new Softail- the "Blackline"
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 932
Likes: 2
From: Pacific NorthWest Territory
I'm planning on getting one.
My original plan was to get an old Night Train and do the Exile cycle treatment on it. But people want too much for their used bikes.
My current plan is to move the rear rim to the front and put a wider rim on the rear to support a 200 tire. Probably getting the ABS, so can't just replace the whole wheels.
Already planned on replacing the rear fender and support.
That'll be a good start to getting rid of the chrome ...
My original plan was to get an old Night Train and do the Exile cycle treatment on it. But people want too much for their used bikes.
My current plan is to move the rear rim to the front and put a wider rim on the rear to support a 200 tire. Probably getting the ABS, so can't just replace the whole wheels.
Already planned on replacing the rear fender and support.
That'll be a good start to getting rid of the chrome ...
Advanced
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: Herndon, VA
Interesting thread. While I'm not young (42), I think I'm in the target group HD is aiming at with the Blackline. I just started riding 2 years ago and have a blacked out 2008 Sporty. Once I get back to the U.S. from Korea next year, my plan is to upgrade. I suspect this all sounds familiar to many of you.
I've been set in my mind to upgrade to a 2011 Wide Glide, but recently I was thinking to myself, wouldn't it be cool if there was a Wide Glide with a softail suspension? So last weekend I went onto the Harley web site and discovered the Blackline. As many have already said, it looks like a Softail Wide Glide.
My main reasons for wanting to upgrade are for a bigger motor to go 2 up, a little longer bike (I'm 6'0") for my legs, and bigger fuel tank (fewer fill-ups when riding on the weekends). So my options are either to get a touring bike (in addition to the Sporty), or replace the Sporty with either a WG or BL (those are the only two bikes in the Dyna and Softail family I like enough to actually buy).
Anyway, while I'm not crazy about the paint scheme on the tank, I think the Blackline is the bike I want, and it's only about $1k more than the WG. I definitely would change the handlebars and exhaust. In fact, I would just transfer my 14" black Carlini Evil Apes from my Sporty (assuming I can just buy a set of risers since the stock bars and speedo are bolted to the triple tree). And I'd probably have the tank painted eventually - the jury is still out on the stock paint scheme.
One thing I've learned with my Sporty is that bikes are platforms because everyone customizes them once they get them. I don't like the BL in it's stock configuration, but I think with a few mods, it will look pretty bad ***. Hell, I've managed to make my Sporty look somewhat bad ***, so I definitely think it can be done with the BL. I also like the BL speedo (I've never liked the look of tank mounted speedos) and black triple trees/black lower forks. And I don't think I mind the rocker covers not being powder coated black because the ones on my Sporty are powder coated black and are a pain in the *** to clean when oil seeps through onto them.
I think what it will come down to for me is how the WG and BL feel for me. Frankly, I don't want a big bike, so if they handle similar to my Sporty, that is huge a plus for me. Hopefully I get a chance to test ride them both when I get back.
Sorry for the rambling - just thought I'd add my 2 cents from the perspective of a newbie.
I've been set in my mind to upgrade to a 2011 Wide Glide, but recently I was thinking to myself, wouldn't it be cool if there was a Wide Glide with a softail suspension? So last weekend I went onto the Harley web site and discovered the Blackline. As many have already said, it looks like a Softail Wide Glide.
My main reasons for wanting to upgrade are for a bigger motor to go 2 up, a little longer bike (I'm 6'0") for my legs, and bigger fuel tank (fewer fill-ups when riding on the weekends). So my options are either to get a touring bike (in addition to the Sporty), or replace the Sporty with either a WG or BL (those are the only two bikes in the Dyna and Softail family I like enough to actually buy).
Anyway, while I'm not crazy about the paint scheme on the tank, I think the Blackline is the bike I want, and it's only about $1k more than the WG. I definitely would change the handlebars and exhaust. In fact, I would just transfer my 14" black Carlini Evil Apes from my Sporty (assuming I can just buy a set of risers since the stock bars and speedo are bolted to the triple tree). And I'd probably have the tank painted eventually - the jury is still out on the stock paint scheme.
One thing I've learned with my Sporty is that bikes are platforms because everyone customizes them once they get them. I don't like the BL in it's stock configuration, but I think with a few mods, it will look pretty bad ***. Hell, I've managed to make my Sporty look somewhat bad ***, so I definitely think it can be done with the BL. I also like the BL speedo (I've never liked the look of tank mounted speedos) and black triple trees/black lower forks. And I don't think I mind the rocker covers not being powder coated black because the ones on my Sporty are powder coated black and are a pain in the *** to clean when oil seeps through onto them.
I think what it will come down to for me is how the WG and BL feel for me. Frankly, I don't want a big bike, so if they handle similar to my Sporty, that is huge a plus for me. Hopefully I get a chance to test ride them both when I get back.
Sorry for the rambling - just thought I'd add my 2 cents from the perspective of a newbie.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,818
Likes: 2
From: Twin Cities
for those that think its just a bunch of stock parts bolted together your wrong
it may look like that but in person, the trees are something i haven't seen before and the tank is different....only one side of the tank has a fuel cap the other is just tank not fuel gauge...you can see the backbone between the tank and seat.....i didnt like it till i saw it in person....i dig it, its just over priced is all....its like a sporty 48 but its the big twin
it may look like that but in person, the trees are something i haven't seen before and the tank is different....only one side of the tank has a fuel cap the other is just tank not fuel gauge...you can see the backbone between the tank and seat.....i didnt like it till i saw it in person....i dig it, its just over priced is all....its like a sporty 48 but its the big twin
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 667
Likes: 0
From:
Saw the Blackline online and in my HOG magazine , thought it looked interesting until I saw it in person at my local dealer on Sunday . Changed my mind real quick , not sure why ? Guys that are saying it is a bunch of left over parts thrown together may be right , I only looked at it for a minute at most .
