Eight Harley-Davidson Softails for 2018!

Harley-Davidson is turning 115 in 2018, and it's started the celebrations with a bang by launching eight new Softail models powered by the Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine, which replaces the High Output Twin Cam 103 powerplant.

In what Harley-Davidson says is its "largest product development project in company history", the new models are the Fat Boy, Heritage Classic, Low Rider, Softail Slim, Deluxe, Breakout, Fat Bob and Street Bob.

With the Street Bob, Fat Bob and Low Rider now joining the Softail family, the former Dyna line-up no longer exists. There are now six Harley-Davidson families: Street, Sportster, Softail, Touring, Trike and CVO.

Meanwhile, the Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine is also available as an option on the Fat Bob, Fat Boy, Breakout and Heritage Classic, while a new and stiffer steel tubular frame forms the core of the entire 2018 Softail range.

Brand new dual-bending valve front suspension – first introduced on the 2017 Touring models – also makes its way onto the Softail models, which is claimed to deliver damping performance similar to a cartridge fork but with improved, more responsive damping characteristics.

The new preload-adjustable monoshock rear suspension preserves the classic hardtail look while the geometry has been revamped to "improve ride quality, traction and control".

The 2018 Softails start rolling into Australian dealerships from October 2017, with prices starting from $23,495 rideaway.

“The new Softails are the result of the most extensive research and development program in the company’s history," said Paul James, manager of Product Portfolio at Harley-Davidson Motor Company. "Thousands of hours of research and testing were put into the complete ground-up design of these new cruisers.

"We focused on taking the total rider experience to a higher level, where authenticity, heritage and soul meet the modern edge of technology for a ride that must be felt to believe.”

Said Brad Richards, vice president of Styling and Design, Harley-Davidson Motor Company: “The authenticity of Harley-Davidson design comes by sweating the details from start to finish. It’s ‘hard to do and hard to copy.’

"Harley-Davidson motorcycles are not a commodity; they are handed down from generation to generation. We look at every nut and bolt on the bike, all the finishes, and every small detail.

"The new Softail frame is like a piece of art and the more you take off the bike, the more beautiful it becomes. Its design speaks to the teamwork that our styling and engineering processes demand.”

The frame is 65 per cent stiffer than the outgoing Softail design, while there are two unique swingarms: one for narrow and one for wide rear tyres. The wide chassis is 5.89kg (15 per cent) lighter than the predecessor, while the narrow chassis lops off 8.16kg (20 per cent).

The new chassis delivers increased lean angles on a number of the models, as well as sharper turn-in.

The all-new Softail models are up to 17kg lighter than before, which not only improves power- and torque-to-weight ratios but also makes for better braking and cornering.

Heritage Classic
• New detachable windscreen
• New rigid, lockable, sealed, water-resistant saddlebags
• Taller suspension with increased passenger and cargo payload capacity
• 17kg weight reduction to previous model
• Optional: Milwaukee-Eight 114 Engine
• Cruise control and ABS
• Priced from $31,750 rideaway

Low Rider
• Throwback-style dual tank-mount speedo and tachometer gauges, headlight visor and fuel tank graphics
• 19-inch front and 16-inch rear Radiate cast wheels
• 2-into-2 Shotgun exhaust
• Priced from $24,250 rideaway

Softail Slim
• Dark finishes adorn the laced wheels, Hollywood handlebar, and all-new front-end design
• Low-slung tuck and roll seat
• Bold and smooth new front nacelle and fork cover styling
• 17kg weight reduction to previous model
• Priced from $26,250 rideaway

Deluxe
• LED lighting
• Pull-back handlebar
• 17kg weight reduction to previous model
• Priced from $29,495 rideaway

Breakout
• New smooth-top 13.2-litre fuel tank
• Long and wide with low-slung raked-out 49mm front forks
• 18-inch rear (240mm tyre) and 21-inch front (130mm tyre) Gasser-style gloss-black powder-coated cast aluminium wheels
• Daymaker LED headlamp
• Low-profile riser-mounted digital instrument screen
• 17kg weight reduction to previous model
• Optional: Milwaukee-Eight 114 Engine
• Priced from $31,250 rideaway

Fat Bob
• 2-1-2 upswept performance exhaust with a custom finish
• Largest aggressively treaded tyres from the Motor Company: 150 mm front and 180mm rear
• Dual disc front brakes
• 13.2-litre fuel tank
• 15kg weight reduction to previous model
• Inverted 43mm cartridge-style front forks
• Optional: Milwaukee-Eight 114 Engine
• Priced from $27,495 rideaway

Street Bob
• Smooth-top 13.2-litre fuel tank
• Black spoke wheels with chopped fenders
• Low-profile riser-mounted digital instrument screen
• 7kg weight reduction to previous model
• Priced from $23,495 rideaway

New technology on all models
• Daymaker LED headlamps
• Improved electrical system charging, more than doubled at idle speeds
• Easily adjustable rear shock preload
• New instrumentation
• Keyless ignition
• Steering head-mounted USB charge port
• New fuel tanks

Bikesales will be riding the new Softails in the USA next week, so keep an eye out for full words, images and video.