5. Softail
Last year, Harley surprised its fans with the completely redesigned Softail lineup. The clients could find nine brand new bikes, each different from the other in some aspect. And Strunk shared his view of the motorcycles.
“We’ve launched nine new models since August,” mentioned Strunk. “An all-new chassis, 90 percent stiffer than the previous Dyna chassis. It uses a rear monoshock with preload adjustment that on some models is exposed for quick adjustment and on the more classic models we keep it under the seat for more of a vintage look.”
“The first model in the lineup that gets most people’s attention is the Street Bob,” pointed out Strunk. “The Street Bob has been around for a long time, but with the new improvements in the Softail lineup, this is a bike that has that retro cool, but performs in a modern sense. This is a great example of blending classic stripped-down looks and enabling modern technology.”
Before this big overhaul last year, the Street Bob belonged to the Dyna family which merged with the Softail line. This move has been criticized by the purists who preferred the rubber soul Dyna brought to the table.
When they eliminated Dyna, the resistance appeared and Strunk explained: “The thing that always makes me proud about working for Harley-Davidson is I can’t think of any other product I could be associated with where the owners are so passionate. We knew that with a change like that there was going to have an opinion. What I’ve noticed is that after folks ride them they say ‘Oh, this is wonderful,’ and the name change is less of a concern after they actually put some miles on. These bikes are just far and away on a whole different level from the previous models.”
Added to the Softail line was the Sport Glide. And who better to speak of this model than the man who works in Harley-Davidson. Strunk said: “The great thing about this is, again, all of the wonderful technology of the new Softail chassis is used like dual-bending valve technology in the inverted front fork. Two out of the nine models, the Fat Bob and the Sport Glide, use the cartridge-style inverted front fork. The rest of the models use a traditional front fork, but uses the SHOWA dual-bending valve which we first debuted on the touring models the year before.”
We move on with the Softail line, and the next bike we need to mention is the Fat Bob, which has received a lot of attention. This is one of the four new Softail models that appeared on the market alongside Heritage Classic, Breakout and Fat Boy.
“Some of the cool features of this bike, one of the trademark features of the Fat Bob is a big, beefy front tire. It has a 16-inch front wheel with a nice, wide front tire. It can shrug off anything the road throws at it. Great lean angle, the stiffness of that chassis really makes it a great-handling bike,” according to Strunk. He continues: “This has kind of an aggressive-looking riding position, but it’s also very comfortable. This a tapered aluminum drag bar nested in an all-new riser designed specifically for the Fat Bob. Again, blacked out finishes with subtle hints of chrome just highlighting some of the characteristics of the powertrain. The signature of this, and totally unique to the Fat Bob, is the LED headlamp. I have this exact bike and I absolutely love it.”
Interestingly enough, the Softail lineup has bikes with different riding positions. Three to be precise. Strunk explained: “There’s mid which you’ll find on the Street Bob and the Low Rider. Then there’s forward, which is really more of a mid-forward. They’re not as far forward as a traditional stretched out forward control. Then there are floorboards on the Deluxe, Heritage, Fat Boy, and Slim.”
The next bike in the Softail range is the Softail Slim, recognizable for being the most affordable Harley that you can purchase with floorboards. Strunk says that its retro look keeps fascinating the buyers. “A combination of black and polished finishes, a low seat height makes it very accessible and confidence inspiring for new riders and riders of all sizes and shapes. We’re very cognizant of trying to make the bikes fit the widest range of riders. Where we hit a limit, the accessories department always comes in to help with the seat that might get you a bit closer or more stretched out more, changes to handlebars, changes to the suspension. We can accommodate just about anyone who wants to ride and make them comfortable,” states Strunk.
The Softail lineup cannot pass without the Harley Davidson Softail Deluxe. “This is the only new model in the Softail lineup to feature classic wide whitewall tires. It has chrome-laced wheels, a little bit of use of chrome for a more heritage, classic look,” said Strunk. “Exclusive to the Deluxe is all-LED lighting all the way around. We’ve got a very retro tombstone tail lamp, but it’s 100 percent LED as well an art deco style turn signal stalk which again, LED really enabled us to get the shape that we wanted. There’s a similar treatment up front with combination turn signal and passing lamp bar. This is definitely for the rider looking for a very classic Harley-Davidson look.” Below, you can see the prices of every Softail bike.
Street Bob – $14,500+
Fat Bob – $17,000+
Low Rider – $15,000+
Breakout – $19,000+
Softail Slim – $15,900+
Fat Boy – $19,000+
Deluxe – $18,000+
Heritage Classic – $19,000+
Sport Glide – $18,600+