2018 Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe

All pimped out. It’s a politically incorrect term nowadays, but there is just no better way to describe the Softail Deluxe. Looking for all the world like a stripped-down Electra Glide, this Big Twin has the gangsta strut going with fat 16-inch whitewall tires, a retro chromed and domed front hub cap, an Elvis-era solo saddle, and fully valanced fenders. There’s more, including a big, tank-mounted 130-mph speedometer, twin “chrome pickle” mufflers, a 5-gallon fuel tank with dual fillers, many square feet of chrome—and loud and proud “Deluxe” badges up front.

On the functional side, like all new Softails, the Deluxe has a cartridge-style fork developed in racing, a supple Showa monoshock, a lighter and stiffer steel frame, and of course, 107 inches of Milwaukee-Eight V-twin power. Other modern bits include front and rear LED lighting, sequential fuel injection, an internal engine counterbalancer, a six-speed gearbox, and standard antilock braking and security systems. Want to stand out? Order the Softail Deluxe in—shades of the 1973 film Electra Glide in Blue—you guessed it, Electric Blue.

Likes: Old-school looks, new technology.

Dislikes: Air intake housing can foul the rider's leg. Also, weighing 697 pounds wet, the Deluxe could surely use dual front disc brakes.

Verdict: Refined and capable, this new Softail begs for a windshield and hard bags—and a long, open road.

Harley-Davidson’s New 2018 Softails Offer Huge Improvements To The Dyna And Softail Lineups They Replace

This Is The New 2018 Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe