Harley-Davidson Softail Custom reviews

I have 175K miles on the bike all I have done is top end,rebuild the heads. If you can find a Evolution motor in s Harley 1985 was the first year and it has reasonable miledge on it and decent price buy it you can't go wrong and it is user serviceable unlike the later years of all computer controls. I would not have twin cam but if you do replace the timing belt with the gear driven kit. No belt on a Twin cam lasts more than 25 to 35k miles. Show less

It is a good start to ride a HD bike but after a while you feel it is small, although it is not, but compared to the other HDs it is. Very unique bike and durable good for crusing not for touring, max drive is 1 hour after that you will feel tired good for an early cruse on the sea side etc... Seats one person beautifully but for sure not for two, the extra rider on the back saddle will feel uncomfortable in the back saddle seat. Color of the bike and finish are awesome and it is a bike to keep for life since it is the first bike to own and has a serial number only 1500 units were produced world wide. Show less

I bought the HD Softail Slim about a month ago. My previous bike was a Honda Shadow Aero 750. I wanted a bike that had more power but fit me as well as the Honda and this bike certainly fits the bill. I wasn't really looking for an HD, certainly not looking for a bike with a nearly 1700cc engine but I made the mistake of sitting on this one. At 5'1" there aren't very many bikes that fit me off the showroom floor and I had never found an HD that came close to fitting me but this bike feels like it was made for me. It handles extremely well, turning into corners with very little effort, but is very stable at high speeds. It's also seriously beautiful to look at. The fit and finish is exceptional. I really can't say enough good things about it. If you're short and looking for something with some get up and go, this is the bike for you. My only nits to pick is that the bike runs seriously hot (you're sitting right on top of the engine) and HD needs to rethink where they put the kickstands on their 'low' models. Show less

The bike is great! I traded up to a Super Glide is the only reason you see her here. It's a great entry level bike for first time Harley owners. It's speedy and agile and there's the great feeling of knowing that you own a Harley. A lot of heads turn as you pass by. Who knows...maybe you will be trading up in a few months as well. Kudos to Russ and the whole staff for taking such good care of me. Show less

I was out of the bike scene for 20 years and I came back on a XL1200C. I had that bike for one season, went into buy gloves and this gold and black Heritage was on the showroom floor. After 20 trips to the dealer and three weeks later, the bike was mine. The prior owner only had 3,500 miles on her when I bought her in 2013. We're at 5,200 now. The bike rides like a Buick, stops corners and accelerates like one. It's the ultimate cruiser / ez touring bike. In stock form, she's very comfortable to ride, and does everything well. She's not a sport bike nor is she meant to be. In stock trim, you could go all day on this. Tell ya this, stop for gas, you'll draw a crowd. The bike is Gold/Black 2 tone and is striking. After the upgrades mentioned below, it's a masterpiece. It's a super nice bike even 2-up. It has EFI which I love (some don't). The TC88 has enough juice for anything and the 5-speed is way more than adequate. Show less

Well it's been a couple years and a few thousand miles since my last review. I said I would keep the bike and so far so good. I have not had any issues with the bike. I used a simple $22 relocation kit for the front turn signals, did it myself piece of cake and now I can use any of the three different types of bars I have. The stock seat is awesome. I have not replaced it because it is so comfortable that I just haven't thought of messing with that, yet working on other things. This bike looks real good with some old 1941 handlebars. They look like eyebrows when the bike is approaching you. They are low but give you good handling and clear the tank easy, but at $425 dollars, bars were rather pricey. Oh well, that's what we work for. Keep riding and if your contmplating a Springer, go for it. They are instant classic and I really enjoy how different they are to other bikes. Show less

I have not been on a bike for two years or so and just got one again. I seem to like to be back on a bike again which is always missed when you have and are not. I would say I don't know yet on the overall but it is not a Honda so by association it is a better bike. Show less

I bought this bike new 3/30/10 and it is fun to ride. It has plenty of power, handles nice and I love the springer. The only problem is you can't leave it alone. Everybody wants to touch the beautiful flame paint job. It's the best bike made by Harley. It's a privilege to own. Show less

I have owned this bike three full years, and purchased it new. I use it for commuting and transportation, riding about 3k-4k miles per year March - November. In Maine, that means I ride in temperatures ranging from 20 deg. F to 90 deg. F (20 deg. F is only bearable because my commute is 15-20 minutes). The Sportster is my third bike. It handles well for a cruiser/standard, and has good power for a 1200 cc V-twin. Gas mileage varies from the low 40s in mixed city/highway riding to nearly 50 mpg. on extended rides on secondary roads. Most maintenance is simple enough to do at home with basic tools and a repair manual. The main weaknesses of the bike are the suspension and seat. Personally, I would also prefer a cast 19 inch front wheel. My only issue so far has been a loose ground cable connection at the battery, which left me stranded beside the road a few weeks ago. My wife came with my truck and tools, and I fixed it in about 15 minutes. This is the price you pay for riding a non-counterbalanced V-twin. Show less

After riding Japanese bikes since I was 16, I decided to buy my first Harley, at the age of 49, for my retirement in Bulgaria. What a fantastic bike. On the poorly surfaced motorways or up in the mountains, it's a pleasure to ride solo or with the girlfriend on the back. But there is a problem with spares, as there are no dealerships in Bulgaria. Show less