2018 HARLEY-DAVIDSON SOFTAILS
FIRST TEST
P104
III SLIM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
The old-school bobber of the
Softail family. Just like back in
the 1950s (see a trend here?),
it's been stripped of all non-
essential parts and dropped
into the weeds. It's got basic
running gear in common with
the Heritage and Deluxe, but
feels so different. Brief fenders,
no central taillight, tiny seat,
blacked-out everything, and an
old-school racing handlebar; it
may have DNA in common with
the Chrome Pony, but it sure
doesn't look it.
Perhaps it's the lowered sus-
pension, but handling feels very
different from the Deluxe; more
planted, involving the rider more,
and also dragging parts more.
The suspension is stiffer, and
the seat is thinner, so long range
comfort is less of a thing, but not
jarring like on Harley's Sport-
sters. It just feels... raw.
I really like the feel of this bike,
so the only thing I'd change is
the seat. Hopefully that doesn't
lose the low-slung cool the Slim
offers, but if I want to go more
than 50 miles, it's needed.
This is easily my favorite of the
floorboard-equipped Softails,
even if the boards are half the
size of the others.
