Harley-Davidson has added a new bike into their Softail range. The new machine is the Harley-Davidson Softail Standard. This a motorcycle that Harley-Davidson describes as being a bike that offers the original Harley-Davidson cruiser experience. The new machine is a lean bobber, which is finished with just a little touch of attitude. The bike comes in a choice of colours as long as the only colour that you want is black. It is, of course, highlighted with chrome details.
A solo seat that exposes the cooler than cool short rear mudguard ensures that any overly controlling passengers won’t bother you. The lines on the bike work well. The tank presents the frame and engine in a way that lets that big-twin engine stand right out. That engine is a Milwaukee-Eight 1,746cc twin that is detailed with a polished timer, rocker and primary covers. We really like the simple design of the centre-bolt, round air cleaner.
The new Milwaukee-Eight V-Twin is a whole world ahead of the older engines. It offers a surprising reward with the throttle fully opened. It has the look, sound and feel that is classic Harley-Davidson but without the rider loosing all their fillings thanks to dual counter-balancers. These induce a significantly better rider temperament.
Chrome shields and end cans on the 2-into-2 shotgun exhaust underline the bike’s long, low profile. The best plan for that piece of government approved/ environmentally appealing/ relatively quiet piece of control surrender is to replace it with something shorter, louder and so much better looking. Loud pipes save lives and all that…
The steel rims consist of a dazzlingly cool 19-inch on the front and a standard 16-inch rim on the rear. Mini-ape, could we call these chimp, handlebars put the rider in a classic fists-in-the-wind posture that ramps up the attitude points. We really like the compact electronic instrument cluster. There's that clever digital display which is set into the handlebar and riser to leave the front end clean and uncluttered.