Custom cruisers are well-served by the Big Dog brand. The 2010 Big Dog Coyote is yet another classic, custom-cruiser that is cut with plenty of chopped features, while boasting impressive contemporary performance technology. Speed, power, head-turning looks: the 2010 Big Dog Coyote offers them all.
The Big Dog Coyote is a more traditional, air-cooled cruiser than most of the Big Dog line. A far cry from the tall and stretched models such as the K-9 and Ridgeback, and dressed down when compared to the Pitbull, the Coyote is appropriately named, remaining sleek and low. It's a bike that lurks, but is in no way skittish like its namesake. This ride is for the bold, and far too intimidating for a first-time or beginning rider.
An exposed frame marks this Big Dog, just like the rest of the 2010 pack. The 39 degrees of rake offers the front end of the 2010 Coyote a vintage chopper look. The risers and drag bars complement the overall aesthetic of the front end, including the chopped fender and front wheel. Indeed, there are a lot of curves that are sharply marked by the hard angles of the fork and frame.
The tank line of the 2010 Big Dog Coyote follows the gentle grade of the back bone, while offering enough curvature to present the classic cruiser look. The oil tank is easily visible below the seat pan. As is commonplace in chopper design schemes, the seat is butted against the rear fender. The Big Dog design team offered enjoyable simplicity to the metal work on the 2010 Coyote. It looks as if the tanks, seat, and rear fender would pick up as a singular piece, if hypothetically separated from the rest of the motorcycle.
With a seat height of 24.5 inches, this bike rides like a true chopper. The Big Dog Coyote's low center of gravity aids in maneuverability, when considering the overall length and rake of the bike. The 250 rear tire is pared down from some of the larger Big Dog offerings—300 and 330 not being uncommon on many bikes included in the custom line.
Beyond a quick walk around and sit down on the bike, there is the most important aspect of the 2010 Coyote: its performance capability. For those who believe customs to be more focused on novelty than practicality, this bike would easily change a few minds. The Coyote is rich with power, speed, comfort, and great handling. The 117 c.i. V-Twin unleashes a formidable team of horses, through a 6-speed transmission to the 18 inch rear wheel. Lack of turnover is never a complaint one will hear from a Coyote rider. There are several exhaust options from which the 2010 Big Dog Coyote can be customized, and they all offer the signature sound of a muscled-up V-Twin that will announce its arrival long before ever coming around a corner.