2016–2017 · Cruiser · Buyer's Guide
Blacked-Out Chopper With Grunt
The Softail Slim S takes the Screamin' Eagle Twin Cam 110B, Harley's big 1801 cc air-cooled 45° V-twin, and drops it into a stripped, blacked-out, military-flavored bobber. You get 91 hp and a thick 109 lb-ft of torque, most of it arriving low and early, wrapped in metal rather than plastic. This is a factory custom that commits fully to the look: long, low, minimal, with a matte war-era attitude. In a class where stance and presence outrank horsepower, it plants its flag on style first and backs it with a genuinely muscular motor.
On the road it hides its 712 lb well, sitting low on a 25.6 in seat that lets most riders flat-foot at a stop and gives an easy, planted feel once rolling. It ages the way good Harleys do, as a platform you keep making your own, since the aftermarket runway here is enormous. Two honest cautions before you sign. Early bikes carry clutch recalls that can leave the clutch hard to disengage, and it builds real heat on your legs when you sit idling in traffic. Sort those, and it suits the rider who wants character worn openly.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 91 hp (68 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 109 lb-ft (148 Nm) |
| Displacement | 1801 cc |
| Engine | 45° V-twin |
| Cooling | Air-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Belt |
| Front tire | MT90B16 |
| Rear tire | MU85B16 |
| Seat height | 25.6 in (650 mm) |
| Wet weight | 712 lb (323 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 5.0 gal (18.9 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Safety
Thumb the starter and the big twin settles into that uneven, chest-thumping idle you feel through the pegs and the seat before you really hear it. Pull away and the vibration organizes itself into a steady pulse that stays on the right side of pleasant, alive without buzzing your hands numb. The riding position is pure Softail: feet forward, back relaxed, wrists light, the kind of stance that unspools tension on a long straight road. The belt runs quiet and clean under the exhaust note. At walking pace you feel every one of those pounds through the bars, so tight lots and slow parking ask for a plan. Get it above a roll and the mass seems to evaporate, the bike tracks straight and steady, and the whole thing feels carved from one piece of iron.
Years of listening shaped what follows: talk at track weekends, questions owners raise in person, and the notes riders send to my inbox. For this bike the split is clean: the look and the motor win people over, while the seat and lean angle wear on them.
Riders bring up the all-black finish more than anything else. Engine, wheels, fork and exhaust in black give it an aggressive custom-bobber look with nothing added. The motor gets the next-loudest vote: owners talk about heavy low-end pull that moves the weight without drama, and many note the counterbalancers keep it smooth while leaving the Harley feel intact. A fair number add it turns and holds a line better than something this heavy should.
The gripes cluster as tightly. The floorboards scrape early, and riders say they run out of lean sooner than they'd like. The solo seat draws steady criticism for going numb and sore after an hour or so, and plenty swap it out. A few mention heat building on their legs in slow traffic, a harsh rear end over big bumps, and a sense it shares too much with other Softails to stand on its own.
Clutch master cylinder may fail to disengage the clutch (NHTSA 16V471000)
On certain 2016 units the clutch master cylinder may lose the ability to generate enough lift to disengage the clutch, especially after the motorcycle has been parked for an extended period. Dealers inspect the master cylinder for gas in the fluid and, if present, flush the clutch system and rebuild the master cylinder. Harley-Davidson recall 0169.
Secondary clutch actuator may leak, impairing clutch disengagement (NHTSA 18V734000)
On certain 2017 units the secondary clutch actuator cylinder may leak fluid internally and the clutch master cylinder may lose the ability to disengage the clutch. Dealers install a new secondary clutch actuator piston assembly. Harley-Davidson recall 0173.
Overheating when idling
Some owners report significant heat build-up during prolonged idle or slow traffic, with heat radiating onto the rider's legs. No official fix documented.
Where this Harley-Davidson Softail Slim S 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 Slim S is actually built for.
This is exactly your bike. The sound, the blacked-out presence, and the rally-ready identity give you the statement you ride for, and the aftermarket lets you sign it your way.
Made for A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
The stripped, classic look suits slow historic routes and easy days beautifully. Just know the small tank and the idle heat will nag you on stop-and-go main streets.
Made for Acadia National Park · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway
Honestly, this one is a stretch for you. It has the stability for open miles, but no wind protection, a small tank, and idle heat make loaded two-up touring hard work.
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.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Harley-Davidson Softail Slim S. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
