Why did Harley stop making the Softail Standard (or Custom)?
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 274
Likes: 0
From: Holt, MO
I have a wide glide and am a Dyna guy by nature. The only Softails I like were the Standards and Customs.
I like the fact that you could get satin finish for one(I live on gravel). Although I prefer the exposed shocks of the WG, The Standards looked good.
I'm not real happy with the new WG's either. Should have renamed them IMO. Drag bars and the bobber style fender, no back rest, etc. Guess this is what the public wanted.
I like the fact that you could get satin finish for one(I live on gravel). Although I prefer the exposed shocks of the WG, The Standards looked good.
I'm not real happy with the new WG's either. Should have renamed them IMO. Drag bars and the bobber style fender, no back rest, etc. Guess this is what the public wanted.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,123
Likes: 43
From: NJ
Something similar will be back, might take awhile since they made them in one form or another for over 20 years, but it will happen. Look at the Camaro, why did Chevy ever change from the 69? It probably was the nicest looking of them all and some were pretty quick. When Chevy brought them back into production the new ones tried to look like 69s. So why did they change, because no business can exist if they stay stagnant for very long, if you don't change then your customers will.
This is my second EVO FXSTC and I can't imagine not having one in the garage. I'm shopping for a second bike (springer) but the custom is staying. While the FXRs are often touted as being the best handling, that is only true if you are a smaller rider. Put my 6'3"/245lb body on one and it's like an elephant on a unicycle. For a big rider, the FXST can be made to fit better than any and IMO it handles better then the rest as well.
This is my second EVO FXSTC and I can't imagine not having one in the garage. I'm shopping for a second bike (springer) but the custom is staying. While the FXRs are often touted as being the best handling, that is only true if you are a smaller rider. Put my 6'3"/245lb body on one and it's like an elephant on a unicycle. For a big rider, the FXST can be made to fit better than any and IMO it handles better then the rest as well.
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 12
Likes: 1
From: oklahoma city
I have an 05 standard very much like yours. is the front end on yours stock? I see the work in the rear but I cant tell if you have a little rake or not. my front end was damaged and I'm trying to plan my replacement. I prefer the chopper style but don't really want to strip the bike down to have the neck raked.
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 12
Likes: 1
From: oklahoma city
I'm not a fan of the springer but I have been throwing around the idea of a girder. the only issue with that is they cost a mint for a decent one. they are the coolest front ends in my opinion though.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 270
Likes: 64
From: Camotes Islands, Cebu, Philippines
Thanks for the thread revival! I also looked high and low for my first Harley. Rode metrics since 1967. Knew the look I wanted but was and still am rather unfamiliar with the different styles and names given to the Harley line of bikes. Kept looking around, a friend found his dream bike, an O7 FXSTC with tons of chrome and forward controls. When he showed me the photos, I told the wife, prepare yourself, our metric is not coming out of the garage again....
The hunt was on, and I finally found one with an almost full chrome make over and the price was OK enough. Not cheap, and was going to be a difficult buy for me. But I dove in got the cash I needed and got a REALLY good friend to go half way across the country to pick it up for me... Loving it.
The hunt was on, and I finally found one with an almost full chrome make over and the price was OK enough. Not cheap, and was going to be a difficult buy for me. But I dove in got the cash I needed and got a REALLY good friend to go half way across the country to pick it up for me... Loving it.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,635
Likes: 58
From: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
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Tourer
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 299
Likes: 1
From: Arizona
Pretty obvious HD doesn't want any more "standard" models. They have followed the auto company approach in loading every model up with doo dads to increase their profits. I really like the EG Standard but it is also long gone. Too much profit potential in audio and chrome.
