VOL. 52 ISSUE 43 OCTOBER 27, 2015 P103
strong, torquey power delivery across the
board and paired with the six-speed Cruise
Drive transmission, the Slim rumbles down
the highway effortlessly. Whether you're on
the city streets or open highway the V-twin
103 has what it takes to satisfy all of your
needs. The chrome on the engine and
transmission pop off the black frame while
highlighting the flat paint on the tins nicely.
The heel/toe shifter is something to get
used to if you've never used one before. If
you're a rider that doesn't want to scuff up
the toe of your pretty left boot then this is
the setup for you, but for those of us who
like the feeling up putting your boot under
the shifter and grabbing gears you might
as well take the heel portion off because it
won't get used.
Riding the Softail Slim is nothing short
of an enjoyable experience. When you
combine all of the standout features like
the comfortable riding position, properly
set up suspension, strong power delivery
and killer old-school looks and the Slim
has all the makings of a great motorcycle.
I frequently ride up to Big Bear to escape
the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy
good roads with good friends. The latest
ride up to BB aboard the Softail Slim was
one of the more relaxing rides up the hill
which makes an even stronger case on
why the Slim should permanently reside in
my personal garage space. CN
S P E C I F I C A T I O N S
2015 HARLEY-DAVIDSON
SOFTAIL SLIM
ENGINE: ............. Air-Cooled, High Output
Twin Cam 103B
BORE X STROKE: ...........3.87 x 4.374 in.
COMPRESSION RATIO: ......................9.6:1
FUEL SYSTEM: ...... Electronic Sequential
Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI)
TRANSMISSION: ....6-speed Cruise Drive
Transmission
FINAL DRIVE: ..............Chain, 34/46 ratio
FRONT BRAKE: .............. Four-piston front
REAR BRAKE: .................. Two-piston rear
FRONT TIRE: ..................... MT90B16 72H
REAR TIRE: ........................MU85B16 77H
RAKE: ................................................. 32.1°
TRAIL: .............................................. 5.8 in.
SEAT HEIGHT: ............................... 28.2 in.
WHEELBASE: .................................64.4 in.
GROUND CLEARANCE: .................... 4.9 in.
WEIGHT: ....................................... 706 lbs.
FUEL CAPACITY: ........................ 5 gallons
MSRP: ..... $14,899 Vivid black, $15,299
color option, $15,649 two-tone
>>T I C K S
>>C R O S S E S
•Natural riding position
•Plush suspension
•Strong V-twin engine
•Floorboards increase
enjoyment of ride
•Minimal travel on rear shock
•Floorboards scrape easily
(Above) A standout
feature is the Slim's
suspension, which we
rate high on Harley's
suspension scale.
(Left) Even on more
open roads, the Slim's
motor is a joy. Power is
well-delivered smoothly
through its six-speed
transmission.
(Top right) We liked the
Slim's unique color and
rough-finish paint.
