Harley Davidson introduces 2 new softails

On 28^th February, 2018, New Delhi: On the special occasion of celebrating 115^th anniversary of year of the leading brand in cruiser bikes Harley Davidson is introducing two new bikes for the enthusiasts, called Low Rider and Deluxe added in addition to the four MY18 Softail models reveiled in last year October.

At the launch event, Peter MacKenzie, Managing Director, Harley-Davidson^® India and China said, “The Indian market has evolved and customers look forward to innovation in technology and comfort. This is evident from the growth in the leisure riding segment for premium motorcycles. We have received an excellent response to the MY18 Softail^® lineup so far and we are excited to introduce these two new models that demonstrate our focus on reinventing products for motorcycle enthusiasts and aspiring riders in the country.”

Harley-Davidson^® India also announced a price revision for their popular Touring and CVO lineup. Road King^® that was previously priced at INR 2,837,000 will now be available for INR 2,499,000, while Street Glide^® Special that was priced at INR 3,350,000 will now be available for INR 2,999,000. Likewise, the new price for Road Glide^® Special is INR 3,299,000 against the old price INR 3,561,000 and CVO^TM Limited is now available at INR 4,999,000 against the old price INR 5,372,000.

The Fat Boy^® Anniversary edition will also be available across stores at INR 1,979,000.

NEW CHASSIS, Frame / swingarm & HIGH-PERFORMANCE SUSPENSION

The handling of a Softail^® now enters a new era with a lighter, more rigid frame that elevates form and function to a higher plane, while maintaining the classic look of a hardtail and delivering a thoroughly modern ride. Benefits of the new chassis include increased lean angles for many models, sharper turn-in response, quicker acceleration, nimble flickability, lighter weight and easier side-stand lift off than previous models.

A new high stiffness carbon steel tubular frame forms the core of the 2018 Softail^® chassis and combined with the swingarm significantly increases the rigidity of the chassis. The frame itself is 65% stiffer than the outgoing Softail^® design, which leads to a 34% increase in overall chassis stiffness. Its design also achieves reduced complexity with a 50% reduction in component parts and 22% reduction in welds.

There are two unique swingarms, one for narrow and one for wide rear tires. The wide chassis is 5.89kg (15%) lighter, while the narrow chassis shaves 8.16kg (20%). The swingarm transfers rear wheel movement to the under-seat monoshock while maintaining the pure, classic lines of a hardtail frame.

Brand new high-performance dual-bending valve front suspension – first introduced on 2017 Touring models – delivers damping performance that’s similar to a cartridge fork but with improved, more responsive damping characteristics. It’s optimised for both comfortable cruising and spirited riding with 130mm of travel. Revised rake and trail also enhance handling ability.

The new monoshock rear suspension preserves the classic hardtail look while revamped geometry improves ride quality, traction and control. Easily adjustable for spring preload it enables a 217kg range of payload capacity for increased passenger comfort and optimum handling.

The models are up to 17kg lighter than before, delivering an improved power-to-weight ratio that provides quicker acceleration, better braking and dynamic cornering capability combined with increased lean angles for many models. Some models feature new tires specifically designed to work with the new Softail^® chassis and feature optimised constructions and improved compounds for confident, long-wearing performance in all riding conditions. New seat designs and materials provide an improved fit for a wider range of riders and greater comfort for cruising.

NEW POWERTRAIN

All 2018 Softail^® models get a new heartbeat from the most powerful engines ever offered in Harley-Davidson^® Big Twin cruisers, the new Milwaukee-Eight™ 107 V-Twin. Milwaukee-Eight engines retain the iconic 45-degree V-Twin cylinder angle with a broad-shouldered top end accentuated by a single camshaft design that tapers to a slim bottom end for a muscular contour.

The new Softail^® frame’s rigid mounting points are engineered to tightly package the engine and reinforce chassis stiffness. Milwaukee-Eight engines for Softail^® models also feature a refined, dual internally counter-balanced system that reduces engine vibration while maintaining the familiar Harley-Davidson^® feel.

Milwaukee-Eight™107

• in./1745cc) Standard on all models

100 mm bore and 111.1 mm stroke, with 10.0:1 compression ratio

0-60 mph – 10% quicker acceleration than the High Output Twin Cam 103

60-80 mph/5th gear – 16% faster acceleration than the High Output Twin Cam 103

2 NEW SOFTAIL^® MODELS & THEIR KEY FEATURES

Low Rider^®

Inspired by the individualism of the ‘70s custom chopper era that birthed the original, the new Low Rider model is lighter and faster with corner-carving handling unimaginable back in the day.

• Throwback-style dual tank mount speedo and tach gauges, headlight visor and fuel tank graphics
• 19-inch front and 16-inch rear Radiate cast wheels
• 2-into-2 Shotgun exhaust
• Standard ABS