound is the familiar loping idle of their V-Twin engines. And the feel is contained in the details such as finishes and riding characteristics that make a Harley feel substantial and sure-footed. More importantly, these traits are used as launching pads for owners to put their own spin on the bike. It is in this culture of customization that the bike becomes more than another mass-produced good, but a part of the owner’s life.

Customization has been ingrained in Harley owners since the very start. From small touches on the very earliest bikes – such as headlights – to fully customized examples seen today, a bike’s design process does not stop at the factory, but begins in the hands of the owner. This needing of expression from owners has driven Harley to offer more products that reflect their tastes and preferences. One way to do this is to offer bikes that display classic design cues from the past. Motorcycles such as the ‘72 and the Softail Slim do just that, reinventing them for a generation that wants to feel connected to a history that they were not a part of. “They want that feeling of something both mechanical and natural,” as Willie G. Davidson describes it. These products are machines that grow with you instead of being disposed of within a year or when the contract expires.

But offering more bikes is just the first step in a customer’s relationship with the brand. After the bike is bought, owners have access to an extensive list of parts and accessories (P&A) to customize their bike. A variety of finishes, parts and equipment are available. The part offerings include things from grips to exhausts and everything in between. Also, dealers have the ability to work with you on a personal level in order to get parts that fit the exact look you're going for. Of course, there are enough chrome items to fill the Bible, but there are also a variety of parts that you’d be surprised to find.

For instance, every year Harley produces a color scheme available for a few bikes. These tanks are hand painted and pinstriped, and are limited in number. Once the run is finished, the color is not available for purchase. And these tanks are not simply painted one color. Deep metal flake and hand-applied pinstripes and lustrous colors are used to give the tanks a truly custom look and feel. Plus, a person, not a machine, applies the pinstripes on the tank.

The final step in factory customization process is the CVO (Custom Vehicle Operations) offerings. These bikes take the process from the factory one step further by offering even more custom touches with paint and parts unavailable through the normal Parts and Accessories catalog. This process has more in common with building luxury sedans than it does with most motorcycles. It is the apex of factory customization, but of course, the customization probably continues after these bikes roll off the lots too.

The common thread from standard bikes, the parts and accessories selection, and the CVO offerings is Harley owners’ unique need to express themselves. From East to West, it is this mindset that resonates with people from different cultures and creeds as described by Harley’s Chief Marketing Officer Mark Hans Richer. It’s not all leather and bad attitudes, but a need to both express individuality and become part of a larger group. Through offerings such as the Blackline, the Parts and Accessories offerings, and the CVO program, Harley-Davidson enables everyone to put their own spin on their products, regardless of who they are, how much they spent and what bike they bought.

Look, sound and feel. These are the defining traits of the Harley-Davidson brand as told by Willie G. Davidson. The look is characterized by simple designs that highlight the mechanics of the bike. The sound is the familiar loping idle of their V-Twin engines. And the feel is contained in the details such as finishes and riding characteristics that make a Harley feel substantial and sure-footed. More importantly, these traits are used as launching pads for owners to put their own spin on the bike. It is in this culture of customization that the bike becomes more than another mass-produced good, but a part of the owner’s life.

Customization has been ingrained in Harley owners since the very start. From small touches on the very earliest bikes – such as headlights – to fully customized examples seen today, a bike’s design process does not stop at the factory, but begins in the hands of the owner. This needing of expression from owners has driven Harley to offer more products that reflect their tastes and preferences. One way to do this is to offer bikes that display classic design cues from the past. Motorcycles such as the ‘72 and the Softail Slim do just that, reinventing them for a generation that wants to feel connected to a history that they were not a part of. “They want that feeling of something both mechanical and natural,” as Willie G. Davidson describes it. These products are machines that grow with you instead of being disposed of within a year or when the contract expires.

But offering more bikes is just the first step in a customer’s relationship with the brand. After the bike is bought, owners have access to an extensive list of parts and accessories (P&A) to customize their bike. A variety of finishes, parts and equipment are available. The part offerings include things from grips to exhausts and everything in between. Also, dealers have the ability to work with you on a personal level in order to get parts that fit the exact look you’re going for. Of course, there are enough chrome items to fill the Bible, but there are also a variety of parts that you’d be surprised to find.

For instance, every year Harley produces a color scheme available for a few bikes. These tanks are hand painted and pinstriped, and are limited in number. Once the run is finished, the color is not available for purchase. And these tanks are not simply painted one color. Deep metal flake and hand-applied pinstripes and lustrous colors are used to give the tanks a truly custom look and feel. Plus, a person, not a machine, applies the pinstripes on the tank.

The final step in factory customization process is the CVO (Custom Vehicle Operations) offerings. These bikes take the process from the factory one step further by offering even more custom touches with paint and parts unavailable through the normal Parts and Accessories catalog. This process has more in common with building luxury sedans than it does with most motorcycles. It is the apex of factory customization, but of course, the customization probably continues after these bikes roll off the lots too.

The common thread from standard bikes, the parts and accessories selection, and the CVO offerings is Harley owners’ unique need to express themselves. From East to West, it is this mindset that resonates with people from different cultures and creeds as described by Harley’s Chief Marketing Officer Mark Hans Richer. It’s not all leather and bad attitudes, but a need to both express individuality and become part of a larger group. Through offerings such as the Blackline, the Parts and Accessories offerings, and the CVO program, Harley-Davidson enables everyone to put their own spin on their products, regardless of who they are, how much they spent and what bike they bought.