Harley-Davidson 1800 SOFTAIL SLIM S FLSS 2017 — Specifications

What drives Harley-Davidson to drop its biggest twin into the chassis of its most stripped-down bobber? The answer comes down to one letter: S. With the 2017 Softail Slim S, Milwaukee raises the bar and unleashes the Twin Cam 110, an 1801 cc V-twin previously reserved for the CVO series — those limited-production luxury models. The result is 93 horsepower at 5010 rpm and, more importantly, 146 Nm of torque available from just 4000 rpm. That's a 21 Nm gain over the 1690 cc engine in the standard Slim. On a machine designed to idle along in a deep rumble, that extra muscle is a game-changer. Every burst of acceleration becomes an event, every twist of the throttle a reminder that this twin has power to spare.

The Slim S shares with the Fat Boy S the honor of launching the "S Series" family at Harley. But where the Fat Boy plays the heavyweight wrestler, the Slim cultivates a lean, almost military silhouette. The tubular steel frame mimics hardtail lines, the low seat perched just 650 mm off the ground pins the rider to the tarmac, and the Hollywood handlebars invite you to ride arms spread wide, chin up. At 321 kg wet and with an 18.9-liter tank, no one will claim the agility of a Bonneville Bobber. But Triumph offers neither the same deep rumble nor the same vibrations through the grips. The Slim S owns its mass and carries it with a confidence few customs achieve at this level of minimalism.

On the styling front, the S version has swapped every last piece of chrome for a gloss black treatment that considerably hardens the look. The Shotgun dual exhaust vanishes into this dark livery, the cylinder heads sport the Screamin' Eagle badge like a certificate of power, and the whole package radiates an intimidating presence at the traffic light. It's a bold choice that steers this Harley away from the gleaming bagger clichés and toward a rawer, more hot-rod universe. The direct competition — an Indian Scout Bobber, for example — leans more toward technical refinement with its liquid-cooled V-twin. The Slim S stays loyal to air cooling, two valves per cylinder, and a 9.6:1 compression ratio. Old-school engineering, unapologetic and proud of it.

On the road, the 41.3 mm telescopic fork provides 130 mm of travel, while the rear mono-shock, hidden beneath the frame to preserve the hardtail look, makes do with just 80 mm. Suffice it to say the rear suspension filters the bare minimum, and rough roads quickly make their presence known. Braking relies on a 300 mm front disc gripped by a four-piston caliper and a 292 mm rear disc. Enough to slow the beast down, but nothing more. The six-speed gearbox and belt final drive round out a mechanical package that holds no surprises but has proven its worth. The cruise control included as standard smooths out long straightaways and confirms that this machine is built above all for easy cruising, punctuated by muscular surges whenever the mood strikes.

At €21,390, the Slim S targets a well-defined audience: American custom enthusiasts who want the big twin without going through the CVO route and its sky-high price tag. It's neither a beginner's bike, nor a track tool, nor even a tourer. It's a bobber with character, built for Sunday rides where pleasure is measured by the sound of the engine rather than the stopwatch. With a top speed of 170 km/h, no one will be breaking any speed records. But that's not the point. The Slim S sells an attitude, a look, a sound signature. And on that turf, few rivals can claim to compete.