2018 HARLEY-DAVIDSON SOFTAILS
FIRST TEST
P102
III HERITAGE CLASSIC IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Introduced in 1988 ('86 for the base Heritage
Softail), the Heritage Classic soldiers on as the
oldest model in H-D's Softail line. Now on its third
frame and engine set, the Classic still has roughly
the same profile it cut three decades ago. With a
removable windshield and bags, it's also the only
Softail that passes for a light touring rig. It was also
the first with a 114 engine that I had a chance to try.
Also available on Fat Boy, Breakout and Fat Bob,
the 114-inch Milwaukee-Eight is a $1300 upgrade
that improves power across the board. It doesn't
change power characteristics much, it just gives a
bit of a boost across the board. The larger mo-
tor gets along with its transmission just as well as
the smaller unit does, positively shifting, with light
clutch effort.
Aesthetically and functionally, the Heritage
harkens back to Harley's early tourers of the 1950s
and 60s. Sure, the current Softail package is
worlds ahead of the bikes of over half a century
ago, but it shares their bare-bones approach:
bags, floorboards and a windshield. In some ways,
the old ways were better; the mostly plastic saddle-
bags feel flimsy and have a learning curve to get
them to close every time. Perhaps as a counter-
point to its shiny functional twin (the Deluxe), the
Heritage features finishes in black and matte and
low polish. The functional handlebar clamp and cat
eye dash recall the 1950s FL model.
Along with the others with a 16-inch front wheel
(Deluxe and Fat Boy) and normal-sized rubber out
back, the Heritage has very light steering, almost
to the point of being unsettled (at least compared
to the other Softails). Braking is as good as the
other single-disk equipped models. I never got re-
ally comfortable riding at a brisk pace. But maybe
"sedate" is the Heritage Classic's key word, both in
looks and appeal.
As most bikes with floorboards fit a range of
riders well, so did the Heritage. I prefer the flatter
bars of its Deluxe cousin though.
