Harley-Davidson Motorcycles
Harley-Davidson Model Explanations
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Harley-Davidson FLSTC Heritage Softail Classic: Should this Engine be in all of Harley’s Models?
Story by Mark Barnett, Photos courtesy of Harley-Davidson Photography & Imaging
Made to look like Harley-Davidson’s pre-1957 models, the Heritage is positioned in the line up as the “old-style” touring bike. It is a member of the Softail family, meaning its frame is designed to look like the pre-1957 hardtail Harley-Davidsons which came with no rear suspension at all. The word “Softail” means it looks like a hardtail with no visible rear suspension, but in fact does have shock absorbers. They are hidden under the engine and work “backwards” to most suspension systems: as the rear tires moves upwards after hitting a bump, the shocks under the engine are pulled and made longer instead of compressed and made shorter like most shocks. While most Softails models are considered “city” bikes, made to go bar-to-bar or in these delicate times, from church to fundraiser to restaurant and back, the Heritage comes with large leather saddlebags and a removable windshield. It also has large fenders to keep rain and grit off the rider while on trips. This model is for riders who ride both in the city and take extended trips. It is a very versatile bike.
The basics thus presented, how does this 2008 version ride and handle? I won’t go on and on about the new 96” motor like I usually do. Needless to say, I’m very impressed by the mechanical quietness of this latest version of the Twin Cam “B” or counterbalanced motor. The “B” motor is rigidly mounted in the frame and vibration is handled by two spinning, chain-driven counterbalancers. Suspending the engine in rubber mounts as is done in the Dyna family and dresser family is not needed. The first “B” motors that came out in 2000 were a little noisy. Most riders fit free flowing air filters and louder pipes, which completely crowded out the chain noise inside the motor so it was really only a factor for those who left their bikes bone stock, all ten percent of you. But in the last couple of years, this noise has all but vanished. This latest version of the balanced engine now has a roarty exhaust note, made possible by the engineers quieting things down up front. The Heritage as a touring model is a little heavier than other Softails, so the increased power of the 96” engine is particularly beneficial. You can feel the bike taking off faster from stoplights, the increased torque is very noticeable. Well, it looks like I went on about that new motor a little after all.
Customers new to Harley-Davidson should consider this model, one, if it is comfortable to you. This bike has rather high bars, an upright riding position, footboards positioned neither far forward or far back. If you plan on doing a little touring, the windshield and bags fitted make the Heritage a little better buy than adding these items separately to other Softail models. But you have to like the “old-style” look: studded seat and bags, large fenders, wire spoke wheels, and fender trim on both fenders. Those going for a modern look, would be more pleased with another model. Those who want a Harley-Davidson that most looks like the traditional Harley-Davidson, the icon in everyone’s mind, need not shop any further. This is it.
This brings me to the point made in the subtitle to this article. Is this new balanced motor so smooth and so refined, that Harley-Davidson should consider using it in the Dyna series and the Touring series, ditching the rubber-mounted “A” motor in those bikes? I’m very close to saying yes. I would say it makes sense to do this in the Dynas right away. I think the rigidly mounted “B” motor has a nicer and more refined feel than the rubber mounted “A” motor in the Dynas. With a counterbalanced “Dyna” style bike, you wouldn’t have any shaking at traffic lights and the miniscule extra weight I don’t think would be a factor. Our editor, Buck Manning, thinks this “B” motor should replace the dresser motors as well. I’m not quite ready to go this far, but I think a road test is in order where we perhaps should pull in some of our high mileage H.O.G. riders who almost universally ride the rubber-mounted dressers using the “A” motor, and let them try this counterbalanced Softail now that the Motor Company has spent so much time on it. The results may be surprising.
