Harley-Davidson 1800 SOFTAIL SLIM S FLSS 2016 — Specifications

What drives Harley-Davidson to drop its biggest twin into the chassis of its most stripped-down bobber? The answer comes down to a single letter: S. In 2016, the Softail Slim S inaugurated, alongside the Fat Boy S, a new lineage in Milwaukee — models juiced up with the Twin Cam 110 Screamin' Eagle. A 1801 cc V-twin that, until then, had been the exclusive preserve of the very pricey CVO series. That changes the game entirely.

The concept is simple: take the military silhouette of the Slim, inspired by World War II-era Harleys, and graft in a hot rod heart. The result is 93 horsepower at 5,010 rpm and, more importantly, 135 Nm of torque available from just 3,000 rpm. On paper, the gain over the standard Slim's 1690 cc engine seems modest — barely a few extra newton-meters. But the difference lies in the texture of the thrust. This big 45-degree twin, fed by two valves per cylinder with a 101.6 mm bore and 111.1 mm stroke, delivers its power with a rich smoothness, a lazy pull that perfectly suits the machine's cruiser temperament. The Fat Boy S, its production cousin, inherits slightly higher torque figures, but it also carries twelve extra kilos on the scales. The Slim S makes do with 321 kg wet. In the Harley universe, that's practically a featherweight.

On the chassis side, no revolution. The hardtail-style tubular steel frame houses a 41.3 mm fork with 130 mm of travel up front, and a horizontal mono-shock hidden beneath the seat at the rear, limited to 80 mm. Braking relies on a 300 mm disc gripped by a four-piston caliper at the front, and a 292 mm disc with a two-piston caliper at the back. Enough to scrub off speed, nothing more. The low seat, perched just 650 mm off the ground, plants boots firmly on the tarmac. The 18.9-liter tank demands regular fuel stops, especially if the right wrist gets greedy. A top speed of 170 km/h is a reminder that this is no sportbike — and nobody will complain about that.

What truly sets the Slim S apart from its standard sibling is the cosmetic treatment. Chrome has vanished, replaced by gloss black across the entire motorcycle. The dual Shotgun exhausts dive into the same dark finish. The Screamin' Eagle badge sits proudly on the cylinder heads like a crest of mechanical legitimacy. The whole package exudes a compact, muscular, almost menacing visual presence. A bobber that plays the dark custom card without drowning in accessory overkill. The cruise control included as standard adds an unexpected touch of comfort for long straightaways — a reminder that beneath the bruiser attitude, this Harley also knows how to behave.

At €20,890, the Softail Slim S targets a well-defined clientele. American custom enthusiasts who want the prestige of the big twin without going through the CVO route and its stratospheric price tags. It's neither a tourer nor a canyon carver. It's an attitude cruiser, built for Sunday rides and rallies where the sound of the V-twin matters as much as the destination. Against an Indian Scout Bobber or a Victory Octane, the Slim S plays a different tune — heavier, more demonstrative, resolutely old school. It doesn't seek to convince through raw performance, but through character. And on that front, it has few rivals.