Reviews of Harley-Davidson Softail Motorcycles

Harley-Davidson Softail Reviews



Up until 1984 big V-Twin motorcycles of any manufacturer were pretty much split 50/50 between rigid-frame “hard tail” rear ends and those with traditional external rear suspension systems as found in the Sportster and Dyna lineups. Then Harley-Davidson engineers decided to get creative in producing a motorcycle which had the appearance of a hard tail but in fact featured a hidden suspension system which would serve to greatly enhance the overall ride quality. The result was the original FXST Softail.

More than three decades have passed and the Harley-Davidson Softail lineup has expanded to include well-known platforms such as the Heritage Softail Classic, Fat Boy, Rocker C, and Cross Bones. Each member of the Softail family is designed to appeal to a specific rider. If you want a comfortable Big V-Twin bike that holds closely to the traditional rough-rider image that is associated with Harley-Davidson Motorcycles, then one Softail or another is going to work for you.

All of these bikes sport innovative features such as Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI), 6-speed transmission, and horizontal hidden-shock system. Harley-Davidson engineers continue to refine the Softail lineup in an effort to offer the best to the buying public. This process includes trimming under performing models such as the Softail Standard as well as the original Rocker and introducing new models such as the Cross Bones which meet a specific demand posed by legions of Harley-Davidson customers.

Below you'll find the newest Harley-Davidson Softail review sets. A full list of all available Sofatil reviews can be found by clicking the index link at the bottom of this page. The Softail Index shows all available review sets organized both by year and alphabetically. You can also run a search for the particular motorcycle you are interested in if you are looking to to speed up your quest for Softail info.

If you own or have owned a Harley-Davidson Softail, please consider writing a review of your own so other riders can benefit from your first-hand knowledge of your particular bike. Writing a review is both fast and easy, click Write a Review to check out the simple two-step process and you're ready to go.

Newest Softail Motorcycles Reviewed

2009 Harley-Davidson Rocker C 2009 Harley-Davidson Rocker C
StyleNo Ratings
PerformanceNo Ratings
DurabilityNo Ratings
Overall ValueNo Ratings

When you take a look at the 2009 Rocker C you notice that at first glance is almost indistinguishable from the standard Rocker. Truth be told, there really isn’t a significant level of difference between the two bikes. Both have sport front fender, staggered Shorty exhaust system, and innovative rear fender attached to the rear swing arm the gives a tire hugging bobber appearance. They share their low profile chrome console, and the stainless steel pullback handlebars as well. The major differences between the two Harley-Davidson Softail models is that the Rocker C incorporates a hidden seat which allows for a second passenger to tag along. Simply lift off the solo seat and the passenger pillion folds out over the Rockertail rear section for surprisingly comfortable two-up riding. More styling differences to the Rocker C include that the finned aluminum oil tank, frame and swing arm are color-matched to the [...]

Write a Review

2009 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Classic 2009 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Classic
StyleNo Ratings
PerformanceNo Ratings
DurabilityNo Ratings
Overall ValueNo Ratings

Considered by many to be the original “Cowboy Bike” the Heritage Softail Classic is a heavy cruiser that has plenty of performance combo’d with classic style and an aggressive attitude. H-D definitely got the recipe right with the Heritage Softail Classic ever since the late 1980s when the bike was introduced so all the upgrades spread during two decades and the 2009 refinements do nothing else but keeping it up to date in what concerns details. We believe that owners would have taken care of that anyways as no Harley is kept in stock condition for long. This Harley-Davidson is known for being big boned which adds to the comfort factor enabling it to keep up with the Touring models on long-distance trips. It’s more versatile though in that it’s possible to shed both the saddle bags and windshield in order to convert the bike into a weekend cruiser devoid [...]

