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2008–2011 · Cruiser · Buyer's Guide
Factory Bobber Done Right
Harley built the Cross Bones as a factory bobber, and it commits all the way. Leading-link springer front end, mini ape-hangers, a hand-stitched sprung solo saddle, gloss black on nearly every surface. Underneath sits the 1584 cc air-cooled 45° V-twin, counterbalanced in the Softail chassis, making 75 hp and 93 lb-ft at 3,000 rpm through a six-speed box and belt final drive. In a class where stance decides everything, this is one of the purest shapes Harley has ever sold with a warranty on it. The bike is styling-led, and it never pretends otherwise.
On the road it delivers what the shape promises: low, long, and happiest rolling along on a small handful of throttle. It suits riders who ride to arrive somewhere and be seen there, not to log miles against a clock, and it ages well because there is almost nothing on it to go out of date. The honest part is short. 737 lb is real weight when you push it around a gravel lot, there is no ABS, and neither the fork nor the shock offers any adjustment. Accept that and it stays one of the most satisfying things in the showroom.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 75 hp (56 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 93 lb-ft (126 Nm) @ 3,000 rpm |
| Displacement | 1584 cc |
| Engine | 45° V-twinMotorcycles With V-Twin Engines → |
| Cooling | Air-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | BeltMotorcycles With Belt Drive → |
| Fork | Leading-link |
| Front brake | 292 mm |
| Front tire | 130/90-16 |
| Rear tire | 200/55-17 |
| Seat height | 26.6 in (676 mm)Motorcycles With a Seat Height Under 30 Inches → |
| Wet weight | 737 lb (334 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 5.0 gal (18.9 L) |
What follows comes from years of listening to Cross Bones owners: paddock talk, club-night chatter, and the emails riders send me after a few seasons with one. The picture is consistent. They praise how easy it is to spend a relaxed day on, and their gripes gather around wind, cornering clearance, and an exhaust that's too polite.
Riders consistently call it a comfortable back-road tourer. The rubber-topped floorboards and soft suspension tuning come up again and again as the reason rough pavement stays in the background, and the feet-forward position keeps owners happy through long, unhurried days. On the engine, they talk about short-shifting into sixth and letting the lazy, thrumming pull carry them along.
Wind is the loudest complaint. Sustained highway stints wear riders out, and the usual fix, an aftermarket windshield, is one many dislike because it spoils the look. Owners also report the floorboard feelers touching down long before the chassis reaches its limit, so fast, aggressive cornering is off the menu. The stock exhaust is another recurring point. Some riders find it so quiet it mutes the V-twin, and louder mufflers are a common first upgrade.
Recall 09V211000: acorn stud at the brake reaction link can fall out
NHTSA campaign 09V211000 (H-D recall 0139), reported 10/06/2009: Harley-Davidson recalled 11,005 FLSTSB, FXSTSSE2 and FXSTSSE3 MY2008 and 2009 motorcycles. The acorn stud at the brake reaction link may fall out during use, so the front brake and fender assembly would no longer be adequately retained, which could lead to a crash. Dealers replaced the acorn stud with a new stud and retaining clip; the recall began June 2009.
Loud and clunky gear engagement
Shifts—especially into first gear—produce a pronounced mechanical clunk; considered normal for the transmission but can be off‑putting.
Loose fasteners and trim pieces
Side panel screws and exhaust mounting bolts have a tendency to work loose; check and re‑tighten regularly.
Where this Harley-Davidson Softail Cross Bones FLSTSB 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 Cross Bones FLSTSB is actually built for.
This is the bike people walk over to look at when you park it. The stance, the sound, and the parts catalog are all there, and slow boulevard laps are exactly what it was built for.
Made for Florida State Road A1A · Black Hills · Main Street, Daytona Beach
Two-lane roads at an unhurried rhythm are its element. Plan short days, expect wind on any open stretch, and the Cross Bones turns a weekend loop into an event.
Made for Park Loop Road · Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway
Be straight with yourself here. No wind protection, no luggage, and a solo saddle mean this is the wrong tool for big western days with a passenger and a week of gear.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Compare it with every bike that shares the same spec or equipment.
