The Detroit Newspapers's view

The 2006 Ford Harley-Davidson F-150 SuperCab is the seventh model to come out of the 1999 alliance between the two brands — and it likely will hit the right note with the crowd that suits up in black leather and heads to the Black Hills for the annual Sturgis motorcycle rally.

The latest limited-edition vehicle includes such awe-inspiring details as 22-inch polished forged aluminum wheels, and a choice of 4×2 or all-wheel drive.

Be prepared to pay a premium for the high-profile ride with the lowered look. Our test Harley-Davidson F-150 was outfitted with 11 options, including a $995 power sunroof and a $350 trailer tow package and had a base price of $39,160, including shipping. Bottom line: $42,765.

SHE: In some respects, the new Harley-Davidson F-150 is a bargain. I read a recent interview with Paul Teutul Sr., the elder half of the father-son team on “American Chopper,” and he said his bikes start at $40,000, but most people spend between $55,000 and $175,000. With the Ford truck, you get a lot more for your $40K, including the ability to carry five people and haul a load in the rear’s 6-1/2-foot box. I’ve got to tell our sister-in-law about it — you know, the one with the e-mail address that starts “bikermama.”

HE: Actually, my cousin John is probably the target buyer. He owns a Harley and a Chevy. I’m sure Ford would love to convert him.

SHE: I have a lot of respect for this collaboration because I think it’s such a natural. And after being in the truck for a week, it seems like most everything was carefully thought out. When you see something like that nickel plate screwed into the instrument panel with the vehicle’s production date and number, it feels like you’ve got something special. Nearly everything in the cabin is perfect, from the oversized black leather captain’s chairs in the front to the massive chrome-trimmed shifter to the retro-looking gauges. And that high-gloss piano black trim in the cabin is striking. It seemed like the steering wheel needed the Harley-Davidson bar-and-shield logo, though. It’s everywhere else, including the center cap of the rims.

HE: As for everything being carefully thought out, I wish Ford would have paid as much attention to assembly quality. The edges of the instrument panel are so wavy, they don’t match up with the edges of the windshield pillars and that looks tacky, especially on a $42,000 vehicle. I’m disappointed that Ford charges extra for things like heated seats, a 6-disc CD changer and skid plates. At these prices, most of that stuff should be thrown in. And, basically, a motorcycle is more fun to drive. I found the Harley-Davidson F-150 to be big and bulky to park, and the optional reverse-sensing system didn’t make things much easier. Sure, it’s got a big 300-horsepower 5.4-liter V-8 engine as well as a sport handling suspension, which makes the ride a little rougher. But the gas mileage is pretty lousy at 14 miles gallon in the city and 18 mpg on the highway.

SHE: You’re griping, but you were the first to jump into the truck when the snow fell. But since buyers can now get a Harley-Davidson F-150 with all-wheel drive, there are fewer compromises. Oddly enough, I wasn’t crazy about the striping along the sides of the vehicle. It is one of my least favorite exterior treatments of any of the Harley-Davidson F-150 models we’ve driven. You get a scalloped red stripe outlined in electric blue; it looked a little too cartoonish for my tastes.

HE: Somehow, the cartoon metaphor seems fitting for this truck. A really expensive cartoon.

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2006 Harley-Davidson F-150 SuperCab

Type: Front-engine, all-wheel drive, 5-passenger truck

Price: Base, $39,160 (inc. $875 destination charge); as tested, $42,765

Engine: 5.4-liter V-8; 300-hp; 365 lb-ft torque

EPA fuel economy: 14 mpg city/18 mpg highway

Where built: Dearborn

12-month insurance cost, according to AAA Michigan*:$1,657. (Estimate. Rates may be higher or lower, depending on coverage, driving record.)

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Anita: 5 (out of five)

Likes: Hits the perfect note for biker mamas and their men. ABS is standard, so are adjustable pedals. Gorgeous piano black trim in cabin. Choice of 4×2 or all-wheel drive. Lots of Harley-Davidson badging inside and out, including a serialized nickel plate on the dash showing vehicle production date and number.

Dislikes: Red and blue stripes on sides look a little cartoonish. No Harley-Davidson badging on steering wheel — the first thing you touch when you climb in! Heavy tailgate. Difficult to climb in and out of. Steering wheel tilts, but doesn’t telescope. No dual-zone climate control.

Paul: 3 (out of five)

Likes: Tough-guy look with chin spoiler, smoked-out taillights and monotone black inside and out. Twenty-two-inch alloy wheels. Powerful 300hp 5.4L V-8. Rear seat is decked out with 12-volt outlet, vents, cupholders. Easy to spread out and get comfy in front captain’s chairs.

Dislikes: Expensive, especially when you start adding options. Mediocre fuel economy. Old-fashioned 4-speed automatic transmission doesn’t do much for mileage. Not enough legroom in rear. Bulky to park, and $245 reverse-sensing system doesn’t help much.