Harley-Davidson 1920 Softail Low Rider S FXLRS 2026 — Specifications

What drives Harley-Davidson to send a model back to the workbench when it was already working just fine? The answer comes down to two words: more muscle. The 2026 Low Rider S keeps its knife-edged bad boy silhouette, with its blacked-out lines and low-slung Drag Bar handlebar. At first glance, the changes are subtle. A revised air filter, a unified exhaust, repositioned turn signals, slightly raised instrumentation. Nothing spectacular on paper. Except the real earthquake happens beneath the 18.9-liter tank, where the Milwaukee Eight 117 V-Twin has undergone a mechanical steroid treatment.

The 45° V-twin displacing 1,923 cc moves to High Output configuration thanks to deep work on the cylinder heads, intake, cooling, and above all the adoption of a camshaft borrowed from the 121 engine. The result: 114 horsepower at 5,020 rpm and a devastating 173 Nm of torque available from just 4,000 rpm. Nine more horses than the previous version, an 11% gain. On a 295 kg machine, that translates into acceleration that pins you against the imaginary backrest of the seat, perched just 715 mm off the ground. The power-to-weight ratio becomes the best in the entire Milwaukee Eight lineup, and you feel it with every twist of the throttle. Against an Indian Sport Chief and its 122 horsepower or a Triumph Rocket 3 and its extravagant torque, the Low Rider S plays a different tune: less raw power, but a fiercer character, an instantaneous engine response that favors visceral sensation over the numbers game.

On the technology front, this generation marks a real turning point for the Softail range. Three riding modes calibrate the V-Twin's response to suit the rider's mood. Traction control, finally standard equipment, works in concert with an inertial measurement unit and cornering ABS. All these systems factor in lean angle, which is no luxury on a custom capable of catching its rider off guard at corner exit. Harley also adds tire pressure monitoring, a USB-C port, and redesigned switchgear. Cruise control was already present; it stays on the spec sheet. The brake lever becomes adjustable, a detail that signals newfound attention to ergonomics on a machine that otherwise makes zero concessions to bourgeois comfort.

The chassis stays true to the proven recipe: steel double-cradle frame, 43 mm inverted fork with 130 mm of travel, a mono-shock hidden beneath the seat offering 112 mm of stroke. Braking relies on dual 300 mm discs gripped by four-piston calipers up front and a single 292 mm disc at the rear. Effective without being oversized. The 19-inch front and 16-inch rear wheels wrapped in Scorcher tires maintain the muscular profile aesthetic. For those who dream of traveling with this temperament, Harley also offers an ST variant fitted with a fairing and saddlebags, a touring-ready version of the same character.

At €22,990, the 2026 Low Rider S is aimed at riders who want a custom that bites. Not a beginner's machine, not a track weapon, but a power cruiser built to devour asphalt with authority. Its V-Twin roars with a conviction rare in the segment, and the electronic suite finally makes it exploitable without having to constantly negotiate with 173 Nm of brutality. This is the motorcycle for the experienced rider who refuses to choose between style and performance, and who's willing to pay top dollar for an engine that turns every ride into a statement of intent.