Softtail Slim
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 212
Likes: 4
From: South Carolina
I have nothing but praise for my Slim. I didn't buy mine with cross country touring in mind and it hasn't disappointed. It handles very well for a 700 pound bike and with the low cog it feels lighter.
I do the majority of my riding in the foothills and mountains of SC, N GA and NC and it excells at this. The only changes I've made since picking it up in mid-June has been Rush slip-on mufflers. I will do the A/C next and I have the Vied's waiting in the wings for this change.
If you ride in similar surroundings or don't intend loong trips you'll be happy I think.
Let us know what you decide.
CJ
I do the majority of my riding in the foothills and mountains of SC, N GA and NC and it excells at this. The only changes I've made since picking it up in mid-June has been Rush slip-on mufflers. I will do the A/C next and I have the Vied's waiting in the wings for this change.
If you ride in similar surroundings or don't intend loong trips you'll be happy I think.
Let us know what you decide.
CJ
Supporter
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,912
Likes: 73
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Love mine - nothing but good things to say here as well...
Pros:
- The Slim has the lowest seat height in the current H-D line-up, even lower than the Sportster "SuperLow" - and as CJoe said, the low COG makes handling effortless...
- It's a sensational cruiser, I'm mainly a two-lane country road rider myself and it's perfect for this - but it will handle highway speeds with ease.
- It's a stripped Softail, so customizing possibilities are endless, as is the availability of parts.
- If you choose NOT to customize it, it's already a thing of beauty right out of the box. Reviews use words like "iconic" and "classic"...
- It comes with a lot of old-school bobber bits if that's the look you're after: fat tires, spokes, hollywood bars, round A/C, solo seat, staggered dual pipes...
- The 103B balanced engine allows for a very smooth ride, and with a full 5-gallon tank, a long one.
- and like your handle says, if you're an "old geezer" like me, floorboards trump pegs...
Cons (but not really):
- it's a solo rider, but you can add a pass. seat and pegs. One benefit to that is, if you have a jealous OL you never have to worry about coming home with the pass. pegs down.
- it's not a bagger, but you can add bags and a windshield...
- it's hollywood bars had me leaning down and more forward that I would have liked (bad back), but a set of pullback risers fixed that... you can also get a reduced-reach seat.
Pros:
- The Slim has the lowest seat height in the current H-D line-up, even lower than the Sportster "SuperLow" - and as CJoe said, the low COG makes handling effortless...
- It's a sensational cruiser, I'm mainly a two-lane country road rider myself and it's perfect for this - but it will handle highway speeds with ease.
- It's a stripped Softail, so customizing possibilities are endless, as is the availability of parts.
- If you choose NOT to customize it, it's already a thing of beauty right out of the box. Reviews use words like "iconic" and "classic"...
- It comes with a lot of old-school bobber bits if that's the look you're after: fat tires, spokes, hollywood bars, round A/C, solo seat, staggered dual pipes...
- The 103B balanced engine allows for a very smooth ride, and with a full 5-gallon tank, a long one.
- and like your handle says, if you're an "old geezer" like me, floorboards trump pegs...
Cons (but not really):
- it's a solo rider, but you can add a pass. seat and pegs. One benefit to that is, if you have a jealous OL you never have to worry about coming home with the pass. pegs down.
- it's not a bagger, but you can add bags and a windshield...
- it's hollywood bars had me leaning down and more forward that I would have liked (bad back), but a set of pullback risers fixed that... you can also get a reduced-reach seat.
Last edited by jam436; Oct 13, 2013 at 11:49 AM.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 862
Likes: 2
From: WI
I've enjoyed mine for a few months. I appreciate JAM's format, so I'll follow suit. Some of the LIMITATIONS I don't see as CONS, just issues where one shouldn't expect the bike to be, 'cause it isn't.
PRO:
CON:
LIMITATION:
My riding is pretty much all over the place. It can be anything from dirt farm roads to major interstate. Speeds can be from near nothing to, uh... and it handles very well. The bike is very stable, tracks and rides nicely. Remaining stock, it would be a great bike. Customize it to your tastes, and it will be something awesome, in it's own way.
Take one for a test ride. Try a couple of the other softails, too... see if it speaks to you.
PRO:
- As has been pointed out above, it's a great short to mid range scoot. With the low COG of this and the other softails, it rides itself.
- Even stock, the 103 on the light frame gives the bike a lot of juice. Open it up with a set of pipes and an AC, and it peps up a little more. Do a cam job, and I'll bet it's a beast. (hopefully I can confirm that in the Spring)
- I don't think there's a better Harley to start from as a base if you want to customize away. It's pretty stripped down, and begs to be modified.
- It's a solo bike as shipped. If you never intend to ride 2-up, you won't be spending the extra money for the passenger pillion and pegs.
CON:
- For me, and for a lot of guys, this seat SUCKS. Anything over 200 miles and I'm no longer happy, 300 miles and I'm numb in places I might want to use later.
