Harley-Davidson FLS Softail Slim Review

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Let the charm work ….

The new Harley Davidson Softail Slim

The guys in Milwaukee in charge of product development don’t have an easy job! Put yourself in their shoes, Harley-Davidson is a century-old brand elevated to iconic status by some and sometimes shouted at by others. And whether you are pro or anti, HD is nonetheless THE go-to reference in the custom segment…. They must therefore continue to satisfy the hard core of their customers while attracting a new fringe of the biker population! You will retort that they are not alone in this case, BMW has its GS, Honda its Goldwing, Porsche its 911. But in the case of Harley, the equation is much more complex since the purchase criteria ‘a custom are infinitely more subjective (versatility? efficiency?) and when Honda is "content" to revise its Gold once a decade, the American firm must come to terms each year with a range which today comprises 31 models! And the new Softail Slim perfectly embodies the paradoxes and contradictions of the evolution without revolution of customs made in the USA. Explanations ….

Harley-Davidson Softail Slim

Discovery

The silhouette of the Slim is timeless since it takes the famous Softail frame appeared in 1984 – with its suspension kinematics hidden under the frame – itself inspired by the aesthetics of the very first rigid frames Harley which made the happiness of HD and physiotherapists from 1903 to 1952! But where the Slim sets itself apart from the rest of the Softail range is its aesthetic inspired by "Bobber”, An aesthetic trend with a minimalist tendency that appeared after the Second World War. The percentage of chrome is therefore significantly lowered here, the mudguards are shortened, the saddle is refined and becomes single-seater and the traditional rear light disappears, the red diodes being now integrated into the indicators. Let’s not forget the new Hollywood handlebars, exclusively reserved for the Slim. Two 16-inch spoke rims embellished with a black veil complete the picture.

The set flatters the retina with a clean design and well-balanced proportions between the front and the rear, particularly highlighting the new 103 cubic inch twin (1690 cm3 with us) which now replaces the Twin Cam 96 across the range.

Harley-Davidson Softail Slim

Always air-cooled (this sacrilege is reserved for the V-Rod), the finish is to match and even sticking its nose all over the place, it’s hard to fault the Slim. Very little visible cabling, even less plastics, impeccable paint quality, in short, no “cheap” detail to eat…. But, contrary to appearances, Harley Davidson, is not satisfied to decline its classics to all the sauces (Bobber, Chopper, Low Rider….) For 100 years. Because the Slim is delivered, originally please, with real pieces of technology in it. Authenticity and heritage oblige, the electronic fairy is as discreet as possible, like theABS whose sensors are stashed inside the hubs or the central hidden no one knows where seen the obvious lack of space. Ditto for thealarm, which works via a transponder to keep carefully in your pocket and which activates as soon as you go more than two meters away. There is even a mini on-board computer, which scrolls through its information (gear engaged and rpm, range, trips, etc.) via a control bar on the handlebars in a small liquid crystal bar housed under the huge "Cat’s Eye" console enthroned on the tank.

Harley-Davidson Softail Slim on the road

In the saddle

With its 650 mm seat height, stepping over the Softail Slim is a formality. Raising her from her crutch is a little less difficult since the beauty, despite her misleading surname, weighs more than 300 kg dry. But the wide handlebars and the low center of gravity make things a lot easier. Besides, apart from maneuvering in confined spaces, the three quintals never proved to be a handicap during our test despite my shrimp size (measurements on request). Identical results for the driving position. The footrests are far forward and the handlebars, wide and low, are far from the ergonomic guns of a trail or a GT, but the whole is nothing unnatural, even for the neophyte in custom that I am. Going from a traditional machine to the Slim is a bit like going from a good office chair to a Club chair, we are of course on both but we immediately feel that they are not made for the same use …. We continue in the ergonomic paradox with the commodos. Harley has never found it useful to equip her machines with adjustable levers, but their distinctive circumflex-accented shape adapts just as well to the little girl as it does to the lumberjack’s paw. The only puzzling feature remains the separate turn signal controls (even BMW has abandoned this gimmick in the face of Japanese standardization!) But its action remains simpler than with the Bavarians since it presses the same button to activate or deactivate the lights. oranges on the affected side. If you forget, the turn signals stop automatically depending on the speed and angle of the motorcycle.

Harley-Davidson Softail Slim

In the city

The Milwaukee big twin snorts with a kick of the starter and lets out a pleasant sound from its twin tailpipes, both low and syncopated, while exuding its share of vibrations. In terms of filtration, we can also feel all the Harley-Davidson know-how here. Only the “good” ones are sensitive, those which are harmful to the fillings and the screws being filtered by a balancing pendulum. Despite the injection, idle is still a bit bumpy, hovering between 980 and 1,100 rpm. Probably an engineering joke in order to keep the sound signature so characteristic of old carburetor blocks.

