BELIEVE me, it's as much fun as it looks. This two-wheel dream machine is a stunner which puts a mile-wide grin on your face. And it has that unmistakeable engine roar that only a Harley can deliver.

But despite looking drop-dead gorgeous, I must admit I was terrified when I first saw this machine. The sheer size of the thing made me wonder if I could ever ride it.

But I need not have worried. Despite an engine which is bigger than those in most family hatchbacks, the Street Bob was remarkably easy to ride, even in traffic.

In fact, it became so easy, you couldn't help being lulled into a laid back riding style which goes hand in glove with the Harley ethos.

Take the riding position for starters. Those mini ape-hanger handlebars, the low and wide leather seat and mid-mounted footpegs made you feel as though you were sitting in an armchair. I soon discovered that you can munch up the miles without any aches in the arms or neck and I never suffered from a numb bum.

Then, of course, there's that engine – all 1584cc of it, coupled to a six-speed gearbox and belt-driven powertrain which gave instant response from the throttle. There's enough torque to pull a transit van up the side of a house so it's hardly surprising you can lazily ride this bike as though it's an automatic, pulling away from standstill in nearly all the gears.

If I owned one of these, I would never get fed up with that Harley engine roar. It burbles away good-naturedly at slow speeds and then, when you twist that accelerator grip, wow! The engine bursts into life like some erupting volcano. I just couldn't resist gunning that throttle in tunnels and under railway bridges. The sound was as sweet to me as a symphony orchestra. And then, on the overrun, the exhausts would crackle and spit...lovely! Despite the constant blipping on the throttle like a kid with a new toy, I was getting 48mpg from this machine.

One Friday night, I found myself riding along a slip road on to the M5 at rush hour, only to be confronted by a massive traffic jam. No matter, the Harley threaded itself between the traffic, with most car drivers moving to the left or right to give me room to filter past.

It never occurred to me this bike was such a show-stopper until I took to the road. Even hardened riders gave me a nod or looked up from roadside snack bars. Youngsters at garages would say, "Cor! I like your bike!" And I loved it at the Second Severn Crossing toll – just a big thumbs up from the man in the booth and straight through. I'm sure car drivers pulled to the left to let me filter past and so enjoy the engine sound.

For further information on Harleys, visit their website at harley-davidson.com