VOL. 52 ISSUE 43 OCTOBER 27, 2015 P101
STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON ABBOTT
T
here's something about a classic
motorcycle that gets the blood
pumping. The look, the lines and
the vibe give you a window to the early
days of motorcycle manufacturing when
things were seemingly less complicated.
The 2015 Softail Slim evokes some of
those same feelings and while having
most of the modern features, the Slim
still has the look of a bobber built back
in the day.
In the looks department the low seat
position and Softail swingarm resemble
an old-school rigid, but with the benefits
of having hidden suspension and not
having to see the chiropractor as often.
The pulled back crossbar handlebars,
oversized headlight, floorboards and
chopped rear fender add to the old-
school vibe of this minimalist Harley-
Davidson Softail Slim. You could easily
take the Slim to a vintage car/bike show
and it would fit right in with its classic
bobber looks.
On the road, the Slim's suspension
performance is impressive, as it has a
super-plush feel while still maintaining a
controlled and predictable ride on most
roads. The low riding rear end works
well on smooth ground but the rear
shock didn't handle the bigger bumps
and breaks in the road as well as ex-
pected, but, overall the Slim has a solid
suspension package that ranks high on
the Harley-Davidson scale. Cornering
on the Slim is definitely one of its strong
points because of how smooth and fluid
the bike feels through the turn. It may
not be as quick to drop in as the Dyna
but the Slim has a more controlled feel
and for coming in at just over 700 lbs the
Slim has a light-on-its-toes feel.
The Harley-
Davidson Slim
combines
"modern"
technology with
nostalgic looks.