After having grasped the clutch, a bit firm, then given an impulse on the dual-control selector to engage the first (“clong”!), The Slim takes off quietly, led by the 13.5 mkg of torque available from 2350 rpm. After a few kilometers, the low-speed maneuvers become a pure formality. The low center of gravity and the balance of the chassis allow surprising control when driving almost at walking pace. The crossing of Marseille, part of our test, at a rush hour, immediately highlights several elements. The clutch, despite a firm first contact, has never been a handicap in traffic jams. Fortunately, the Slim’s substantial width and large turning radius do not make it a queen of zig-zag between lines. And if the big twin doesn’t get your legs outrageously warm when stationary, the aluminum oil tank housed under the saddle will faithfully inform your right thigh about the engine temperature. No need to venture out on winding departmental roads to explore the limits of ground clearance either! It is possible to lightly rub the pacifiers mounted under the footrest platforms at the first tight roundabout. But that scrape is only an indicator, with the platforms mounted on hinges, there are still several degrees of angle left before the more vital (and more expensive) parts of the Slim are rubbed. Despite these limitations, the machine remains pleasant if not efficient.

Harley-Davidson Softail Slim on the road

Departmental

Once out of the Phocaean capital, we take the direction of the route des crêtes, an essential route for any self-respecting biker passing through the south. Winding along the departmental roads in “cruising” mode, the big twin distills all its charm between 2200 and 3600 rpm. The characteristic heaving and already perfect vocalizations of the Street Legal version exhausts happily accompany each relaunch. To quickly overtake tourist buses and groups of cyclists, the new “103” unit offers even more resources between 3600 and 4500 rpm but the excess engine braking at these speeds is not compatible with the philosophy of the beautiful . Pulling even higher (5,000 rpm) the engine loses steam a bit and the choked rattle that escapes from the intake lets you know it’s time to upshift. But the limited braking power to stop the over 300 kilograms, despite the reassuring presence of ABS, does not encourage attack anyway. Neither does the ground clearance elsewhere. Nonetheless, the departmental roads remain the ideal playground to fully appreciate this Softail. The noise-good vibrations cocktail, the comfortable and balanced part-cycle encourage to travel so as not to spoil the soundtrack by innumerable “scriiiitch” and the wide bottom of lever makes it possible to shift from one angle to another effortlessly . On hairpins and blind bends, the Slim just requires a certain amount of anticipation, improvisation in the event of a bad surprise being very limited..

Harley-Davidson Softail Slim on departmental

Motorways and expressways

Built for American highways, the Harley Bobber is very comfortable as long as you don’t come to flirt with our speed limits. Beyond 130 km / h, the position of arms and feet apart offers too much wind resistance. On the engine side, however, it’s America. Stalled in sixth, the "103" is not far from its idle speed and the 18.9-liter tank should offer more than substantial range. To get correct reminders for an overtaking (buses, again….), It is still necessary to drop a report. As for the saddle, no harm to the foundation to report. Despite her apparent finesse, she proved to be remarkably welcoming. Nothing to report in terms of stability, with its 2.35 m long and its 31 ° hunting angle, the Slim is unperturbed.

Harley-Davidson Softail Slim on highway

Comfort / Duo

Between a weight of Sumo, a limited ground clearance (114 mm) directly influencing the travel of suspensions and a driving position “feet in front”, the Slim let fear the worst. We have to believe that the 28 years of development of the Softail frame have paid off. Even when aiming for the most rutted portions of the asphalt, comfort has never been compromised. As for the aptitudes of the Slim duo, I invite you to read the paragraph below ….

Harley-Davidson Softail Slim on highway

Accessories

Do you want a two-seater saddle to take the lady with you? Do you find the handlebars too low? The exhaust too choked? Luggage storage? No problem, the HD adaptable parts catalog is as thick as a directory and between the pool of accessories and the many preparers in France, all entirely dedicated to the cause of Milwaukee, the possibilities for customization are virtually endless. The only limit to your imagination is your bank account ….

Harley-Davidson Softail Slim way of life

Conclusion

Whether in town, on the highway or in the department, the magic operates. Not because of the name on the tank or the myth that goes with it, but because the whole is as homogeneous as it is coherent. Taken apart, the sluggish gearbox, the harsh clutch, limited ground clearance, safe but undersized braking, and even wind resistance are all annoying faults. Yet, put together, all these “fuses” subconsciously encourage people to take advantage of the Slim only for what it is: a machine entirely dedicated to Cruising. And this Harley Davidson excels in this exercise. The pleasure of driving distilled at a senatorial allure is, here, a formula perfectly mastered. Of course, we touch here on the subjective, which is difficult to reconcile with the profession of journalist. Despite this, the day spent riding this HD Slim was an experience as surprising as it was pleasing. The Milwaukee firm readily speaks of hedonism to qualify its machines. Without going that far, the pleasure distilled by this stylish Softail is inversely proportional to the speed at which it moves. Too bad the price to pay to access this legal pleasure is so high. Sold for € 19,190, the FLS Softail Slim costs at least € 2,000 more than the competition. In the HD range, on the other hand, it’s almost a bargain, the prices of the very classic Fat Boy from which it is extrapolated, start at € 21,000 !

Strong points

  • Clean and attractive design
  • The charm of the twin
  • Finishing

Weak points

  • Ground clearance
  • Limited braking
  • The price of the myth

available in matt black, glossy black and red

The Softail Slim technical sheet

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