Filed under: Motorcycles
Harley flies the skull and cross bones with new FLSTSB Softail
Few motorcycle companies today can truly draw on past styles and trends when releasing new versions of their bikes like Harley-Davidson. Japan, Inc. has a few retro-styled bikes and Triumph has reinvented the British bike, but Harley-Davidson may be the only company in motorcycling that can replicate old styles so effortlessly because its own parts bin offers so many unique pieces from which to choose. Take, for instance, the new FLSTSB Cross Bones, which uses the venerable softail frame and adds Harley's own springer front end, bobbed rear fender, ape-hanger bars, tractor-style single seat, floorboards and a horseshoe oil tank. Special touches are then added, such as the hand-laced leather tank panel and a new speedometer face. Functional items include the 200 mm rear tire, five gallon fuel tank, fuel injection and a six-speed tranny. Power comes from the TC96B engine, meaning that the bike should have ample, if not overwhelming force.
We like the bobber-style look of this bike and think that it looks great wearing all black. If you want the "cut-down" look of an old bob-job with the reliability of a new model, it's hard to overlook the Motor Company's own FLSTSB Cross Bones.
[Source: Harley-Davidson]
_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Shaft 9:29AM (1/27/2008)
another expensive Harley for middle-aged wannabes to ride around on looking too cool before they go back to the 'burbs to cut the lawn
Reply
Noah 10:19AM (1/27/2008)
Hey, if I were a middle aged man living in the burbs with nothing to look forward to on a saturday afternoon other than cutting the lawn....I'd get a Harley too! Anything to keep me from going insane.
racer01 10:30AM (1/27/2008)
Hey,
Don't exclude us eary 30's, rich car guy's that love sport bikes and Harleys. I'll make sure to give you the finger as I ride by on my Ducati or Harley and when I pull into my driveway I'll give the kid that mows my lawn a big tip.
Douglas 10:40AM (1/27/2008)
Wow. Looks alot like my 1997 VN800 Kawasaki Vulcan. ($4595. out the door)
That's some hot stuff there, err...Harley
Louis Duran 2:03PM (1/27/2008)
I'm with you brother... Harley's (and their riders) suck. They should be banned just for the noise pollution. Some cities ban air braking in certain areas because of noise... Why not ban motorcycles that generate the same level or more of noise constantly (not just when braking)?
Dave 7:39AM (1/28/2008)
Not bad if you like driving antiques.
Louis, some towns have banned Davidson's here in Illinois though the are small rural areas that no one goes to. Unfortunately the government because of politics doesn't crack down on their noise pollution but at the same time another person exceeding the acceptible decimal limit in a car gets a ticket. Overall the stereo type of their riders still fits-not good people despite the commercials that Davidson had with regular people buying them.
Eek 10:15AM (1/27/2008)
Wow. I don't know which I want more, this or the Sportster Nightster.
Reply
MikeInNC 10:35AM (1/27/2008)
Nice looking bike. Looks like they are taking some cues from Exile Cycles ( http://www.exilecycles.com ) who are making the the most brutal looking machines in this area (IMHO). To the guys with the ignorant comments up top, what you guys don't know about middle age is A LOT.
Reply
jeff miller 10:46AM (1/27/2008)
I don't know where Harley's Willie G. is trying to go with this. This bike has the look of a 40's EL model without the apes. I really don't like the look of the Rocker either. I can't believe that Harley discontinued the Duece, and after this year, the Dyna Wide Glide... which are both kick ass bikes. I have a 99' Night Train, which I love, and think has great style.
Reply
MajorGeek 11:13AM (1/27/2008)
Love my Deuce and found these new designs to be nothing more then the old softail frame with a few ideas taken from other companies, Exile for one. I will have to look at other bikes next time I want something new or keep my Deuce. I agree this is a huge mistake trying to suck in one audience at the loss of their long time customers.
Incredible 11:33AM (1/27/2008)
I don't know which I like more: the new hotness from Harley, or the fact that some their older owners don't like it. I would park this next to my sport bike if I had that kind of disposable income. I am younger and not a typical Harley rider, therefor the fact that I like this bike (and the VRod) makes me think that Willie G knows EXACTLY what he is doing.
Reply
MK 11:54AM (1/27/2008)
I think it's a great looking bike. Anyone who says Harley is copying from another company (Kawasaki??) need to realize what those companies are copying in the first place. Harley-Davidson, The ORIGINAL chopper!
Reply
Mattias 12:05PM (1/27/2008)
...with engines engineered in Germany. Yes, the guys in Zuffenhausen probably did a good job providing HD with modern engines while not losing traditional look and feel.
MK 12:53PM (1/27/2008)
Porsche only made the V-Rod engine. You guys have a lot to learn about Harleys.
Das Boese 1:23PM (1/27/2008)
The only ones that H-D are copying from are H-D themselves. Since 30 years or so.
Shaft 1:02PM (1/27/2008)
LMAO my post hit too close to home for at least two poseurs. BTW you're a real prince of a guy, riding in your neighborhood giving people the finger; I'm sure the soccer moms must be REAL impressed with you while their elementary aged kids watch that display. And you other man among men, while you're with your phony Harley posse ramin' around and drinking cheap yellow fizzy beer and the wifes at home while that kid cuts your lawn.....well we all know what COMES next........
Reply
racer01 1:21PM (1/27/2008)
Yea, I'm a phony - Have had some sort of mortorcycle since I was 17. South Dakota in the middle of winter at 18 getting my edumication - as long as the roads were cleared. You know me... I know you too - typical idiot writing about something you don't know squat about. If you write garbage like that you're gonna get a answer.
Das Boese 1:34PM (1/27/2008)
Springer forks and a tractor seat.
Welcome to the 1930s.
For only $16,795.
*facepalm*
Reply
pwr 1:42PM (1/27/2008)
Amazing how H-D can keep recombining the same 12 design elements (it'd be a stretch calling them engineering elements) in different ways, spraying a new coat of paint on it, and calling it a new bike. Could have built this bike ten years ago from catalog parts.
Way to go, Harley. If this is how you're going to address your crashing stock value, it looks like your run is almost over.
Reply
cowboy bob 10:08AM (1/28/2008)
You are correct as to parts exchanges between models. This has been done at home for years. I don't fault Harley for doing it though, because everytime they do it, they sell motorcycles. That wasn't possible twenty years ago. This, like all things will run its course, and then there will have to be an incremental change. This was attempted with the V-Rod, but hasn't had the success that was desired. No doubt Harley is working on something that will be the next "Evolution" as we speak.