American Motorcycle Dealer AMD 219 October 2017 | Page 8

designs that strongly differentiate them
from their predecessors and each
other,” stating that the “new base of
style, comfort and performance [of the]
next generation of factory custom
cruisers are ready for riders to take them
even higher with their own
personalization,” which sounds like a
tacit admission that they know they
could and should have done better.
“The authenticity of Harley-Davidson
design comes by sweating the details
from start to finish, ‘hard to do and hard
to copy.’ Harley-Davidson motorcycles
are not a commodity; they are handed
down from generation to generation,”
said Brad Richards, Vice President of
Styling and Design, Harley-Davidson.
“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.”
HERITAGE CLASSIC
“Design cues evoke the blacked-out styling of vintage ‘50s Harley-Davidson
models updated with a modern edge.”
• new detachable windscreen
• new rigid, lockable, sealed, water-resistant saddlebags
• taller suspension with increased passenger and cargo capacity
• 32-pound weight reduction
• ABS as standard
• Cruise control as standard
• 114” M-8 option
LOW RIDER
“Inspired by the individualism of the ‘70s custom chopper era that birthed
the original, the new Low Rider model is lighter and faster with corner-
carving handling unimaginable back in the day.”
• Throwback-style dual tank-mount
speedo and tach gauges, headlight
visor and fuel tank graphics
• 19-inch front and 16-inch rear
‘Radiate’ cast wheels
• 2-into-2 Shotgun exhaust
SOFTAIL SLIM
“Stripped to its essential elements, the Softail Slim model pays homage to post-war
custom bobbers with a narrow rear end, trimmed front fender, solo seat and minimal
chrome.”
• 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”
• 35-pound weight reduction
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AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE DEALER - OCTOBER 2017
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