Harley-Davidson unveils 2018 Softail models

Harley-Davidson has reinvented the Softail and unveiled its 2018 line-up including three different Milwaukee Eight engine capacities.

The Dyna family is now gone and in its place is an eight-model Softail family. The combined Softail/Dyna family have lost the Wide Glide, Low Rider S, Fat Boy Lo and Softail Slim S models.

The 2018 Softails now include LED headlights, digital instruments, hand-adjustable rear shock and a mix of Milwaukee Eight 107 and 114-cube engines.

The V-Twins have also been counter-balanced for the hard-mount fit to the frame for a smoother ride.

With a 34% stiffer frame and new Showa forks, Harley claims they are up to 17kg lighter, handle better and accelerate faster.

Earlier this year Harley CEO Matt Levatich said they would introduce 100 new models in the next 10 years, which is 10 per year.

His announcement was quickly followed by the new Road King Special and the 750 Street Rod. The eight new Softails put Harley on track for its 100-model target.

However, there are several model deletions as already mentioned, plus the V-Rod Night Rod and Muscle have now ceased production.

The new line-up marries the Dyna models with the Softail family, so the Dyna Fat Bob, Low Rider and Street Bob are now part of the Softail family.

The rest of the Softail family are the Slim, Deluxe, Breakout, Fat Boy and Heritage Classic.

2018 Harley-Davidson Softail range

• 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
• Lowest rideaway RRP in Softail range
• Priced from $23,495 AUD and $24,495 NZD rideaway.

• 2-1-2 upswept performance exhaust with a custom finish
• Largest aggressively treaded tyres from the Motor Company: 150 mm front and 180 mm 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 AUD and $28,750 NZD rideaway.

• 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
• Standard cruise control and ABS
• Priced from $31,750 AUD and $33,250 NZD rideaway.

• Signature all-LED lighting from front to back: headlight, Tombstone taillight and blade-like turn signals
• Signature pull-back handlebar
• 17kg weight reduction to previous model
• Priced from $29,495 AUD and $30,995 NZD rideaway.

• Aggressive, steamroller stance and front end design
• Modern-day interpretation of the classic headlight nacelle
• A 160mm front tyre, the widest-ever on a Harley-Davidson production model, wraps the solid Lakester front wheel
• 16kg weight reduction to previous model
• Standard ABS
• 240mm rear tyre with solid Lakester rear wheel
• Optional: Milwaukee-Eight 114 Engine
• Priced from $30,995 AUD and $32,495 rideaway.

 

• 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 AUD and $27,250 NZD rideaway.

• 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 AUD and $25,495 NZD rideaway.

• 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
• Distinctive Daymaker Signature LED headlamp
• Low-profile riser-mounted digital instrument screen
• 17kg weight reduction to previous model
• Optional: Milwaukee-Eight 114 Engine
• Priced from $31,250 AUD and $32,750 NZD rideaway.

Aquaman among gifted celebs

Before the launch of the new Softails, Harley sent models to various celebrities around the world including rappers, singers, actors and sport stars.

The bikes were inside large bklack boxes with “FreedomMachine on the side, prompting an explosion of celebrity Instagram posts.

One of the recipients was Aquaman star Jason Momoa who is currently filming on the Gold Coast.

Three Milwaukee Eight engines

The Softails get the 107 (1746cc) engine from the Touring range with 92.5hp (69kW) at 5000rpm, compared with the previous 103m (1688cc) Twin Cam’s EPA-rated 80.5hp (60kW) at 4000rpm.

The Fat Bob, Fat Boy, Breakout and Heritage Classic also come with a choice of the 2017 CVO 114-cube 1868cc engine rated at 100.6hp (75kW) at 5000rpm compared with the current 1802cc engine’s 87.2hp (65kW) at 4000rpm.

Now the CVO range gets a 117 (1923cc) engine pumping out 105bhp (78.3kW).

Also, to celebrate Harley’s 115th anniversary in 2018, there will be a range of limited-edition anniversary models across most families.

Anniversary models include the CVO Ultra Limited, Tri Glide Ultra, Street Glide, Street Glide Special, Ultra Limited, Breakout, Fat Boy, Heritage Classic and Sportster Forty-Eight.

For the first time, Harley-Davidson Australia can offer their trikes thanks to finally overcoming ADR roadblocks.

Harley-Davidson 2018 full price list

Harley-Davidson Australia has increased prices between $500 and $2000 for the extra oomph of the new 107 Milwaukee Eight engine in the new Softail family.

Meanwhile, the price for the learner-approved Street 500 has actually gone down from $11,495 to under $10,000 where it started a couple of years ago.

Prices have remained the same for most of the Sportster range.

Models arrive in October.

Motorbike Writer is flying to LA next week to ride the new Softail family. Stay tuned for full reviews.

(Prices listed below are followed by the 2017 prices only where they differ.)

STREET

XG500	Street® 500	$9995 (was $11.495)
XG750A	Street Rod™	$12,995

SPORTSER

XL 883N	Iron 883™	$15,495
XL 883L	SuperLow®	$15,495
XL 1200X	Forty-Eight®	$18,995
XL 1200X_ANX	Forty-Eight® Anniversary	$19,250
XL 1200C	1200 Custom	$19,250 ($18,750)
XL 1200CX	Roadster™	$19,495

SOFTAIL

FXBB	Street Bob® (107)	$23,495 ($22,495)
FXLR	Low Rider® (107)	$24,250 ($23,495)
FLSL	Slim® (107)	$26,250 ($25,495)
FXFB	Fat Bob® (107)	$27,495 ($25,495)
FXFBS	Fat Bob® (114)	$30,250
FLDE	Deluxe (107)	$29,495 ($28,995)
FLFB	Fat Boy® (107)	$30,995 ($29,250)
FLFBS	Fat Boy® (114)	$33,995 ($31,750)
FLFBS_ANV	Fat Boy® Anniversary (114)	$34,750
FLFBS_ANX	Fat Boy® Anniversary (114)	$34,750
FXBR	Breakout® (107)	$31,250 ($29,750)
FXBRS	Breakout® (114)	$33,995
FXBRS_ANX	Breakout® Anniversary (114)	$34,495
FLHC	Heritage Classic® (107)	$31,750 ($30,250)
FLHCS	Heritage Classic® (114)	$33,995
FLHCS_ANV	Heritage Classic® Anniversary (114)	$34,750

TOURING

FLHR	Road King® (107)	$34,250 ($33,995)
FLHRXS	Road King® Special (107)	$35,250 ($34,995)
FLTRX	Road Glide® (107)	$36,495
FLTRXS	Road Glide® Special (107)	$37,495 ($36,495)
FLHX	Street Glide® (107)	$36,495
FLHX_ANV	Street Glide® Anniversary (107)	$36,995
FLHXS	Street Glide® Special (107)	$37,495 ($36,750)
FLHXS_ANX	Street Glide® Special Anniversary (107)	$37,995
FLHTK	Ultra Limited (107)	$39,995
FLHTK_ANV	Ultra Limited Anniversary (107)	$40,495

TRIKE

FLRT	Freewheeler® (107)	$40,250
FLHTCUTG	Tri Glide® Ultra (107)	$50,995
FLHTCUTG_ANV	Tri Glide® Ultra Anniversary (107)	$52,250

CVO

FLHXSE	CVO™ Street Glide® (117)	$49,750 ($48,995)
FLTRXSE	CVO™ Road Glide® (117)	$49,995
FLHTKSE	CVO™ Ultra Limited (117)	$52,995 ($52,495)
FLHTKSE_ANV	CVO™ Ultra Limited Anniversary (117)	$53,995