2012 Harley-Davidson Seventy-Two First Ride Photo Gallery

With its throwback styling cues and eye-catching paint, the Harley '72 fits right in at Willie's Tropical Tattoo.

We romp around Daytona Beach during Bike Week on Harley's latest Sportster, the 2012 Seventy-Two, a slim bike with retro styling clues including killer Candy Red metal flake paint and 10-inch mini-ape handlebars. Read all about it in our 2012 Harley '72 First Ride article.

At the core of the ’72 is a revvy 1200cc Evolution engine that provides a spirited ride.

Slim, light, and easy to toss around, the '72 is a fun little bar hopper.

Out on the open road, riders are subjected to a healthy dose of wind blast.

A small fender, 21-inch tall wire wheel and whitewalls give the Harley '72 a clean-looking front end.

The air-cooled Evolution 1200cc engine of the 2012 Harley '72 puts out a claimed 73 lb-ft torque @ 3500 rpm.

The Harley-Davidson '72 will take all the lean you can throw at it until the peg feelers begin to scrape signalling the end of your lean angle.

While the Harley Seventy-Two is a blast to ride around town, the low fuel light of the gas tank seems like it's always on which means longer hauls will require freqent stops at the gas station.

We have to admit, riding the ’72 was one of the funnest times we’ve had recently.

A six-layer painting process resulted in this lustrous Candy Red paint on the Harley Seventy-Two.

Forward mounted controls and mini-apes allow riders to stretch out comfortably on the Harley-Davidson '72.

Cruisin' The Loop outside of Daytona Beach on the Harley '72.

Harley's latest Sportster is also a member of its Dark Custom Line.

Scootin' through the swamps of Florida on the Harley-Davidson '72.

the Seventy-Two fit right in at Bike Week whether we were at Willie’s Tropical Tattoo for the old school chopper show or riding into the Broken Spoke Saloon.

Old reliable. You always know what you're going to get from a Harley transmission, a solid clunk and reliable engagement.

Ten-inch mini-apes and the return of the peanut tank add up to one sporty lookin' Sportster.

Ridin' around the Daytona Beach countryside onboard the Harley Seventy-Two on a sunfilled afternoon. Life is good!

This is your face on the Harley '72 at 72 mph. Fortunately, my cheeks returned to normal after the ride!