Write a Review

2009 Harley-Davidson Cross Bones 2009 Harley-Davidson Cross Bones
StyleNo Ratings
PerformanceNo Ratings
DurabilityNo Ratings
Overall ValueNo Ratings

One of the more unique Harley-Davidson production models from the 2009 lineup is the Softail Cross Bones. Dark styling with a nod towards the V-Twin classics of the past, this bike would most certainly be the one chosen by the pirate Captain Jack Sparrow. H-D designers set out with the task to create a bike that was retro at heart but was able to handle the more realistic ride quality demands that modern riders expect new bikes to possess as they roll off the line. The result was a bike inspired by the post-war period two generations ago which saw Harley-Davidson owners modifying their two-wheelers into light and aggressive motorcycles. One of the easiest methods to achieve this goal was for to strip down everything that wasn’t absolutely necessary with the end result being that some rather unique and potentially dangerous custom bikes ended up rolling down public thoroughfares. This [...]

Write a Review

2009 Harley-Davidson Night Train 2009 Harley-Davidson Night Train
StyleNo Ratings
PerformanceNo Ratings
DurabilityNo Ratings
Overall ValueNo Ratings

When Harley-Davidson designers laid out the 2009 Night Train, they ended up creating a bike that has a lot in common with the Dyna family but incorporates the comfort, looks, and style features of the Softail lineup. This particular motorcycle was infused with a dark soul and many of major components feature a blacked-out color coat. In fact, style is really the only thing which sets this bike apart from the other members of the Softail family. Most of what you’ll find here is shared including the air-cooled, twin-cam 96B V-Twin engine and six-speed transmission. This low-revving model only needs to crank at 2,750 rpm in order to achieve it’s full 87.9 ft-lbs of torque, so there is plenty of power for mountain cruising or ruling the fast lane. The 2-up seat is positioned at 25.2 inches above the ground, but this still won’t make the Night Train a veritable [...]

Write a Review

2009 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy 2009 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy
StyleNo Ratings
PerformanceNo Ratings
DurabilityNo Ratings
Overall ValueNo Ratings

Ever since Harley-Davidson introduced it to the Softail lineup, the Fat Boy has been welcomed as a favorite heavy-weight cruiser styled motorcycle. It has served as the iconic iteration of a Softail is supposed to be, has been in continuous production since its debut in 1990, and has been a consistently strong performer for America’s #1 motorcycle company. For 2009 the factory continued the trend of quality/style/power in the current rendition of the Fat Boy. Featuring a rigid-mount Twin Cam 96 cubic-inch motor that produces 89 ft-lbs of torque, this wide stance bike is a favorite for those looking to start a custom project. While the two exhaust pipes attached to the right side of the bike are often the first thing to get changed out when the custom cutting begins, the sound of the big V-Twin doesn’t fall short of expectations even from the factory. The chrome over/under shotgun [...]

Write a Review

2009 Harley-Davidson Rocker 2009 Harley-Davidson Rocker
StyleNo Ratings
PerformanceNo Ratings
DurabilityNo Ratings
Overall ValueNo Ratings

For over four decades Harley-Davidson enthusiasts have been taking stock H-D® bikes, raking them forward and adding other tweaks/changes in order to create custom choppers. This trend has increased in recent years and the 2009 Softail Rocker is the bike that was crafted by Harley-Davidson engineers to be a production “custom” motorcycle for the rider who wants the look-and-feel of a chopper but may not have the time or money to invest in a one-of-a-kind project. It offers authentic hard-tail chopper style with innovative ideas that could only be produced by Harley-Davidson. A noticeable trait on this bike is found in the Rocker rear tail section which features a wide fender mounted directly to the swing arm. It hovers just an inch over a big 240 mm x 18-inch rear tire allowing both the fender and wheel to move in unison as the Rocker glides along cushioned by 3.4 inches [...]

Write a Review

2009 Harley-Davidson Softail Custom 2009 Harley-Davidson Softail Custom
StyleNo Ratings
PerformanceNo Ratings
DurabilityNo Ratings
Overall ValueNo Ratings

The 2009 Softail Custom is a bike loaded up with classic styling, plenty of power, and an enhanced ride due in part to the hidden suspension system. It sports a Twin-Cam 96 cubic inch V-Twin rubber mounted to the frame. Visual appeal is enhanced with number trim elements from the ape hanger handle bars to King & Queen seating.

Write a Review

Find All Softail Motorcycle Reviews