2018 HARLEY-DAVIDSON SOFTAILS
FIRST TEST
P98
III LOW RIDER IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Harley's other sub-$15k model is
the one designed for the smaller
rider. Like the Street Bob, it sports
a 19-inch front wheel, straddling
the line between the 21 of a cus-
tom machine and the 16 of a clas-
sic. In many ways they are similar,
this one appealing to smaller rid-
ers or those who like bright colors
and lots of chrome, while the 'Bob
is blacked out and stretched out.
Trading badassery for beauty,
on the Low Rider, H-D's design-
ers didn't feel the need for a thin,
unsupportive seat. Also, instead
of the small, unadorned 3.5-gal-
lon tank, the Low Rider gets the
larger five-gallon classic-style
unit, with a generous gauge set
atop it. Though none of these
motorcycles has a dedicated
tachometer, they all have the op-
tion of switching the LCD display
to tach along with dual tripmeters
and range.
Side note, this bike (along with
it's Street Bob twin) are the first
time H-D has put a 19-inch front
wheel on a Softail, or had mid-
mount controls, or (in the case of
this machine specifically) had a
Sportster-style "eyebrow" head-
light mount. In other words, they
were trying really hard to preserve
the Low Rider's Dyna and FXR
heritage.
The reason I've rattled on so
long about how it compares to the
Street Bob, is that it's function-
ally the same motorcycle. Same
wheels, engine, brakes and steer-
ing geometry. The wider bars give
the front end a different feel, but
it's the same bike.
Harley calls this one of their
two Big Twin entry-level models,
but I'm not sure it's an entry, but
rather a destination. It is bound
to attract the gaze of small riders
looking for more than a Sportster
or Street. I'm not sure those rid-
ers will be looking at much past
this, however. Maybe the new
Heritage if they're looking for a
touring bike. For people attracted
to the Low Rider's 80s aesthetic,
it's also the only one that rocks it
New Wave style in this lineup.
For me? I prefer the last ver-
