2018 Harley DynaSofts

[jGuz]

Has anyone else seen out the revamp of the Harley line?

I find it funny that they have pretty much ruined the spirit of the two Harleys I would consider owning.  The Low Rider S is gone and the regular Low Rider has one (down from two) front disc brakes.  Who thought it would be a good idea to go backwards in performance - then again, this is Harley...And the Street Bob...What have they done?  Fork gaiters?  A smaller tank?  An LED tacho/speedo?  Not to mention that the rear shock is internal...harder to swap suspension.

I want to like HD.  I really do.  I rode a 2016 Street Bob for a day and I found it to be comfortable, well-built, good-looking, and characterful (the same characteristics that leads me to Guzzis).  But now these bikes look...diluted.   

Armchair rant over.     

[Kev m]

Well, look a little closer.

I too lament that they eliminated the dual discs from the lowrider, that's stupid. But they still have it on the Fat Bob.

More importantly here's what they did.

They took the middle of their line-up where they were building something like 12 model variations using 2 frames (Softail and Dyna) with 4 motors (2 cubic inch variations each on solidmount/counterbalanced and rubbermounted TC motors) and reduced it to 8 models, 1 frame, and 2 cubic in variations of one solidmounted motor.

So from a manufacturing standpoint that was smart.

More importantly they also:

* Went to a new more rigid frame. The new frame is lighter and all of the models lost weight. Maybe not a lot, only 20-35#, but it's a step in the right direction.

* MOST models increased both ground clearance and lean angle (though one or two formerly Dyna models lost an RCH of one or the other).

* Moved the oil from a remote tank under the seat to a sump under the motor, good both for center of gravity and removing some un-necessary heat from right under the rider.

* Improved suspensions at BOTH ends. The front use cartridge forks, and the Fat Bob uses USD forks. The rear for all is a new higher quality mono-shock with remote dial preload adjustment.

* Went to LED headlights on multiple models, and tried some out of the box things like the square daymaker headlight on the Fat Bob or the gauges integrated into the handlebar risers on a few models.

Looks like they simplified the detachable system too no longer requiring turn signal relocation and whatnot to install things like backrests, luggage, tourpacks etc.

My only REAL complaint so far is, like you said, they eliminated one of the few models that had dual discs. And what really make it stupid is that they increased power across the board and made the option of a 100 hp / 114" motor on a few models THAT DON'T HAVE DUAL DISCS. FFS why increase power and not add a second disc! JEEEEZ.

My other complaint is that on the two "Bob" models and maybe one other, I forget which, the dropped fuel capacity to 3.6g - dumb.

But overall I think it was a step in the right direction.

[Kev m]

For the Harley-Curious (those who might identify a little pirate-y), today I rode a couple of the new Softails. Generally speaking I'd say Lemmy from ZLA was correct and these aren't the same old Softails.

Actually though still largely cruiserish they seem to be decent modern motorcycles with  some get up and go, decent brakes, suspensions etc.

And I say this all as someone who has scorned the Softail line for decades.

A few thoughts about the bikes I rode and inspected:

For starters the Fat Bob (and maybe all of them) look better in person. The Fat Bob finishes look great in person and the design traits blend to a cohesive and somewhat aggressive overall look that says standard more than cruiser.



That headlight blends seamlessly.

The fenders and tires work, they look the business and not overly styled.

The finishes are fantastic, including the exhaust, especially the mufflers. The pics just don't do justice to how they sparkle in the sunlight.






Both the bikes I rode (Deluxe and Fat Bob) felt light and nimble. The motors pulled strong, the transmissions were smooth and anything but clunky, the throttle response was great, brakes (even the single) felt strong, steering effort was light, and lean angles were pretty generous. I did manage to scrape the footboards on the Deluxe pulling a right out of the lot, but underway it never happened again (though granted it was a pretty tame route).

Still I walked away pretty impressed with the overall packages.





The turn signals on the Deluxe still looked pretty bad but there's so much else to like you kinda miss it.

There's a ton of brushed aluminum on the Fat Boy and it all looks pretty good. Better than chrome to me but you know how I feel about that.

The Street Bob looked great in person too.

[oldbike54]

 Yeah , but isn't the MoCo coming out with something like 50 new models over the next year ?

 Dusty

[Kev m]

Well I suspect those counted as 8, plus the Street Rod and maybe the Roadster were after that announcement so that's 10 already.

[kingoffleece]

For the OP, maybe one side effect for those who like the older style better is that now there will be 1000's of low mile used bikes to be purchased at bargain prices.

