Softail Models Standard, Custom, Night Train, Deuce, Springer, Heritage, Fatboy, Deluxe, Rocker and Cross Bones.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

2018 softtails

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 27, 2017 | 10:30 PM
  #51  
DanBO18's Avatar
DanBO18
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 314
Likes: 130
From: US
Default

Originally Posted by TORQUEY
They're absolutely correct!! These new Softails are so absolutely hideous it's like staring at the Medusa head. They handle so poorly, are so under powered, and have such terrible suspensions that just today I rode home with one! And as far as downright scary ugly is concerned, I just started this thread:

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/gener...gly-bikes.html


Damn that’s a nice ugly-*** new bike! Congrats!
 
Reply
Old Oct 28, 2017 | 07:11 AM
  #52  
TORQUEY's Avatar
TORQUEY
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,173
Likes: 177
From: East Coast
Default

^^^ I thought so too, Dan! Thank you. ^^^
 
Reply
Old Oct 28, 2017 | 08:32 AM
  #53  
bbissell's Avatar
bbissell
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 851
Likes: 129
From: AZ
Default

Originally Posted by TORQUEY
^^^ I thought so too, Dan! Thank you. ^^^
So what's first on the list?
 
Reply
Old Oct 28, 2017 | 08:59 AM
  #54  
MrNovember80's Avatar
MrNovember80
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 115
Likes: 35
From: Rochester, New York
Default

Originally Posted by bbissell
So what's first on the list?
Maybe get rid of them hideous wheels followed by that "futuristic" "metric looking" headlight.
 
Reply
Old Oct 28, 2017 | 09:09 AM
  #55  
LXT's Avatar
LXT
Road Warrior
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,256
Likes: 620
From: Pittsburgh suburb
Default

Originally Posted by badcooky
I got no idea butt you seem to know all about it ha ha !
Your just not worth it....!

Originally Posted by Thingfish
You're right it's early to tell how these Softails will shake out and age. The frame unification move had a lot to do with cost reduction and whether HD found a sweet spot of making something cheaper AND better will have to play out further. Obviously many are liking the early experience and I hope the tweaks that come later are more about looks than any fatal design flaw to the motor or frame. The motor remains my single favorite thing about the new bike, followed by the handling/suspension. Even the '17 M8s have many high mile units doing fine so fingers crossed for most of us. The early Twin Cams were all supposed to be time bombs too, but most are still on the road either because nothing went wrong or the weakness was identified and monitored/replaced avoiding catastrophe. Normally I wait until things shake out, but timing said "jump" so I did. I'm watching closely and so far I feel good about it but miles will tell. I'll always prefer my Evo to the Twin cam even though the TC has many improvements, and maybe you'll always prefer the Twin cam to the M8. The Twin Cams certainly nailed the look better than the Evo or M8 imo, but I still think they look great...plus mods mods mods. There's a lot of enthusiasm right now and maybe it's more than normal because the changes are such a fresh slate it breaks the mold and adds new possibilites.

Anyway, enjoy your day off today you lucky SOB! Hope you get a ride in.
Thanks Thingfish & I didn't get a ride in (Dam it) spent the day at the Toyota dealership finalizing a new truck order & then momma pulls the trigger on a new SUV.

Thingfish - you are alright brother - very level headed in your posts & understanding, I think it would be a pleasure to ride along side you, HD will work through any problems & maybe they already have on this new line up. I hope they do. my issue as you know is not mechanical - although others have that problem.

I like the bikes - the colors are so-so, black is very sharp & always was, I've got just 2 issues & I am pretty sure those will be sorted out & when they are _ ill probably add one to the stable. Ride safe!!!!!
 
Reply
Old Oct 28, 2017 | 09:37 AM
  #56  
Thingfish's Avatar
Thingfish
Grand HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,584
Likes: 918
From: coast to coast
Default

LXT I appreciate the kind words. If you ever hit the west coast send me a PM and we'll deffinately hit some roads! I'll do likewise if I ever get back east. At least Harleys are fun problems to have. Enjoy that new SUV too! At least Toyota dealers seem to have their crap together. Guess it's easy when you sell something that well made. We had a diesel Ford Excursion for 600,000 miles which I'll always miss, but the Tacoma that replaced it has been a dream. I'm on 2 wheels 99% of the time but the wife puts it through the wringer.

Speaking of 2 wheels, I'm picking up the Heritage after having the dealer drop in the stage 2 torque cam. I'm either going to love this thing until I ruin it or I'll be a happy camper. It's still early weekend so hope you squeeze in some ride time too. Peace brother.
 
Reply
Old Oct 28, 2017 | 10:42 AM
  #57  
Another Old Timer's Avatar
Another Old Timer
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 467
Likes: 154
From: New Mexico
Default

Thingfish, really looking forward to hear a good ride report on your 114 Heritage after you get it back.


Enjoying the heck out of my 114 Heritage and toying with going the same route that you are doing. The mileage this bike is getting is amazing, a lot better than my RK was.
 
Reply
Old Oct 28, 2017 | 01:42 PM
  #58  
kenny55's Avatar
kenny55
Tourer
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 331
Likes: 102
From: Southern Ohio
Default

Originally Posted by TORQUEY
They're absolutely correct!! These new Softails are so absolutely hideous it's like staring at the Medusa head. They handle so poorly, are so under powered, and have such terrible suspensions that just today I rode home with one! And as far as downright scary ugly is concerned, I just started this thread:

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/gener...gly-bikes.html


While I believe my 2018 Heritage is pretty ugly, I must say that your Fat Boy is about THEE ugliest Softail I've yet too see. I guess I have some uglifying to do to catch up and I will provide some pics along the way. That paint job you got is truly disgustingly ugly, and thank you again for lowering the bar for us all. Deeply inspired now!

Congrats btw!
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Oct 28, 2017 | 01:58 PM
  #59  
kb_jag's Avatar
kb_jag
Tourer
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 415
Likes: 149
From: new zealand
Default watching

Originally Posted by Another Old Timer
Thingfish, really looking forward to hear a good ride report on your 114 Heritage after you get it back.


Enjoying the heck out of my 114 Heritage and toying with going the same route that you are doing. The mileage this bike is getting is amazing, a lot better than my RK was.

I've been watching the above 3 posters with thier new rides. Great Blokes, Great objective reviews from long time rides. Just good bastards! If the ones in the east head west to see Fish, Grab Thingfish ,Grab your bikes, grab a plane , and keep heading southwest till you hit a small island in south pacific called New Zealand! Drinks on me ! Be an honor to ride NZ's finest roads with these scholarly sort. Thanks for the updates fellas. Fish, let's hear about this stage II eh
 
Reply
Old Oct 28, 2017 | 02:20 PM
  #60  
LXT's Avatar
LXT
Road Warrior
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,256
Likes: 620
From: Pittsburgh suburb
Default

Originally Posted by kb_jag
I've been watching the above 3 posters with thier new rides. Great Blokes, Great objective reviews from long time rides. Just good bastards! If the ones in the east head west to see Fish, Grab Thingfish ,Grab your bikes, grab a plane , and keep heading southwest till you hit a small island in south pacific called New Zealand! Drinks on me ! Be an honor to ride NZ's finest roads with these scholarly sort. Thanks for the updates fellas. Fish, let's hear about this stage II eh
I'm not on a new bike but man that would be a road trip of all road trips! cmon powerball!!!
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:43 PM.

story-0
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-2
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-3
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-4
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-5
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-8
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE
story-9
The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025

Slideshow: A clear-eyed look at what actually worked for Harley this year, and what quietly undermined its progress.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-29 17:10:48


VIEW MORE