2008 Harley-Davidson Cross Bones SPOTLIGHT

Within the Dark Customs range for 2008, which included the Night Rod Special, Street Bob, Night Train and Nightster, the Cross Bones was easily the most distinctive. This was due to its styling, which included springer front suspension, bobbed front mudguard, mini ape-hanger bars, a sprung solo saddle, tank strap, half-moon footboards, and chunky tyres, including a 200mm rear, on spoked black rims.

The overall retro look was clearly influenced by the custom bobbers that proliferated after World War II. While the other Dark Customs employed 'blackout' paint on things like rims, primary covers, fork shrouds, headlight rims and other typically chrome sections, but still looked largely like their chromed-up companion models, the Cross Bones was like nothing else in the Harley-Davidson lineup that year. Sure, things like the springer front end and fat tyres had been used before on other models, but never had all these elements been combined on a new model to such distinctive effect.

Part of the softail family, the FLSTSB Cross Bones shared its springer front end with only one other model across the entire Harley-Davidson range that year, the Screamin' Eagle Softail Springer. Something of a novelty on a modern motorcycle, the springer front end is unusual, and despite being "old" technology, still works well. Rear suspension on the Cross Bones was the standard softail hidden coilover monoshock.

Available colours for 2008 included Vivid Black, Olive Pearl, Dark Blue Pearl, and a range of satin-finish colours (which Harley-Davidson called 'denim'), comprising Black Denim, Pewter Denim and Dark Blue Denim. Of these, Black Denim arguably suited the overall look of the Cross Bones and was the best 'canvas' for the factory pinstripe decals applied to this model. A further retro touch was the inclusion of the old-style Harley-Davidson patent badge on the horseshoe oil tank.

Given all its retro influences, you'd be forgiven for thinking the Cross Bones was powered by a classic knucklehead engine (which would look pretty cool, come to think of it!), but the powerplant was the tried and proven Harley-Davidson Twin Cam 96B v-twin. As with the rest of the bike, this featured a mix of black powdercoated, polished and unfinished sections, with the offside capped with a gloss black circular air cleaner cover. In standard tune with the factory exhaust system fitted, the 96 cubic inch v-twin produced a claimed 84.8 ft/lbs (114Nm) or torque at 3100rpm. The ESPFI and 6-speed Cruise Drive transmission fitted as standard to other softail models for 2008 was also applied to the Cross Bones.

While the saddle was at a reasonably accessible 766mm height, and two-position adjustable for comfort, there was no pillion seat on the Cross Bones. Aftermarket pillion pads were available, but they really spoil the overall look of this model. If you're going to add pillion pads, sissy bars and panniers, you might as well buy an ElectraGlide! Combined with the footboards and reasonable reach to the mini ape hanger bars, the riding position was typical Harley cruiser, and pretty comfortable. While the engine was rigid mounted, the seat, rubber mount bars and rubber pads on the footboards isolated a lot of the vibrations from the rider.

Another point worth noting on the Cross Bones was around the springer front end. There were reports of new Cross Bones' being stiff in the front end, but with "breaking in" time and kilometres, the suspension does become more supple and better able to soak up the bumps. Riders used to telescopic fork-equipped bikes said the ride the springer gives is different, but not inferior to tele forks. There's also the novelty factor to seeing your front end "working" that seems to appeal to some riders, too!

Placement of the gauges in the "Cat's Eye" pod on the tank means you do have to drop your head and take your eyes off the road to check your speed, a feature that's reportedly exacerbated by full-face helmets. Another feature on the tank, and it's one that's more decorative than anything else, is the hand-laced leather centre panel.

Announced in the US in January of 2008, the Cross Bones made its way to most markets worldwide, including Australia later in the year. It was certainly a showroom drawcard, but the $29K price when new sat it above most of the other Dark Customs, and probably limited its appeal. After only being dropped from the Harley range at the end of 2011, the Cross Bones isn't close to being in the collectable arena yet, but it isn't in the bargain bin either. Examples we've seen advertised with sale with JUST BIKES seem to be holding around the $22,000 - $26,000 mark.

With the 2008 Cross Bones, what you got was a ready-made custom bobber. Being a late model and softail-based means most mechanicals are readily available, and being a Harley means there's a ton of Harley-Davidson Genuine Accessories, as well as plenty of aftermarket goodies available as well. There's nothing that really NEEDS to be changed on a Cross Bones, but if we were to replace one item, it'd be the factory chrome 2-into-2 pipes, with a satin black finish aftermarket exhaust to better suit the whole "Dark Custom" look.

If retro bobber looks are your thing, and if you want those looks without having to do all the modifications, cutting, welding, finishing and painting yourself, then the Cross Bones is the ideal solution.



SPECIFICATIONS - 2008 Harley-Davidson FLSTSB Cross Bones

Engine: 96ci (1584cc) 4V 4-stroke v-twin
Bore/Stroke: 3.75-inch (95.25mm) x 4.38-inch (111.25mm)
Compression: 9.2:1
Power/Torque: 75hp @ N/Arpm / 84.8lb/ft (115Nm) @ 3100rpm
Fuel System: Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection
Cooling System: Air
Electrical System: 12 volt
Transmission/Drive: 6 speed 'Cruise Drive' manual/chain primary, belt final drive
Front Suspension: Leading link 'springer', non-adjustable, 96.52mm travel
Rear Suspension: Swingarm with non-adjustable coilover monoshock, 109.22 mm travel
Front Brake: Single 292mm disc w/single piston caliper
Rear Brake: Single 292mm disc w/2 piston caliper
Front Wheel: 3.00 x 16-inch
Rear Wheel: 6.00 x 17-inch
Front Tyre: N/A
Rear Tyre: N/A
Frame: Steel backbone, rectangular section tubular steel
Rake/Trail: 32-degrees/160mm
Weight: 317.5kg
Seat Height: 766.76mm
Fuel Capacity: 18.9 lt
Top Speed: 145kph approx.



TRIVIA

One notable Cross Bones (at least for us at JUST BIKES!) was the example built up by the crew at Daytona Powersports for the 2011 JUST BIKES Build Off. Starting with a 2009 model FLSTSB Cross Bones, Daytona didn't touch the springer front end, but did remove the front guard, and replaced the bars, mirrors, tank, rear guard, air intake, rocker box covers, exhaust, and a few other items with Roland Sands Design (RSD) products. The end result proved popular with visitors at the Sydney Motorcycle & Scooter Show, with the Daytona custom Cross Bones gathering the most public votes, and winning the JUST BIKES Build Off trophy.