Some say this is a natural move up from a 48 , Nightster or a Iron , I don't think so , I just about drool over the looks of the Dark Sportsters , the Blackline brings up a different responce , think I'll keep my Deuce !
Some say this is a natural move up from a 48 , Nightster or a Iron , I don't think so , I just about drool over the looks of the Dark Sportsters , the Blackline brings up a different responce , think I'll keep my Deuce !
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Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 672
Likes: 3
From: Swamp in Louisiana
Everyone's taste is different. I think Willie G. and the designers have done an excellent job of literally saving the company. I like that new bike. Face it, the fat tire silliness is as dead as OCC. I watched super long front ends come and go in the seventies. The fat tire is going the same way. Clean, simple, minimalist bikes are in. Bikes that are about riding for fun are in vogue now, not overly blinged out bikes for posers to sit and stare at. Black is the new chrome. Harley introduced their own Fat tire bikes at the end of that fad. If I were firing anybody in the design dept it would be those responsible for that Rocker. The lines just don't flow and the seat is ridiculous. The Crossbones just doesn't make it for me either. The old Softail was a winner from '84 on in it's various forms, Custom, Standard, Duece and Nightrain. The Heritage, Fat Boy, Deluxe format was another winner. They are practical rides with nostalgic styling. There was a thread recently about guys prefering the earlier Fat Boys to the 200 tire late models. That new bike looks like the right direction to go with the evolution of the original Softail.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,796
Likes: 36
From: Toronto, Ontario
Interesting thread. While I'm not young (42), I think I'm in the target group HD is aiming at with the Blackline. I just started riding 2 years ago and have a blacked out 2008 Sporty. Once I get back to the U.S. from Korea next year, my plan is to upgrade. I suspect this all sounds familiar to many of you.
I've been set in my mind to upgrade to a 2011 Wide Glide, but recently I was thinking to myself, wouldn't it be cool if there was a Wide Glide with a softail suspension? So last weekend I went onto the Harley web site and discovered the Blackline. As many have already said, it looks like a Softail Wide Glide.
My main reasons for wanting to upgrade are for a bigger motor to go 2 up, a little longer bike (I'm 6'0") for my legs, and bigger fuel tank (fewer fill-ups when riding on the weekends). So my options are either to get a touring bike (in addition to the Sporty), or replace the Sporty with either a WG or BL (those are the only two bikes in the Dyna and Softail family I like enough to actually buy).
Anyway, while I'm not crazy about the paint scheme on the tank, I think the Blackline is the bike I want, and it's only about $1k more than the WG. I definitely would change the handlebars and exhaust. In fact, I would just transfer my 14" black Carlini Evil Apes from my Sporty (assuming I can just buy a set of risers since the stock bars and speedo are bolted to the triple tree). And I'd probably have the tank painted eventually - the jury is still out on the stock paint scheme.
One thing I've learned with my Sporty is that bikes are platforms because everyone customizes them once they get them. I don't like the BL in it's stock configuration, but I think with a few mods, it will look pretty bad ***. Hell, I've managed to make my Sporty look somewhat bad ***, so I definitely think it can be done with the BL. I also like the BL speedo (I've never liked the look of tank mounted speedos) and black triple trees/black lower forks. And I don't think I mind the rocker covers not being powder coated black because the ones on my Sporty are powder coated black and are a pain in the *** to clean when oil seeps through onto them.
I think what it will come down to for me is how the WG and BL feel for me. Frankly, I don't want a big bike, so if they handle similar to my Sporty, that is huge a plus for me. Hopefully I get a chance to test ride them both when I get back.
Sorry for the rambling - just thought I'd add my 2 cents from the perspective of a newbie.
I've been set in my mind to upgrade to a 2011 Wide Glide, but recently I was thinking to myself, wouldn't it be cool if there was a Wide Glide with a softail suspension? So last weekend I went onto the Harley web site and discovered the Blackline. As many have already said, it looks like a Softail Wide Glide.
My main reasons for wanting to upgrade are for a bigger motor to go 2 up, a little longer bike (I'm 6'0") for my legs, and bigger fuel tank (fewer fill-ups when riding on the weekends). So my options are either to get a touring bike (in addition to the Sporty), or replace the Sporty with either a WG or BL (those are the only two bikes in the Dyna and Softail family I like enough to actually buy).
Anyway, while I'm not crazy about the paint scheme on the tank, I think the Blackline is the bike I want, and it's only about $1k more than the WG. I definitely would change the handlebars and exhaust. In fact, I would just transfer my 14" black Carlini Evil Apes from my Sporty (assuming I can just buy a set of risers since the stock bars and speedo are bolted to the triple tree). And I'd probably have the tank painted eventually - the jury is still out on the stock paint scheme.
One thing I've learned with my Sporty is that bikes are platforms because everyone customizes them once they get them. I don't like the BL in it's stock configuration, but I think with a few mods, it will look pretty bad ***. Hell, I've managed to make my Sporty look somewhat bad ***, so I definitely think it can be done with the BL. I also like the BL speedo (I've never liked the look of tank mounted speedos) and black triple trees/black lower forks. And I don't think I mind the rocker covers not being powder coated black because the ones on my Sporty are powder coated black and are a pain in the *** to clean when oil seeps through onto them.
I think what it will come down to for me is how the WG and BL feel for me. Frankly, I don't want a big bike, so if they handle similar to my Sporty, that is huge a plus for me. Hopefully I get a chance to test ride them both when I get back.
Sorry for the rambling - just thought I'd add my 2 cents from the perspective of a newbie.
