New 2017 Softail Slim In The Garage!
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 276
Likes: 147
From: Alabama
New 2017 Softail Slim In The Garage!
My wife and I traded-in our 2015 Forty-Eight for a new 2017 Softail Slim...holy crap what a difference!
I love sportsters and always will, but that new Softail sure was nice on the ride home from the dealership. This is my first cruiser with a 6 speed transmission and at 70-80 mph on the highway it was just puttering along.
I asked them to set the preload on the rear shocks for a 350 pound load (two-up with wife and gear), but when my 300 pound football lineman friend sat on it when I rode over to his house to show it to him it sagged so much under his weight that I can't believe they adjusted the shocks. It looked like it had air suspension with no air in it. I thought on the ride home from the dealership it rode pretty damn smooth to have almost max preload with just a 170 pound rider.
I'll call them this afternoon and ask about it. I went ahead and ordered the shock adjusting wrench so I can adjust it on my own in the future. It looks pretty easy to do according to the "Fix My Hog" video I watched, just a PITA to do if the bike is on the jiffy stand and not a lift.
There is a pretty deep scratch on the fuel tank that they said they would fix.
It really shows up on the black paint when the bike is parked in the sunlight. They acted like they'll repaint it and if that does not satisfy me they'll order me a new tank under warranty since it's a brand new bike with just a few miles on the odometer.
They've treated me right in the past when my Forty-Eight had some issues so I'm sure they'll treat me right this time too.
I plan on adding a Lepera Bare Bones seat and deluxe pillion, passenger floorboards, and a Top Hand Ventures sissy bar. I'm not going to put a windshield on for the time being because I have another cruiser with a batwing fairing and satellite radio for when I don't want any wind in my face and want to hears some tunes.
Our long term plan is to keep the new Slim and my Yamaha V-Star 1300 Deluxe for a few years and then sell them both and buy a new Ultra Limited Low in 2020. Of course, by that time I might need to buy a trike.
I love sportsters and always will, but that new Softail sure was nice on the ride home from the dealership. This is my first cruiser with a 6 speed transmission and at 70-80 mph on the highway it was just puttering along.
I asked them to set the preload on the rear shocks for a 350 pound load (two-up with wife and gear), but when my 300 pound football lineman friend sat on it when I rode over to his house to show it to him it sagged so much under his weight that I can't believe they adjusted the shocks. It looked like it had air suspension with no air in it. I thought on the ride home from the dealership it rode pretty damn smooth to have almost max preload with just a 170 pound rider.
I'll call them this afternoon and ask about it. I went ahead and ordered the shock adjusting wrench so I can adjust it on my own in the future. It looks pretty easy to do according to the "Fix My Hog" video I watched, just a PITA to do if the bike is on the jiffy stand and not a lift.
There is a pretty deep scratch on the fuel tank that they said they would fix.
It really shows up on the black paint when the bike is parked in the sunlight. They acted like they'll repaint it and if that does not satisfy me they'll order me a new tank under warranty since it's a brand new bike with just a few miles on the odometer.
They've treated me right in the past when my Forty-Eight had some issues so I'm sure they'll treat me right this time too.
I plan on adding a Lepera Bare Bones seat and deluxe pillion, passenger floorboards, and a Top Hand Ventures sissy bar. I'm not going to put a windshield on for the time being because I have another cruiser with a batwing fairing and satellite radio for when I don't want any wind in my face and want to hears some tunes.
Our long term plan is to keep the new Slim and my Yamaha V-Star 1300 Deluxe for a few years and then sell them both and buy a new Ultra Limited Low in 2020. Of course, by that time I might need to buy a trike.
Last edited by Timbo64; May 3, 2017 at 05:03 AM.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 533
Likes: 57
From: Fredericksburg, VA
Congrats!
I love my '14 Slim. I know you'll love your '17!
The funny thing is, I bought my wife a 48.... Don't tell her, but I love sneaking a ride every now and then on the 48. It's a touch zippier than our Slims, and a little better clearance for the corners. But, sixth gear sure is nice!
I love my '14 Slim. I know you'll love your '17!
The funny thing is, I bought my wife a 48.... Don't tell her, but I love sneaking a ride every now and then on the 48. It's a touch zippier than our Slims, and a little better clearance for the corners. But, sixth gear sure is nice!
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 276
Likes: 147
From: Alabama
No. I'm gonna keep it stock.
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 86
Likes: 5
From: USA
Kudos on your new Slim! A great choice - maybe the best! How does the factory fuel-to-air mixture seem (does it seem a tad lean as others have reported?)? And what about engine temp? Is it running hot with the stock exhaust?
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