2016 Harley-Davidson Softail Slim S And Fat Boy S

2016 HARLEY-DAVIDSON SOFTAIL SLIM S AND FAT BOY S

IGNITION

FIRST RIDE

Now with Screamin’ Eagle 110 power

Andrew Bornhop

What's always welcome in a cruiser? Yep, more power. Which is precisely what the Softail Slim S and Fat Boy S have received for 2016. Harley has significantly upped the performance quotient of these Softails by equipping them with the Screamin’ Eagle Twin Cam 11oci V-twin, an air-cooled engine formerly reserved for the CVO models.

Harley had both bikes on hand at its 2016 press introduction, including an Olive Gold Denim Softail Slim S with a big white star on the tank. While this bike has a cool military look (reminiscent of the WLA military models from WW2, says Brad Richards, Harley’s director of styling), I spent my time on a new Fat Boy S, a blacked-out model with disc wheels, dual shotgun mufflers, and the same Softail chassis with coil shocks mounted below the transmission, out of sight.

As you’d expect from an engine with nearly 8 more pound-feet of torque than the air-cooled 103, the Fat Boy S felt snappy, with crisp throttle response and tons of grunt in seemingly any gear. It was so strong, in fact, that the Fat Boy S felt lighter than its claimed wet weight of 712 pounds would suggest. What’s more, the hydraulic clutch had good feel through the beefy lever.

Although there’s only one front brake on duty, the Fat Boy S didn’t overwhelm that sole front binder on the downhill run from Mount Hood, where I appreciated the half-moon footboards, the decent cornering clearance, and the 5-gallon Fat Bob tank. This bike might be slammed, with a seat barely 2 feet off the pavement, but it likes to move.

2016 HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORTSTERS

Here’s what you need to know about the 2016 Sportsters: All models have upgraded suspension designed to better cope with potholes and large bumps. A new cartridge-style fork is employed for improved comfort and control, while emulsion-style shocks with progressive-rate springs and threaded preload adjusters control the rear. Harley even provides an adjuster wrench, stowed beneath a seat that has been made significantly more comfortable with thicker foam. Sportster highlights for 2016 include a new Iron 883 (with significantly lighter aluminum wheels) and an updated Forty-Eight that looks especially stout with its massive 49mm fork tubes and burly 130mm front tire. -AB