2007 Big Dog Motorcycles - 1st Look 12/7/2006By Bryan HarleyFor aficionados of custom bikes who refuse to stay on the porch, Big Dog Motorcycles has released its contingent of contemporary customs to help you achieve alpha status. Want to be the leader of the pack? Picture yourself behind the handlebars of bikes with bite like Big Dog's Bulldog or Mastiff.The folks at Big Dog have decided to bring the Bulldog back after a year's hiatus. BDM engineers even decided to deck it out with electronic fuel injection, a company first. Changes this season also include equipping four out of five models with asphalt-gripping foot-wide 300mm rear tires. BDM also has expanded its palette of base colors with eight new additions and graphic selections by nearly 20 new designs to further individualize the two chopper-styles and three pro-street cruiser styles in its five-bike arsenal."Big Dog Motorcycles places heavy emphasis on the rider: his riding style, demands, and personality," stated Big Dog President Nick Messer in a recent press release. "And nothing expresses an individual's personality more than a bike's paint and graphics."Signature strands of standard time-tested-true equipment run common threads between their bikes. The building blocks of BDM DNA begin with its engine.Big Dog power comes from a 117 cubic-inch (1916cc) V-Twin with Diamond Heads diamond-cut cylinders to provide both aesthetic and genetic appeal. BDM continues to use tailor-made S&S motor components that provide the ride's 9.6:1 compression ration. The Big Dog team also chooses to use a super G carburetor for all models except for the newly EFI-equipped Bulldog. The Bulldog, like the others, uses the same 2-into-1 exhaust.Other Big Dog standard components include the company's award-winning BDM Balance Drive System which couples with a Baker 6-speed transmission to validate their claims of enhanced bike balance, agility, and lean angles. Four-piston caliper brakes bring the custom-designed polished aluminum wheels to a stop. BDM engineers did a good job of placing the oil tank unobtrusively beneath the seat, right at the base of a stylish stretched steel one-piece tank. Steel was also the choice for all fenders. A speedo with an integrated LED tach tops the list of electronic equipment.BDM models show a shift from last year's three chopper-styles and two pro-street styles to now feature three pro-streets (the Bulldog, Mastiff, and Pitbull) and two-choppers (the K-9 and Chopper). Perhaps this is a reflection of a shift in model preference from the TV-influenced choppers craze, even though the K-9 chopper was Big Dog's top-seller in 2006.So without further adieu, allow MCUSA to outline the traits that single out the BDM bloodline.BulldogThe Bulldog is back after a year on the designing table with new styling refinements such as curved downtubes and an ultra-wide 300mm rear tire to accentuate the 6-inch backbone stretch. Throw in a 39-degree rake angle on the 2-inch-over-standard tube length inverted fork, stretch out the 728 lbs of bike to 8.5 feet and you have a mean-looking brute of a ground-hugging bike.The Bulldog also breaks ground for BDM by being the first production model with electronic fuel injection. The closed-loop system constantly checks air temperature, engine temperature and speed, checks the manifold vacuum, and uses an additional sensor to sense the amount of oxygen in the exhaust. All this adds up to improved throttle response, increased torque, easier starting and cleaner emissions, says BDM."The new generation Bulldog is second to none," Messer claims.MastiffThe Mastiff has beefed up for 2007 by means of its meaty back tire, up from 250mm last year to 300mm this year. A kin of the Bulldog, the two shares the same distinctive pro-street cruiser frame and identical 2-inch-over standard polished fork. The Mastiff's long, low lines are a product of its 42-degree total rake angle which is achieved when its 3 degrees of tree angle is tacked on to its 39 degrees of rake. Tailor it with 117 add a hidden rear suspension on a 77.5-inch wheelbase and the combo culminates in a ride comfortable when styling down the avenues.PitbullThe Pitbull is the other breed in BDM's pro-street gene pool. With a dry weight of 653 lbs, the bike is considerably lighter than its two brothers. It also enters the fray as a true rigid, lacking the hidden rear suspension of the other four models. This is not to say that the Pitbull lacks bite. It can still run with the pack powered by its 1916cc 45-degree V-Twin engine putting its fat 300mm rear tire in motion. A thick 1.5-inch frame maintains the symmetry between the muscular back tire and the big 21-inch front tire. With a 4-inch ground clearance and a 24.3-inch seat height, the Pitbull maintains the low, powerful silhouette that has become BDM's signature style.K-9BDM has brought back the best-selling 9-foot long K-9 for a second run. With a 4-inch backbone stretch and an 8-inch downtube stretch, the BDM engineers achieved a true eye-catcher when they teamed those specs with a 12-inch-over standard tube length. Add some custom-designed polished billet aluminum wheels, pointed lower legs, and new chrome sculptured sissy-bar-ready struts, and it's easy to understand why BDM decided to give it a second run. Between the K-9's 300mm rear tire that's cradled within an A-frame swingarm and the bike's hidden shocks of its rear suspension, the tandem give the K-9 a much sought after balance that compliment its clean lines with a smooth ride. The K-9 will forever hold a spot in BDM lore as it was the company's 20,000th motorcycle produced.ChopperThe Chopper remains the nucleus of BDM's ever-evolving chopper line. The motorcycle's dimensions are only a shadow less than many of the specs that define the K-9. The Chopper comes with a 3-inch backbone stretch and a 7-inch stretch on the downtube and boasts a 10-inch-over standard fork length sitting on the end of a 37-degree rake angle. The 665-lb machine is stretched between a 77.5-inch wheelbase and is 8.5 feet overall. BDM straps it with a more than adequate 250mm rear tire. The stretched one-piece steel gas tank and hidden oil tank lend to the neo-retro design BDM has chosen.With over 70 catalog designs and more than 20 frame, tank, and fender colors to chose from, Big Dog is prepared to add the final touches that will make your bike unique. For those who want to separate their bike even more from the crowd, aftermarket accessories like an adjustable air ride suspension, Mean Mother exhaust systems, sissy bars, passenger seating, or handcrafted custom seats are available.With 13 years in the biz behind them and more than 20,000 customers served, Big Dog Motorcycles continues to establish itself as a leader in the world of customs.Base Prices: (Prices are for black mono only, no graphics or options)Bulldog $33,900Mastiff $28,900Pitbull $26,800K-9 $29,900Chopper $28,700Share your thoughts on Big Dog's 2007 lineup at MCUSA Forum. Click Here