After having my molars jolted by other hardtail choppers, I was skeptical that a suitable high-performance, custom-production motorcycle could be purchased directly off a dealer’s showroom floor. I would be hard-pressed to find one with radical designs, frame rakes, and horsepower that provided somewhat civilized road manners, let alone be available with a factory warranty. Knowing the tech department at Big Dog Motorcycles, I anticipated reviewing their 2005 Big Dog Ridgeback production chopper.
This story originally appeared in the Summer 2005 issue of Robb Report Motorcycling. It is re-edited for Ultimate Motorcycling. Photography by Cordero Studios. You can keep track of Brenda Fox on Facebook.
The 2005 Big Dog Ridgeback is nearly nine feet of attitude that comes straight from the factory with a gigantic motor, a six-speed transmission, and over 10 inches of rubber tread that sits fat in the rear. The massive 300mm rear tire is hugged by a tight-fitting steel fender and wraps around a custom-designed, machined aluminum wheel. A 117ci S&S engine lies cradled in a carefully calculated proprietary frame, highlighted by 40 degrees of rake, four inches of stretch in the backbone, eight inches of elongation in the front, and beefy one-inch diameter tubing contributing to reducing vibration. Enriched refinements include a hidden oil tank, 41mm telescopic front forks, Big Dog’s proprietary LED tachometer, and enhanced electronics features.
The 2005 Big Dog Ridgeback is a bold statement in styling, emphasizing ergonomics and engineering with a focus on comfort and function, as Big Dog Motorcycle’s Chief Technical Officer Dustan Hahn explains: “We wanted to separate ourselves from other manufacturers by paying as much attention to rideability as we did to styling. When wider tires became popular, customizers and manufacturers made mechanical changes that compromised the balance of the bike or the motorcycle itself. There have been several iterative improvements in the industry—Band-Aids, really—so we aggressively set out to make improvements and came up with the Big Dog balance drive system. We don’t have a lean in our motorcycle common to other wide-tire motorcycles.”
A big buzz is generating around Big Dog’s collaboration with Baker Drivetrain’s Bert Baker, the undisputed guru of gears. The resulting revolutionary right-side Big Dog balance drive. The team developed a proprietary six-speed, right-side drive transmission and primary drive system that brings the mass of the drivetrain closer to the centerline, making it unique to the V-twin industry. Baker Drivetrain exclusively manufactures the all-American-made balance drive system for Big Dog at their plant in Michigan.
“The Big Dog balance drive system’s primary drive is different from all other drives,” Baker explains, “because the clutch is ‘slammed’ inward into the space that was once occupied by the left-side drive pulley. There’s no unused gaping space that leaves an unfavorable mass of the primary drive hanging out on the left side of the bike like an outrigger.”
The Big Dog primary drive moves the clutch and clutch housing inward about 2.5 inches for a more centered drivetrain mass. The move inward also eliminates the clumsy starter jackshaft, allowing for an automotive-style starter.
“This reconfiguration eliminates mis-starts or crunchy starts that are frequently experienced on other American V-twins,” Baker says. “The starter motor is also rotated downward by 2.3 inches to bring the center of gravity closer to the ground for better handling.”
Sitting on the 2005 Big Dog Ridgeback, it becomes clear that there really is something to Big Dog’s balance drive system. Remarkably light, just picking it up off the kickstand is evidence of a well-balanced motorcycle that maneuvers with ease. Low-speed handling feels unassumingly light and stable, with a low seat height of 24.5 inches that offers a natural, comfortable seating position.
The contoured handlebar on the 2005 Big Dog Ridgeback incorporates billet hand controls, which include an integrated front master cylinder that provides a symmetrical, clean, fluid look between the clutch and brake levers. The clutch is easily adjustable with light actuation, and the well-designed neutral detent system makes finding neutral effortless and offers smooth transitions through all the gears.
The motorcycle tracks and maneuvers with precision, providing heart-thumping performance to match its street-worthy profile. Braking is sharp, with polished four-piston Performance Machine calipers and a full-floating Brembo caliper finished nicely with a steel-braided brake line.
Combining styling excellence with a spectacular technological breakthrough, thrills come standard on this good-handling chopper. Big Dog Motorcycles delivers a lot of chopper with a base price of $26,500 for the 2005 Big Dog Ridgeback.
