Harley-Davidon’s nomenclature is its personal language. Have you learnt why the FXST represents a revolution over the FLH? Fortunately, The Motor Firm additionally makes use of naming conventions that consult with odd language utilized by loyal riders. The Softail title has been utilized to nearly each sort of motorbike possible. However each Softail has one factor in frequent: They’ve rear suspension designed to seem like a hardtail, or rigid-framed bike. After that, something’s potential.
In 1982, within the midst of negotiations to purchase itself again from AMF possession, Harley-Davidson wanted trendy bikes that threaded the needle between heritage and innovation. Invoice Davis, a St. Louis–primarily based fanatic and engineer, had designed a cantilever swingarm, just like traditional Vincent bikes. Makes an attempt to promote it to H-D failed in 1976, however in 1982, a brand new Davis design was bought to H-D that includes a top-mounted pivot level and shocks mounted beneath the body. As a substitute of compressing, the shock would lengthen whereas the springs would compress by way of transverse mounts on the spring ends. In 1984, the FXST Softail debuted with a brand new Evolution V-twin motor tucked inside.
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It’s all to protect the legendary hardtail triangle with its distinctive apex on the rear wheel axle. In different phrases, make it look customized and old-school, however with trendy suspension and rideability. The Softail is arguably one of many causes Harley-Davidson cruisers exists immediately. Paired with the Evo motor, it helped make H-D related (and worthwhile) once more. You didn’t have to decide on between hardcore and civilized. You could possibly have all of it. What’s extra American than that?
Now that we’ve gotten the historical past lesson out of the way in which, let’s discuss in regards to the Harley-Davidson Softails accessible immediately. Right here’s your 2024 Softail lineup.
All of it begins with the Harley-Davidson Softail Customary, or FXST. Dealership supplies would by no means say this, but it surely’s the entry-level Softail. It’s the value of admission, however that mentioned, it’s the proper template to start out constructing your custom-made Softail. At simply $14,999 MSRP, you get a Milwaukee-Eight 107ci V-twin engine, a solo seat, and adjustable rear suspension. And also you get cash left over to make it into your Softail. Did you assume you had been leaving the dealership on a bone-stock Softail? Saddlebags, mirrors, sissy bars, engine covers, you title it—begin a buying record. Nonetheless you construct your masterpiece, you get a traditional cruiser. Or as seller supplies may say, a boulevard cruiser.
The Harley-Davidson Road Bob 114 is subsequent stage. Gone is all of the chrome and understatement, changed by menacingly blacked-out accents and trim. Whereas the wheels are forged and six-spoked just like the above Customary, they’re blacked out and now have a reputation—Annihilator Wheels. A pillion seat and pegs, digital riser gauge, and LED lighting come customary, however the principle differentiator is the larger 114ci Milwaukee-Eight engine. Within the spirit of upgrades, there are 4 coloration and livery choices—Billiard Grey, Vivid Black ($350 additional), Baja Orange ($525 additional), or Blue Burst ($650 additional). And naturally, there are myriad choices for every little thing. Vivid Black quarter fairing, anybody? MSRP is $16,999. Oh, and the technical title for the mannequin is the FXBBS.
The Harley-Davidson Low Rider S brings a West Coast model to the Softail sport. The $19,999 MSRP is a clue that choices aren’t optionally available anymore. On high of the Milwaukee-Eight 117ci engine, you get cruise management, a bullet fairing, black trim, completely different tank emblem therapy (just like 1977 Low Riders and 1917 racers), and decrease, extra aggressive bars mounted on risers. Talking of 1977, that’s when the primary FXS Low Rider debuted, primarily based on the Dyna platform. Numerous riders had lowered their bikes, including ahead controls and pull-back bars themselves. However now, as an alternative of getting “a pal of a pal” customise your bike, actual engineers and meeting employees from H-D did it for you. The brand new Low Rider S is formally often called the FXLRS.
The Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST (FXLRST) integrates a frame-mounted half fairing and provides arduous saddlebags to take the Low Rider into sport-touring territory. As such it comes with the acquainted Milwaukee-Eight 117ci engine, an upgraded deep solo seat, revised air consumption, and high-flow exhaust. And it additionally comes with ABS and traction management customary, similar to its Low Rider S brethren. Three colours beforehand talked about (Billiard Grey, Vivid Black [$550 extra], and Pink Rock [$750]) can be found, plus a notable Tobacco Fade package deal with pinstriping and revised tank emblem for $1,900 additional. All of it begins with a $23,399 MSRP.
The Harley-Davidson Breakout 117 brings issues again to chopper-ville. Chrome pipes and trim are again, as are 5 coloration and livery decisions. White Onyx Pearl and Alpine Inexperienced (each $650 additional) are launched to the combo, as are 26-spoked cast-aluminum wheels, 21-inch entrance and 18-inch rear. The entrance finish will get raked out to 34 levels, however retains the 5.7-inch path. All this will get paired with the top-of-the-line Milwaukee-Eight 117ci engine, with revised air consumption and high-flow exhaust. Oh, and a large 240mm rear tire. The primary Breakout was a CVO (Customized Automobile Operations) particular in 2013, and migrated to H-D’s Cruiser lineup shortly thereafter. ABS and traction management are customary. MSRP is $22,499 and the proper mannequin designation is FXBR.
That very same MSRP will get you a totally completely different Softail—the Harley-Davidson Heritage Basic 114, aka the FLHCS. Whilst you don’t get the Milwaukee-Eight 117, you get muted black trim, tasteful chrome, lockable sealed tender saddlebags, floorboards, and a handlebar-mounted windshield that’s removable. And because the title implies, the Heritage Basic 114 channels ‘50s-era attraction and nostalgia. The rear suspension turns into a monoshock, for simple, on-the-fly adjustment. And in one other signal you’ve arrived, two trim ranges are supplied: Chrome and Black ($1,000 additional). Two new coloration/livery choices be a part of the combo as properly, Pink Rock/Vivid Black ($850 additional) and Atlas Silver Metallic ($650 additional).
The Harley-Davidson Fats Boy 114 brings one other variant of angle to the lineup. Forged-aluminum Lakester wheels and a chrome headlamp nacelle give the Fats Boy its distinctive bulldog stance. Floorboards and the beloved “beer can” fork covers assist the trigger as properly. A coilover monoshock affords toolless adjustment, and ABS comes customary. The stable (or near-solid) wheels have been a continuing because the Fats Boy’s introduction in 1990 (learn the These Are The Greatest Harley-Davidson Bikes You Can Get For The Low cost article for extra suggestions). And the place was the Fats Boy conceived? In Daytona, after all. Willie G. and fellow designer Louie Netz constructed a prototype for the 1988 and 1989 Bike Week. Enjoyable reality: Till 2017, the Fats Boy was formally the FLSTF, FLFB, or FLFBS. However immediately it’s simply the FLFBS.
Lastly, one Softail mannequin is notable by its absence. For 2024, the Harley-Davidson Fats Bob 114 has been discontinued in North America. Distinguished by its 2-1-2 upswept pipes, drag-inspired handlebars, and horizontal LED mild bar, there’s web hypothesis about its eventual return. However as of press time, there’s no phrase someway. As soon as we all know, you’ll know.
Take a look at these traditional Softail variations from the Harley-Davidson archives.
