2008 MUTT >> IronWorks, December 2007
'08 Big Dog Mutt
By Dain Gingerelli
Apparently the words pedigree and purebred aren’t that important to Big Dog Motorcycles anymore. That or someone accidentally left a Mastiff and a Chopper alone in the garage one night, only to find this Mutt waiting for them down the road.
A closer look at the Mutt’s DNA reveals its mix-breed lineage, too. Although the new mongrel model (whatever you do, though, don’t refer to it as a parts-bin bike!) shares the same Pro Street frame as the Mastiff, most of its sheet metal seat and handlebars show a strong resemblance to what was found on the now-defunct Chopper. The Mutt’s paw print closely resembles that of the Chopper’s, too, riding on a 250/40-18 Avon rear.
Regardless of the Mutt’s breeding, all 2008 Big Dogs share a few similar traits, among them Super G carburetors for their 117-cubic-inch S & S engines; electronic closed-loop fuel injection is optional only for the Mastiff and K-9, which also happened to be the two top-selling models for ’07. There’s also a slight redesign to the BDM Balance Drive System, what Big Dog describes as “enhanced clutch mechanism” that eliminates two clutch plates (nine instead of 11) along with a better ramp and clutch ratio. Whatever you call it the result is significantly lower clutch effort or the rider. And to compliment the 110ft.-lbs. to torque generated by the 117 engine, brake systems carry Brembo floating rotors and Performance Machine 4-piston calipers. When you give the command to “heel,” these pups obey.
The Mutt receives those updates, too, plus it has a few tricks of its own, among them the 80-spoke wheels, something no other Dog in the litter can tout. In terms of ride, the Mutt is probably the best-behaved bike in the pack, and its civil manners can be traced to the chassis. Although it shares the same frame as the Mastiff in terms of stretch (37 degrees in the neck, two in the triple trees) compare to Mastiff’s 42 (39 in the neck, three in the trees, although both have two-over forks and 4.81 inches of Trail), coupled with a narrow rear tire (259 vs. 300) equates to a much friendlier ride in terms of steering and reduced “push” from the rear tire.
Straight line performance equates to a smooth ride, with the hydraulic 41 mm fork legs absorbing most of the bumps before the A-Frame Swingarm’s adjustable shock absorbers do their share at the rear. Most importantly though, the Mutt isn’t burdened by an excessively fat rear tire to affect steer-in, making this perhaps the most congenial Dog in the pack.
And make no mistake, you’ll enjoy the same quality finish in terms of paint and polished parts as with the other Dogs, and if that isn’t enough you can always upgrade to personalize your Mutt. You can choose from diamond-cut heads ($800 retail), painted struts and battery covers ($750) and more, not to forget the variety of paint options that BDM is known for.
Is owning a Mutt a bad thing? We don’t think so. In fact, now that the Chopper has been put down for good, this new Dog might become known as bikerman’s best friend.
'08 Big Dog Mutt
By Dain Gingerelli
Apparently the words pedigree and purebred aren’t that important to Big Dog Motorcycles anymore. That or someone accidentally left a Mastiff and a Chopper alone in the garage one night, only to find this Mutt waiting for them down the road.
A closer look at the Mutt’s DNA reveals its mix-breed lineage, too. Although the new mongrel model (whatever you do, though, don’t refer to it as a parts-bin bike!) shares the same Pro Street frame as the Mastiff, most of its sheet metal seat and handlebars show a strong resemblance to what was found on the now-defunct Chopper. The Mutt’s paw print closely resembles that of the Chopper’s, too, riding on a 250/40-18 Avon rear.
Regardless of the Mutt’s breeding, all 2008 Big Dogs share a few similar traits, among them Super G carburetors for their 117-cubic-inch S & S engines; electronic closed-loop fuel injection is optional only for the Mastiff and K-9, which also happened to be the two top-selling models for ’07. There’s also a slight redesign to the BDM Balance Drive System, what Big Dog describes as “enhanced clutch mechanism” that eliminates two clutch plates (nine instead of 11) along with a better ramp and clutch ratio. Whatever you call it the result is significantly lower clutch effort or the rider. And to compliment the 110ft.-lbs. to torque generated by the 117 engine, brake systems carry Brembo floating rotors and Performance Machine 4-piston calipers. When you give the command to “heel,” these pups obey.
The Mutt receives those updates, too, plus it has a few tricks of its own, among them the 80-spoke wheels, something no other Dog in the litter can tout. In terms of ride, the Mutt is probably the best-behaved bike in the pack, and its civil manners can be traced to the chassis. Although it shares the same frame as the Mastiff in terms of stretch (37 degrees in the neck, two in the triple trees) compare to Mastiff’s 42 (39 in the neck, three in the trees, although both have two-over forks and 4.81 inches of Trail), coupled with a narrow rear tire (259 vs. 300) equates to a much friendlier ride in terms of steering and reduced “push” from the rear tire.
Straight line performance equates to a smooth ride, with the hydraulic 41 mm fork legs absorbing most of the bumps before the A-Frame Swingarm’s adjustable shock absorbers do their share at the rear. Most importantly though, the Mutt isn’t burdened by an excessively fat rear tire to affect steer-in, making this perhaps the most congenial Dog in the pack.
And make no mistake, you’ll enjoy the same quality finish in terms of paint and polished parts as with the other Dogs, and if that isn’t enough you can always upgrade to personalize your Mutt. You can choose from diamond-cut heads ($800 retail), painted struts and battery covers ($750) and more, not to forget the variety of paint options that BDM is known for.
Is owning a Mutt a bad thing? We don’t think so. In fact, now that the Chopper has been put down for good, this new Dog might become known as bikerman’s best friend.
