Should You Buy The Harley-Davidson Softail Standard FXST: Find Out If It’s a Perfect Choice For You or Not

Harley-Davidson started producing motorcycles back in 1903. Among all the inspiring bikes Harley has ever produced, the Softail series stands out.

These motorcycles adopted the vintage look of hardtail bikes. But, what makes them different is the finely tuned rear suspension hidden within the chassis.

The Harley Softail Standard is one of the most popular bikes for customization as it comes in a simple black canvas finish. It features a minimalist design that can be customized easily according to the rider's choice.

If you are thinking of buying a Softail Standard then, this article should help you in making the right decision.

Harley-Davidson’s Softail series was launched back in the 1980s. Those were the golden times of the Harley Dyna series.

The release of Softail proved an instant success for Harley. All the chopper fans celebrated the looks and class of Harley’s Softail series climbing to the top of the company’s sales just within the first year of its release.

Unlike most of Harley’s motorcycles that are designed after the long efforts of engineers, designers, and professional riders, the Softail has an unconventional story behind its release.

The Harley Softail design was inspired by an engineer from St. Louis, Missouri. He was a veteran rider named Bill Davis who owned a Dyna Super Glide back in that time.

He customized his Softail by adding a cantilever swingarm that pivoted at the bottom and the shock absorbers were hidden under the seat.

Davis began to make the adjustments on his own but unfortunately couldn’t complete the design independently. So, he sold his design to the styling head at Harley Davidson.

The company worked on Davis’s design, Harley’s engineers closely collaborated with Davis for the completion of his design, and finally, in 1983 the first Softail FXST was released.

Softail featured a 1340cc V2 engine. This engine was more powerful than the previous models, the previous issues of leakage and overheating were solved to some extent.

In 1986, Harley launched the Heritage Softail FLST. This Motorcycle gave a classic retro vibe. The Softail FLST had a five-speed transmission with wide handlebars.

Then two years later, Harley made another addition to the Softail family by introducing the FXSTS Springer Softail. As it was released on the 85th anniversary of Harley Davidson, it had a shield logo text that read as ‘85 years of great motorcycles.’

It was given the name Springer due to its front end which displayed the front fork’s springs.

Moving to the year 1990 when Softail Fat Boy FLSTF was introduced. This model came in silver paint. The disc wheels and the fat look made it popular. More than 4,500 models of FLSTF were sold in the first year.

In 2000, Softail Deuce was introduced. It came with a more powerful engine than the previous models,  it produced almost 63hp.

The retro model Heritage Softail that was introduced in 1988 went under some improvements and in 2010 FLSTC Heritage Softail was built. It had a six-speed transmission with a Twin Cam 96B engine.

In 2018, Harley upgraded their line of Softail models. The motorcycles were completely redesigned. The new frame was lighter and stiffer than the previous ones. But the most notable change was the new mono-shock rear suspension.

The all-new 2022 Softail Standard comes in a vivid black finish. The bike is the best choice for customizers who are still in love with Harley’s old-school look. It’s powered by Milwaukee-Eight 107 V-Twin engine.

If you have ever pictured yourself riding on a classic cruiser on a highway then the Softail Standard could be the right bike for you.

It puts the rider in a comfortable position and due to the low center of gravity, cornering is not a big issue.

So, if you are thinking of buying a Harley Softail Standard FXST then below are some features and advice that can help you in making the right decision.

A Softail motorcycle is one that has a hidden rear suspension, this is concerning Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

However, when motorcycling was new the bikes didn't have a rear suspension unit. The front end got suspension and the rear portion was only supported by seat springs.

Afterward, when installing the rear suspension units became normal for every bike, they were coined with the term Softail motorcycles.

The Harley Softail bikes are the ones in which the rear suspension unit is hidden under the frame to give them a look like the hard-tail motorcycles.

To occupy the big V-Twin engine, the riding position is compressed so riding a Softail Standard feels like a Sportster.

It comes with Dunlop tires which are not so wide. They offer a good road grip and low resistance while changing directions.

Steering is lighter and more stable than most of the other bikes. Due to this, it’s more fun to ride Softail Standard around the mountainous roads.

The bike feels easily manageable because of its lighter weight as compared to other Harley Davidson motorcycles. So, it works effectively for building a rider’s confidence.

Shifting gears in Softail Standard FXST is very comfortable and doesn’t require much foot action. In addition, the ratios are also well-spaced so you will never find yourself shifting gears repeatedly.

Riding a Harley Softail Standard is distraction-free. The LED is fixed in the handlebar clamp which makes it almost invisible while you are riding. But, if something goes wrong then an alarming light will alert you.

The Harley Softail Standard can be comfortable for short trips around the town. But, it’s not designed for long trips.

The ergonomics of a Harley Softail Standard are more about style as compared to comfort. It has a compact design with mid-controls which means that your knees are pointed upwards.

Due to the mini-ape handlebar, your hands stay up in the air. The hands-up riding position can work for short trips but, on a long trip, you feel like you are out in the wind like a sail.

The rear suspension is also designed only for short trips. The smaller bumps feel greater when you are going at a high speed.

So, if you are planning to buy a Harley Softail Standard to ride within the city or go on short trips then it’s a good choice. But, for long trips, you will be searching for a gas station to stretch out.

Harley Softail Standard can never become a good touring bike but that’s perfectly fine if you want to make a style statement.

If you are planning to take your Softail Standard on a short trip then you can always add some top-of-the-line saddlebags for carrying your stuff easily.

The Harley Softail Standard and Fat Boy both are Softail bikes which means their rear shocks are hidden under the frame.

However, the name can tell us that the Fat Boy might have a fatter look and more weight.

The Fat Boy has bigger parts on its tail frame, a large fuel tank, and an overall massive appearance.

Both the bikes seem alike because of the Softail chassis. But, Fat Boy is recognized due to its wider looks than most other Harleys.

The ergonomics of a Harley Softail are all about making a style statement. As discussed before, this is not a touring bike so riders usually buy it for customization.

If you want to impress other riders in the community by showing off your artistic skills in bike customization then Harley Softail Standard can be your best choice.

Riding the Softail Standard without making any modifications is still cool. The mini-apes, stripped-down bobber style, and chrome shining give you the charisma you always dreamed of.

Harley Softail standard delivers a horsepower of 67 hp at 5200rpm.

According to Harley’s official information, the Softail Standard gives a fuel economy of 47 mpg.

As the Harley Softail Standard is owned by riders who love customizing their rides, there are various aftermarket luggage options.

Although the Softail Standard is not recommended for long tours it could give you an enjoyable ride for short tours.

Make sure to check out our Harley saddlebags category, not only do they look great on Harley Softail Standard but also offer a lot of practical benefits.

As the Harley Softail Standard is a classic black canvas. So, adding some stickers, badges or wraps can make it stand out in the crowd. Adding leather saddlebags to your Softail Standard can for sure make it a head-turner.