2012 · Cruiser · Buyer's Guide
Blacked-Out Bobber, Pure Attitude
The Blackline is what happens when Harley takes the Softail platform and deletes everything that isn't essential to the stance. The Twin Cam 103 sits in the frame blacked out instead of chromed, 1690 cc of air-cooled 45-degree V-twin making 75 hp and 99 lb-ft at 3,250 rpm. The rear suspension hides under the transmission, so from ten feet away the back end reads as a rigid frame. A 21-inch front wheel, a 25.8-inch seat, and a 66.5-inch wheelbase give it the long, dropped bobber silhouette the whole motorcycle is built around.
It rides the way it looks. At 683 lb wet it sits planted at highway speed, happiest rolling on the fat part of the torque curve with a belt and a six-speed that ask for third and fourth far more often than sixth. This is a bike for a rider who is buying a stance and a soundtrack and knows what that costs him elsewhere: forward controls that stretch you out, a fork with no adjustment and twin hidden shocks that answer only to a preload spanner, ABS only if the first owner ticked the box. Verify that before you start shopping parts.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 75 hp (56 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 99 lb-ft (134 Nm) @ 3,250 rpm |
| Displacement | 1690 cc |
| Engine | 45° V-twinMotorcycles With V-Twin Engines → |
| Cooling | Air-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | BeltMotorcycles With Belt Drive → |
| Fork | Telescopic |
| Front brake | 292 mm |
| Front tire | MH90-21 |
| Rear tire | MU85B-16 |
| Wheelbase | 66.5 in (1689 mm) |
| Seat height | 25.8 in (655 mm)Motorcycles With a Seat Height Under 30 Inches → |
| Wet weight | 683 lb (310 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 5.0 gal (18.9 L) |
| Top speed | 110 mph (177 km/h) |
| Fuel economy | 42 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Safety
Front brake master cylinder corrosion recall on certain 2012 Softails
NHTSA recall 14V794000: on certain 2012 Softail and Dyna models the front brake master cylinder threads can corrode, and a sudden loss of brake fluid could cause a loss of the front brakes. Harley-Davidson dealers replace the affected components free of charge; owners can verify their VIN with a dealer.
Substandard 'C' series lifters
Early lifter failure can cause valvetrain noise; many owners proactively replace them with aftermarket alternatives when accessing the cam chest.
Starter relay failures and battery corrosion
Owners report no-crank conditions traced to failed starter relays or corroded battery connections, sometimes resulting in intermittent starting issues.
Weak compensator (primary drive)
The OEM compensator can wear prematurely, causing rattling or clunking noises from the primary side; the updated 2014+ compensator offers improved durability.
Excessive heat from engine and catalytic converter
The EPA-tuned 103 combined with the catalytic converter in the exhaust generates significant heat, especially in slow traffic, causing rider discomfort and complaints.
Where this Harley-Davidson Softail Blackline FXS pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Softail Blackline FXS is actually built for.
This is squarely your bike. Blacked-out instead of chromed, loud enough to announce you, and steady on the long runs between rallies. Budget for the aftermarket, because the stock stretch gets old on big days.
Made for Florida State Road A1A · Black Hills · Main Street, Daytona Beach
Good fit if you want attitude with your two-lane. It's content at an unhurried pace on old highways, and 42 mpg from 5.0 gallons gives you honest range between towns.
Made for Park Loop Road · Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway
Not your bike. No luggage, no windshield, no cruise control, and a riding position that fights you after a few hundred miles. Buy something built to carry gear and weather.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
Compare it with every bike that shares the same spec or equipment.