A few months ahead of their 115-year anniversary, Harley-Davidson has introduced its largest development project of new motorcycles in company history.
The 2018 Softail lineup of motorcycles was unveiled on August 22, 2017. This particular line of cruisers has not been changed since 1999. A cross between street and sportster bikes, the eight 2018 models have a new fuel-injected V-twin motor and 107 or 114 cubic-inch engines.
Why the New Look for Softail?
Harley manufacturers surveyed over 3,000 riders across the country to gain their insights on cruiser motorcycles and this new line of versatile, comfortable bikes are the result of that research. The bikes have been completely redesigned with a new steel frame and dual-bending valve front suspension. The chassis weighs about 15 to 20 percent less for a more relaxed ride, depending on the swingarm design of the particular bike. Practically the only thing unchanged about the Softail bikes are their names!
“It was a massive undertaking, a complete redesign from the ground up of our cruiser portfolio,” said Paul James, product portfolio manager.
The Future of Harley-Davidson Bikes
The Milwaukee-based icon in the motorcycle industry hopes this new line of bikes will help reverse the recent decline in sales of cruiser and touring motorcycles. Expect more changes over the next 10 years, as Harley Davidson looks to attract younger generations when baby boomers start to hang up their leather jackets.
The infusion of today’s technology will certainly appeal to younger riders: LED daymaker headlamps, keyless ignition and USB charging ports to name a few modern features.
While some of the new bikes are now available for purchase at select dealerships, a full release is not set to take place until the fall. View the complete 2018 Softail lineup here.