Latest news with #Harley-DavidsonFatBoy
The Star
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Star
Redemption ride to Cambodia
SOMEWHERE near Haadyai, in the corner of a hotel car park, Zeus stirred. He didn't growl. He didn't thunder. But that first twist of the throttle was like breath returned – after months lying low, the Harley-Davidson Sportster 48 came back to life. His chrome still bore the grime of an unfinished past – that first failed attempt in September, a journey to Cambodia that never quite reached the border. Cecilia Su, his rider, hadn't forgotten. She had unfinished business. This time, the plan was smarter. Ban Laem Salt Farm glows like gold under cloudy skies, one of the many quiet marvels along Thailand's provincial roads. Two long days of Thai highways were shaved off by strapping Zeus and his companions – a Harley-Davidson Fat Boy known as Ironman and a Ducati Monster – to the back of a flatbed bound for Bangkok. Their riders, Simon Ng and Joanna Choong, flew in ahead. The towing crew ran a tight ship, military in their precision. By morning, the trio was tearing out of Bangkok, carving inland towards Sa Kaeo, and gunning down Route 33 to Poi Pet – the nearest Thai-Cambodian border post. The air was thick with petrol and possibility. The clock, meanwhile, ticked menacingly toward the border's 8pm closing. Zeus rolling through the historic Poi Pet border, where hours of paperwork finally gave way to open roads and Cambodian smiles. By the time they arrived at 5pm, the customs office had already closed for the day. However, in a rare gesture, the border officers made an exception, reopening the counter to process the motorcycle documents. The paperwork took an hour, a slow ritual of stamps and signatures, while immigration, by contrast, was brisk, done in half an hour and without ceremony. The convoy rolled through the gates and stopped for a quick photo at the border sign. They decided to stop for a night at the border town after the long ride, only to throttle on the next morning. Boats and homes rising from the Tonle Sap Riverbank,a village suspended between water and sky. Cambodia isn't for timid riders. Here, the road is a battleground. Trucks claim the lanes with impunity. Vehicles barrel at you from the right. Potholes yawn wide and deep. Tuk tuks, scooters, dogs, children – all jostle for space on the same sliver of tarmac. There's no hierarchy. Only survival. Su, in her Nexx helmet and Five Advanced gloves, rode with the caution of someone who'd been here before. The first 50km out of Poi Pet were brutal – dust-choked, narrow, ruled by freight trucks. But they pushed on, the promise of Angkor pulling them forward. And then, as if emerging from a dream, Angkor Wat revealed itself, solemn and still, a monument not to conquest but endurance. The still waters of Chanthaboon Waterfront mirror the calm between storms, where time slows in the glow of sunset. It wasn't about the photo op – though there were plenty. It was about dropping the side stand on sacred ground and hearing the low hum of Harley pipes reverberate off stone. Cambodia, finally. But the border wasn't the finish line – just a bend where the road started to hum a new tune. From Siem Reap, the group backtracked to Poi Pet, then swung southward, hugging the coast and chasing the overlooked edges of the Thai kingdom. Now, it was about the road, not the crossing. These roads – the real ones – are intimate and provincial. They wind through fruit orchards, skim mangrove swamps and coil into the hills. The convoy snaked past Chanthaburi, then on through Chonburi, Samut Sakhon and Petchaburi. Su and Zeus against the cliffs of eastern Thailand, where the sea meets the road in whispers and waves. Some parts blurred. But others carved themselves in – the sweeping turns of Route 5050, the quiet perch at Noen Nang Phaya Viewpoint, the crumbling French facades of Chanthaburi, the endless salt flats beside the Gulf of Thailand. They passed Ban Laem Salt Farm, where neat white mounds shimmered in the sun and barefoot workers danced silently across salt pans. Further south, a detour led to Route 4006, winding towards Kaeng Krachan Dam. The road turned sinuous. The views, sudden. Zeus responded to every curve like a jazzman hitting his stride. In Hua Hin, they stumbled upon an old train car turned library – a forgotten space breathing the scent of paper. The road to Noen Nang Phaya, where winding curves, the ocean breeze and the kind of view that stays long after the ride ends converge. They slept in roadside motels, bone-tired and dust-lined. But one moment clung tighter than the rest: the Chaloem Phrakiat 80th Birthday Bridge, stretching over the floodplains of Thale Noi like a whisper. The sun dipped through reeds. Su rode in silence, Zeus purring like an old friend. No photo could touch it – that feeling of floating between water and sky. By the time they rolled back into Haadyai, the road had pressed its fingerprint deep. Crossing back into Malaysia at Bukit Kayu Hitam, there were no trumpets. Just the soft familiarity of home. It wasn't just a ride. It wasn't just redemption. It was 3,563km of dust, wonder, bureaucracy, beauty and stubbornness. Proof that failure isn't final – only a pause in the journey. Zeus, once sidelined, had come full circle. The road had taught him grace. And Su? She proved that the journey isn't about making it the first time. It's about making it again. And maybe next time, she joked, it'll be Zeus on a plane.
