Forty years on the planet is a long stint for any major manufacturing company, but if you’re talking about production runs for a motorcycle platform alone, that’s a pretty rarified group. And there’s now a new addition to the likes of esteemed classics like the Royal Enfield Bullet 350 and Harley-Davidson’s Sportster, and it’s another Harley series: the Softail. Making its debut back in 1984 as the FXST Softail, the hardtail-looking model cleverly integrated a hidden rear suspension and unique swingarm design that gave its frame a clean, uncluttered profile. That first Softail would go on to become the foundation for a number of iconic factory custom models over the next four decades, so Harley’s popping a champagne cork to commemorate the milestone anniversary is totally understandable.
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To be sure, the Softail design has evolved significantly since the introduction of that early FXST, but the platform does manage to retain the same classic lines as the original. Back then, Harley engineers perfected the hidden shock concept they had acquired from independent engineer Bill Davis, and rolled it out in the first Softail model, touting the combination of clean styling, classic “hardtail” lines and the comfort and handling served up by a full rear suspension. Key to that suspension was the location of horizontal, gas-charged shock absorbers beneath the transmission, which also gave the bike a lower seating position.
Also appearing on that 1984 Softail model was the all-new Evolution V-twin powertrain, which would go on to replace the aging Shovelhead engine in the Big Twin lineup. It proved to be a winning combo at a difficult time for Harley, and would help make the brand competitive once again in the marketplace, with former Chief Styling Officer Willie Davidson himself writing, “…I realize how critical this great new engine and chassis were to our survival.”
Not only was the Softail platform good-looking and comfortable, but it was versatile, which allowed it to be used on a slew of new designs in a wide range of styles, many of them becoming bestsellers for The Motor Company.
The 1990 Fat Boy has got to be one of the most recognizable moto models in the world, to both hardcore Harley riders and streetwalking civilians alike. You can blame the fact that the 1,340cc FLSTF was the Terminator’s bike of choice in Terminator 2: Judgement Day, but the bike’s exposed engine, solid cast-aluminum wheels, and its massive chromed-out presence are several reasons it was an instant bestseller and remains in the company’s cruiser portfolio to this day.
Another classic is the 1988 Springer Softail, which, at the time, was notable for its resurrection of that awesome-looking Springer front suspension––an arrangement that lost its luster back in the 1950s once hydraulic forks made the scene. In 1998, though, this bike was considered a bold styling move. Ten years later, the 1999 Softail Deuce factory custom introduced a new “stretched” gas tank, sleek chrome fork sliders, all-new rear fender, and the new Twin-Cam 88B engine. Another decade after that, the radically vintage 2008 Cross Bones bobber also brought back a Springer front end but added wide tires on black rims, a sprung solo seat, and half-moon footboards, making for an updated twist on the genre. Alas, none of those models are still with us.
Like we said up front, the Softail design has evolved a good deal in 40 years, and the current chassis, introduced in 2018, serves as the foundation for the nine models that make up Harley’s fairly diverse 2024 cruiser lineup. These days it features a rear monoshock design, with the coilover shock absorber located below the seat to retain that “hardtail” profile, and where it’s also easy to reach for preload adjustments. All the current Softails are also powered by the latest Milwaukee-Eight V-twin engines, which are rigid-mounted and feature dual counterbalancers to eliminate primary vibration at idle. Long live the Softail.
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