FXCW Rocker and FXCWC Rocker C

Story by Mark Barnett, Photos courtesy of Harley-Davidson Photography & Imaging

Splashing onto the stage in 2008, the Rocker and Rocker C, were Harley-Davidsons answer to five years of the “American Chopper” and “Biker Builder Off” series where we all lost our senses and jumped into a chopper craze. Harley took their basic softail frame and stretched and raked it out a little, adding 2 ½” to the wheelbase of the FXSTC, their previous “chopper” entrant. They then went one step further, fitting a 240mm rear tire which is the upper edge of usable, rideable rubber and getting close to the giant ones you see on TV, but which in reality won’t let the bike turn. To emphasize the new rear tire, the Rockers ditched their rear fender struts and fender firmly mounted to the frame in favor of one tightly wrapped around the wheel and moving up and down with the rear tire. The FXCW Rocker thus has a solo saddle, though a sissy bar/seat platform can be purchased for a passenger. The FXCWC Rocker C had a passenger seat that unfolds from under the rider seat in about five seconds with no tools. You can see a cool animation of the seat opening at www.harley-davidson.com.

FXCWC Softail Rocker C

The Rocker comes with most metal parts finished in a Satin, flat gray look which many people at the Harley-Davidson show enjoyed. The Rocker C is finished in the more traditional paint and chrome method. Both bikes are six-speeds with the new 96” Twin Cam B motor with twin counterbalancers so they are very, very smooth on the road. This bike is for someone who in their heart wants a chopper but who needs Harley-Davidson’s 106 years of engineering, dedication to quality, and prize-winning dealer network. This bike has the TV look, but can run to Maine and back as easily and reliably as a dresser.

I’ve seen a fair amount of these bike customized as well. One that came out particularly good-looking was made by the wide-tire kit aftermarket company Heartland. They went back to a traditional strut and fixed rear fender, and the huge, wide fender actually looked pretty cool. The Rocker offers the longest wheelbase, the most stretched out look, and the closes thing to a TV chopper that a large company can responsibly make. Everyone might want what they see on TV, but after riding one of those, most people will want to tone it down a little and get the better steering and stability offered by the more modest geometry of the Rockers.

www.harley-davidson.com

2010 FXCWC Softail Rocker C