™
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NOW IN OU
26 EA t R h
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T H E # 1 B U S I N E S S M A G A Z I N E F O R T H E A M E R I C A N V- T W I N A N D C U S T O M M O T O R C Y C L E PA R T S I N D U S T RY
Harley launches eight new Softails, additional
CVOs and Tourers, 115th anniversary specials
and drops the Dyna and V-Rod lines
escribed as a “Custom
Revolution”, the 2018
‘Gang of Eight’ Softails
are no longer soft,
featuring a stiffer, rigid mount
chassis, refined standard fit 107”
M-8 with a “dual, internally
counter-balanced system” that is
said to reduce engine vibration
(and produce less intake and
mechanical noise), a transition to
Dyna style single monoshock
rear suspension and the Showa
cartridge style SDBV (Dual
Bending Valve) technology in the
front suspension, as seen in the
2017 Tourers.
Described as merging “the hard riding
performance of the Dyna line with the
unparalleled custom look of the Softail
line,” Harley claims the new Softails
have been “designed under the largest
product development project in
company history.”
“The new Softail models are the result
of the most extensive research and
development program in the
company’s history,” said Paul James,
Manager of Product Portfolio, Harley-
Davidson. “Thousands of hours of
research and testing were put into the
D
RMOT
TE
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 be
believed.”
There’s no question that a redesigned
swingarm and lighter, stiffer rigid
mount frame (said to be 65 percent
stiffer than the 2017 Softail frame, for
lighter,
stiffer rigid mount
frame
a 34 increase in overall chassis
stiffness) with a 22 percent reduction
in the number of welds and 50 percent
reduction in component parts is a much
needed nod to the increased power of
the M-8 and contemporary riding and
ownership expectations.
Harley says it delivers “increased lean
angles, sharper turn-in response,
quicker acceleration, nimble flick-
ability, lighter weight, and easier side
stand lift-off,” which are improvements
‘Road Fever’
over previous Softail (and Dyna)
models.
In fact, there are two swingarms, one
for narrow and one for wide rear tires.
The wide chassis is 15 percent lighter
(13 pounds) and the narrow chassis is
20 percent (18 pounds) lighter than
the 2017 Softail frame – “the
swingarm transfers rear wheel
movement to the under-seat
monoshock while maintaining the
pure, classic lines of a hard tail frame.”
The all-new front and rear suspension
components are said to be calibrated
to “match the dynamics of the new
chassis, wheels and tires to enhance
the comfort, control and performance
of the 2018 Softail motorcycles. The
new high-performance dual-bending
valve front suspension delivers
damping performance that is similar to
a cartridge fork but with improved,
more responsive damping
characteristics. The suspension is
optimized for both comfortable
cruising and spirited riding with 130
mm of bump-devouring travel.
Retuned and optimized rake and trail
also enhance the motorcycles’
handling performance.
Continues on page 6 >>>
This is 'Road Fever',
former AMD World
Champion Don Cronin's
'Street Performance' class
winner at last year's
'AMD' at ‘INTERMOT
Customized’, Cologne -
see pages 32/33
OCT 2017
ISSUE #219
MADISON 2017
PAGES 19 - 31
HARLEY 2018,
PAGES 6-11
INDIAN CELEBRATES
BURT MUNRO’S
LEGACY AT
BONNEVILLE