Harley-Davidson Softail Street Bob 2020 — Specifications

The Street Bob holds a somewhat unique status at Harley. It resembles the entry-level models with a Big Block engine. However, it is not a stripped-down motorcycle, quite the contrary, and is interesting in many ways. It’s a machine that prioritizes sensations, as stripped-down as a bobber should be, and equipped with a certain sporty side for the daring on any terrain.

The limitations of the Street Bob were those of the Dyna chassis. It will be quite different with this new version. Like the majority of members of this now-defunct family, it sits on the new version of the rolling chassis... Softail. You read that right. And stop coughing because it’s the same deal for the Low Rider and the Fat Bob. Now that the pill has gone down, moderation will take care of itself with the specifics of the frame in question. The basic formula hasn't changed: a faux Hardtail frame in steel tubes. Except that a large scoop of evolution makes it lighter and stiffer, with better ground clearance and improved peripherals. The two shocks under the engine have been removed, leaving the job to a single shock under the seat. More efficient, it will work in concert with an improved fork as well, from the Touring models.

Once contact is made, any notion of compromise or moderation must disappear. Just the road, the motorcycle, hands at shoulder level, and a big twin to vibrate all of that. Except at idle. Because the M8 has received good manners in its genetic... uh, mechanical heritage. Vibrations are strongly reduced when the engine speed is lazy, then place for the big torque of this engine. A beefy heart, with a large breath and a generous hand. Almost 15 mkg are there to let you discover the dark and raw face of the machine, and of the individual. The ride promises to be much more cheerful than with the old Dyna. Because not only does it benefit from a more efficient chassis and a small twin, the Street Bob has lost 7 kilos on the scale.

When riding the Street Bob, it is forbidden not to enjoy yourself. However, authorized or not, you’re going to get a full face: protection does not exist, and riding at sustained speed will not be appreciated by the neck or the arms. Reduced to a minimum, the machine has even done without an analog speedometer. Instead, a tiny digital screen embedded in the handlebar clamp displays the essentials. A rustic block of information in the image of the machine: faced with emotion, one would almost wonder why want more.

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