The Big Dog Motorcycles 2007 Bulldog
I sat in front of the television watching the Green Bay vs. Detroit game this past Thanksgiving pondering the events of the year while my family sat in comatose state trying to digest our meal. We had just talked about what we had been thankful for as we devoured our Thanksgiving turkey like a pack of starving dogs. For the first time in as long as I could remember, I was relaxed, without a worry. I spoke too soon.
The 300 footprint throws an intimidating shadow.
Beauty, power, design, all elements that make the Bulldog stand as leader of the pack.
My cell phone began vibrating non-stop. I reached for the phone hoping for the best, but expecting the worst. I was right, he had found me again; it was Bandit. He called me from what sounded to be a connection in Bangladesh as the crackling static made the hairs of my eardrum dance the Macarena, making his voice audible, but hardly understandable. I hung up the phone. Within minutes a text appeared on my cell phone.
Hey, I need the Bulldog Road Test NOW…and DON”T EVER HANG UP ON ME AGAIN!!!
With a chill running down my spine like the icy prick of a prison shank, I quickly excused myself from the game and started digging through files on the computer to find the road test I experienced this summer aboard a ’07 Big Dog Bulldog.
While I remembered writing the article, I couldn’t seem to find the file on my computer. I finally threw my hands in the air and decided to chuck the whole thing until my head cleared. After celebrating with family and friends, while celebrating a win by the Packers, I found the motivation to deliver the goods, so here it is.
I remember seeing the bike for the first time and being amazed at the show-stopping beauty of it. The initial appearance is almost overwhelming. The rake and trail combined with a 300 rear tire make it look as if it was a trailer queen designed to be another piece of ass-jewelry for the yuppies. From the bad ass tribal-styled paint, to the truly custom diamond-cut heads, this bike has flair and style unmatched by previous production bikes.
The size of the bike seemed to become more realistic as I straddled the seat and reached for the handlebars. A cross between a drag bar and a pullback style, your hands are in a very comfortable riding position. A quick thumb of the switch and the 117 inch mill came to life. The bark of the aftermarket Vance and Hines pipes made a remarkably improved thunder when compared to the stock pipes.
Let’s Ride!!
The 300 tire combined with the rake sent warning signals to my brain, telling me to be careful as I had never ridden a bike with such a radical configuration. Brushing the negativity aside, I reached for as much throttle as I could grab and accelerated down the road like a battleship into enemy waters. She felt like a beast charging down the road, ready for anything, giving the rider a sense of security that comes with riding a bike solid enough to move a car! The position of the foot controls puts the rider in a feet forward easy rider position. I can only imagine this bike with bars to the stars!
Cornering this bike seemed a lot easier than earlier anticipated. While a certain degree of counter-steering is necessary, I feel anyone would be comfortable on this bike with a little practice. While I wouldn’t recommend the bike to a beginner, I would feel very comfortable riding her to work every day. Unfortunately, I feel the level of design, paint, and attention to detail will cause riders to treat these bikes to weekend jaunts only, otherwise keeping them locked in the pen during the week. These beauties are designed to be ridden, and they seem to handle anything thrown at them!
While most road tests are completed on picture perfect days of sunshine, I encountered some rain while cruising on this beauty. The 300 footprint seemed to anchor the rear to the road even during the most critical riding times; a few minutes after the rain begins and right after it ends. I had absolutely zero problems with the handling in the rain, even pushing her in a few corners. The engineering department definitely did their homework.
During the rainstorm, I pulled into a gas station to wait out the storm and take note of the details of the bike. Again I was amazed at the level of creativity BDM puts into these bikes. At home on any stage, this bike will turn heads everywhere it goes.
If you are looking for something different, and you have the money to spend, a Big Dog might be the bike for you. With dealer networks all over the USA, getting routine maintenance or technical support is readily accessible. I wouldn’t hesitate to get one of these bikes if I could.
