subject: Harley Davidson Softails - Great For The Long Ride [print this page] What is the big deal about the Harley Davidson Softail motorcycles you may wonder? They are the undisputed king of the road when it comes to anything on two wheels. However, many individuals will consider the softail the best ride on the road regardless of the number of wheels. Although, the softail did not become amazingly popular until after the first few years when Harley Davidson introduced it in 1984, it has developed a huge following since. It may not have been an overnight sensation, but production continued and new designs in mechanics, design and other technological advancement improved the quality. There is no doubt the softail is here to stay and make its own statement, since its following of softail enthusiasts grows daily.
The name softail comes from its unique design of a rear end suspension system that uses springs or shock absorbers that can move and absorb the shock from hitting minor road hazards such as potholes and bumps in the road. However, the Harley softail also features a distinctive design in appearance, since the springs or shock absorbers are installed underneath and out of view. This makes the bike appear as if it were a rigid hard-tail frame. Within 28 years, Harley Davidson has produced various designs of softails. These include the Fatboy, the Bobber and the Rocker. Each of these is strongly resilient and individualized. Here we will discuss these three different types of softails.
The Harley Davidson Fatboy softail motorcycle is popular within the culture of Harley Davidson softail enthusiasts. It has an appearance similar to the Sportster, with dual seating for any traveling companion on a long, hard ride. You can easily reach the clutch, throttle and brake from the unique handlebar set up. The foot pegs positions are optimized so you can reach the shift pedal and the foot brakes. Most softail riders are family men who find the design most popular for riding.
The Harley Davidson Bobber softail motorcycle evokes memories of the classic motorcycles of the past. This bike is reminiscent of the old school chopper appearance that was so popular for racing years ago, much like the classic models of the 30s, 40s and 50s. However, a Bobber is nothing like a chopper at all, since anything that has to do with acceleration and speed is eliminated from this particular model. It has no fenders, buddy seats, saddle bags or turn signals. The Bobber is generally very popular with purists who are not interested in all the bells and whistles in a bike.
The Bobber softail motorcycle by Harley Davidson makes you think of some of the old classic motorcycles of the 30s, 40s and 50s. These old school bikes were the best for racing in the past. However, the chopper design and the Bobber are nothing a like. This is because anything that deals with acceleration and gaining high speeds are removed from the modern edition. There are no buddy seats for dual riding, no turn signals, no saddle bags and no fenders. The Bobber is truly a purist type of bike. Last, but not in the least on this list is the Rocker softail motorcycle by Harley Davidson. These bikes are mass produced and not authentic customized motorcycles. However, they are stylish and edgy in appearance. Although, these are not authentic custom bikes they can still reflect the personality of the owner, this model has its own place in the hearts of Harley Davidson riders. People who generally love to ride this type of motorcycle are well grounded in their own unique and individual character, the bike adds a nice touch.