To Cruise, or Not to Cruise: Harley Introduces the Switchback Hot

To cruise, or to tour, that is the question. And if that really is the question that plagues you, the Switchback can ease your fickle mind. Harley's new 2012 Switchback is a motorcycle that feels just as at home on the interstate riding coast to coast as it does cruising down the boulevard.

The Switchback comes equipped with hard bags and a windshield, as well as the 103 cubic inch engine that comes on Harley staples like the Road King. But the Switchback doesn't come with the extra weight found in the FLH line. The Switchback is about 100lbs lighter than the Road King, which makes it more akin to the Dyna line.

"The Switchback is powered by a muscular Twin Cam 103™ V-Twin engine that delivers strong performance on the boulevard and on the highway," Harley said in a press release. "The Switchback is the lightest custom touring motorcycle in its displacement category, and at 718 pounds ready-to-ride is 94 pounds lighter than a Harley-Davidson Road King. New front-end geometry, premium suspension components, and a low-profile front tire give the Switchback a plush ride and responsive handling."

And if you aren't heading toward the horizon, the Switchback can have its saddlebags and windshield easily removed for a sleek cruiser look. Both the bags and the windshield are quick release items, which means that you can drastically change the look of your bike in about 60 seconds.