bit of a boost across the board. The larger
motor 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 ap-
proach: bags, floorboards and a wind-
shield. In some ways, the old ways were
better; the mostly plastic saddlebags
feel flimsy and have a learning curve to
get them to close every time. Perhaps
as a counterpoint 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
2018 HARLEY-DAVIDSON SOFTAILS First Test
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