2018 Harley-Davidson Softail models introduced in India

Harley-Davidson’s all-new 2018 model range includes four motorcycles which have been launched in India.  The Street Bob comes priced at Rs 11.99 lakh, Fat Bob (Rs 13.99 lakh), Fat Boy (Rs 17.49 lakh) and Heritage Classic (Rs 18.99 lakh), all prices ex-showroom, pan-India. 

The new motorcycles in the Softail series see the inclusion of an all-new vehicle frame, which sheds weight and brings about a lot of significant benefits, with a marked 34 percent improvement in stiffness and 15-20 percent lighter for quicker chassis response. 

There are three fundamental configurations, including different handlebar positioning angles – a 28 degree, 30 degree and 34 degree – along with low and high ride heights, and wide and narrow frame options.

The frame is supported with dual-bending valve forks from Showa at the front, along with a monoshock at the rear. All three motorcycles come powered by Harley’s new Milwaukee Eight 107 series V-twin engine, which gets 1745cc of displacement and churns out 144Nm of peak torque. The new engine gets precision oil cooling in Harley-speak, which cools both the exhaust valves as well as the engine oil from a single mounted oil cooler.

Weighing in at 330kg, the 2018 Heritage Classic is 17kg lighter than the outgoing model and gets a new paint scheme as well. The highway cruiser now has also switched over to get full LED setup in its three-pod lights upfront.

The Fat Bob sheds 15kg and gets 43mm upside-down forks at the front; along with a 2-into-1 performance exhaust setup. The motorcycle gets a staggered setup, with 130mm 16-inch spoke rims upfront and a 150mm section at the rear.

The legendary Fat Boy also gets a 16kg reduction in weight, a new Satin chrome paint finishing and an 18.9-litre fuel tank. It sports a 160mm front tyre, shod on Lakester front wheel. 

The last entrant, the new Harley-Davidson Street Bob has now become 8kg lighter than its predecessor and tips the scale at 286kg. It gets a tank-mounted instrument cluster and Dark Custom design elements. With the new engine, the performance has been upped for the motorcycle to become 10 percent faster to 100kph than its predecessor.

All 2018 Softail series models come with ABS as standard safety equipment and the company will be importing these motorcycles as CKD kits from the US, and then assemble them at its Indian facility, located in Bawal, Haryana. 

Peter Mackenzie, managing director, Harley-Davidson India and China, said, "The new Softail range is a completely redesigned ground up platform, offering improved design, better riding characteristics and comfort. With the new motorcycles, we aim to continue giving a complete experience to our customers."

"Globally, Harley-Davidson strives to improve its network strength, and in India as well, we are following the global strategy of enhancing our brand presence. We now have 27 outlets, out of which 3 were opened this year itself. We plan to open a few more by the end of FY2018 and possibly take the count to 30 outlets in the country." 

"The new motorcycle range will continue to come through the CKD route and although there is a slight  bump in prices, as compared to the outgoing models, the motorcycles still have been introduced at pretty competitive prices considering the amount of new technology that has gone into these products," he added.