2016 Roadster Worth the Wait for ‘Overdrive India’

Sporty Harley wins props for handling & ‘hunkered down’ look.

Indian automotive website Overdrive road-tested the 2016 Harley-Davidson Roadster, and, unsurprisingly, they love the sporty American cruiser as much as everyone else does. Sure, maybe the popular 2016 bike took a while to make it there, but the Overdive review makes it clear that the Roadster was definitely worth the wait.

In its review, Overdrive and its road tester seem to be most swayed by the sexy, stripped-down look of the Roadster.

“It is hard to classify the design,” says the Overdrive review, “but it looks good and cohesive. The stance is hunkered down and ready to go, and the lack of adornment works rather well with it.”

The Roadster’s engine of course has the trademark vibration of a Harley. However, thanks tgo some sophisticated engineering, it won’t make the rider’s hands buzz even on long trips. And, as acknowledged in the test-drive review, it “feels smooth all the way up to 130-140 kmph” (that’s 80-87 mph for us Americans).

‘The Roadster looks & feels solid, and the fact
that it doesn’t rattle is a very good sign.’

“Build quality is typical Harley-Davidson, with a dramatic preference for metal over plastic,” says Overdrive. “It looks and feels solid, and the fact that this motorcycle doesn’t rattle at all is a very good sign indeed.”

Overdrive also praises the Roadster for its ability to take corners, emphasizing that its mid-corner poise feels stable, and it drives well out of the corner. The brakes are surprisingly responsive, too, with the twin discs giving the Roadster a lot of stopping power, making it easier for the motorcycle to handle winding roads and control speed when approaching corners. However, it may take some getting used to, says Overdrive.

“It’s a bit too heavy to really turn on the proverbial dime, but it’s certainly responsive as far as Harleys go. The bars require a fair push to get corners started, but the Roadster changes direction well after that, feeling responsive. Mid-corner poise is stable and the grunt drives out of corners well.”

To see what else Overdrive thinks about the 2016 Harley-Davidson Roadster, and to find out the one thing they did take issue with, check out the full road test here.