2008 Big Dog Motorcycles - 1st Look

Big Dog Motorcycles rode the wave of custom chopper popularity early on, getting on board almost 15 years ago in 1994. Jumping into the game early helped Big Dog establish itself as the self-proclaimed world's largest manufacturer of custom bikes. The wave crested in 2005 as BDM pumped out a peak number of 4900 motorcycles.

But the ocean isn't the only entity in a perpetual state of change. The custom motorcycle market is also subject to the ebb and flow of a fickle consumer base. Fat-backed choppers with sick rake angles no longer will suffice. Baggers and board-track inspired designs have become the rage. Competition is fiercer than ever. Builders like Big Bear Choppers and OCC, traditionally one-off custom builders, have joined the fray with production custom-styled bikes. Big Dog has felt the riptide effect pulling sales out of its coffers, and has reduced projected production numbers to 3500 bikes for 2008. BDM has had to rearrange its strategies in order to stay competitive. These stratagems include increasing the reliability and rideability of its bikes. It also has been looking for ways to broaden its customer base.

To increase reliability, Big Dog has started tracking and analyzing warranty claims in order to help pinpoint technological weak spots, such as the voltage regulators that were recalled in'05 and the tachometer boards on its '07 Bulldog. But pinpointing problems is only the first step. Big Dog also intends to ensure that its techs are better trained. The Wichita, Kansas-based motorcycle company has plans on setting up a Technician Education Program that will train mechanics in the intricacies of its proprietary systems throughout the year, instead of on an annual basis. The program is multi-faceted, including small classroom courses, new on-line training, hands-on repair and maintenance in addition to six separate intense training modules that target specific components of its motorcycles. With 100 dealers spread across the states and sales figures approaching 25,000 motorcycles, the demand for competent servicing has increased exponentially.

Since custom sales have been on the decline since 2006, motorcycle companies have had to look for new ways to increase their consumer base. Big Dog's answer is to produce more bikes oriented towards the entry-level rider and to produce a bike more people can afford. The average working Joe doesn't have an extra 30 large to drop on a dream bike without sharing floor space with the family pooch. BDM's newest bike for 2008, the Mutt, has a ticket price of $24,900. The lowest price you could buy a Big Dog last year was $26,800 for the Pitbull. The Mutt is touted as the first novice-level bike in Big Dog's repertoire, and it has plans on introducing more entry-level motorcycles in the coming years.

Besides adding the Mutt to its Pro Street line, BDM is shaking up its 2008 lineup with the reemergence of the Ridgeback after a year's absence to head up its Chopper Line. The Ridgeback will be joined by the perennial best-seller, the nine-foot-long K-9. To make room for its two new '08 additions, the Chopper and Bulldog have gone the way of the Titanic.

Big Dog's '08 roster includes two other carryovers from last year, the Mastiff and the Pitbull. While the Mastiff resembles '07's model, the Pitbull has received a retro makeover from last year's version. Together with the Mutt, the three models belong to the Pro Street family but are siblings by blood only because, like fraternal twins, no two are exactly alike.

The one area where the Pro Street and Chopper lines do intersect is the use of a 1916cc S&S powerplant. The 45-degree OHV V-Twin continues to be the lump of choice for Big Dog. And why not? With a healthy 4.125-inch bore and a 4.475-inch stroke providing ample horsepower and torque, there's no need to mess with a package that has already proven reliable in the past. Any changes to the engine are merely superficial, like the Mutts's powder coated wrinkle-black engine. Internally, it's purely S&S.

Though Big Dog didn't mess with the mill, it continues last year's experiment with fuel delivery. The '07 Bulldog was BDM's first attempt at fuel injection. It must have been a hit, because EFI is back again in 2008. This time, it's available as an option on both the Mastiff and the K-9. For tried and true traditionalists, the bikes can be equipped with a Super G Carb, the fuel system that comes standard on the other three bikes.

Another customary BDM component is the Baker Six-speed transmission on the right side drive bikes. The S&S engine and Baker Six combo put the power to the rear for all of Big Dog's 2007s and continues to be the powertrain of choice for 2008. BDM claims the tranny's 1st through 3rd gears are straight-cut for power off the line while 4th and 5th are helical to reduce noise. Sixth gear remains direct drive. All this power exits through a straight-shooting chrome 2-into-1 exhaust. Fire the bikes up, twist the throttle and get ready to hear the throbbing exhaust note of an American big twin.

And before you bemoan the performance of a stretched-out, fat-backed bike, consider that all Big Dog bikes utilize its Balance Drive System. The final drive has been placed on the right side to distribute the weight more evenly and is claimed to make the bike more manageable at low-speeds. The entire system has been refined for 2008 with the addition of a redesigned clutch. Working in conjunction with the Baker drivetrain, it is said to ease the task of shifting and has a whopping 50 percent reduction in pull effort. Overall, the Balance Drive System has been created "to promote better handling, balance, cornering, and lean angles." And until we get our hands on a press fleet bike to charge full-steam ahead on, we'll have to take their word for it.

The other notable thread common to all five Big Dog bikes for 2008 is Performance Machine brakes. Braided steel brake lines will activate the 4-piston billet calipers up front that clamp down on 2-piece rotors and allow for confidence when bringing the nine-foot beasts to a halt. The rear pinchers get the same treatment, except for the Mutt that has a PM 2-piston set up out back.

Now that we've taken a look at the similarities between Big Dog's 2008 lineup, it's time to take a peek and see what sets these bikes apart from one another.

Mutt

It's called the Mutt because the motorcycle appears to be a little bit of this and that from prior Big Dog bikes. The slender 3.8 gallon gas tank looks like a carryover from the Chopper, and the frame is similar to one BDM put out a couple of years ago. But like mutts, the 2008 motorcycle has a personality all its own. Its has the smallest rear tire of the lot at 250mm. Team the rear with a skinny 90mm front on tall 21-inch tires and you have the narrowest motorcycle in Big Dog's '08 contingency. Trick 80 spoke tires add a touch of old-school styling and have a slimmer appearance than the custom aluminum wheels on its other bikes. Add on a slightly tighter 37-degree rake angle on a 2-inch over-standard 41mm telescopic chrome front fork and you have the dimensions of what Big Dog claims is the most agile of its bikes. A low 24.25-inch seat height and 4.5 inches of ground clearance should contribute to giving rider's confidence and control in the saddle.