[molly]

I've tried I honestly have to like Harley's having owned a Sportster recently and rode my brother's Street Bob for a while.
But they are just don't work for me. My 2007 Griso is light years ahead in every department and makes sense on the UK's bumpy narrow roads that the Harleys just can't handle.
Maybe if I lived in some sunny US state things might be different but I have given up in my futile attempts to like the things.

[slopokes]

Kev,did they drop the price any ???

[blackcat]

I take your word that it looks better in person, but this bike is ugly.

[Dave Swanson]

I LIKE IT!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kev m]

Hey I'm not going to try and tell people what to like functionally or aesthetically.

But I do remember a member here who had both a Griso and an XR1200 and said they were functionally very close.

I totally forgot to grab a ride on a new Roadster yesterday. Oh well I'll nab a ride on one eventually.

As for the Fat Bob it's definitely a polarizing design but for me that's part of the charm. It's not just cookie cutter Harley, it's functional, and like I laughed with some of the other riders there yesterday "it's pissing people off and when that happens you know they're doing something right."


Some other interesting points. I saw a fair number of other brands in the parking lot from BMW to Suzuki and that's a good sign they are getting people interested.

Waiting for my rides to come up and eating free burgers and dogs I was chatting with some of the other customers like a guy who buys a new CVO dresser every couple of years. His 2014 was nearly $40k out the door, it's now got 80k miles on it and he's looking to trade it but they are offering $12k [emoji50] [emoji32] [emoji50] looks like they are still making money.

Oh did I mention earlier they'd already sold one of the new Softails by the time I got there (just before noon).

[jas67]

The headlight on that thing definitely looks wonky to me (though, I do like LED's, I'll put it works very well).    I prefer the look of round headlights.

I also prefer gloss paint to the "denim" or whatever Harley is calling the matte finish these days.   That topic has been beat to death here with respect to the V7 Stone.

That said, it is good to see Harley trying new things in the design of their bikes, as two posts above show (one hate, one love), some people like the new look, and probably even prefer it over the traditional.

For those of us who like the traditional, the Deluxe is a great looking bike.

The Fat Bob, and the other "new look" models, definitely look fresh, and, while my first reaction when I saw them earlier in the week was "Ugh", I don't think that they look too bad, and they may even grow on me.

After reading Lemmy's article, I'm curious to get a test ride on these new models.   The suspension improvements and lighter weight are definitely a move in the right direction!

[blackcat]

"His 2014 (CVO) was nearly $40k out the door, it's now got 80k miles on it and he's looking to trade it but they are offering $12k    looks like they are still making money."

A $28 thousand dollar loss makes buying a Guzzi a fairly good investment.

[Kev m]

"His 2014 (CVO) was nearly $40k out the door, it's now got 80k miles on it and he's looking to trade it but they are offering $12k    looks like they are still making money."

A $28 thousand dollar loss makes buying a Guzzi a fairly good investment.

I didn't tell the rest of the punch line. He was cleaning the 2018 CVO would set him back close to $50k [emoji50] but he was including TTT, extended warranty, prepaid maintenance plan, and probably a valet to wash and wax it for gawd's sake!

[oldbike54]

 Dynasoft sounds like a brand of fabric softener .

 Dusty

[Kev m]

Dynasoft sounds like a brand of fabric softener .

 Dusty

Ha ha but it's still better than the Sportster SuperLow T! [emoji23]

[oldbike54]

Ha ha but it's still better than the Sportster SuperLow T! [emoji23]

  When my niece married her husband (the HD salesman) he owned some vintage of Fat Bob, she innocently asked me who would name a motorcycle Fat "Bob" ?

 Dusty

[blackcat]

"His 2014 (CVO) was nearly $40k out the door, it's now got 80k miles on it and he's looking to trade it but they are offering $12k    looks like they are still making money."

A $28 thousand dollar loss makes buying a Guzzi a fairly good investment.

"I didn't tell the rest of the punch line. He was cleaning the 2018 CVO would set him back close to $50k  but he was including TTT, extended warranty, prepaid maintenance plan, and probably a valet to wash and wax it for gawd's sake!"

I'm glad that I don't get bored with my bikes. Cars I get bored with, but I have never really owned an overly interesting car.

[LowRyter]

First, aren't Dynas and Softails are two different lines of motorcycles?

Second, that new Fat Bob is ugly as sin.

[Kev m]

First, aren't Dynas and Softails are two different lines of motorcycles?

They were, until a week ago when both platforms were replaced by a new, lighter, monoshock chassis that now encompasses models from both previous lines.

The new line uses upgraded suspensions, brakes, lighting (LED), and two versions of a dual counterbalance shaft equipped M8 motor.

[arveno]

Harley Davidson , the newer the uglier they get.... go figure.
seriously , they are the most horrible HD ever built.

