The Harley That Balances Muscle, Comfort, And Everyday Rideability
Finding a Harley-Davidson that does everything well has always been the two-wheeled equivalent of finding a unicorn. Muscle? Easy — the Motor Company has built its reputation on thunderous V-twin torque since day one. Comfort? Absolutely, especially if you’re willing to step into the Grand American Touring range. But genuine everyday rideability — the kind that makes a bike as happy filtering through city traffic as it is eating up weekend miles — that’s where most Harleys fall short. They’re long, stretched, and built for presence rather than practicality. Ask for all three qualities in a single machine and, not long ago, the honest answer was to buy three different bikes. Today, however, one Softail makes a compelling case that you don’t have to compromise — and it comes in under $20,000.
The Harley Low Rider S Is More Than Just Eye Candy
MSRP: $18,999
No motorcycle from Harley-Davidson’s Grand American Touring range can offer a blend of these three. This is mainly because neither of them is easy on the pocket or on the weighing scale. That leaves us with the Sportsters and the Softails, out of which our pick is the Low Rider S. Why, you ask? Because it’s simply better than ever.
‘Muscle’ comes courtesy of the Milwaukee-Eight 117 High Output engine, while comfort has always been the Low Rider’s strong suit — and that continues here. As for daily usability, this is one of the lightest Softails in the lineup. A saddle height of just 27 inches and a tight wheelbase of 63.6 inches make it easy to manage in traffic, and its minimalistic design means lane-splitting and tight parking spots are far less stressful than on a full dresser.
Aside from this, you can also consider the Sportster S. Comfort is strong here, and so is the daily usability. The latter is thanks to its sharp dimensions — much tighter than the Low Rider S. However, it lacks the ‘muscle’ side of things in a way. We say so because the Revolution Max 1250T engine doesn’t have the old-school H-D character. Power is the focus here, with peak torque coming in at under 100 pound-feet, and both power and torque arriving at 7,500 and 6,000 RPM respectively — exceptionally high by Harley standards.
Finally, there’s the Street Bob. It shares the same engine as the Low Rider S, albeit in a milder state of tune, so ‘muscle’ is slightly lower here. It scores well on practicality, though, thanks to its lower curb weight and even more stripped-back design. Comfort is where it falls a little short: the compact seat isn’t well suited to daily long-distance riding, and the ape-hanger bars will make slow, tight traffic genuinely tiring.
A Mighty Milwaukee-Eight V-Twin Powers The Low Rider S
Diving deeper, the Low Rider S employs Harley-Davidson’s Milwaukee-Eight 117 engine. The company offers three states of tune for this mill, and the Low Rider S gets the most potent setup, complete with the forward-facing Heavy Breather intake. The result is 114 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque, with peak power arriving at 5,000 RPM and peak torque at 4,000 RPM. That’s serious performance for both everyday riding and weekend shenanigans. A six-speed transmission completes the drivetrain.
You Can Eke Out Over 45 Miles Per Gallon
Thanks to heaps of tractability, Harley claims a fuel efficiency of 47 miles per gallon for the Low Rider S, giving it a theoretical range of over 230 miles. You’ll need to be genuinely easy on the throttle to achieve that figure. At the other extreme, wringing out all six gears will push you toward a top speed of around 124 miles per hour — though with no wind protection on offer, that’s not something we’d recommend making a habit of.
The Low Rider S Has A Feet-Forward Riding Position With A Chunky Saddle
On the comfort front, the Low Rider S features a chunky single seat and slightly forward-set footpegs, while a curvy handlebar puts your hands in a naturally relaxed position — the classic laid-back cruiser triangle. Harley also offers more comfortable seats and alternative handlebars through its accessories catalog, though floorboards are not an option on this model.
Showa Suspension Ensures A Smooth Ride On Bumpy Roads
Ride quality is handled by a Showa suspension package consisting of 43 mm USD forks up front and a preload-adjustable monoshock at the rear. The setup is paired with 19/16-inch alloy wheels, with dual front discs providing confident stopping power. Together, the suspension and wheel combination enables a respectable lean angle of 31.3 degrees on each side.
A Thoroughly Modern Electronics Package Sweetens The Low Rider’s Pot
From a distance, the Low Rider S follows the retro brief we expect from Harley-Davidson. Look closer, though, and the current model is more technologically advanced than ever, with an electronics suite befitting its performance. A six-axis IMU headlines the package, unlocking cornering traction control, cornering ABS, and cornering drag-torque control. Ride modes, cruise control, a tire pressure monitoring system, and a USB charging port round out the feature set.
A Basic Instrument Cluster Might Leave You Dejected
As impressive as that electronics list is, the instrument cluster is a genuine letdown. The 4-inch digi-analog display is the kind of unit you’d expect to find on a much more affordable machine — Harley fits a similar setup to its entry-level Nightster. For a bike priced close to $20,000, a full TFT screen with smartphone connectivity feels like a reasonable expectation, and its absence is hard to overlook.
Sources: Harley-Davidson
Related posts
Latest Post
No Comments