Is it true that there are two different frames in the current softail lineup? I read somewhere that some of the softails have a different frame to fit wider tires. I may buy a softail for my first harley, and I am trying to figure out which frame would be best in case I ever wanted to mod it in the future. I was looking at the Softail Standard, but maybe the frame on the Low Rider S would allow more tire options.

 

the only difference concerns the swingarm which is wider on the Breakout and the Fat Boy with the 240 tire at the rear, all other models have the narrow swingarm, otherwise the frame is the same on all models, just the steering columns more or less inclined depending on the model...

 

In addition to what BigAl59 said the only other difference in the rear is the fender width, that's why a Standard (bike that I have now) has a narrower tyre (150) compared i.e. with a Low Rider S (my previous bike) that has a 180 tyre and wider fender, but the two frames and swing arms are the same.

 

yes just the fender struts which are wider...

 

Is the extra rake on a Breakout compared to a Fatboy the frame or the triple tree?

 

It's the steering head castings, different castings for different rake angles.

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If the steering head is different (frame rake) then the frame is different. It looks like there is 2-3 different softail frames. There is 28 degree (Low Rider series), 30 degree (Street Bob and Fatboy) and 34 degree (Breakout).

It's possible the Low Rider and Street Bob/Standard rake difference is in the trees, not sure.

Zach

 

you're right,..
I said the frame was the same across the entire Softail line, because the shape is the same, only the swingarm and rake are different, so there are really 3 frames...

 

One frame, three different rake steering head castings. You have to look at it from a manufacturers point of view, casting three different steering heads is a damn sight cheaper than manufacturing three different frames.

 

what is a steering head?