Custom – Contact with the Harley-Davidson Softail 2018 range – Page 4 – Test Street Bob “107” 2018

Contact with the 2018 Harley-Davidson Softail range

Custom - Contact with the Harley-Davidson Softail 2018 range - Page 4 - Street Bob test & quot; 107 & quot; 2018

Site briefly tested four of the eight new Softail models in the 2018 Harley-Davidson lineup: Fat Bob, Fat Boy, Street Bob and Low Rider. This short contact reveals some real improvements on these bikes now powered by the new eight-valve twin, the Milwaukee-Eight. In the saddle !

Page 4 – Test Street Bob "107" 2018

The Street Bob – until now listed in the Dyna range – now represents the gateway to the 2018 Softail family. An entry ticket that starts all the same at € 14,860 (in black) for this recognizable motorcycle among a thousand by its unique "Ape Hanger" handlebars, thanks to which the armpits naturally ventilate while riding !

Custom - Contact with the Harley-Davidson Softail 2018 range - Page 4 - Street Bob test & quot; 107 & quot; 2018

Joking aside, this high-perched handlebars are easily tamed and effectively steer the spoke wheel with reasonable dimensions (100/90/19, against 150/80/16 at the rear). Thanks to its geometry without excess and its relatively contained weight of 297 kg (the lightest of the Softail), the "Bob of the streets" is shown quite agile, well helped also by its loss of 7.5 kg !

The increased rigidity of the frame significantly improves its stability, which is also convincing on all 2018 models tested. On the other hand, the ergonomics and comfort of the Street Bob deserve less praise: the single-seater saddle is not very welcoming, nor the mono-shock. Same register, fairly dry, for the telescopic bellows fork…

In addition, the footrests moved back in the "middle" position frankly bend the legs, which creates a strange position arms stretched towards the sky and the legs curled up … The lower back and joints suffer quickly. The ransom of an inimitable allure ?

The little "107" doesn’t have to be ashamed of the big "114"

Available only with the Milwaukee-Eight "107", the Street Bob 2018 is not lagging behind: properly injected, its "small" twin (1745cc, anyway!) Offers very satisfactory performance, with 86 hp and 145 Nm delivered via a practical belt. The difference occurs especially at low and mid-range, where the "big" 114 of 1868cc has more tone and temperament..

Custom - Contact with the Harley-Davidson Softail 2018 range - Page 4 - Street Bob test & quot; 107 & quot; 2018

Well finished and equipped with tiny digital instrumentation – but surprisingly readable – on its triple tree, the Street Bob 2018 is displayed at € 14,860 in black and € 15,160 in color. Its braking being provided by a single disc at the front, the reinforcement of its rear counterpart is frequently welcome. !

Street Bob 2018 technical sheet 

Engine

  • 45 ° V-twin, tumbled, air-oil cooled. 4-valves per cylinder
  • 86 hp at 5020 rpm and 145 Nm at 3500 rpm – Milwaukee-Eight "107" (1745cc)
  • Final belt drive

Cycle part 

  • Double steel cradle
  • Non-adjustable telescopic fork / preload adjustable single shock absorber
  • 125 mm of ground clearance
  • 1630 mm wheelbase
  • 30 ° hunting angle
  • 680 mm seat height
  • 13.2 liter tank 
  • Tires in 100/90/19 and 150/80/16
  • 297 kg fully loaded

Price 

  • € 14,860 in black, € 15,160 in color and € 15,660 in two-tone colors

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