For me the Motor co "died" in the 1998, Just my thought and  I hope they sell a lot of bikes so ppl can keep their jobs.

good luck.

[LowRyter]

They were, until a week ago when both platforms were replaced by a new, lighter, monoshock chassis that now encompasses models from both previous lines.

The new line uses upgraded suspensions, brakes, lighting (LED), and two versions of a dual counterbalance shaft equipped M8 motor.

According to "Hot Bike":

"Harley-Davidson has definitely produced a revolution in V-Twin motorcycles with eight distinctive models based on a single platform. That in itself is brilliant. The fact that the bikes really are among the best-handling and fastest cruisers ever produced by any manufacturer makes it all even more impressive."

wow

[Motormike]

I lurk here more than post, but the post about hoping people keeping their jobs got me to thinking:  V-Rod, made in Kansas City Plant...Gone, Dyna Glides, made in Kansas City Plant...Gone.  I know they make the new small 500's and 750's in Kansas City, but still, that must leave an awful lot of empty plant space.  If I were a line worker at the Kansas City HD factory, I'd be real nervous right about now.

[Kev m]

You know I didn't ask or check where these new Softails are being built, York or Kansas City?

[Bonaventure]

Pipes and cans on the Fat Bob look straight off the Ducati Diavel.   Well, those new cans don't look like a pair of cheerleader megaphones like the Diavel's do, but I still don't think they look right on a Harley Davidson.

[Motormike]

Where are they assembled?  Good question.  I seem to remember the Softail line being produced in York along with the touring bikes.  Nothing says they couldn't move the entire line to Kansas City.  Still, Harley Davidson would seem to have excess production capacity. 

[Kev m]

Where are they assembled?  Good question.  I seem to remember the Softail line being produced in York along with the touring bikes.  Nothing says they couldn't move the entire line to Kansas City.  Still, Harley Davidson would seem to have excess production capacity.

In most recent history, the Dyna and Vrod lines were in Kansas City, The Softail and FLs were run on a common horseshoe line in York.

I guess it could make sense to keep the new Softails in York since they also use the M8 motor, but it's a different version of the motor than the Touring models so that's not critical.

KC still has Sportsters and the new Street models. They lost Vrod and Dyna, but maybe there wasn't much volume in those too?

[Ncdan]

I just helped my son get a 05 low mileage well maintained soft tail deluxe a couple weeks ago. The bike rides and runs great. Is this model much different than the new models now? I thought Kev or other Harley experience guys may offer some info on this for me.

[jas67]

Harley Davidson , the newer the uglier they get.... go figure.
seriously , they are the most horrible HD ever built.

For me the Motor co "died" in the 1998, Just my thought and  I hope they sell a lot of bikes so ppl can keep their jobs.

good luck.

But, that still make classic looking bikes, AND, the new styled ones like the Fat Bob.   Yeah, that Fat Bob isn't my think, I don't need to buy it.    The Deluxe is definitely more my style.   I think it is a good thing that the model line has some diversity that they aren't just all cookie-cutters of the same basic bike with just different sized wheels and tires, etc.    I'll bet the new styled ones sell well, because they don't look like anything Harley has been selling for the last 20 years.    For those that want the traditional style, they make those too.

[Kev m]

I just helped my son get a 05 low mileage well maintained soft tail deluxe a couple weeks ago. The bike rides and runs great. Is this model much different than the new models now? I thought Kev or other Harley experience guys may offer some info on this for me.

They're pretty different, almost as different as two Harleys with the same name could be.

His bike is the first generation TC88B motor. As such it's got the fatal flaw spring loaded timing chain tensioners that wear out prematurely and could take the whole motor with it if not caught in time. The most popular solution other than inspection and replacement (which should happen by 20k but they could last as long as 50k) is to upgrade to the new hydraulic tensioner assembly. This means new oil pump, camshafts, timing chain and tensioners.

I'm not even sure if those early TC88 motors used closed loop injection yet.

And it's the "old" Softail chassis which means it's heavier, has more limited cornering, less capable brakes, lower quality suspension etc. than this new motor and chassis. It's got the twin shocks hidden under the frame and the primary purpose of putting them there was just to hide them. The new monoshock chassis puts a much higher quality single shock at the top rear of the frame where it functions better (especially with the stiffer an lighter chassis).

If he likes it, I'd not suggest he ride a new one yet. I would not think I'm exaggerating to say the new ones are better in every way.

That said there's plenty of people who loved the old ones too and the weight and lean angle differences aren't like the difference between a Ducati and a Chopper or anything like that, it's a few pounds and a few degrees lean on each side.

So hope he enjoys!