- It's a solo bike as shipped, so if you want to add a passenger, it's money right out of the gate for a passenger pillion and passenger pegs.
LIMITATION:
- It'll never see an iron-*** ride. It's just not (for me, nor for most folks) a long range/touring bike.
- It's not the bike to go get the groceries - that's what the bagger or the cage is for.
My riding is pretty much all over the place. It can be anything from dirt farm roads to major interstate. Speeds can be from near nothing to, uh... and it handles very well. The bike is very stable, tracks and rides nicely. Remaining stock, it would be a great bike. Customize it to your tastes, and it will be something awesome, in it's own way.
Take one for a test ride. Try a couple of the other softails, too... see if it speaks to you.
Supporter
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,912
Likes: 73
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,556
Likes: 1,844
From: Albuquerque, NM
Love mine - nothing but good things to say here as well...
Pros:
- The Slim has the lowest seat height in the current H-D line-up, even lower than the Sportster "SuperLow" - and as CJoe said, the low COG makes handling effortless...
- It's a sensational cruiser, I'm mainly a two-lane country road rider myself and it's perfect for this - but it will handle highway speeds with ease.
- It's a stripped Softail, so customizing possibilities are endless, as is the availability of parts.
- If you choose NOT to customize it, it's already a thing of beauty right out of the box. Reviews use words like "iconic" and "classic"...
- It comes with a lot of old-school bobber bits if that's the look you're after: fat tires, spokes, hollywood bars, round A/C, solo seat, staggered dual pipes...
- The 103B balanced engine allows for a very smooth ride, and with a full 5-gallon tank, a long one.
- and like your handle says, if you're an "old geezer" like me, floorboards trump pegs...
Cons (but not really):
- it's a solo rider, but you can add a pass. seat and pegs. One benefit to that is, if you have a jealous OL you never have to worry about coming home with the pass. pegs down.
- it's not a bagger, but you can add bags and a windshield...
- it's hollywood bars had me leaning down and more forward that I would have liked (bad back), but a set of pullback risers fixed that... you can also get a reduced-reach seat.
Pros:
- The Slim has the lowest seat height in the current H-D line-up, even lower than the Sportster "SuperLow" - and as CJoe said, the low COG makes handling effortless...
- It's a sensational cruiser, I'm mainly a two-lane country road rider myself and it's perfect for this - but it will handle highway speeds with ease.
- It's a stripped Softail, so customizing possibilities are endless, as is the availability of parts.
- If you choose NOT to customize it, it's already a thing of beauty right out of the box. Reviews use words like "iconic" and "classic"...
- It comes with a lot of old-school bobber bits if that's the look you're after: fat tires, spokes, hollywood bars, round A/C, solo seat, staggered dual pipes...
- The 103B balanced engine allows for a very smooth ride, and with a full 5-gallon tank, a long one.
- and like your handle says, if you're an "old geezer" like me, floorboards trump pegs...
Cons (but not really):
- it's a solo rider, but you can add a pass. seat and pegs. One benefit to that is, if you have a jealous OL you never have to worry about coming home with the pass. pegs down.
- it's not a bagger, but you can add bags and a windshield...
- it's hollywood bars had me leaning down and more forward that I would have liked (bad back), but a set of pullback risers fixed that... you can also get a reduced-reach seat.
....half moon footboards, cateye tank console...
To the OP: I've recently decided that I'm going to get one. Only one possible con that I can see: I test rode one last summer (2012) and decided against it then because the footboards scraped the ground so easily in the turns. Not a weight issue as I weigh 175 lbs. The amount that I like the Slim has now overcome my qualms about the scraping issue, as well as the fact that I've found out that you can raise the bike on demand with a Shotgun shock. Now I just have to find a red one.
Supporter
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,912
Likes: 73
From: Pittsburgh, PA
To the OP: I've recently decided that I'm going to get one. Only one possible con that I can see: I test rode one last summer (2012) and decided against it then because the footboards scraped the ground so easily in the turns. Not a weight issue as I weigh 175 lbs. The amount that I like the Slim has now overcome my qualms about the scraping issue, as well as the fact that I've found out that you can raise the bike on demand with a Shotgun shock. Now I just have to find a red one.
You'll adapt fast, just a minor adjustment...
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 862
Likes: 2
From: WI
I'm curious about the geometry changes from the Shotgun.... from slammed to jacked, I wonder how much the board height and lean angle changes.
My wife scrapes her boards on her Lo at times, too... When you ride aggressively, it's probably going to happen occasionally. Reminds me - I gotta make a skid plate for her swingarm bag, before she grinds off the stitching again.
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Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 612
Likes: 3
From: Massachusetts, west side
Originally Posted by jam436 
I scraped a few times in the beginning but now I can't remember the last time I did..
You'll adapt fast, just a minor adjustment...
It never stops. i'm thinking some kind of wheelie bar for floor boards.
I scraped a few times in the beginning but now I can't remember the last time I did..
You'll adapt fast, just a minor adjustment...
It never stops. i'm thinking some kind of wheelie bar for floor boards.