How About a Mid-Sized Softail?
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Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 648
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From: New Jersey
How About a Mid-Sized Softail?
Let me set the stage: I own a 2011 Sportster, which I enjoy more each day. And one of the main reasons I wanted to buy a Harley was for its authenticity. I wanted to buy new and had a budget. I tested the metric cruisers, but thought they were contrived versions of the original. But if you think about it, the Japanese have managed to build mid-size cruisers that look more like Softails than Sportsters -- and they are serving their intended target market well. Now I recognize that I'm not in the Softail forum, but I like them and would appreciate a more robust, mid-sized Softail in the 883/1100 range from the MoCo. I know the likely reason this will not happen is because of profitability and product cannibalization issues, but I think it would make a good starter Harley or appeal to those riders who don't necessarily want a heavier, more powerful bike but would prefer the riding dynamics and ergos that a Softail delivers -- at a lower cost.
Wouldn't this crush the competition?
Your thoughts?
Wouldn't this crush the competition?
Your thoughts?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,705
Likes: 2
From: D.C.
You want a heavier bike with a "small" engine? Personally I think that the Harley line is well balanced and I believe that most of the people on the Sportster forum will tell you that what they like about their bike is its lightweight.
I think it's a great idea. I have a pile of parts I put together and used a Suzuki VL800 motor. It's a great bike. I call it the black turd. I have a Softail Standard and a Softail Deluxe but I still enjoy riding the black turd because it's alot lighter and more nimble. Don't get me wrong, I like the Softails but they're cumbersome and sluggish. One has an 80" motor & the other has an 88"...my little 49" Suzuki motor pushes it around much better.
I used a ton of Harley parts on it too. Fenders, bags, floorboards, bars, carb, all of the cables...even the rear fender struts were from a Fatboy.
I have a dropseat hardtail with a Sportster motor. The frame was originally designed for a big twin B motor so I know fitting a Sportster motor in a stock Softail frame is absolutely do-able and I will do one myself. Only thing holding me back from starting on it is room.
I love the idea and would be willing to help just to see it. They're out there already here & there. Kraftech makes a softail frame that uses a Sportster motor but I don't like to big rake and wide rear (set up for a 180-200 tire).
Do it man!
I used a ton of Harley parts on it too. Fenders, bags, floorboards, bars, carb, all of the cables...even the rear fender struts were from a Fatboy.
I have a dropseat hardtail with a Sportster motor. The frame was originally designed for a big twin B motor so I know fitting a Sportster motor in a stock Softail frame is absolutely do-able and I will do one myself. Only thing holding me back from starting on it is room.
I love the idea and would be willing to help just to see it. They're out there already here & there. Kraftech makes a softail frame that uses a Sportster motor but I don't like to big rake and wide rear (set up for a 180-200 tire).
Do it man!
I love Sportsters. Through & through. Only draw back of the Softails is the sluggish motors. 6th gear is nice though!
Elite HDF Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 4,904
Likes: 9
From: Streetsboro, Oh
I think it's a great idea. I have a pile of parts I put together and used a Suzuki VL800 motor. It's a great bike. I call it the black turd. I have a Softail Standard and a Softail Deluxe but I still enjoy riding the black turd because it's alot lighter and more nimble. Don't get me wrong, I like the Softails but they're cumbersome and sluggish. One has an 80" motor & the other has an 88"...my little 49" Suzuki motor pushes it around much better.
I used a ton of Harley parts on it too. Fenders, bags, floorboards, bars, carb, all of the cables...even the rear fender struts were from a Fatboy.
I have a dropseat hardtail with a Sportster motor. The frame was originally designed for a big twin B motor so I know fitting a Sportster motor in a stock Softail frame is absolutely do-able and I will do one myself. Only thing holding me back from starting on it is room.
I love the idea and would be willing to help just to see it. They're out there already here & there. Kraftech makes a softail frame that uses a Sportster motor but I don't like to big rake and wide rear (set up for a 180-200 tire).
Do it man!
I used a ton of Harley parts on it too. Fenders, bags, floorboards, bars, carb, all of the cables...even the rear fender struts were from a Fatboy.
I have a dropseat hardtail with a Sportster motor. The frame was originally designed for a big twin B motor so I know fitting a Sportster motor in a stock Softail frame is absolutely do-able and I will do one myself. Only thing holding me back from starting on it is room.
I love the idea and would be willing to help just to see it. They're out there already here & there. Kraftech makes a softail frame that uses a Sportster motor but I don't like to big rake and wide rear (set up for a 180-200 tire).
Do it man!
A smaller softail HD would be cool, but would never happen as they have the line up set the way they want it. I mean if they made a 1200 softail it would be priced in the Dyna range and that would not be a smart move for HD.
Thanks.
Yeah. I'd like to think that if enough ppl built a Sportster Softail HD would jack the idea like they did with the Irons & Nightsters and following up with the 48 when people starting modding the XLN's. And even with the Dyna Switchback (which I think is pretty cool).
Toyota was up front about it when they held big shows just to talk with car builders to see what they needed to do to produce a vehicle that is already set up for mods but provides a great start...then came the tC and XB.
Yeah. I'd like to think that if enough ppl built a Sportster Softail HD would jack the idea like they did with the Irons & Nightsters and following up with the 48 when people starting modding the XLN's. And even with the Dyna Switchback (which I think is pretty cool).
Toyota was up front about it when they held big shows just to talk with car builders to see what they needed to do to produce a vehicle that is already set up for mods but provides a great start...then came the tC and XB.
Sorry for the rant. Lol. I'm not a Harley hater. I even have a Harley t-shirt!
Continue with the Sportster Softail!
Continue with the Sportster Softail!
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Road Captain
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From: New Jersey
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I think its a great idea. Looking at all the conversion kits for sportsters in the aftermarket, there is certainly a demand for it. If sportsters come with 2 engine sizes, why couldn't the softail? I'm picturing a Blackline with the 3.3 Nightster Tank and 1200 motor.