NDTV
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- NDTV
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Gray Ghost Revealed; Only 1,990 Units To Be Manufactured
The Harley-Davidson Fat Boy turns 35 this year, with the motorcycle first launched in 1990. Since then, it has made numerous appearances in pop culture, most notably, when it was ridden by Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator 2. And to celebrate its 35th birthday, Harley-Davidson launched a limited-edition model of the Fat Boy, the Gray Ghost. It is the 5th model in the company's Icons Motorcycle Collection. Only 1,990 models of the motorcycle will be manufactured and it is yet to be seen whether it will be launched in India or not. The Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Gray Ghost gets a lovely mirror finish, thanks to a process called physical vapour deposition (PVD) or thin film coating. What happens is that a solid material is vapourised in vacuum and deposited on the surface of the motorcycle, in this case the fuel tank and fenders. Then, the parts are again painted with a standard clear coat finish. The bike's standout aesthetic begins with chrome side covers and a bright silver powder-coated frame, lending a polished and high-end finish. Styling elements directly inspired by the original Fat Boy include a rounded air cleaner and distinctive yellow accents applied to the lower rocker covers, powertrain components, and tank console insert. Adding to the vintage appeal, the motorcycle is equipped with a leather seat valance featuring lacing and tassels, as well as a black leather tank strap adorned with laced edging. These details recall custom design trends from Harley-Davidson's earlier eras. A major highlight is the three-dimensional fuel tank medallion, a faithful reproduction of the winged emblem that became synonymous with the original Fat Boy. The commemorative tank console insert also bears a unique serial number, underscoring the exclusivity of the model. Completing the tribute is an Icons Collection medallion elegantly placed on the rear fender. The motorcycle gets a new Milwaukee-Eight 117 Custom Engine that makes 101 hp and 171 Nm of peak torque, which is an increase of 7 per cent in power and 3 per cent in torque over the 2024 Fat Boy. The motorcycle is loaded with features like - three riding modes (road, rain, sport), cornering ABS, cornering traction control, drag torque slip control and tyre pressure monitoring system. Other features include full LED lighting, a new USB port and a new 5-inch instrument console. The motorcycle also gets new 49 mm dual-bending valve along with a hydraulic suspension under the seat. In USA, it is priced at $25,399 which is the equivalent of Rs. 21.5 lakh.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
VSP: One dead after Sunday motorcycle crash in Scott County
SCOTT COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) — Virginia State Police (VSP) is investigating a fatal motorcycle crash that occurred Sunday at 5:05 p.m. in Scott County. According to VSP, a 2002 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy motorcycle attempted to pass multiple vehicles while heading westbound on Route 58 when it struck a 1997 Buick Century that was making a left turn. The crash occurred at the intersection with Route 884. Sheriff: Hawkins County homicide under investigation The driver of the motorcycle was identified as Jeffery L. Delph, 63, of Jonesville, Va. He was transported to an area hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. He was wearing a helmet. The driver of the Century was not injured, VSP reports. The crash remains under investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
